New Program called "The Key"

[CarnivalCruiser32]

 

On 5/12/2019 at 5:55 AM, CarnivalCruiser32 said:

We just boarded in Barcelona and no one really knew about The Key at the Port. We got on the priority line anyway because we refused to not get a benefit that we paid for and they let us through with only a little push back. But really no one knew about it and that was frustrating. There was some signage after security that we should’ve just followed instead of asking because no one knew anyway so it was a waste of time. We got an envelope with details about the Key for our sailing with our SeaPass Cards at check in. All the activity hours are on the last day of sailing (our only sea day) which seems unfair to everyone on board, not just Key members, and is not what was detailed when we purchased it. Not to mention that the Ice Skating is only a half hour not the hour advertised when we bought it. We purchased it when it was still DAILY hours but they’ve clearly changed it even the fact that you won’t get a full hour for each activity. 

 

They’ve seemed to compensate by allowing us to join the “priority line” at  other times. We’re thinking that means there will be two lines at almost all times for each activity but we don’t know for sure. We’ll be looking to see how that works and if it’s better than flashing a card or wristband and “skipping” the line which isn’t ideal. Boarding was super quick and easy though (though maybe that was due to the time we arrived?) and we were on the ship within 15 minutes. 

 

Update:

 

Luggage Drop off - Fantastic. Super easy and quick. It was great to get rid of my heavy carry-on.

 

Chops  - Lunch at Chops was GREAT and the food was delicious, however the wait was not ideal. There really wasn't a line or anyone giving information and I waited a long time to be seated even though we could see that there were tables available. We felt a little forgotten about while we watched other tables order and get their food while we were still sitting there without even bread and butter. This is a feeling that will continue throughout the cruise.

 

VOOM - um...it didn't really work in our room (Deck 9, overlooking the Boardwalk) so it was lowkey a waste of money. We could use it the theaters (Deck 4), in the casino (Deck 4), and sometimes in the dining room (Deck 3) and that was kind of about it. Some days it worked better than others but we had a really hard time for about 3 or 4 days getting it to work at all let alone in the places mentioned above. It would look like it was connected but no pages or apps would load. Everyone talks about how fast RC's internet is but we didn't experience that and all guest services wanted to do was tell us it was an issue with our phones which we knew it wasn't because they connected to internet and wifi just fine in Port. 

 

Reserved Seating - we only used it twice but that was on us. When we used it the seats were amazing and we wouldn't have gotten as great seats if we hadn't used this perk. I never saw anyone checking reservations at the front?????? So like...how did they know we actually had reservations or not? They did check to see if we had The Key Sticker on our SeaPass though before being allowed to sit in the reserved area. We didn't use the Aqua Show reservation because we could see well from our Boardwalk Balcony, and then we were just tired at night so didn't use the reserved seating for the late shows. We were either at Dinner after long days in Port or too tired. We saw the Ice Skating show first row center and I couldn't have asked for better seats and we saw Come Fly With Me dead center as well (but not first row). We showed up too late for reserved seating for CATS but we got decent seats anyway. So YMMV with this perk

 

Private Activity Hours - well the only one we wanted to do was the ice skating and it actually a half hour and we slept through it after 5 full port days.  They were all on the same day which was not doable and I won't rehash it but it was dumb and we didn't appreciate it. 

 

Priority Line for Activities - never saw one

 

Luggage Tags - We put our luggage out by 10pm the night before debarkation with The Key Luggage Tags. It was super easy to find them in the terminal after we debarked as they were already there waiting in The Key section towards the back close to the exit. 

