Is The Key worth it? - Freedom of the Seas

[travelbug4]

Just checked in for an upcoming cruise and got a 1:30 check in time.   Then saw the Key (we are new to RCCL).  

 

Has anyone used The Key on Freedom of the Seas recently? 

I'm wondering if it will give us an earlier boarding time so we can get to the Chops lunch.  Also wondering what times the flowrider and rock wall times are for the Key.   And also it says you get to choose departure time.  Does anyone know how late that is?  Is it right after the breakfast?

 

Thanks for your help.  Just weighing our options and learning 🙂   Any other details about it would be great!

[leaveitallbehind]

I think only you can decide if it is a good value for you.  The normal prices are $25.99 per guest per day, and everyone in the stateroom over age 6 needs to purchase it.  This price can vary with promotional sales.  So at normal pricing two guests in a stateroom would have a total cost for a 7-night cruise of $363.86.  It needs to be purchased pre-cruise on the planner and not on board.  Here is a link to the benefits provided with the Key:

 

https://www.royalcaribbean.com/faq/questions/what-are-the-benefits-of-the-key-program

 

Perhaps others can provide more details regarding some of the specific questions you ask.  IMO it seems pricey for the benefits, but that again is an individual decision.

 

Enjoy your cruise.  Freedom is a great ship!

Edited March 24, 2022 by leaveitallbehind

[RobInMN]

I think of it this way: It gives you a couple suite-like perks and a couple loyalty-like perks without having a suite or the loyalty level.

I did it once, and I got a good deal on it, and did it primarily for my in-laws. A couple of the perks were just nice for them, and made some things easier for them.

But in general, I doubt I would use it again, at least just for my wife & I. For me personally, even if there's a good deal on it, I just find it hard to get a lot of value out of it, even when I was Platinum and in a non-suite.

You're going to get a lot of varying opinions.

[twins_to_alaska]

Yes, it gives you an earlier boarding time because of the Chops lunch.

 

This thread

for Oasis said to arrive between 11-11:30 to enjoy the lunch. Said if not able to make the early access window should arrive within appointment time and will receive priority access into the terminal.

[death_star]

We did it at 19.99 a day last month on Freedom. We were able to board early and had a nice lunch in a pretty empty MDR. Dropping off the carry on luggage was nice too. I never saw anything about when the extra time on the wall or flowrider was so could not use this. There weren't any paper planners so not sure if they had it there or where. Departure you get priority luggage tags and you can get off whenever you want. We had a nice breakfast and were some of the last ones off judging by the very little luggage that was left in the terminal. Did not take advantage of any show seating so can't tell you about that.

 

We did it purely because our kids were young enough that we didn't have to pay for them, and the cost was only a bit more than the wifi alone. If we had to pay for all of us would not do it. Also for longer cruises even at the same price we would probably not as your savings on that special lunch are less versus just paying at a specialty on boarding day.

 

 

 

 

[travelbug4]

Thanks everyone.  It looks like the price dropped overnight and is now down to 29.99 per person per day.  Does it keep dropping?  I like the 19.99 you mentioned! 🙂

 

[Joseph2017China]

It's a great deal for the cruise line, but a rip off for the cabin

 

[DCPIV]

I've never been able to make it really make sense, but it does come pretty close.  You are correct that it isn't all that much once you back out the wifi, but even then we don't see much value in the other perks.

[taglovestocruise]

39 minutes ago, Joseph2017China said:

It's a great deal for the cruise line, but a rip off for the cabin

 

+ 1, Total rip off unless everyone in the cabin is getting Voom. Chop's lunch is in the MDR, priority show seating is in the balcony with D+ and the Pin's  . Ice show is only place with decent seating for the key holders. Anyone can ask the room steward for early departure tags. 

[DCPIV]

54 minutes ago, taglovestocruise said:

+ 1, Total rip off unless everyone in the cabin is getting Voom. Chop's lunch is in the MDR, priority show seating is in the balcony with D+ and the Pin's  . Ice show is only place with decent seating for the key holders. Anyone can ask the room steward for early departure tags. 

 

And the carry-on drop off just isn't worth a whole lot.  The rooms are open by the time we've eaten, had a drink, and wandered around for just a little bit.

[graphicguy]

Just looked at this for my upcoming Ovation sailing in May.  I have a check in time of 10:30 a.m. so early checkin means little to me.

 

The CHOPS lunch doesn't sound like it's special.

 

The rest, not sure it's worth much of anything.  Sort of reminds me of Carnival's old "Faster to the Fun" thing (which they stopped doing).  That didn't make much sense to me, either.

[leaveitallbehind]

18 hours ago, travelbug4 said:

Thanks everyone.  It looks like the price dropped overnight and is now down to 29.99 per person per day.  Does it keep dropping?  I like the 19.99 you mentioned! 🙂

 

Dropped to $29.99 - from what?  That would make it $419.86 for two for 7-nights!  Base price must have really increased with the restart.  That seems very high to me and  I don't see the value in the program for the perks offered at that price. I always thought it was very pricey at the old $25.99 to begin with.  JMO.

 

I would check the price for Voom for 1 device and Chops lunch a la carte and start there for comparison.  BTW, do you have a port of call at Grand Cayman? - that would typically be the only tender port where that perk would come into play.

Edited March 25, 2022 by leaveitallbehind

[travelbug4]

Lots of great thoughts, thank you.

