New Program called "The Key"

[island lady]

39 minutes ago, Cigar King said:

That is crazy...why send these out to suite guests.  Royal's IT staff is terrible.

 

 

 

Yeah, and not only that...they sent it to a Royal DS!!    Like we would need that!!  😉 

[island lady]

3 minutes ago, Paulette3028 said:

 IF you read the promotional information via the link provided....the cost is per person/per day.....NOT worth it to me.

 

Yup, 350.00 for two people on a 7 night cruise.  Yikes.  😮 

[3bzmom]

It obviously wouldn’t be worth it if you have a suite, but we have an ocean view room, and it is definitely more than $350 to upgrade to a suite.

 

like many other things, I think some people will think it’s worth it and others won’t. I’ll just be interested to see if it’s worth it for anyone. I’m doing it specifically so I can get my husband to the shows without crowds or problems with accessibility. Most people don’t have that issue...

[STANMELB]

4 hours ago, island lady said:

I just got the email from RCI trying to get me to sign up for "the key" for my 12/2 Oasis cruise.  Yeah right.  25.00 a day per person on a 7 night cruise.  25.00 x 2 x 7 = 350 bucks.  Whaaaatt???  And the funny thing is I am booked in a Grand Suite.  Yeah...like I am gonna jump on that "deal"  NOT!! 
 

 

Hi Pat,

 

Received the same e-mail. Replied with my comments.

[Cigar King]

6 hours ago, island lady said:

 

Yeah, and not only that...they sent it to a Royal DS!!    Like we would need that!!  😉 

 

Tell me about it.  My people have better things to do, like finding out if that Ahi Tuna I had yesterday was a happy fish, and don't have time to read nonsense.  Somebody's going to get keel hauled.

Edited November 15, 2018 by Cigar King

[Cigar King]

6 hours ago, Paulette3028 said:

 IF you read the promotional information via the link provided....the cost is per person/per day.....NOT worth it to me.

 

I can't tell if you're trying to correct me.  I'm going to give you the benefit of a doubt, however, I am taking you off my Christmas card list.

Edited November 15, 2018 by Cigar King

[SRF]

10 hours ago, Cigar King said:

That is crazy...why send these out to suite guests.  Royal's IT staff is terrible.

 

 

 

No more so than me getting MANY emails and snail mails about signing up for a credit card I already have. 😄

 

At least BoA/RCI stopped trying to get me to get their card once I got it.

[island lady]

13 hours ago, STANMELB said:

 

Hi Pat,

 

Received the same e-mail. Replied with my comments.

 

LOL...that figures John.  Guess it was a mass emailing.  You know...toss enough "stuff" against the wall...maybe some of it will stick!  😉  Looking forward to seeing you and Sandy in just a couple of weeks.  🙂 

[island lady]

10 hours ago, Cigar King said:

 

Tell me about it.  My people have better things to do, like finding out if that Ahi Tuna I had yesterday was a happy fish, and don't have time to read nonsense.  Somebody's going to get keel hauled.

 

LOL...OK our DS king...what is a "happy fish"?  😉  The last time I went fishing...they were only happy if I let them swim away after I hooked them.  🙂

[tinkr2]

On 11/9/2018 at 7:45 AM, A&L_Ont said:

 

 

 

Like Biker, I can guarantee one thing, the wave will not be open all day long. Minds blow up if one or two Star Class use their wave perk upon occasion, image 10 plus people in line all week to doing that.

Lol all day long is an expression for things you like. I am well aware that flowerier will not be open for me personally all day long.

[Cigar King]

1 hour ago, island lady said:

 

LOL...OK our DS king...what is a "happy fish"?  😉  The last time I went fishing...they were only happy if I let them swim away after I hooked them.  🙂

 

I wanted to know about the fish.  Was it happy?  What did it's parents do?  How many children, etc.  Did it go to college? I like to be friendly.  I did have an ulterior motive though.  I did not want to eat Charlie the Tuna.  

[HBE4]

19 hours ago, Cigar King said:

That is crazy...why send these out to suite guests.  Royal's IT staff is terrible.

 

 

 

Perhaps they are hoping to snag a suite guest that is not aware of the suite perks and buys the The Key? 

 

[island lady]

2 minutes ago, Cigar King said:

 

I wanted to know about the fish.  Was it happy?  What did it's parents do?  How many children, etc.  Did it go to college? I like to be friendly.  I did have an ulterior motive though.  I did not want to eat Charlie the Tuna.  

