New Program called "The Key"

[xpcdoojk]

1 hour ago, Biker19 said:

You are the exception.

 

CC, where folks contribute even when asked not to.

 

Hey!  Are you talking about me?🏄‍♂️😈

 

Sometimes people ask me!🤡

 

jc

[Old_Folks]

22 hours ago, CRUISEFAN0001 said:

We'll hit Diamond on our next cruise. We enjoy Royal Caribbean, and appreciate their Crown & Anchor program.

 

All that said, we'd have to agree with you that The Key may undermine the long-time loyalty program for many people. Then again, for what they are charging for The Key...we'll see how that program takes hold for the long run.

 

22 hours ago, wwcruisers said:

Yep, on last month's Indy cruise, the 'Key' people boarded immediately after the Pinnacle/Suite folks -- ahead of the D+/D group. SO glad that we were 'Loyal to Royal' all those years that it took us to reach D+!🙄

 

 

We feel the same way. We will be diamond after our cruise next month. Seems like now you can pay extra and receive better benefits than a long time loyal cruiser. Maybe it’s time to look at a new cruise line? My wife will be retiring soon and health willing, we plan on cruising a lot more.

[Biker19]

21 minutes ago, xpcdoojk said:

Sometimes people ask me!🤡

Every week we have some thread in which someone asks for folks not to judge/comment on the morality of the issue - invariably, that falls on deaf ears.

[seanjulz]

Found this review from

 Some people on the key

[flacplnj]

3 hours ago, Old_Folks said:

 

 

 

We feel the same way. We will be diamond after our cruise next month. Seems like now you can pay extra and receive better benefits than a long time loyal cruiser. Maybe it’s time to look at a new cruise line? My wife will be retiring soon and health willing, we plan on cruising a lot more.

 Loyalty Perks, Suite Perks, Key Perks, most everyone if not all want the opportunity to be in the special class. RCL is marketing an affordable way to achieve it.

 

Royal has found a fairly economical way to offer some of the "special" perks to those that either don't travel often enough to gain stature in C&A or those that do not want to pay up for a suite.

 

If you really think that RCL or the other cruise lines are going to pass on ANY opportunity to aggressively market a new idea that will add additional revenue to the bottom line you are kidding yourselves. Loyal cruisers are important, but so are new cruisers and new programs which generate additional revenue. It is a balancing act in trying to not piss off Loyal and Suite passenger's but also to continue aggressive solicitation of ways to increase the bottom line.

 

We purchase Suites on almost 100% of our sailings.  I understand why RCL is offering it, but like you I don't like that someone can purchase 80% of the suite perks for such a small percentage of what we pay for a suite. Yes, we do get the extra room, Suite Lounge and on Oasis class the Coastal Kitchen so it does off set the sting some what.

 

So would we consider switching from RCL to another line? Probably not. They all have to be profitable or the product will suffer. If that happens you will see sparks flying.

 

I believe we are headed toward a system that is not inclusive. We ultimately will be purchasing the cruise cabin and everything else will be extra. I hope I am wrong, but I doubt it.

 

Let's see how this eventually shakes out. My understanding the KEY program is limited to 100 passengers per sailing. 

i want to see if RCL increases this number, and if they do are they able to handle the increase without grossly inconveniencing the Loyal and Suite guest. Time will tell. Above all else enjoy your cruise.

 

 

 

Edited March 5, 2019 by flacplnj

[blueridgemama]

I do not have the financial ability to cruise frequently or to book a suite, obviously it would be fantastic if I could. For the one and rarely two cruises I can afford in a year I think it is a great opportunity for me to get a few extra perks to enhance my limited cruise experience. There will be limited number of Key participants so I don't think that we will be changing your experience significantly.

[AshleyRC]

1 hour ago, blueridgemama said:

I do not have the financial ability to cruise frequently or to book a suite, obviously it would be fantastic if I could. For the one and rarely two cruises I can afford in a year I think it is a great opportunity for me to get a few extra perks to enhance my limited cruise experience. There will be limited number of Key participants so I don't think that we will be changing your experience significantly.

