New Program called "The Key"

[brillohead]

1 hour ago, jennyumaa said:

 

Thank you. Then the price makes a lot more sense. Right now it's 16.99/person/day on a 10-day cruise.

Keep in mind that purchasing a shared 4-device plan is usually around $7-$8/person/day, if you want to compare apples to apples.

[jennyumaa]

5 minutes ago, brillohead said:

Keep in mind that purchasing a shared 4-device plan is usually around $7-$8/person/day, if you want to compare apples to apples.

 

That's a good point! Right now the 4-device plan is $36.37 per day. So port tendering is the only possible benefit that can be of any use to us...

[M-H-B]

16 hours ago, jennyumaa said:

 

Thank you. The downside is that the little kids in the room do not need in the internet but we still have to buy Key for every one of them. On the other hand, it's a port-intensive itinerary, so priority in tendering is attractive...

Only kids 6 and over need to pay for the Key. I took my son when he was just about to turn 6 (in literally days) and he got all the benefits of the key but no charge. 

How old are yours? 

[jennyumaa]

Right above 6. :-(

[brillohead]

On 11/17/2019 at 11:44 AM, jennyumaa said:

 

That's a good point! Right now the 4-device plan is $36.37 per day. So port tendering is the only possible benefit that can be of any use to us...

And don't forget to watch for sales -- last year for Black Friday/Cyber Monday, I got the 4-device plan for $26.99!

[SusieMN]

We are booking our tours privately or exploring on our own. 

 

I am thinking of getting the Key for a Jewel of the Seas 7 day Baltic cruise, primarily for the early debarkation  (from the RCL site: Priority departure at ports of call from ship-to-shore)$16.99/day.

 

I wanted to be sure the Key early debarkation applies the same whether you book your own shore excursions versus one through RCL. 

 

Any insight is appreciated!

 

 

[BNBR]

17 minutes ago, SusieMN said:

We are booking our tours privately or exploring on our own. 

 

I am thinking of getting the Key for a Jewel of the Seas 7 day Baltic cruise, primarily for the early debarkation  (from the RCL site: Priority departure at ports of call from ship-to-shore)$16.99/day.

 

I wanted to be sure the Key early debarkation applies the same whether you book your own shore excursions versus one through RCL. 

 

Any insight is appreciated!

 

 

 

I can't speak for Jewel, but I can tell you early debarkation on Symphony didn't exist.  They just walked you down with everyone else once the gangway was open.  No front of line or anything else.  We didn't bother after the first time trying it.  There may be some value if tendering though.

[SusieMN]

18 minutes ago, BNBR said:

 

I can't speak for Jewel, but I can tell you early debarkation on Symphony didn't exist.  They just walked you down with everyone else once the gangway was open.  No front of line or anything else.  We didn't bother after the first time trying it.  There may be some value if tendering though.

 

Thank you! That leads to another question outside of they key, but do you know how to tell which ports have tenders? 

[Clarea]

8 minutes ago, SusieMN said:

 

Thank you! That leads to another question outside of they key, but do you know how to tell which ports have tenders? 

 

Your pre-cruise itinerary will list the ports as "docked" or "tendered".

[blueridgemama]

55 minutes ago, SusieMN said:

 

Thank you! That leads to another question outside of they key, but do you know how to tell which ports have tenders? 

 

try:

 

royalcaribbean.com/experience/accessible-cruising/additional-assistance

[SusieMN]

2 hours ago, blueridgemama said:

 

try:

 

royalcaribbean.com/experience/accessible-cruising/additional-assistance

Thank you! Super helpful. 

[jennyumaa]

On 11/18/2019 at 1:10 PM, brillohead said:

And don't forget to watch for sales -- last year for Black Friday/Cyber Monday, I got the 4-device plan for $26.99!

 

I just purchased the 4-device surf & stream package for $22.99/day!

[brillohead]

On 11/26/2019 at 2:33 PM, jennyumaa said:

 

I just purchased the 4-device surf & stream package for $22.99/day!

Showing as $23.99/day on my Oasis cruise for next year, Classic Soda is $6.50/day, and Refreshment package is $19.00/day. 

I wish I had more cruises booked right now!