 

Oh no...did I eat him?  Is that why we don't see him on those TV commercials any longer.  Oh no...bad Island Lady...bad DS lady.  😮  He used to sit on my shelf next to the can of Spam I think.  😉 

[island lady]

Just now, HBE4 said:

 

Perhaps they are hoping to snag a suite guest that is not aware of the suite perks and buys the The Key? 

 

 

That would be part of the "stuff" that sticks to the wall.  💩

[A&L_Ont]

2 hours ago, tinkr2 said:

Lol all day long is an expression for things you like. I am well aware that flowerier will not be open for me personally all day long.

 

Which is perfect.  I have a feeling that there will be others who will think it is, and just for them.

[tinkr2]

Possibly so. I look every time at those private lessons so it can be just for me.

 

[Yvonne]

Saw this in my cruise planner today, could get it for $19.99 per person per day.  Not at all interested.

[Iamcruzin]

On 11/14/2018 at 3:03 PM, Cigar King said:

That is crazy...why send these out to suite guests.  Royal's IT staff is terrible.

 

 

I think it has more to do with their lame marketing department not selecting a target market than the IT department. The fact anyone even got the email at all must mean it was a good day in the IT department. 

[richstowe]

14 hours ago, Yvonne said:

Saw this in my cruise planner today, could get it for $19.99 per person per day.  Not at all interested.

But it's such a deal ! Why you're saving  over $140 for a family of 4 over the previously announced bargain price of $25 a day PP . How can you turn this down ?  😉

[twangster]

Having sailed Sky class a couple of times I see this as 'Sky Class-Lite'. 

 

The biggest component is Voom which has diminishing value with each additional guests versus multi-device Voom plans.  Or consider a family of four with young kids (6-10 y.o.) who don't need or want Voom for their young kids.  With 'The Key' you get Voom for each guest in the cabin want it or not.  If I had young kids with no phone or a desire to keep them off the internet this would be show stopper for me as it's a simple waste of money.  For families with teens that now buy a multi-device Voom plan The Key doesn't offer the same discount structure so it's a more expensive approach to acquiring Voom for the family.

 

One of the Sky class perks I enjoyed was not needing entertainment reservations plus getting dedicated seating.  The latter saves you from having to line up long before they open the doors to get decent seats.  The Key requires reservations so it isn't exactly the same as Sky Class but I'm wondering if the same dedicated seating will be used or if they are expanding it?  How will Sky Class guests react to having to share their space with Key guests?  Star Class isn't impacted, they still get the reserved Star seats.  

 

For Freedom class ships I don't see the value in entertainment reserved seating.  Unlike Oasis class there is only one show where this comes into play on Freedom class.   

 

Lunch on boarding is nice but with the boarding day excitement the value of this is debatable.  

 

Priority port of call debarkation sound interesting but hard to put a value on that.  Have to see how that is implemented.  

 

Choice debarkation with exclusive a la carte breakfast - again have to see how this is implemented.  Will it be like the Sky Class escort of the ship on the last day or something else?

[Biker19]

15 hours ago, Yvonne said:

Saw this in my cruise planner today, could get it for $19.99 per person per day.  

+1 for the naysayers - it's such a flop they have to discount it before it is ever launched.

[island lady]

1 hour ago, Biker19 said:

+1 for the naysayers - it's such a flop they have to discount it before it is ever launched.

 

LOL!!    My feeling exactly!  

[3bzmom]

2 hours ago, Biker19 said:

+1 for the naysayers - it's such a flop they have to discount it before it is ever launched.

I don’t see it that way. Currently, there are excursions, spa services, and beverage packages being discounted in my cruise planner.

 

One thing to consider- it’s entirely possible this program isn’t for you- much like any other offered program- but it doesn’t necessarily mean it’s a scam or a waste of money or that the people interested are stupid. It’s ok for other people to disagree, you know. 

 

It will be interesting to see see how it’s run and if the perks are worth it for non-suite guests. 

[richstowe]

OK , first The Key , next Royal Up . Is Elite Life Boat up next ?  With ELB you will have the opportunity to bid on premium seating , just in case . Sorry for the bad joke but it may actually be coming . Chinzy .

[twangster]

It isn't designed for everyone just like Carnival's FTTF isn't designed for their top elite either.

 

It's designed for Pre-Gold and Gold or Plat and Emmy's who haven't sailed a certain ship.  

 

Be glad they aren't creating it for the masses.  Any such program becomes diluted if everyone buys it.  At this price point it shouldn't impact Sky class guests.  

 

Carnival creates chaos in their boarding process then sells FTTF to overcome it.   Be glad Royal isn't lowering itself to this approach