 

A La Carte Breakfast - Menu with special "Key" items was a nice touch. We liked the Crab Benedict...however...again with the feeling forgotten thing... Quite a few tables came in after us (after we'd ordered even) and all of them got their food before us. We were in a bit of a rush to catch our flight but didn't want to miss out on this perk so we arrived early and let the waiter know we had a flight to catch. And we still waited close to (maybe even over?) 45 minutes before our food arrived when other tables who had ordered the exact same thing had already been served. We really expected exemplary service for the Chops lunch and the a la carte breakfast considering we had paid extra, but we had 3000% better service every other day of the cruise in the Main Dining Room that was included in the base price of the cruise. We really did not like feeling as though we weren't "as important" as other guests and "forgotten about" when we really all paid the same price to be there. It was weird. Ultimately, we had to rush to eat and then rush off the ship and rush to the airport and so on and so forth. It was't a very good last impression to leave on and actually set off our day in a not..good... way. It left us attempting to "catch up" for the rest of the day and we almost missed our flight.

 

Escort off the ship - Worked great until it didn't. We were escorted from the dining room up to Deck 5 to meet our official escort off the ship. He walked us right over to where they scan you out and we got a few dirty looks lol. It would have been fabulous if I hadn't been prevented from leaving the ship because of something that I thought was taken care of with Guest Services the day before. So after I went and told them "Hey we fixed this yesterday???" I was allowed to leave but still had to wait on a bit of a line this time so the escort ended up being kind of useless in the end, but would've been great had I been allowed to leave the first time LOL.

 

Summary: All-in-all I do think it was a good deal considering we were going to purchase internet anyway. So to get all the "extras" in addition to the internet was a pretty good deal in my opinion. However, after having tried the internet and how it DID NOT WORK FOR DAYS AT A TIME we will not be purchasing The Key again. Also most likely won't be cruising with Royal Caribbean again for many reasons, of which Internet is a tiny blip and the actions/attitudes of other guests, the complete disorganization, and the just general non-communication are a huge dent. I hate to say it wasn't worth the money spent because we did enjoy the lunch at Chops and the reserved seating and, when it was working, the internet. I really think it had a lot going for it and if it was more refined fleet-wide and everything working the way it is actually supposed to then it would be a hard deal to beat. But with the price increase and the seemingly unknown factor of what experience you'll get I can't say that I recommend it. I did enjoy certain aspects of it VERY very much but I just don't think I'd pay that higher price point for the total experience I received. 

 

Edited May 20, 2019 by CarnivalCruiser32

[blueridgemama]

3 hours ago, CarnivalCruiser32 said:

 

 

Update:

 

Luggage Drop off - Fantastic. Super easy and quick. It was great to get rid of my heavy carry-on.

 

Chops  - Lunch at Chops was GREAT and the food was delicious, however the wait was not ideal. There really wasn't a line or anyone giving information and I waited a long time to be seated even though we could see that there were tables available. We felt a little forgotten about while we watched other tables order and get their food while we were still sitting there without even bread and butter. This is a feeling that will continue throughout the cruise.

 

VOOM - um...it didn't really work in our room (Deck 9, overlooking the Boardwalk) so it was lowkey a waste of money. We could use it the theaters (Deck 4), in the casino (Deck 4), and sometimes in the dining room (Deck 3) and that was kind of about it. Some days it worked better than others but we had a really hard time for about 3 or 4 days getting it to work at all let alone in the places mentioned above. It would look like it was connected but no pages or apps would load. Everyone talks about how fast RC's internet is but we didn't experience that and all guest services wanted to do was tell us it was an issue with our phones which we knew it wasn't because they connected to internet and wifi just fine in Port. 

 

Reserved Seating - we only used it twice but that was on us. When we used it the seats were amazing and we wouldn't have gotten as great seats if we hadn't used this perk. I never saw anyone checking reservations at the front?????? So like...how did they know we actually had reservations or not? They did check to see if we had The Key Sticker on our SeaPass though before being allowed to sit in the reserved area. We didn't use the Aqua Show reservation because we could see well from our Boardwalk Balcony, and then we were just tired at night so didn't use the reserved seating for the late shows. We were either at Dinner after long days in Port or too tired. We saw the Ice Skating show first row center and I couldn't have asked for better seats and we saw Come Fly With Me dead center as well (but not first row). We showed up too late for reserved seating for CATS but we got decent seats anyway. So YMMV with this perk

 

Private Activity Hours - well the only one we wanted to do was the ice skating and it actually a half hour and we slept through it after 5 full port days.  They were all on the same day which was not doable and I won't rehash it but it was dumb and we didn't appreciate it. 

