New Program called "The Key"

[amyhphoto]

1 hour ago, sandystx said:

Thank you for the info. How and when exactly did you identify yourself as a KEY? Do you tell an agent before check in and then they look it up to confirm?  Is there an indicator at that time to show that you are a confirmed key?   Any indicator on your room card?  Thank you !!

What happens if you use a wow band and want access to a show or use the Flowrider during extra hours? Would you need to bring your seapass card anywhere you’d like to use the Key benefits or can they scan your band in the spot to confirm benefits?

 

[xpcdoojk]

I don’t know yet, won’t know until April 17, 2019, but I would imagine when you go to the sports desk and you sign the waivers (double waivers in my case since I bring my own flow board) that you will be given a band that indicates by color your key status.  IE, they have bands for kids not tall enough for stand-up and for adults, etc.  

 

jc

[parrotfeathers]

As soon as RCL sees how successful The Key is,  ya'll do realize the price will creep up and up, much like the other "perks" that used to be so "reasonable."  And I wonder what they will take away from the key (see all the Diamond posts) as time goes by.

 

I bet the guy that thought of this got a nice fat raise.  I'd like to know how that all transpired.  Do they just throw things out in a meeting to see which will be the most revenue friendly?

Edited January 15, 2019 by parrotfeathers

[Biker19]

29 minutes ago, amyhphoto said:

What happens if you use a wow band and want access to a show or use the Flowrider during extra hours? Would you need to bring your seapass card anywhere you’d like to use the Key benefits or can they scan your band in the spot to confirm benefits?

 

At the Flowrider and assume other venues you get an extra disposable wristband to indicate you are a Key customer. One of the Flowrider riders had both the Key orange Key wristband and the regular blue wristband on Oasis (he would come over to the port side Flowrider when he finished his Key session on the starboard side). 

[Pianogrl44]

My apologies if this has been covered, I've been searching through this thread but it is extremely long and I think I may have missed it.

 

Just wondering if anyone has any experience with the key program on a ship with only one flowrider, such as Liberty?  I realize it doesn't affect a whole lot of passengers who aren't participating in the key on the Oasis class ships where the stand-up flowrider can still be running normally.   However, do they actually shut down the single flowrider when there are much more limited times anyway for stand-up on a ship like Liberty or Quantum class ships?

[Biker19]

2 minutes ago, Pianogrl44 said:

.   However, do they actually shut down the single flowrider when there are much more limited times anyway for stand-up on a ship like Liberty or Quantum class ships?

Have not seen reports on single Flowrider ships, but I would guess there might be fewer sessions and more likely to cut into boogie board time rather than stand up time. 

[blue is the best]

8 hours ago, Throast said:

Apologies, seems only the start of my review has appeared, 

to continue, 

On arrival at the port, we identified our selves as key and were immediately led to a separate check in desk, (No queue) then onto a separate seating area, we were called for boarding very early, on boarding we dropped our hand luggage off at the opal theatre, ( it’s then deposited directly into your cabin), then headed out for a wonder, just before noon we went to Chops and had a great lunch, forgot to mention we were given our access codes for the internet at check in. Cabin we’re called ready at 1pm for all guests.

There was no need to book shows (except comedy) as you have reserve seating and just walk in, again no queuing.

Flow rider and zip lining also had reserved times, one hour a day, (it wasn’t closed to other guest you just got to skip the line).

on the last day a breakfast is included, again no lines and fast service, you can get off the ship anytime you want, there was a massive queue to disembark, we identified ourselves as key, escorted to the front of the queue, our luggage awaited us in a separate area. 

We also signed up for the ultimate dining package and drinks package, both again, to us worth every penny. We were in a balcony cabin.

the early disembarkation at ports wasn’t tested due to the novo virus caper, as an aside, we felt Royal Caribbean and the crew could not do more in the circumstances

I am thinking of purchasing the key and when calling Royal they could not answer one question. I am sailing on the Allure in May of this year. If I do not make my reservations for shows except the comedy can I go to any show without a reservation. Also if for some reason I would like to see a show twice like at the Aqua Theatre or the ice show can I just show my card with the key without a reservation. I would not want to get on the ship and find out that since I did not make a reservation I could not get in to my choice of shows. Thank you or anyone who has used the key already for your answers.

 

Steve,

Medford, NY

[CubsFanRS23]

11 minutes ago, blue is the best said:

I am thinking of purchasing the key and when calling Royal they could not answer one question. I am sailing on the Allure in May of this year. If I do not make my reservations for shows except the comedy can I go to any show without a reservation. Also if for some reason I would like to see a show twice like at the Aqua Theatre or the ice show can I just show my card with the key without a reservation. I would not want to get on the ship and find out that since I did not make a reservation I could not get in to my choice of shows. Thank you or anyone who has used the key already for your answers.

 

Steve,

Medford, NY

 

If it truly works like Gold Card access then you wouldn't need a reservation.

*** EDIT: I forgot it's not Gold Card anymore but Suite/Pinnacles. Hoping you got the idea! 🙂

Edited January 15, 2019 by CubsFanRS23
Incomplete/incorrect information

[Throast]

Hi Club fan, can’t speak for the Allure but on the Oasis last week, no reservation were required (except comedy) we went to cats, twice to the Aqua show and to the ice show, walked right into the reserved area beside the suites and panicle members. They do advise to be there 15 mins before the show starts.