[CHEWZGURLCRUISER]

On 11/6/2018 at 6:36 AM, laumicmah said:

I would hope it's just $24.95pp for whole cruise and not per day. I'd pay $100 for it on a cruise with tender ports.

Wonder how much it would cost for a 6 day cruise? Im debating on wether to get it or not for my next cruise 

[blueridgemama]

10 hours ago, CHEWZGURLCRUISER said:

Wonder how much it would cost for a 6 day cruise? Im debating on wether to get it or not for my next cruise 

It's  per person per day for everyone 6 years old and older.

[20165]

We read some of the posts on the key and the reviews seemed mixed so i wanted to see if folks that got this service on previous cruises would do it again.  Some of the perks such as early boarding, VIP seats, and early access to some of the attractions are of interest, some, like lunch at chops and early disembarkation not so much.  We bought it for about $200pp on black Friday and considering that it includes internet which we would have purchased anyway, it brings the price down to $120-150ish depending on the internet option we picked.  

So long story short, knowing what you do now that you have already cruised with the key, would you do it again?

thanks

 

[Clarea]

11 minutes ago, 20165 said:

We read some of the posts on the key and the reviews seemed mixed so i wanted to see if folks that got this service on previous cruises would do it again.  Some of the perks such as early boarding, VIP seats, and early access to some of the attractions are of interest, some, like lunch at chops and early disembarkation not so much.  We bought it for about $200pp on black Friday and considering that it includes internet which we would have purchased anyway, it brings the price down to $120-150ish depending on the internet option we picked.  

So long story short, knowing what you do now that you have already cruised with the key, would you do it again?

thanks

 

 

See reviews here:

 

https://boards.cruisecritic.com/topic/2659054-key-reviews/

 

[LMaxwell]

On 11/26/2019 at 9:55 AM, SusieMN said:

 

 

I wanted to be sure the Key early debarkation applies the same whether you book your own shore excursions versus one through RCL. 

 

 

 

You don't have to have any excursion booked at all.  Using the Key benefit for priority debarkation is offered in the program; what you do when off is up to you.  

[sburrus4]

Anyone know is they limit the number of people who can purchase “The Key”?  I’ve read the reviews on it, but can’t seem to find out if a ton of people purchase it or if it’s a small group. 
 

if it helps, I’m traveling on Indy in Feb. 

[bradski]

the Key is sold out on my cruise next week. 

[blueridgemama]

58 minutes ago, sburrus4 said:

Anyone know is they limit the number of people who can purchase “The Key”?  I’ve read the reviews on it, but can’t seem to find out if a ton of people purchase it or if it’s a small group. 
 

if it helps, I’m traveling on Indy in Feb. 

 

They do limit the number sold. It supposedly started at 100 per sailing and then I read that it increased to 200. I dont think anyone knows for sure.

It is still available on my Oasis of the Seas cruise in February.

[TheRisleyFamily2021]

2 hours ago, sburrus4 said:

Anyone know is they limit the number of people who can purchase “The Key”?  I’ve read the reviews on it, but can’t seem to find out if a ton of people purchase it or if it’s a small group. 
 

if it helps, I’m traveling on Indy in Feb. 

It depends on the size of the ship and the season. For our Thanksgiving cruise on Symphony I was told 350 by a head waiter who worked the Key Lunch. 

[TheRisleyFamily2021]

On 12/2/2019 at 1:32 PM, LMaxwell said:

 

You don't have to have any excursion booked at all.  Using the Key benefit for priority debarkation is offered in the program; what you do when off is up to you. 

There was NO escorted priority debarkation at Costa Maya, Cozumel or Coco Cay on our Thanksgiving cruise on Symphony. Very disappointing. 

[cruisegus]

1 hour ago, LiamsMommy2008 said:

There was NO escorted priority debarkation at Costa Maya, Cozumel or Coco Cay on our Thanksgiving cruise on Symphony. Very disappointing. 

Priority debarkation I believe only applies to the last day for final debarkation. the only time you have priority at ports is for tenders

[TheRisleyFamily2021]

On 12/2/2019 at 1:11 PM, 20165 said:

 

 

Edited December 5, 2019 by LiamsMommy2008