Preach!!!!  And ditto!!  So glad I scored the key at 19.99 for our Symphony cruise leaving this Saturday!

[brillohead]

This "special perks for a fee" concept is hardly new.

Most amusement parks have a special pass you can purchase to go to the front of the line.  And Carnival has had its Faster To The Fun for ages now (since 2012, I think?).  

If people want to pay for it, they can have it.  Just like the booze package -- if you want it, if it's worth it to you, then you get it.  For those who don't want to spend their money on it, they pass it by.

 

[happymanitee]

2 hours ago, AshleyRC said:

Preach!!!!  And ditto!!  So glad I scored the key at 19.99 for our Symphony cruise leaving this Saturday!

Please let us know how you like it on Symphony.  I Love reading the reviews of people who have actually used it

[seanjulz]

Has anyone had the key on the Ovation yet, wondering how many flowrider sessions there are extra

[Dixie1337]

5 hours ago, AshleyRC said:

Preach!!!!  And ditto!!  So glad I scored the key at 19.99 for our Symphony cruise leaving this Saturday!

 

3 hours ago, happymanitee said:

Please let us know how you like it on Symphony.  I Love reading the reviews of people who have actually used it

 

 

I'm interested too, especially how embarkation works for the symphony - security line, where you wait, when you board, all that stuff 🙂 

Edited March 6, 2019 by Dixie1337

[tinkr2]

On 3/4/2019 at 6:48 AM, CRUISEFAN0001 said:

Not seeing the bang for the buck / value for this very pricey services alternative (other than for Royal).

 

You do not see the bang for the buck in drink packages or the bang for the buck in The Key. These perks are probably not for you. My husband works hard and really values his free time.  Time is money, even on vacation. The ability to ride the flowerier repeatedly with shorter lines or no lines is worth the price alone to us. Combine that with early hassle free disembarkation and a peaceful embarkation lunch, the program is golden. Ill drink my fiscally irresponsible drink package cocktails and enjoy my reserved seats. And to show how fiscally irresponsible I am, Ill even pass up those free drinks I could have in the diamond lounge. 

All packages have different value to different people. Just like the price point of a cruise line, everyone spends their money differently.

[brillohead]

1 hour ago, tinkr2 said:

All packages have different value to different people. Just like the price point of a cruise line, everyone spends their money differently.

Exactly this.

No way could I justify the cost of a suite -- heck, I rarely justify the cost of anything but an inside!  But the extras that you get with a suite have very little meaning to me -- I am rarely in my room (and when I am, I like it to be dark b/c I'm sleeping).  

Same with the booze package -- I very rarely drink alcohol (I'm a redhead, I'm quite inappropriate when stone cold sober), so there's no point in me getting a drink package.  

However, I'm grateful for the people who do pay more for a balcony or suite or specialty dining or booze packages, because that allows the cruise line to keep the base fare low enough so that I can cruise more often.  

My first cruise back in the 1980s would cost $14,000 in today's dollars, with a porthole outside room for four people with airfare included (but not gratuities).  Ships now have a LOT more to offer, but I can take that same cruise for four, airfare included, for less than $4,000.  

 

I'd much rather pay for only the things I want, and let others do the same, if it means I can afford three cruises a year instead of just one.  It's only "nickel and diming" if you actually want the things they are charging extra for.

 

 

[CRUISEFAN0001]

13 hours ago, seanjulz said:

Found this review from Some people on the key

Thanks for sharing the video. It does a good job of showing The Key program.

 

(Still don't see the $40/day value for us, but can understand how some folks might want to consider it - especially on the large Oasis class ships).

 

Appreciate people sharing like this - a good thing.

[GalwayGirl03]

The Key Review from 4 Day Brilliance 2/28

 

Overall the Key was an enjoyable experience but my husband and I aren't 100% sold on it.   We purchased it for the 19.99 per person because we were both going to get internet so we would of purchased the 2 device plan so we said why not try it out for a little bit more cash.  Here is my brief review with pictures:

 

We took the shuttle from out hotel to port at arrived a little before 11.  We saw a sign marked for key check in on the curb and walked up gave our name and room number and they placed Key luggage tags on our luggage.  We walked up and found a specific key check in line.  No wait at all..walked up gave our info and received our envelope with a explanation letter, our sea pass cards (which had a key printed on it) and our codes for internet.  We then walked right on and handed our carry on in the theater.