[CubsFanRS23]

8 minutes ago, Throast said:

Hi Club fan, can’t speak for the Allure but on the Oasis last week, no reservation were required (except comedy) we went to cats, twice to the Aqua show and to the ice show, walked right into the reserved area beside the suites and panicle members. They do advise to be there 15 mins before the show starts.

 

Cool, so it's the same as Suites/Pinnacles. Show up 15 min before and you get access to the reserved seating, no reservations required. Thanks for confirming!

[Throast]

3 hours ago, sandystx said:

Thank you for the info. How and when exactly did you identify yourself as a KEY? Do you tell an agent before check in and then they look it up to confirm?  Is there an indicator at that time to show that you are a confirmed key?   Any indicator on your room card?  Thank you !!

Hi Sandystx, when we arrived at port, we stood in the general line for about 30 secs, mentioned to one of the lady stewards we were key, immediately escorted forward to a separate desk. Once you get your sea pass, there is a key in the bottom right of the card. 

[princesslondon]

47 minutes ago, Throast said:

Hi Club fan, can’t speak for the Allure but on the Oasis last week, no reservation were required (except comedy) we went to cats, twice to the Aqua show and to the ice show, walked right into the reserved area beside the suites and panicle members. They do advise to be there 15 mins before the show starts.

Did you just make reservations for the comedy show when you got onboard? 

[sandystx]

52 minutes ago, Throast said:

Hi Sandystx, when we arrived at port, we stood in the general line for about 30 secs, mentioned to one of the lady stewards we were key, immediately escorted forward to a separate desk. Once you get your sea pass, there is a key in the bottom right of the card. 

 

Thank you!

[Ocean Boy]

3 hours ago, parrotfeathers said:

As soon as RCL sees how successful The Key is,  ya'll do realize the price will creep up and up, much like the other "perks" that used to be so "reasonable."  And I wonder what they will take away from the key (see all the Diamond posts) as time goes by.

 

I bet the guy that thought of this got a nice fat raise.  I'd like to know how that all transpired.  Do they just throw things out in a meeting to see which will be the most revenue friendly?

Not to mention the people around here who give RCI ideas by posting their own thoughts on what they wouldn't mind paying extra for or how reasonable they think the charges are that RCI already has in place.

 

[blueridgemama]

I'm not sure why there is so much negativity about the Key. We have used the Faster to the Fun on Carnival and were very pleased with the perks offered. If someone is willing to pay for an upgrade to enhance their cruise experience I don't understand why that is a bad thing. When you book a suite you are doing it not just for the extra perks but for a much larger and superior room. I'm not sure why you would begrudge some extra perks to someone who can only afford an inside cabin. People with the Key will not be invading your dining rooms and lounges😊

[Throast]

32 minutes ago, princesslondon said:

Did you just make reservations for the comedy show when you got onboard? 

Hi, yes we did, again didn’t need to queue when we got their. The comedy show was on in the opal theatre on the last night as well 

[Biker19]

21 hours ago, Throast said:

 Once you get your sea pass, there is a key in the bottom right of the card. 

So they moved the Key symbol already?

[Ocean Boy]

21 hours ago, blueridgemama said:

I'm not sure why there is so much negativity about the Key. We have used the Faster to the Fun on Carnival and were very pleased with the perks offered. If someone is willing to pay for an upgrade to enhance their cruise experience I don't understand why that is a bad thing. When you book a suite you are doing it not just for the extra perks but for a much larger and superior room. I'm not sure why you would begrudge some extra perks to someone who can only afford an inside cabin. People with the Key will not be invading your dining rooms and lounges😊

Here is one example why people are annoyed.... they start selling this key and all of a sudden D+ is no longer included in the security priority line. We lost something so these key people could have it. That is why there is negativity.

[Biker19]

2 minutes ago, Ocean Boy said:

.. they start selling this key and all of a sudden D+ is no longer included in the security priority line. We lost something so these key people could have it. 

Has anyone offered proof why the security line change happened - correlation is not causation.

[Ocean Boy]

6 minutes ago, Biker19 said:

Has anyone offered proof why the security line change happened - correlation is not causation.

How would you suggest someone go about getting "proof"? RCI's standard answer to most issues is the change was made to improve your cruise experience. 

[Biker19]

1 minute ago, Ocean Boy said:

How would you suggest someone go about getting "proof"? 

I suppose it's nice to guess and even vent at RCI for some of their decisions, but we really don't know that the Key intro is what caused the security line change. 

[Throast]

1 hour ago, Biker19 said:

So they moved the Key symbol already?

Hi biker, ours is in the bottom right, where your dx is

[blueridgemama]

1 hour ago, Ocean Boy said:

Here is one example why people are annoyed.... they start selling this key and all of a sudden D+ is no longer included in the security priority line. We lost something so these key people could have it. That is why there is negativity.

 

what is D+?

[Clarea]

3 minutes ago, blueridgemama said:

 

what is D+?

 

Short for Diamond Plus, one of the levels in Royal's loyalty program.

[blueridgemama]

1 minute ago, Host Clarea said:

 

Short for Diamond Plus, one of the levels in Royal's loyalty program.

 

Is there a correlation between the implementation of The Key program and the Diamond Plus levels not getting priority boarding?