New Program called "The Key"

[blueridgemama]

4 minutes ago, CRUISEFAN0001 said:

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

 

Why do you keep reading??

[cured]

2 minutes ago, CRUISEFAN0001 said:

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

Yes, definitely. It has been an interesting read.  Now we need 110 more pages of experiences in the Med on Oasis since she just started sailing this itinerary this month. I have been anxiously awaiting the med Key reviews lol.

[CRUISEFAN0001]

1 minute ago, blueridgemama said:

Why do you keep reading??

First...the thread really helps late at night when one can't seem to get to sleep.

 

Second...many of the posts include the beautiful & colorful avatars...and we're almost done wallpapering our main bathroom by leveraging the thread page printouts. Thanks for everyone for their contributions.

[Ocean Boy]

5 hours ago, CRUISEFAN0001 said:

First...the thread really helps late at night when one can't seem to get to sleep.

 

Second...many of the posts include the beautiful & colorful avatars...and we're almost done wallpapering our main bathroom by leveraging the thread page printouts. Thanks for everyone for their contributions.

Does my avatar of Adventure docked in Aruba in the evening suite your needs?

[CRUISEFAN0001]

3 minutes ago, Ocean Boy said:

Does my avatar of Adventure docked in Aruba in the evening suite your needs?

Thanks. Yes, it is nice indeed.

[blueridgemama]

17 minutes ago, irzero said:

I would advise all customers to cancel this program if you have bought it for sports activities.

1 hour per week on flow rider and no priority line on independence.

Lunch was about 10$ worth with a mini steak. The internet is slow and can be had cheaper. Priority embarking in the UK is useless as its fast anyway. No tendering so priority is also useless there. Barely any shows worth getting priority seating with only 1 show you tick a box to book.

Over 14 days it costs $580 for us.

Been offered $50 discount. Which is an insult when there were 5 flowrider sessions per week originally as well as priority line for normal hours.



Sent from my SM-N960F using Tapatalk
 

 

Need to read the reviews! I can't remember even one review that did not mention how the private hours at the activities were a disappointment. Know what you are getting so you are not disappointed. If you are getting it for the other perks reviews have been ok. If you are getting it for the private hours reviews have been mostly bad.

[cured]

I see our Key benefits have changed again.  Anyone done the Med Oasis cruise and have done this "choice" departure the last day?  My paperwork when we purchased said "breakfast and priority departure."

Ports of call still say priority departure, but now the last day says "choice" departure. Is one of the choices still getting escorted off the boat past the lines?

We purchased this mainly for the priority departures for excursions and mainly last day.  After we were booked and flights purchased (leisurely leaving the day after we returned,) we found out we had to be at a family function on that Friday. The only flight we could get has an early departure.  Boat arrives 7am, flight 10:50am. We know we are cutting it really, really close, so purchased the key after reading all the reviews of being escorted off the boat quickly. 

 

Anyone know what the "choices" are of choice departure?  Probably a moot point anyway as we will most likely be "choosing" the self carry departure option. 

 

 

 

 

Edited June 2, 2019 by cured

[jilly7896]

I purchased "The Key' for my family of 6 for the 7/18 9-night Anthem cruise.  After reading reviews and weighing the costs, we decided to cancel.  That was several weeks ago.  Today I completed my check-in and printed our SetSail Passes and we all have a little black key on there. hmmm....

[Whittlewitch]

21 hours ago, jilly7896 said:

I purchased "The Key' for my family of 6 for the 7/18 9-night Anthem cruise.  After reading reviews and weighing the costs, we decided to cancel.  That was several weeks ago.  Today I completed my check-in and printed our SetSail Passes and we all have a little black key on there. hmmm....

Jilly7896, I’ve not cancelled it yet (although I’m thinking of doing so) but I was wondering about the SetSail passes as I’ve already printed them.  I think I’m going to cancel The Key, book the internet and lunch at Chops and see how we get on.  🙂

[jilly7896]

28 minutes ago, Whittlewitch said:

Jilly7896, I’ve not cancelled it yet (although I’m thinking of doing so) but I was wondering about the SetSail passes as I’ve already printed them.  I think I’m going to cancel The Key, book the internet and lunch at Chops and see how we get on.  🙂

 

@WhittlewitchWhen do you leave? I'm curious to know how your experience goes.

