Holy cow "The Key" went up in price big!

[CRUISEFAN0001]

8 minutes ago, dbarton02 said:

I'm not going to buy a Crown Loft Suite for my family of four to take a vacation (Horrible father, I know) simply because I know what I can comfortably afford to enjoy time away.  

For those that can?  I salute you!

Actually...there's no need to get extravagant.

 

We upgraded to a nice Junior Suite for less than what some other folks have reported paying for just getting The Key alone...and we get many of the same benefits with the JS. Yup - money well spent is in the eyes of the beholder.

Edited April 29, 2019 by CRUISEFAN0001

[coops]

22 hours ago, CRUISEFAN0001 said:

Actually...there's no need to get extravagant.

 

We upgraded to a nice Junior Suite for less than what some other folks have reported paying for just getting The Key alone...and we get many of the same benefits with the JS. Yup - money well spent is in the eyes of the beholder.

The only thing the JS is like the Key is priority boarding. That's it. Unless they added more things for a JS. Is this the case. Since I have a JS at the end of the month. Thanks

[blueridgemama]

On 4/29/2019 at 4:42 PM, CRUISEFAN0001 said:

Actually...there's no need to get extravagant.

 

We upgraded to a nice Junior Suite for less than what some other folks have reported paying for just getting The Key alone...and we get many of the same benefits with the JS. Yup - money well spent is in the eyes of the beholder.

 

what perks are you getting with your Junior Suite?

[CRUISEFAN0001]

34 minutes ago, blueridgemama said:

 

what perks are you getting with your Junior Suite?

Quick/early on....quick/early off. That's 90% of the value of The Key, and it's included in a JS.

 

The other "The Key" stuff is mostly fluff and questionable dribble. Just read all the posts of people who got "The Key" and then reported back how little it really brought them and how they'd "never get it again".

[blueridgemama]

2 minutes ago, CRUISEFAN0001 said:

Quick/early on....quick/early off. That's 90% of the value of The Key, and it's included in a JS.

 

The other "The Key" stuff is mostly fluff and questionable dribble. Just read all the posts of people who got "The Key" and then reported back how little it really brought them and how they'd "never get it again".

 

There are also many positive reviews. Have read all the posts. Different strokes for different folks. Enjoy your Junior Suite. They look like they are very nice.

[CruisingHusker]

1 hour ago, CRUISEFAN0001 said:

Quick/early on....quick/early off. That's 90% of the value of The Key, and it's included in a JS.

 

The other "The Key" stuff is mostly fluff and questionable dribble. Just read all the posts of people who got "The Key" and then reported back how little it really brought them and how they'd "never get it again".

There is no escorted departure for junior suites unless I am missing some other quick/early off that I have missed while staying in one.  It has only been for grand suites and above.

[blueridgemama]

On 4/29/2019 at 4:42 PM, CRUISEFAN0001 said:

Actually...there's no need to get extravagant.

 

We upgraded to a nice Junior Suite for less than what some other folks have reported paying for just getting The Key alone...and we get many of the same benefits with the JS. Yup - money well spent is in the eyes of the beholder.

 

Just to be fair in your comparison of the perks with a JS and The Key. The only benefit you get in a JS is priority boarding. You do not get priority disembarkation. The Key includes priority embarcation and disembarcation, lunch at Chops, luggage drop off, priority tenders, private hours at some attractions, priority seating at shows, special breakfast and priority disembaration. This is not to say one choice is better than the other. The JS is larger and has upgraded in room amenities, extra points and you can eat dinner in Coastal Kitchen. 

[Tree_skier]

2 hours ago, CRUISEFAN0001 said:

Quick/early on....quick/early off. That's 90% of the value of The Key, and it's included in a JS.

 

The other "The Key" stuff is mostly fluff and questionable dribble. Just read all the posts of people who got "The Key" and then reported back how little it really brought them and how they'd "never get it again".

Internet is fluff and dribble?

[CRUISEFAN0001]

10 hours ago, CruisingHusker said:

There is no escorted departure for junior suites unless I am missing some other quick/early off that I have missed while staying in one.  It has only been for grand suites and above.

Crayons aren't included either...but then...many of us don't require an escort...only a time and opportunity to board and disembark.

