New Program called "The Key"

[TennisCruiser62]

Our Anthem cruise in April also “had” time slots available for iFly and North Star, but more recently does not show the option. Must have reached their limit. The Key and drink packages also have gone up in price, but was expected as I kept receiving emails from RCCL to buy before it goes up! It did!

[Jenglish711]

7 hours ago, zooma said:

@Jenglish711 -- Don't want to mislead.... We were able to prebook some times for iFly and North Star for our June Anthem cruise, so they are available, at least on some sailings. (Although I was bummed they did not open up North Star availability for Day 1, while still in NY.)  You should be fine because I think you'll get an assigned time for iFly regardless, but if you don't like that time, go see if you can book your preferred time on your own once you board. 

 

Yeah, I figured I just missed a window. It was 10 years between our first and second cruises (second was Celebrity Summit August 2018 and that was a much simpler ship, lol), so this whole HUGE SHIP MANY ACTIVITIES BOOK THINGS BEFOREHAND thing is still new to me. 

 

That being said I'm extra glad I purchased the Key - get onboard early enough with priority to sign up for things there or, failing (or forgetting, let's be honest) that, get our little slip with private Key hours. 

[ShillyShally]

For those who recently traveled with the Key - especially on Independence or Port Everglades - can you show up to board at any time and just tell them you have the key?  I checked in 3 of us a few weeks ago and we have an earlier time than my son's gf but I did get us all the key so I'm hoping we can just say we have the key and avoid the check-in time discrepancy!

[Orsino]

33 minutes ago, ShillyShally said:

For those who recently traveled with the Key - especially on Independence or Port Everglades - can you show up to board at any time and just tell them you have the key?  I checked in 3 of us a few weeks ago and we have an earlier time than my son's gf but I did get us all the key so I'm hoping we can just say we have the key and avoid the check-in time discrepancy!

 

It is my understanding that you all can show up at the same time regardless if you have The Key or not.

[ShillyShally]

Just now, Orsino said:

 

It is my understanding that you all can show up at the same time regardless if you have The Key or not.

Thanks I was thinking I remembered that but on previous cruises I was checking in family members so I knew everyone's address and travel documents already lol - this time needed to wait for college son to text back on GF's info 🙂

[lovescats5]

Can anyone tell me what their experience has been with the Key on Liberty?  We will be in a suite and are trying to research if the Key would be something to consider.  Thanks for any and all help.

[heyya604]

On 2/3/2019 at 8:35 AM, tinkermom said:

Just got off Allure if the Seas and we decided to use our onboard credits to help purchase the new “Key” program access.  We definitely think it’s worth it.  It is almost like you are being treated like a suite guest.  Reserved seating at all shows was very nice so we didn’t have to get there early to get good seats. It was such a great boarding expernce and then we had a quiet lunch at Chops grill.  Our cabin was ready when we finished lunch so we went straight to our cabin from there.  Seemed like every time there was a line (except for the crazy Windjammer restaurant ) we just showed our seapass card that had a little key sticker on it , and we were taken another way and treated special.  Last night we were given special tags for our luggage and told we could get off the ship anytime from 7:30 - 10:30 am.  We had a special menu breakfast this morning in the Grand dining room on deck 4. After leaving the ship we were escorted through the suite exit and our luggage was in a special area.  

 

Just thought I would share our experience and thoughts in case anyone was considering purchasing the Key program.

Hello, we also purchased the Key. It’s 90 days until we sail, so I checkecked in online and printed Sail Passes, but no mention of the Key. My understanding is that it also gives you Priority boarding. How is this recognizable? Thank you

[3bzmom]

Just follow the signs for suite guests, or if they have a Key sign, go there. Your seapass doesn’t have the info. Just tell the reps you see that you’re Key and they will send you on your way. 😊

[rockmom]

52 minutes ago, heyya604 said:

Hello, we also purchased the Key. It’s 90 days until we sail, so I checkecked in online and printed Sail Passes, but no mention of the Key. My understanding is that it also gives you Priority boarding. How is this recognizable? Thank you

We sail in 90 days as well. I always print off my purchase confirmations for things like dining, beverage, excursions--and I'll print out my Key confirmation too.  

Edited February 19, 2019 by rockmom

[heyya604]

15 minutes ago, rockmom said:

We sail in 90 days as well. I always print off my purchase confirmations for things like dining, beverage, excursions--and I'll print out my Key confirmation too.  

Good idea. I also read that there will be signage directing Key members to a different line to check in. See you there 😊

Edited February 19, 2019 by heyya604
Spelling error

[rockmom]

3 minutes ago, heyya604 said:

Good idea. I also read that there will be signage directing Key members to a different line to check in. See you there 😊

I think you're on Oasis?  I'm on Allure.  Safe travels to FL from BC (I live in the 'other' Vancouver).  We are heading to Florida on the 17th so we don't stress on getting there, have a day to sit on the beach and get used to eastern time.  

