The Key + Tender Ports

[aroundtheworld96]

I am considering purchasing "The Key" for our 2024 Mediterranean cruise on Voyager which has a tender-heavy itinerary (Mykonos, Zakynthos and Kotor). I see that The Key offers priority for tendering, but I am trying to get an idea of what that looks like. Is there a separate line for people with The Key? Or do you still have to make your way through the regular line? I am trying to find more specific information to determine if it makes more sense to just book RC excursions at tender ports (not really keen of having to push my way to the front of the crowd) or if this is something that is more organized. Thanks!

[Biker19]

35 minutes ago, aroundtheworld96 said:

Is there a separate line for people with The Key? Or do you still have to make your way through the regular line?

Usually no, but you are supposed to be able to simply go to the front of the line.

[JK805]

Haven’t done Med, but usually there’s a meet up point for Key guests and they escort you to the tender for priority boarding. You should also get a call in your room the day before giving you the info. My only tender experience with Royal I had a Royal sponsored excursion, so we already had tender arranged and didn’t use the Key benefit. 

[Ashland]

You are given a time to meet other Key holders and suite guests at a certain area and they escort the group down to board the tender.

[RedIguana]

My only experience with The Key and tendering was last August, Explorer at Grand Cayman. Arrived at the disembarkation floor, enquired about Key tendering from the first RCL employee I saw, and was promptly whisked past the line and straight onto the 95% full tender. Note that the priority (at least in our case) is only for disembarking, expect to wait in line to embark the ship on the way back. This was probably a half hour to hour after tendering had started.

[Jkaczanowski]

Odyssey Key in May at Santorini - we were given 3 times (half hour apart) we could meet somewhere on ship (I think Boleros?) and be escorted to tender

[Jimbo]

If you bought the Key................when Checking In for your Cruise do you actually need a Check In Time? or can you pretty much board anytime you want? also at the end of your cruise, at your home port do Key people get off even before the Carry Off people who leave the ship on the last Morning.\

 

This would be for Bayonne, NJ Cape Liberty

Edited June 15, 2023 by Jimbo

[Jkaczanowski]

I have key for my Liberty sailing from Bayonne Tuesday.  My set sail pass check in time is 11, but key letter says to arrive 11:30-12.  So there may be a slight advantage to checking in when it opens especially since Bayonne traffic seems better earlier.  
 

For Odyssey in May, key disembark came after Self carry at roughly same time as suite/pinnacle.  

[Biker19]

1 hour ago, Jimbo said:

This would be for Bayonne, NJ Cape Liberty

Go to the suite line just about any time.

[teddybear231]

16 hours ago, Jimbo said:

If you bought the Key................when Checking In for your Cruise do you actually need a Check In Time? or can you pretty much board anytime you want? also at the end of your cruise, at your home port do Key people get off even before the Carry Off people who leave the ship on the last Morning.\

 

This would be for Bayonne, NJ Cape Liberty

 

Could you basically board anytime you want, there is a separate line for the Key.

 

Regarding disembarking the ship, you have to wait in line with others who didn't purchase the Key if you want to be one of the first ones to walk off with your luggage. It's basically whoever gets in line first. Now if you are having them take your luggage off for you, then you would be one of the first numbers to be called (but this is after the carry off people disembark).

[Jimbo]

1 hour ago, teddybear231 said:

 

Could you basically board anytime you want, there is a separate line for the Key.

 

Regarding disembarking the ship, you have to wait in line with others who didn't purchase the Key if you want to be one of the first ones to walk off with your luggage. It's basically whoever gets in line first. Now if you are having them take your luggage off for you, then you would be one of the first numbers to be called (but this is after the carry off people disembark).

Would be nice to use the Key to get off before  the Walk Offs to be first in a line for a taxi..........We need a  short ride from Cape Liberty to a car rental........I can just imagine how long the line will be after the walk offs get off.........

 

Would think of using Uber maybe but for such a short drive to the car rental(about 3 miles) no one might not want to pick us up. The driver then has to get back in line to get back into the port again.

[Biker19]

1 hour ago, Jimbo said:

Would think of using Uber maybe but for such a short drive to the car rental(about 3 miles) no one might not want to pick us up. The driver then has to get back in line to get back into the port again.

The Ubers are not in a line like taxis and they can pick up fares anywhere.

[Jimbo]

7 hours ago, Biker19 said:

The Ubers are not in a line like taxis and they can pick up fares anywhere.

But don't the Uber drivers still have to wait in the same long line to get into the port like the rest of the passengers who drive to the port. Some say it can be 30 to 45 minutes to get to the drop off , pick up area. from Rt 440.

 

Uber drivers and taxi's can't by pass the long line to get into the port can they?

 

Will an Uber driver accept a 3  mile trip when he could hold out for a person who wants a ride to one of the airports?

Edited June 17, 2023 by Jimbo

[Biker19]

28 minutes ago, Jimbo said:

Some say it can be 30 to 45 minutes to get to the drop off , pick up area. from Rt 440.

Such a long back up is rare and typically only for drop offs of embarking passengers during peak times for large ships like Oasis. Back ups in the morning for disembarking passengers vary by time of day and size of ship but much shorter - for Jewel there'll probably be none most of the morning.

[JK805]

13 hours ago, Jimbo said:

Would be nice to use the Key to get off before  the Walk Offs to be first in a line for a taxi..........We need a  short ride from Cape Liberty to a car rental........I can just imagine how long the line will be after the walk offs get off.........

 

Would think of using Uber maybe but for such a short drive to the car rental(about 3 miles) no one might not want to pick us up. The driver then has to get back in line to get back into the port again.

My experience with disembarking with the Key is either go to the meet up point and they walk you directly to be scanned off, or mention to a crew member near the line/exit you have the Key and they put you right in the line a few people back from being scanned off.