 

Priority Line for Activities - never saw one

 

Luggage Tags - We put our luggage out by 10pm the night before debarkation with The Key Luggage Tags. It was super easy to find them in the terminal after we debarked as they were already there waiting in The Key section towards the back close to the exit. 

 

A La Carte Breakfast - Menu with special "Key" items was a nice touch. We liked the Crab Benedict...however...again with the feeling forgotten thing... Quite a few tables came in after us (after we'd ordered even) and all of them got their food before us. We were in a bit of a rush to catch our flight but didn't want to miss out on this perk so we arrived early and let the waiter know we had a flight to catch. And we still waited close to (maybe even over?) 45 minutes before our food arrived when other tables who had ordered the exact same thing had already been served. We really expected exemplary service for the Chops lunch and the a la carte breakfast considering we had paid extra, but we had 3000% better service every other day of the cruise in the Main Dining Room that was included in the base price of the cruise. We really did not like feeling as though we weren't "as important" as other guests and "forgotten about" when we really all paid the same price to be there. It was weird. Ultimately, we had to rush to eat and then rush off the ship and rush to the airport and so on and so forth. It was't a very good last impression to leave on and actually set off our day in a not..good... way. It left us attempting to "catch up" for the rest of the day and we almost missed our flight.

 

Escort off the ship - Worked great until it didn't. We were escorted from the dining room up to Deck 5 to meet our official escort off the ship. He walked us right over to where they scan you out and we got a few dirty looks lol. It would have been fabulous if I hadn't been prevented from leaving the ship because of something that I thought was taken care of with Guest Services the day before. So after I went and told them "Hey we fixed this yesterday???" I was allowed to leave but still had to wait on a bit of a line this time so the escort ended up being kind of useless in the end, but would've been great had I been allowed to leave the first time LOL.

 

Summary: All-in-all I do think it was a good deal considering we were going to purchase internet anyway. So to get all the "extras" in addition to the internet was a pretty good deal in my opinion. However, after having tried the internet and how it DID NOT WORK FOR DAYS AT A TIME we will not be purchasing The Key again. Also most likely won't be cruising with Royal Caribbean again for many reasons, of which Internet is a tiny blip and the actions/attitudes of other guests, the complete disorganization, and the just general non-communication are a huge dent. I hate to say it wasn't worth the money spent because we did enjoy the lunch at Chops and the reserved seating and, when it was working, the internet. I really think it had a lot going for it and if it was more refined fleet-wide and everything working the way it is actually supposed to then it would be a hard deal to beat. But with the price increase and the seemingly unknown factor of what experience you'll get I can't say that I recommend it. I did enjoy certain aspects of it VERY very much but I just don't think I'd pay that higher price point for the total experience I received. 

 

 

Would you be willing to copy and paste this review in The Key Reviews thread which is located with the stickies at the top of page 1?

[JoeFan]

I purchased Unlimited Dining yesterday on sale.

So I canceled The Key today for our 7 night HOS 8/25/19 purchased at $19.99.

I put $560 back in my account.

 

For me, it just is not worth it.

Voom - I will just purchase for 4 devices any way

Expedited boarding - Sounds like this ship loads so fast anyway

Bag drop - Really just one book bag. I will just deal with my electronics bag

Chops Lunch - Covered with the UDP

Private Times - Seems like this is a mess and the only one that would ride the flow rider is 1 out of 4 people

Show seats - Nice perk but not worth the $

Embarkation breakfast - I will miss the nice breakfast and expedited exit from the boat. We have a late 3:20 PM flight. So we are not in a rush to get off the ship.

[robntawn]

Lots of conflicting information regarding Key offerings on different ships, which is quite frustrating.  The program has been around long enough now and staff should be consistent with implementation.  I voiced my concerns about the program to management, specifically asking about private hours, early embarkation, luggage drop-off, and number of Keys sold per sailing.  My upcoming sailing is aboard Symphony on 11/2/2019. Here is the reply that I received from management.