We walked around a bit and then had lunch at Chops around 12:30.  No wait at all..we sat down and got the Key Menu.  We both thad the filets and they were great.  The Chops waiter said there were 74 keys on board.  

 

Rooms were ready right at 1 so we went to our inside cabin on deck 10 and found our bags in our room ( we were the only people that had bags b/c we saw other neighbors complaining in the hallway) so I think that is an added bonus for the key...we get bags ASAP.  We found the typical suite fruit tray in the room.

 

Two of the evenings we used the key to sit in the suite area for shows and that was great, but other than that we didn't use the key for anything other than the disembarkation.

 

We had a nice private breakfast  on Deck 5 for only Key holders.  It was a nice way to end the cruise and we had a specific area for our bags and a dedicated line at customs ( so we were out in less than 5 mins from getting our bags).

 

All in All, my husband and I decided we would get the Key again for another 3 or 4 day cruise when it was the 2 of us sailing but we don't really see the value in it when we sail with our kids ( so paying for 4) and on longer cruises. Also, Brilliance doesn't have all the bells and whistles like the flowrider and I-fly.   We are causing again on Navigator in April with our kids on a 9 day and we won't be purchasing the key b/c we don't believe it is worth the added expense.

 

I hope this quick review helps!

[Sizzlechest]

16 hours ago, Old_Folks said:

We feel the same way. We will be diamond after our cruise next month. Seems like now you can pay extra and receive better benefits than a long time loyal cruiser. Maybe it’s time to look at a new cruise line? My wife will be retiring soon and health willing, we plan on cruising a lot more.

 

 

One thing I've learned in my relatively short cruising experience is to never be loyal to any brand. Things change. I never understood the allure of sticking with a cruise line that's on a downswing just to get "points" that make the cruise bearable. Just switch brands. My first cruise was on Carnival over a decade ago. It was nice, but I could tell it was a cheap product with a coat of new paint slapped on top. Switched to NCL. In the next few years, Carnival had really gone down the tubes. The Triumph and Concordia disasters happened during that time.  Loved NCL for years, but then the cutbacks got out of hand. The last straw was 3 years ago. Tried Carnival again because of a brand new ship with an exclusive area and I loved it, but that ship left my home port and I had no desire to cruise on its replacement. Meanwhile, NCL has gone down the tubes as I predicted. This is my first cruise on RCL. I got the key for $19.99 pp. I don't know if it's worth it, but on a ship as big as the Anthem, I'd rather be at the front of the lines. Maybe I'll drop it on my next cruise in 2020. Regardless, if RCL isn't a good fit, I'll try something else. Vacations are short. Your time is worth something. I have no problem spending a little money for some extra time. Plus, I get those perks for a little money now rather than a LOT of money over a LONG period of time. Over a period of time where the cruise line can alter the deal at their whim.

[aespo4]

1 hour ago, GalwayGirl03 said:

All in All, my husband and I decided we would get the Key again for another 3 or 4 day cruise when it was the 2 of us sailing but we don't really see the value in it when we sail with our kids ( so paying for 4) and on longer cruises. Also, Brilliance doesn't have all the bells and whistles like the flowrider and I-fly.   We are causing again on Navigator in April with our kids on a 9 day and we won't be purchasing the key b/c we don't believe it is worth the added expense.

Thanks for the review

 

[blueridgemama]

GalwayGirl03.     Thank you for your review and pictures-very helpful. It's just my husband and I so I think the Key is a good value for 2 but I agree that it would be different with a family.

Edited March 6, 2019 by blueridgemama

[RFerrington]

On 3/4/2019 at 7:13 PM, JoeFan said:

 is Jamies an option for Key embarkation lunch?