[CRUISEFAN0001]

10 hours ago, blueridgemama said:

 

Just to be fair in your comparison of the perks with a JS and The Key. The only benefit you get in a JS is priority boarding. You do not get priority disembarkation. The Key includes priority embarcation and disembarcation, lunch at Chops, luggage drop off, priority tenders, private hours at some attractions, priority seating at shows, special breakfast and priority disembaration. This is not to say one choice is better than the other. The JS is larger and has upgraded in room amenities, extra points and you can eat dinner in Coastal Kitchen. 

Rest assured....priority disembarking doesn't need The Key. We've done it many times among the earliest of passengers for free.

 

Chops lunch - no big deal (if you are willing to wait in the first place).

 

Shows - never had any issue with great seating if you register and get there early enough and simply choose a good seat.

 

Attractions - that one really varies in reviews - many complaints as to the limited timeframes. Also, it really only means something if you wish to use one of the listed items and if the time fits your availability. With primarily the larger ships, it might appeal to some people.

 

Departing special breakfast - we get a fine morning breakfast for free prior to departure. The "special" breakfast isn't that big a deal either.

[CRUISEFAN0001]

9 hours ago, Tree_skier said:

Internet is fluff and dribble?

Internet may or may not be desirable to passengers. The cost can be quite low, and IF you want Voom and IF you're going to use it and IF you want The Key primarily for Voom along with any other valued services...it might be worthwhile for some people on certain larger ships. That's a lot of IF's.

 

Let's face it...this is just another revenue opportunity program from passengers who don't have the experience, C&A status, or alternatives to acquire most of the features of the program (for free). For the majority of recurring passengers...The Key is indeed fluff and dribble - especially when the prices go up from the lower $19.99 rate. Then it flirts with price gouging.

 

 

 

 

Edited May 1, 2019 by CRUISEFAN0001

[er345]

11 hours ago, Tree_skier said:

Internet is fluff and dribble?

Since this thread is specifically about the higher priced Key, currently at $37.99 then the internet is a small part of the price. A lot of people add the Voom to a beverage package for $10 but even a straight purchase of Voom surf and stream is $13.99. A Voom surf & stream package for 4 people is $26.99 ( in my planner).  Key for 4 people is currently $151.96 per day.  That’s a hefty price for the perks.  Not a judgement, clearly there are some who have felt the key was worth it, even for families.  But the new price seems outrageous to me.

[Thorben-Hendrik]

3 hours ago, CRUISEFAN0001 said:

 

Attractions - that one really varies in reviews - many complaints as to the limited timeframes. Also, it really only means something if you wish to use one of the listed items and if the time fits your availability. With primarily the larger ships, it might appeal to some people.

 

 

This benefit has gone to 0.01 from April 24th....not even worth mentioning anymore! 🙄👎

[Iamcruzin]

2 hours ago, CRUISEFAN0001 said:

 

Let's face it...this is just another revenue opportunity program from passengers who don't have the experience, C&A status, or alternatives to acquire most of the features of the program (for free). For the majority of recurring passengers...The Key is indeed fluff and dribble - especially when the prices go up from the lower $19.99 rate. Then it flirts with price gouging.

 

 

I agree but the features of the program are a far cry from free especially at $37.99 a day.

 

 

[Tree_skier]

Far from fluff and dribble I think it is valuble and a major selling feature of the program.  It is my impression, based on anecdotal evidence, that internet is acquired  by the majority of people and that the included wifi is the justification people need to make the purchase.  However at 32.99 it is now a less significant portion and most people, I suspect will forgo the purchase. The other benefits don't have requisite value. 

 

I just tried it.  I think it was about an even split when comparing cost vs. benefit.  I purchased it as 19.99 at 32.99, it's current price on Aots cruise in December, I wouldn't even consider it.  After the internet, the best added value to me was the reserved preferred seating at shows.  I hate waiting in lines.  I have some back problems so standing in line for 30 minutes before they open the door to assure I get the seat I want is a perk that has value to me. That's not fluff and dribble to me, that's real value. Assuming a value of 10 dollars for the internet the remaining perks have to equal the remaining balance of cost. 9.99 I think there is value there... 22.99, nah I'll line up and suffer some pain or I'll be content with lesser seats.

[Tree_skier]

19 minutes ago, er345 said:

Since this thread is specifically about the higher priced Key, currently at $37.99 then the internet is a small part of the price. A lot of people add the Voom to a beverage package for $10 but even a straight purchase of Voom surf and stream is $13.99. A Voom surf & stream package for 4 people is $26.99 ( in my planner).  Key for 4 people is currently $151.96 per day.  That’s a hefty price for the perks.  Not a judgement, clearly there are some who have felt the key was worth it, even for families.  But the new price seems outrageous to me.