 

It was 34.99 the other day and now 29.99.   This is just a quick 3 night cruise

[leaveitallbehind]

38 minutes ago, travelbug4 said:

Lots of great thoughts, thank you.

 

It was 34.99 the other day and now 29.99.   This is just a quick 3 night cruise

Still proportionately a lot IMO.  $34.99 is a $9 increase over the pre-pandemic rates!  But as mentioned before it is a personal decision and if it is attractive to you, that's all that matters.  BTW as it is a 3-night cruise, there are no tender ports, so that benefit won't apply.

 

Enjoy your cruise.  

 

 

Edited March 25, 2022 by leaveitallbehind

[jaygatsby27]

On 3/24/2022 at 12:28 PM, death_star said:

We did it at 19.99 a day last month on Freedom. We were able to board early and had a nice lunch in a pretty empty MDR. Dropping off the carry on luggage was nice too. I never saw anything about when the extra time on the wall or flowrider was so could not use this. There weren't any paper planners so not sure if they had it there or where. Departure you get priority luggage tags and you can get off whenever you want. We had a nice breakfast and were some of the last ones off judging by the very little luggage that was left in the terminal. Did not take advantage of any show seating so can't tell you about that.

 

We did it purely because our kids were young enough that we didn't have to pay for them, and the cost was only a bit more than the wifi alone. If we had to pay for all of us would not do it. Also for longer cruises even at the same price we would probably not as your savings on that special lunch are less versus just paying at a specialty on boarding day.

 

how earaly is the boarding?  is it just the first general oarding group or is it earlier than that?  i am scheduled to board at 11 on my next cruise. 

 

 

 

[livingonthebeach]

On 3/24/2022 at 10:27 AM, travelbug4 said:

Just checked in for an upcoming cruise and got a 1:30 check in time.   Then saw the Key (we are new to RCCL).  

 

Has anyone used The Key on Freedom of the Seas recently? 

I'm wondering if it will give us an earlier boarding time so we can get to the Chops lunch.  Also wondering what times the flowrider and rock wall times are for the Key.   And also it says you get to choose departure time.  Does anyone know how late that is?  Is it right after the breakfast?

 

Thanks for your help.  Just weighing our options and learning 🙂   Any other details about it would be great!

 

It's worth it only when it goes on sale and a few dollars more than the Voom Surf + Stream -- otherwise no. 

[death_star]

1 hour ago, jaygatsby27 said:

 

This is what was in the email letter

 

"Please arrive at the terminal between 11:00 AM - 11:30 AM. If you are not able to make the early access window, you should arrive within your appointment time and will receive priority access into the terminal."

[Pomc99]

Bought the Key for next month’s cruise on the Allure. Price was $23, so only $3 more per day than the voom streaming internet access it includes. 
 

I decided it was worth it for my wife and myself for two reasons. First, the Key only, hour of flow rider time each day. I loved the flow rider when cruising in November and want as much time as I can get on it. Also want my wife to try it out as well because she will enjoy it. 
 

Second, having reserved seats for all the shows. I don’t need the best seats in the house, and certainly won’t waste valuable fun time by getting to a venue 45 min early to reserve seats. With the Key, we can get there 15 min before show time and know where we are sitting and don’t need to look for seats. 

Edited April 10, 2022 by Pomc99

[Floating Lanai]

I did it once before covid. At that time, internet was not included in the package so the price was lower.

Right now, they key is more expensive than the unlimited dining package, which is backwards in my opinion. The dining package has more value to me than the key. 

I mainly want the key to board early, it would be nice if the package had levels (w/out internet, w/out chops lunch etc). 
 

[TennisCruiser62]

On 4/9/2022 at 9:43 AM, jaygatsby27 said:

 

For the choice departure and getting off anytime you want, do you still have to wait in line with everyone else? Pre-pandemic we were escorted off by a crew member and bypassed all lines and were out on the street in 10 min. There were probably 200-300 people waiting in this long, long line! 

[xtremegk]

I've seen some reports of some ships including room service with The Key. I wish they would include that as a standard fleetwide -- it would help push me to buy it for my May cruise.

[notscb]

Most reviews of The Key are so-so about its usefulness, but I decided to get it as it was only $3/day more than the surf+stream internet package and includes surf+stream as a part of its benefits. I figured it'd be nice to get a special lunch day of boarding and breakfast day of departure, plus an easier time at the cruise terminal day of boarding as well made it worth it for the extra (very small) bit.

[Biker19]

6 hours ago, notscb said:

as well made it worth it for the extra (very small) bit.

Welcome to CC.

 

I'm sure RCI appreciates it that you give them all of the extra "small" bits.

[Mapleleafforever]

On 4/10/2022 at 9:31 AM, Pomc99 said:

Bought the Key for next month’s cruise on the Allure. Price was $23, so only $3 more per day than the voom streaming internet access it includes. 
 

I decided it was worth it for my wife and myself for two reasons. First, the Key only, hour of flow rider time each day. I loved the flow rider when cruising in November and want as much time as I can get on it. Also want my wife to try it out as well because she will enjoy it. 
 

Second, having reserved seats for all the shows. I don’t need the best seats in the house, and certainly won’t waste valuable fun time by getting to a venue 45 min early to reserve seats. With the Key, we can get there 15 min before show time and know where we are sitting and don’t need to look for seats. 

A 20 dollar tip can help ensure the same thing.

[AF-1]

Good info on this thread; both pro's and con's for this program.  Thanks for the info.