I can only comment for Anthem.  We recently were on a B2B.  The first leg, The Key lunch was only available at Chops.  They had the normal lunch menu, which is a slimmer version of their dinner menu but with plenty of options for a nice lunch.  For the second leg of our B2B they allowed Key people to go to either Chops or Jamie's.  Since we were Star Class on these cruises, and had experienced a rather manic embarkation lunch at Chops on our first leg, we had decided to go to Jamie's for lunch on the second leg (hoping to avoid the crowd), only to find the same situation there.  Honestly, I cannot recall what the lunch menu at Jamie's was but I feel confident that it is also a slimmer version of their dinner menu.  Both of these lunch experienced beat the heck out of a Windjammer boarding day Charlie Foxtrot but it was definitely NOT the usual, quiet and enjoyable embarkation lunch that we have received in the past - normally being the only people in the restaurant.

Edited March 6, 2019 by RFerrington

[Biker19]

33 minutes ago, RFerrington said:

  Both of these lunch experienced beat the heck out of a Windjammer boarding day Charlie Foxtrot but it was definitely NOT the usual, quiet and enjoyable embarkation lunch that we have received in the past - normally being the only people in the restaurant.

@Andy C  - see, it's not only P's that are degrading the suite experience, it's all those Key customers as well.

[lovescats5]

If you were Star Class why did you not go the the CK?  That is where we go for lunch on embarkation day and it is always quiet and peaceful.

[RFerrington]

2 minutes ago, lovescats5 said:

If you were Star Class why did you not go the the CK?  That is where we go for lunch on embarkation day and it is always quiet and peaceful.

I am not a huge fan of the CK - especially on the Q class ships....but in the future, it will certainly be an option to consider.  Chops on embarkation day has always been such a great experience.  Not so much this last time.

 

We did go to CK most mornings for breakfast though.  Either that or had our breakfast delivered to the suite.

 

It was our first B2B Star Class and it was great !

[Andy C]

7 hours ago, Biker19 said:

@Andy C  - see, it's not only P's that are degrading the suite experience, it's all those Key customers as well.

@Biker19 just to be clear my beef is with NSPPs (Non Suite Paying Pinnacles).  

[Jenglish711]

We got off the Anthem on Sunday, 03/03. Unfortunately I don't have any pictures and we didn't do many "Key" activities but perhaps our experience will be helpful for some. We purchased the Key for the two of us (our child sailing with us is 4) at the $19.99 price as we would've been buying internet already so for the added perks for a few more bucks, we figured we'd give it a try. 

 

On embarktion day, due to some lollygagging, we didn't arrive early enough (got to Port Liberty at about 11:30) to fully experience the priority-ness of it. We did, however, get to use the suite/pinnacle line that had a small sign for the Key there as well, so we did get to skip some of the line for check in. Note that at least in our case, the people at the port kept directing us to the regular line and we had to find the Key signage on our own. 

 

On board there was a man at a bar-height table with Key signage - we gave him our name at cabin and he handed me an envelope and told us to head to the theater to drop off our carry-on. the envelope contained a welcome letter, three papers with the wifi codes - note on that later - a list of the perks and also a spreadsheet of the Key private times at activities (rock wall, flowrider, ifly, northstar). In the theater, two very friendly staff members gave us labels for the carry-on (3 pieces) and we were on our way to Chops for lunch. 

 

At Chops the lunch menu was exactly the same as @GalwayGirl03 posted above in post #1615. They were friendly enough but we waited quite awhile to even get some water. and when I flagged someone down to ask about it and state we were ready to order, the man gave me a little attitude about how they were in the middle of the big lunch rush. But it was 1 pm and the restaurant was literally half-full. Whatever, after that the service was good and the food was delicious. 

 

As for the papers with the wifi codes - even though we paid for only two Keys, as there were three of us in the cabin, they gave us a wifi code for each passenger, which was nice. 

 

During lunch they stated the cabins were ready and at our cabin, our luggage was waiting for us. I couldn't find our carry-ons at first but when I opened a closet there they were. 

 

We didn't do any activities within the Key private times - the times were just not convenient for us (Ifly only one day from 6-7 pm when we have 6:30 dinner ressies due to the kiddo). We also didn't attend the shows so are unable to offer any insight there. 