I agree that at the higher price it is outrageous.  

[Iamcruzin]

12 hours ago, Tree_skier said:

Internet is fluff and dribble?

At the new inflated price internet for 4 devices is now less expensive. I know people traveling with kids were able to justify the key at $20 and $25 a day  because they were purchasing  Zoom anyway. Now the higher price doesn’t make the deal as sweet anymore.

[Tree_skier]

45 minutes ago, Iamcruzin said:

At the new inflated price internet for 4 devices is now less expensive. I know people traveling with kids were able to justify the key at $20 and $25 a day  because they were purchasing  Zoom anyway. Now the higher price doesn’t make the deal as sweet anymore.

I agree the value is a sliding scale based on the number of people you would be purchasing The Key for and the number of internet packages you would need.

[er345]

If Royal changed the key pricing to a package deal like internet it would be more appealing.  If they offer discounts on every person after the first.  For example, $30 for one, $50 for 2, up to maybe $80 for four people. 

[CRUISEFAN0001]

21 hours ago, er345 said:

If Royal changed the key pricing to a package deal like internet it would be more appealing.  If they offer discounts on every person after the first.  For example, $30 for one, $50 for 2, up to maybe $80 for four people. 

Maybe, maybe not. 

 

They're still in the "guinea pig" phase of this new program...hunting and pecking how it will work right, if it will work, and how many people sign up for it, as well as how many sign up for it more than once. Those things will determine if it even survives, as well as future changes if it's still around in the months ahead.

[later]

They most likely raised the price so they can put it on sale and make it look like a deal which in my opinion it isn’t now.

[actuarian]

The Key is currently being offered on my July 8 Navigator Cruise at $24.99/person/day, a price which is labeled as a "20% discount".  However, it seems to change daily and, within the last week, it has varied from a low of $19.99 to a high of $31.99.  On another cruise that I have booked for November 24 on the Explorer, the price shows as $19.99 right now.  However, my wife and I have a GS booked for that November cruise.  I wonder whether the site is programmed to automatically reduce the price of The Key when one has a suite booked.  After all, The Key is much less valuable when you have a GS since most of the benefits are duplicated,

Edited May 2, 2019 by actuarian

[Clarea]

28 minutes ago, actuarian said:

 ...  I wonder whether the site is programmed to automatically reduce the price of The Key when one has a suite booked.  After all, The Key is much less valuable when you have a GS since most of the benefits are duplicated,

 

Doubtful.

[GUEST71919]

4 hours ago, actuarian said:

The Key is currently being offered on my July 8 Navigator Cruise at $24.99/person/day, a price which is labeled as a "20% discount".  However, it seems to change daily and, within the last week, it has varied from a low of $19.99 to a high of $31.99.  On another cruise that I have booked for November 24 on the Explorer, the price shows as $19.99 right now.  However, my wife and I have a GS booked for that November cruise.  I wonder whether the site is programmed to automatically reduce the price of The Key when one has a suite booked.  After all, The Key is much less valuable when you have a GS since most of the benefits are duplicated,

True - and as I have said before (and to RCL), I think they will lose some of their suite’s guests because at the original price point of the key  the key holders were getting in some ways superior benefits to the suite guests (like VOOM included) and for a far, far lower price (yes, suites are bigger, and the benefits differ some, but a lot of what many people are paying for when they book a suite are those perks that go with them and compared to the key program the suite guests were usually paying considerably more for their perks).  I am sure Royal will do what works for the bottom line, but it’s possible that the new program is producing some secondary effects that they had not counted on resulting in the increased cost.

Edited May 3, 2019 by 2Beeze

[tinkr2]

On 4/27/2019 at 1:22 PM, klfrodo said:

Obviously the price point was set too low.

The benefits are very nice and in some cases have reduced the benefits for those who earned them the hard way.

I welcome the increase in pricing. The Key is meant to be exclusive. Set the price point to make it exclusive. Sell fewer spots but still make the projected revenue.

What benefits are being lost to people who buy them , rather than earned them the hard way... of taking luxury cruise vacations, repeatedly?

On 4/27/2019 at 1:43 PM, Ashland said:

I earned my D+ benefits the hard way...with the thought that would be exclusive...not so much anymore.

The hard way again, darn these cruises are tough. And what exclusivity have you lost?