[brillohead]

40 minutes ago, Whittlewitch said:

Jilly7896, I’ve not cancelled it yet (although I’m thinking of doing so) but I was wondering about the SetSail passes as I’ve already printed them.  I think I’m going to cancel The Key, book the internet and lunch at Chops and see how we get on.  🙂

The SetSail pass is not a problem -- you could cheat and go through the priority check-in line if you wanted, but anything beyond that, if you cancel before the cruise, you won't have The Key logo on your SeaPass card and you won't be on their list for carry-on drop-off or Chops lunch or anything.

I recommend canceling and getting a multiple-device internet plan and specialty lunch like you have planned.  

[Whittlewitch]

10 hours ago, brillohead said:

The SetSail pass is not a problem -- you could cheat and go through the priority check-in line if you wanted, but anything beyond that, if you cancel before the cruise, you won't have The Key logo on your SeaPass card and you won't be on their list for carry-on drop-off or Chops lunch or anything.

I recommend canceling and getting a multiple-device internet plan and specialty lunch like you have planned.  

I wouldn’t really do it Brillohead I’m far too much of a “goody goody”,  I would die with shame if caught out! 🙈

We are first time cruisers, it’s never been something my husbands wanted to do so I’m trying to make it as seemless as possible so he’s no reason to moan when I say I want to do it again! 🙂 Still can’t decide what to do,  priority checkin, disembarkation, internet and Chops lunch were my main reason for booking it, the other benefits would be good but appear to be hit and miss from one ship to another, however, for me at least it probably does/should  achieve what I set out to achieve, but as there are 3 of us it does seem an expensive way of doing it!  😊

[Whittlewitch]

11 hours ago, jilly7896 said:

 

@WhittlewitchWhen do you leave? I'm curious to know how your experience goes.

 

@jilly7896 July 21st. I don’t think I’m really brave enough to blag my way through priority, but it is tempting to try! Lol. If I book the internet for 2 of us (there are 3 of us but we got one package in the booking offer), Chops lunch and we could also book “stay a while” to avoid what I believe can be a long and tedious disembarkation we save approx £263 between 3 of us, which broken down to person pay day isnt really that much, so still undecided what to do! 🤔 

[cruise_co]

I just finished all our check in information for our cruise departing Rome.  Our arrival time stated 2:30pm so just called to confirm we could arrive early for the Key lunch. We have only been on one 4 day Carnival cruise previously, so not really savvy on all this cruise stuff, so thought I would call to get more info on how the key was going to work in Rome.

 

Ummm, nope. Boarding is from 2:30-6:30, ship leaving at 8pm.  The Key lunch is being moved to day 2, in an "exclusive" area in the main dining room for the lunch.  Only problem with that is that we are in Naples. So, we either can miss Naples and stay on the boat for a cheap lunch or miss yet another perk of the Key.  Sorry, one of the main things we are looking forward to on this cruise is to see Pompeii.  We have Ciro LaMotta booked for a private tour, removing the shopping in Sorento so that we can spend more time in Pompeii.

 

I asked why they didn't move it to day 3, our one and only day at sea as  we are now losing yet another perk of the Key.  She snottily replied that we are not losing it, we are choosing not to attend by going to Naples.  Pretty sure this is by design, putting the lunch on a popular port day rather than the sea day. That way they are not going to have to feed anyone.

 

I am this.close to canceling it for our group of 6.  I am so irritated by all the changes. We originally purchased it for the "no reservations needed" perk.  I was thrilled to be able to just go to a show when we wanted to go to a show without having to pre plan. That was the first thing to go away. Then the daily private hours. Now the Chops Lunch, well technically it is still there but are they really expecting people not to go to Naples?

