New Program called "The Key"

[ZandZ]

Just checked the cruise planner for my August cruise - the key is not available.  Not sure if it was never offered (Majesty) or sold out.  

[marcg125]

17 minutes ago, ZandZ said:

Just checked the cruise planner for my August cruise - the key is not available.  Not sure if it was never offered (Majesty) or sold out.  

Based on another blog not currently offered on Majesty, Vision of the Seas and Quantum of the Seas.

[ZandZ]

7 minutes ago, marcg125 said:

Based on another blog not currently offered on Majesty, Vision of the Seas and Quantum of the Seas.

Thank you for the info.  That does make sense - there is no specialty restaurant on the Majesty...  However, since I am traveling alone the cost of getting just one, for the internet alone, would have justified it....  

Edited January 23, 2019 by ZandZ
grammar correction

[rhinomike]

Without reading through 35+ pages. Can someone help me figure out how to purchase the key package. We are on Explorer of the Sea boarding July 7th in Southampton, England.  There are five of us with two connecting balcony cabins.  Would love to get the key package. I spoke with our advisor who then referred us to a senior advisor specialist. Neither had ever heard of the key package. I am a newbie to RC. Can I book it online?

[3bzmom]

2 minutes ago, rhinomike said:

Without reading through 35+ pages. Can someone help me figure out how to purchase the key package. We are on Explorer of the Sea boarding July 7th in Southampton, England.  There are five of us with two connecting balcony cabins.  Would love to get the key package. I spoke with our advisor who then referred us to a senior advisor specialist. Neither had ever heard of the key package. I am a newbie to RC. Can I book it online?

If it's available for your sailing, it will appear in your cruise planner under "internet and more."

[rhinomike]

11 minutes ago, 3bzmom said:

If it's available for your sailing, it will appear in your cruise planner under "internet and more."

 

 

K. Got it. I found it. Now I see lots of back and forth going on above. I have two cabins. Me and my wife in one and my three college age kids in a connecting room. Do I have to buy it for all of us or just me and my wife?   It will be $1400 for all five of us. Is it worth it?  We are first time RC cruisers. Platinum on Carnival and NCL.  

[Loonbeam]

4 minutes ago, rhinomike said:

 

 

K. Got it. I found it. Now I see lots of back and forth going on above. I have two cabins. Me and my wife in one and my three college age kids in a connecting room. Do I have to buy it for all of us or just me and my wife?   It will be $1400 for all five of us. Is it worth it?  We are first time RC cruisers. Platinum on Carnival and NCL.  

Officially all in one cabin.  However the others would not be able to early board with you, etc.  

[ZandZ]

8 minutes ago, rhinomike said:

 

 

K. Got it. I found it. Now I see lots of back and forth going on above. I have two cabins. Me and my wife in one and my three college age kids in a connecting room. Do I have to buy it for all of us or just me and my wife?   It will be $1400 for all five of us. Is it worth it?  We are first time RC cruisers. Platinum on Carnival and NCL.  

Its everyone in the cabin i believe... However, if you are looking to enjoy the perks together, you would have to buy for everyone, wouldn't you?

[rhinomike]

22 minutes ago, ZandZ said:

Its everyone in the cabin i believe... However, if you are looking to enjoy the perks together, you would have to buy for everyone, wouldn't you?

 

On the website it gives me the option to book for each person in the cabin. So it goes by person not cabin. So I would have to buy three key packages for one cabins and two key packages for the other cabin. Correct?

[Clarea]

5 minutes ago, rhinomike said:

 

On the website it gives me the option to book for each person in the cabin. So it goes by person not cabin. So I would have to buy three key packages for one cabins and two key packages for the other cabin. Correct?

 

Yes, my understanding is that the option has to be purchased for every passenger in the stateroom.

[Biker19]

11 minutes ago, Host Clarea said:

 

Yes, my understanding is that the option has to be purchased for every passenger in the stateroom.

which is currently not enforced on the web site.

[kdavis5472]

Anyone that purchased the Key - and already sailed - please let us know how it works for the priority seating at shows - I see conflicting info - the Key description states that no reservations are needed, but I saw somewhere else that you still need reservations........  Thanks!!  

[kdavis5472]

20 minutes ago, Host Clarea said:

 

Yes, my understanding is that the option has to be purchased for every passenger in the stateroom.

That is what we did.   I also called RCCL and they told me that was necessary - "if" we wanted the people in both cabins to all receive the same amenities. 

 

[Biker19]

5 minutes ago, kdavis5472 said:

 I see conflicting info - the Key description states that no reservations are needed, but I saw somewhere else that you still need reservations........ 