[seanjulz]

Has anyone had any experience with the key on the Ovation yet just wondered if any photos of the extra sessions 

[ShillyShally]

12 hours ago, rockmom said:

We sail in 90 days as well. I always print off my purchase confirmations for things like dining, beverage, excursions--and I'll print out my Key confirmation too.  

Under 2 weeks, in my printing/packing stage - thanks for the reminder to print that off!

[slyster]

On ‎2‎/‎14‎/‎2019 at 12:47 PM, JRondo said:

Has anyone used on the Key on Freedom or departing from Puerto Rico?

 

It seems from another thread that it is treated a little differently on each ship or port depending on facilities, etc.

 

Thank you!

 

I'm looking for this information too.  SJ is one of the ports where they make you wait outside in the heat.  Really not fond of that so hoping that purchasing a Key gets you in the doors.

[ajtaylor29]

FYI, i've been considering The Key for our May cruise on the Anthem. I saved it in my shopping cart a week ago but couldn't decide to pull the trigger for $32 a day. Yesterday it was still $32. Well, i just looked in my cruise planner and the price has dropped to $25!! Now it's "on sale".....i think i'm going to snag it. For us, priority boarding is huge (we use FTTF on Carnival), embarkation lunch away from the buffet is a plus, and having access to special hours at some of the activities seems well worth it!

I'm wondering if the price drop is for everybody today or just certain ships/dates??

[Port72]

34 minutes ago, ajtaylor29 said:

FYI, i've been considering The Key for our May cruise on the Anthem. I saved it in my shopping cart a week ago but couldn't decide to pull the trigger for $32 a day. Yesterday it was still $32. Well, i just looked in my cruise planner and the price has dropped to $25!! Now it's "on sale".....i think i'm going to snag it. For us, priority boarding is huge (we use FTTF on Carnival), embarkation lunch away from the buffet is a plus, and having access to special hours at some of the activities seems well worth it!

I'm wondering if the price drop is for everybody today or just certain ships/dates??

Go for it, you can always cancel and buy again if it drops back to $19.  Better than $32 per day.

 

[ajtaylor29]

2 minutes ago, Port72 said:

Go for it, you can always cancel and buy again if it drops back to $19.  Better than $32 per day.

 

Good point! Definitely better than $32!

 

[cccult]

Our 7d cruise on Liberty in May is still at $19

I never noticed it go up either. Though I wasn't interested in checking it out so haven't been paying close attention to it's price.

It's strange that the price is so drastically different for some ships.

[xpcdoojk]

Ha!  I bought at $19.99 then it went up to $31.99 now it is $24.99.  Crazy.

 

jc

[RG306]

My symphony sailing is now 24.99 however it is not marked as a sale.  I wonder if they realize they overshot at 32.99, the regular price will now be 24.99 and the sale 19.99? Either way I'm glad I got it at 19.99, any more and it loses its value for me.

[rockmom]

20 minutes ago, RG306 said:

My symphony sailing is now 24.99 however it is not marked as a sale.  I wonder if they realize they overshot at 32.99, the regular price will now be 24.99 and the sale 19.99? Either way I'm glad I got it at 19.99, any more and it loses its value for me.

Ah, so it's back to the 'original' price again.  I just looked at mine is back to $24.99 again on Allure in May.  That's what the price was when it first appeared a while back in the Planner. I thought that was too much, but did purchase it when it dropped to $19.99.  As you mention, the $24.99 doesn't say that it's a sale price, so maybe they are going back to the old pricing. Not sure how many people purchased at that $31.99 price point.  That's pretty steep, even on the ships that have more options to benefit from it, like Oasis or Quantum class.  

[Dspcentury]

I was surprised that the price went from 19.99 to 31.99 for the key. I called RCCL and the representative said he said that the 19.99 was a promotion. The 31.99 is the price for now. He said it is best to get it now because there will be a limited supply. If the price is reduced then you can cancel the previous keys and repurchased and the lower price. So tonight I saw them at 24.99 pp and I repurchased my keys. I am much happier. If it goes down again, I will repeat the process!!

 

David

[er345]

The key is sold out for our upcoming Symphony cruise.  Like everyone else has seen it was $19.99 for a long time and jumped to $32.  Now it is unavailable to buy pre-cruise 2 weeks out.  If they truly sell only 100 per ship, then I guess it’s much easier to sell out on a ship of 6,000 people. 

[Orsino]

I think with the key selling out on cruises, royal was either going to increase the number of keys or increase the price. Increasing the price makes sense if they are easily selling out, and is the better of the two choices rather than diluting the product with more than 100 keys. 

Of course that is easy for me to say since I bought at 19.99. 

[CRUIS4ME]

..whatever happened to the time one would think going on a cruise vacation was special enough....just call me crazy....