 

Hello Rob, 

Thank you for contacting the Executive Office of Royal Caribbean International. Your correspondence to Mr. Bayley was forwarded to my attention and I appreciate the opportunity to respond on their behalf.

I’m sorry to hear about all the misconceptions you have been seeing regarding the Key program.  Please note that there is only one version of The Key program, however there are certain restrictions depending on where the ships sail out of. 

During your specific sailing, there will be less than 200 guests that have purchased The Key amenities. As far as the private hours on marquee activities, like the FlowRider, Rock Climbing wall, and Ripcord by iFly, Key guests receive one peak hour per attraction between 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. However, please understand that if the weather and/or itinerary does not enable us to offer this, the crew will find the best alternative time to offer the private hour. The Oasis and Quantum class ships now have VIP lanes installed for quicker access to these activities. 

Also, carry-on luggage and priority boarding is available on all Key ships but it is not offered in Vancouver, Canada or any ports in Australia. 

Rob, we trust the information provided has been helpful and will assist you with resolving this matter. If you have any further questions, please don’t hesitate to reach me via email or directly at 1-800-256-6649 ext. 11756. We truly look forward to the opportunity to welcome you on the Symphony of the Seas and demonstrate our commitment to service.

Sincerely,




Daniella Cardenas
Executive Office
Royal Guest Experience Management

 

 

 

I did send a follow up email requesting information on what the VIP line is and what benefits are conferred.  I will post response when I get it.

[Iamcruzin]

I notice that the special hours for the activities seem to be on port days and at times when passengers would be either dining or getting ready to dine. Wouldn't these times be off peak anyway? I don't see how having the key would be much of an advantage over someone who didn't purchase it.

[brillohead]

51 minutes ago, robntawn said:

I did send a follow up email requesting information on what the VIP line is and what benefits are conferred.  I will post response when I get it.

I would send a link to this thread, mentioning how Harmony said there was no luggage drop off b/c rooms were available at noon, and other inconsistencies.

I think corporate has no idea how this is actually being implemented... like all the VIP time being left to the very last day, etc.

 

[Iamcruzin]

This is just typical of every company that I have worked for when they roll out a new program. Corporate comes up with an idea. Since they sit at a desk and are not at the front lines they have no idea what goes on or how things get implemented. The staff gets a crash training course, (I can't imagine they have much extra time on turn around day) information is misinterpreted and what works for one branch won't necessarily work at another branch.

[TheRisleyFamily2021]

I was wondering if anyone knows how far in advance we have to cancel a purchase of "The Key" and still get a refund. I know online is three days, but what about calling? 

 

I am still up in the air about The Key, and we leave in three weeks.  Thanks. 

Edited May 26, 2019 by LiamsMommy2008

[vacationlover_mn]

Ugh.  Can they close this thread?  I feel like they’ve closed other, much smaller threads, that I would have loved kept open.

[Wine-O]

2 hours ago, vacationlover_mn said:

Ugh.  Can they close this thread?  I feel like they’ve closed other, much smaller threads, that I would have loved kept open.

 

If you don't like it, don't open it.  I enjoy reading other's experiences since we will be getting the Key for an upcoming Med sailing.

[KB Cruisin]

I definitely appreciate the information here, too.  I used it to decide on the Key for my recent sailing and will be leaving a review soon.  The information here made a big difference for me.

[Iamcruzin]

5 hours ago, vacationlover_mn said:

Ugh.  Can they close this thread?  I feel like they’ve closed other, much smaller threads, that I would have loved kept open.

Thanks for bumping it to the first page again. I don't think anyone is forcing you to read it.

[vacationlover_mn]

18 hours ago, Iamcruzin said:

Thanks for bumping it to the first page again. I don't think anyone is forcing you to read it.

I know, I know... but I tend to read everything that pops up 😉

[vacationlover_mn]

21 hours ago, Wine-O said:

 

If you don't like it, don't open it.  I enjoy reading other's experiences since we will be getting the Key for an upcoming Med sailing.