That's because it could be either. You don't need to reserve the seats (a section is reserved just for Key customers), but to get into the venue you might need a reservation. This is a new program and implementation could vary not only between ships but even sailings.

Edited January 23, 2019 by Biker19

[Blondiemomm]

4 hours ago, HBE4 said:

 

Just to clarify, I was not advocating that someone should try to scam the system by only purchasing one Key. My reply was to the person that was able to only buy one Key for himself and not his wife. There seems to be a "hole" in Royal's system that allowed this to happen.  For that person, that was ok as they wanted it for just themselves  for  some extra Flowrider time.  He didn't mention anything else about the other perks so I assumed those were not a priority to them. Obviously, if he tried to bring his wife to embarkation lunch at Chops or priority seating at a show, that would be a problem.

 

I wonder how many others might unintentionally  break the rules without realizing it due to Royals error and should they be punished for it?

I don't believe its unintentional..they know its wrong but decide to "bend the rules". It would be interesting to see if they can get away with it or if RC will impliment crew to prevent it from becoming an issue. This is how we got to the every adult needing the deluxe package in the cabin situation..

[Blondiemomm]

2 hours ago, Biker19 said:

That's because it could be either. You don't need to reserve the seats (a section is reserved just for Key customers), but to get into the venue you might need a reservation. This is a new program and implementation could vary not only between ships but even sailings.

Apparently the description is because its listed for all ships. Some need reservations while others will not..at least thats what RC told me? The Key is still in infancy stages..give it some time.

[Biker19]

1 minute ago, Blondiemomm said:

I don't believe its unintentional..they know its wrong but decide to "bend the rules".

There's only a small footnote in the planner details telling customers everyone in the cabin must buy - if you just buy it without looking at the details you would never know that RCI's IT system is letting you do something against policy.

[Blondiemomm]

2 hours ago, kdavis5472 said:

Anyone that purchased the Key - and already sailed - please let us know how it works for the priority seating at shows - I see conflicting info - the Key description states that no reservations are needed, but I saw somewhere else that you still need reservations........  Thanks!!  

You DO need reservations for Aqua, Main theatre and Studio B. But your seating is VIP secure on Allure.

[Blondiemomm]

2 minutes ago, Biker19 said:

There's only a small footnote in the planner details telling customers everyone in the cabin must buy - if you just buy it without looking at the details you would never know that RCI's IT system is letting you do something against policy.

Then I guess they are in for a surprise at the port 🙂

[aespo4]

1 minute ago, Blondiemomm said:

You DO need reservations for Aqua, Main theatre and Studio B. But your seating is VIP secure on Allure.

Did you get that info from Royal? When I called them the rep said we did not need them just show up, I thought that was odd so my wife also called and they said the same thing just show up and you can go to all the shows, I think i may contact them again to see what they say this time.

[Biker19]

1 minute ago, Blondiemomm said:

Then I guess they are in for a surprise at the port 🙂

As was mentioned before, very unlikely the ship will either cancel any existing Key purchase or make the rest in the cabin purchase - kinda like they don't enforce the corkage fee.

[aespo4]

2 minutes ago, Biker19 said:

As was mentioned before, very unlikely the ship will either cancel any existing Key purchase or make the rest in the cabin purchase - kinda like they don't enforce the corkage fee.

But they can enforce the others who did not get the Key the privileges of the Key

[Biker19]

Just now, aespo4 said:

Did you get that info from Royal? When I called them the rep said we did not need them just show up, I thought that was odd so my wife also called and they said the same thing just show up and you can go to all the shows, I think i may contact them again to see what they say this time.

The front line CSRs don't know what happens on the ship for all issues - the access really depends on the person with the scanner at the door to the venue - most Key customers can probably talk them into letting them get in without a reservation since they have a seat in the Key section of the venue, but some staff may insist on you waiting till they open the doors to everyone - either way, you should get a seat in Key section.

[Blondiemomm]

4 minutes ago, Biker19 said:

There's only a small footnote in the planner details telling customers everyone in the cabin must buy - if you just buy it without looking at the details you would never know that RCI's IT system is letting you do something against policy.

Its not a small footnote...its a stipulation printed in the same size text as the General description. If you read the description you can't miss it..its right at the bottom...

 

*The key must be purchased prior to sailing by each guest age 6 or older in the same stateroom.

[Blondiemomm]

4 minutes ago, aespo4 said:

Did you get that info from Royal? When I called them the rep said we did not need them just show up, I thought that was odd so my wife also called and they said the same thing just show up and you can go to all the shows, I think i may contact them again to see what they say this time.

Are you on Allure? FOR SURE you need the reso. I have a friend who just sailed last week and had Key and she confirmed it also. She even showed me the welcome letter that states you need them.