 

We didn't priority disembark at either Port Canaveral or Nassau so cannot offer any insight there either, but when we got to CocoCay, we simply went down to 3 and I said we had the Key and asked where to go. The staff member didn't ask to look at our cards and just directed us down the stairs to 2 to get on the tender that was currently being loaded. 

 

Disembarktion at Port Liberty - this was a real cluster, to be frank. Well, back up - first was the Key breakfast. The menu was the same again as GalwayGirl03 posted. The food was delicious and the service top notch. After that we went to the Shore Excursions area (where we were told to go in a note we had rec'd two days prior, along with Key luggage tags) to wait to be escorted out. We waited about 15-20 minutes as apparently the staff members had just taken a group out. They came and got our group of maybe 10 and there was a woman in front and a man in back of our group. But it was so crowded getting off the ship that our group got split up and the woman was walking super fast - we couldn't keep up with the 4yo. She slowed down but the people with the man behind us were nowhere to be seen. So she escorted us to get our luggage and to the customs line. Now here's where it was kind of like, "uuuhhhhh...": The woman was super friendly and all smiles, but I don't think she knew what she was doing, really. First of all, she directed us to the 2 elevators instead of the escalators. I guess she was trying to be fancy but the elevators were much slower than the escalators as there were people with actual reason to use them waiting. We are able-bodied and really didn't need to use the elevator and I felt uncomfortable as there were folks with mobility aids (canes, walkers, wheelchairs) behind us that had to wait longer because of us. I mentioned to her that we could take the escalator and she looked at me blankly and said, "No, the elevator is fine!". Then I spotted the Key luggage area before she did and started over to it. After we got our luggage she basically escorted us to the looooong customs line and just... stood with us in line. I wasn't sure what to say without sounding like a real snobby B, but I was pretty sure we were to get escorted to the front or something (the "priority" in the Key description and all). Ultimately it was really awkward so we decided to relieve her of her post and got a porter to help us - which was much quicker and did have us bypass the huge line. As we were zooming up the porter line, we noticed the couple with the male staff member that were behind us - they had indeed fallen back but he was walking them all the way to the front of the line we were just in. So who knows what was correct, lol. 

 

All that being said, I don't think we'd get the Key again unless it returned to $19.99. Because we didn't attend shows or private Key times, didn't get to have priority embarktion due to our own "tardiness," and the fact that disembarktion was so strange, I think the value for us would not be there at a higher price point. And that includes getting a "free" wifi code. 

 

If you really take advantage of everything the Key has to offer, and you get it "on sale" when it could only be a few bucks more than wifi alone, I would say give it a try. But only if you're okay with the random times for certain things (to be fair, flowrider had a LOT of times but we couldn't enjoy it as I'm pregnant and the hubs has a bad back), make a point to go to shows, and especially if you've read in this thread about your port handling it well. I don't think it was handled well at Port Liberty at all. Perhaps that will improve with time. 

[youwash]

On 3/4/2019 at 2:15 PM, RadioPeri said:

 

This is very rare, indeed, bordering on apocryphal. According to TSA, "Virtually all passengers wait less than 30 minutes in standard checkpoint lines, and 99.6% of TSA PreCheck members waited less than 10 minutes in line, according to the agency. In other words, the fast lane is almost always faster."

Does it happen? Yes, but I'd still rather be on a "busier" precheck line instead of a regular line waiting for people to take off their shoes and jackets, remove their laptops, etc. The generally more experienced travelers who bother to pay and register for Global Entry or another Trusted Traveler program are MUCH faster going through security. If random travelers luck out getting assigned precheck, they're still greatly in the minority. 

 

My observation of TSA PreCheck is not the Tom Dick and Harry applying for and using it that is changing the wait times and lines. It is the RANDOM granting of PreCheck to travelers who have no idea what it is and how it works. They slooooow down the process and test the patience of people who have paid for the option (me). The TSA agent is telling them what to do or not do and they're still taking there shoes off and I'm saying-no you don't have to do that.  😬