I’m just saying... they close many threads much shorter than this, and there is a dedicated pinned post for key reviews...

[brillohead]

40 minutes ago, vacationlover_mn said:

I’m just saying... they close many threads much shorter than this, and there is a dedicated pinned post for key reviews...

They close threads that are involved in a bunch of bickering BS..... they don't close threads just because they are old / long / boring to you.  

Threads that are locked or deleted got locked/deleted because people were posting like whiny rude brats instead of like adults who have the ability to not open threads that don't interest them.  

[CRUISEFAN0001]

2 minutes ago, brillohead said:

They close threads that are involved in a bunch of bickering BS..... they don't close threads just because they are old / long / boring to you.  

Threads that are locked or deleted got locked/deleted because people were posting like whiny rude brats instead of like adults who have the ability to not open threads that don't interest them.  

Kinda like the most recent collection of posts...

[brillohead]

1 minute ago, CRUISEFAN0001 said:

Kinda like the most recent collection of posts...

That was kinda my point....

[CRUISEFAN0001]

Just now, brillohead said:

That was kinda my point....

Ditto, +1, and on the same page...

[vacationlover_mn]

52 minutes ago, brillohead said:

They close threads that are involved in a bunch of bickering BS..... they don't close threads just because they are old / long / boring to you.  

Threads that are locked or deleted got locked/deleted because people were posting like whiny rude brats instead of like adults who have the ability to not open threads that don't interest them.  

I think that because they opened a specific pinned post for The Key review, any related reviews should go there?  Just sayin’...

Edited May 27, 2019 by vacationlover_mn

[blueridgemama]

1 minute ago, vacationlover_mn said:

I think that because they opened a specific pinned post for The Key review, any related reviews should go there?  Just sayin’...

 

That pinned thread is for reviews only so that those people only interested in actual reviews don't have to read through random thoughts and views. The moderators are removing everything except reviews.

 

This thread is for people to post their views, thoughts and concerns about the program. 

 

Both threads have value.

[brillohead]

15 hours ago, vacationlover_mn said:

I think that because they opened a specific pinned post for The Key review, any related reviews should go there?  Just sayin’...

Yes, REVIEWS go in the REVIEW thread, and COMMENTARY goes in THIS thread.

Other Key commentary threads aren't being "closed" -- they are being merged into this one.  Other Key review threads are being merged into the pinned review thread.

 

[twinsaj]

Does anyone know how far out The Key shows up on the cruise planner?  All of the internet packages are there but no option for The Key.  Thanks

[Clarea]

1 hour ago, twinsaj said:

Does anyone know how far out The Key shows up on the cruise planner?  All of the internet packages are there but no option for The Key.  Thanks

 

No set time, just keep checking.

[cured]

On 5/26/2019 at 3:06 PM, vacationlover_mn said:

Ugh.  Can they close this thread?  I feel like they’ve closed other, much smaller threads, that I would have loved kept open.

As a newbie cruiser, I have read all 110 pages. I appreciate all the questions asked as I really don"t know which questions to ask yet.  If just the review thread was open, there would be no questions asked about the subtleties of the program. I would be disappointed if this thread was closed. We have the key mainly for getting off the ship on the port intensive Oasis med cruise for our private tours. I am reading to see if this perk is worth it before I decide to cancel. 

Edited May 29, 2019 by cured
spelling

[CRUISEFAN0001]

19 minutes ago, cured said:

As a newbie cruiser, I have read all 110 pages. I appreciate all the questions asked as I really don"t know which questions to ask yet.  If just the review thread was open, there would be no questions asked about the subtleties of the program. I would be disappointed if this thread was closed. We have the key mainly for getting off the ship on the port intensive Oasis med cruise for our private tours. I am reading to see if this perk is worth it before I decide to cancel. 

Hopefully 110 pages of posts would provide virtually every conceivable bit of information possible at this point. Kudos for surviving all that redundant content.