 

Edited June 4, 2019 by cruise_co

[Thorben-Hendrik]

9 minutes ago, cruise_co said:

So, we either can miss Naples and stay on the boat for a cheap lunch

Tough choice!🤔

[CRUISEFAN0001]

10 minutes ago, cruise_co said:

Boarding is from 2:30-6:30, ship leaving at 8pm.  The Key lunch is being moved to day 2, in an "exclusive" area in the main dining room for the lunch.  Only problem with that is that we are in Naples. So, we either can miss Naples and stay on the boat for a cheap lunch or miss yet another perk of the Key. 

No contest. Naples outweighs anything from the Key.

 

While you're in Naples...consider the 1/2 day excursion to Capri (island). An amazing place you'll never forget.

[cruise_co]

17 minutes ago, Thorben-Hendrik said:

Tough choice!🤔

Right? Naples or a watered down Chops menu in a corner of the MDR.  Actually on the phone right now to see if we can move the lunch to the sea day. They keep insisting I have to ask that on the ship. I keep insisting I need to know before so I can cancel if need be.  

 

Royal Caribbean is not impressing me at all right now,

 

Edit to update: They insist we need to ask if we can move the lunch to day 3 on the ship. I have just cancelled for our group of 6.  Will just add the internet separately.  Just saved myself over $500.

Edited June 4, 2019 by cruise_co
update

[Thorben-Hendrik]

3 minutes ago, cruise_co said:

Right? Naples or a watered down Chops menu in a corner of the MDR.  Actually on the phone right now to see if we can move the lunch to the sea day. They keep insisting I have to ask that on the ship. I keep insisting I need to know before so I can cancel if need be.  

 

Royal Caribbean is not impressing me at all right now,

 Make sure  you get it in writing - the ship will blame "Miami" for everything they don't want to do.... 🙄

Edited June 4, 2019 by Thorben-Hendrik

[er345]

6 hours ago, cruise_co said:

 

Edit to update: They insist we need to ask if we can move the lunch to day 3 on the ship. I have just cancelled for our group of 6.  Will just add the internet separately.  Just saved myself over $500.

Good call!

[vacationlover_mn]

On 6/2/2019 at 8:44 AM, irzero said:

I would advise all customers to cancel this program if you have bought it for sports activities.

1 hour per week on flow rider and no priority line on independence.

I have a friend who is new to cruising.  His one daughter loves climbing walls (she’s on the climbing team at school), and both kids love things like the flowrider.  When this first came out, I highly recommended it to him.  Once I started hearing the reviews I told him “stop, don’t book it!” (And told him why).  Now he won’t book unless I tell him the hours have been expanded.

Edited June 4, 2019 by vacationlover_mn

[CRUISEFAN0001]

1 hour ago, irzero said:

I have a meeting with director on ship. Sounds positive as hes agreed that I've not got a single benefit yet and a simple refund solves nothing as it's the loss of expectations that hurts more than the money.
 

Good luck.

 

Financial restitution isn't a bad thing, especially when based on a wide mix of reviews...expectations might be overly-optimistic.

[karen_g]

On 6/4/2019 at 9:47 AM, cruise_co said:

Right? Naples or a watered down Chops menu in a corner of the MDR...They insist we need to ask if we can move the lunch to day 3 on the ship. I have just cancelled for our group of 6.  Will just add the internet separately.  Just saved myself over $500.

 

From all I have read, I think you made a wise decision.

[cre8tiv]

19 hours ago, CRUISEFAN0001 said:

Good luck.

 

Financial restitution isn't a bad thing, especially when based on a wide mix of reviews...expectations might be overly-optimistic.

Wrong post, was looking for update to the meeting. 

Edited June 5, 2019 by cre8tiv

[cre8tiv]

20 hours ago, irzero said:

I have a meeting with director on ship. Sounds positive as hes agreed that I've not got a single benefit yet and a simple refund solves nothing as it's the loss of expectations that hurts more than the money

Sent from my SM-N960F using Tapatalk
 

Outcome? Are you satisfied with the meeting? 

[Tree_skier]

I think with all of the unsatisfying reports we're seeing about The Key it is likely to get a full overhaul or simply disappear. Way to many unrealized expectations.