New Program called "The Key"

[jrljel]

On yet another note, I usually get to the port around 10 or 10:30 am so as to avoid the crowds so if I were to get there a little later around 11 do you still wait in the security line as everyone else or is there a separate line for key holders?

[blueridgemama]

2 hours ago, lluken said:

I would think that because you're a picky eater, you'd do Specialty Dining. Way better quality

of food

 

But  less choices as you are limited to what's on the menu.

[CRUISEFAN0001]

9 hours ago, jrljel said:

On yet another note, I usually get to the port around 10 or 10:30 am so as to avoid the crowds so if I were to get there a little later around 11 do you still wait in the security line as everyone else or is there a separate line for key holders?

We've seen a few cruises where many others have that same idea...and getting there early actually results in bigger crowds at that time & slower boarding.

[M-H-B]

Just off the Explorer today (Sydney to South Pacific). 

Embarkation was a breeze. Got there around 11.20pm and even though the T&Cs say no priority in Australian ports, there was a Key sign to join Suites and Pinnacles so we were through in no time. 

The place to drop off carry on luggage was right inside where we got on and that was great to be able to go to lunch with nothing to carry. 

Chops Grille lunch was really good, I wish I had ordered the steak instead of the burger but otherwise it was really lovely and nice and peaceful. 

Carry on luggage was in the room as soon as they were available and the rest of our luggage arrived around 3pm. 

During the cruise we received a fruit plate but we didn’t use any of the Key sessions for flowrider/rock climbing etc. We did go ice skating but not at the Key time. We happened to go up to watch the Flowriders at a time that was for Key people but there was no one at all there.

We also didn't use the priority access to tenders on Lifou because we were travelling with friends who didn’t have the Key. 

The Voom surf and stream was a joke, I can’t imagine how much slower the other version of Voom could be! 

The Key breakfast this morning was fairly slow on the service but the food was fine. Getting off was great, we were taken into a lift, walked straight off and picked up our luggage. In a cab in about 5 minutes. 

As my son is just about to turn 6 I would have to pay for him next time. On a short cruise I might do it again if the price doesn’t go up but the only major benefits for us were in getting on and getting off. 

[xpcdoojk]

Newer ships have tolerable to good internet old ones are pretty horrible.

 

jc

[Fifthcruise]

Just getting off the allure after using the key for the week . Having it at check in was awesome ! We got to the port at around 11:30 and we were on the ship and in chops for lunch before 12. We even brought our larger suitcases with us . 

We noticed something was weird though when they only thought I had the key once we reached the spot where we could leave our bags. I booked for our whole cabin but I guess it all showed up under my name only . So we spent some time having to go around and explaining it and getting extra bracelets and then having to line up at the internet counter and explain why we should have 3 codes! Very annoying  - so if you have it , check to see that it is under each individual name before leaving . 

 

The theatre seating was great . They always had a great couple of rows reserved as long as you had a reservation .

 

The key hour at activities was a big fail. So many people had the key on our ship. When we made the effort to be at our hour of flowrider at 8am- 9am there were about 10-15 others which was no better than how it was the rest of the time !

At the rock climbing , they did not have a separate key hour just a separate key line . So all the people in the regular line were getting upset that we kept getting turn after turn before them . No emplyoyee explained it so people were just pissed off with us . 

So I think the activity hours were  a big fail. They mostly were at bad times too either 8-9 am or 5-6 pm.

we are about to go to our breakfast so hopefully that goes well.

[Cel_cruise]

Just getting off the allure after using the key for the week . Having it at check in was awesome ! We got to the port at around 11:30 and we were on the ship and in chops for lunch before 12. We even brought our larger suitcases with us . 
We noticed something was weird though when they only thought I had the key once we reached the spot where we could leave our bags. I booked for our whole cabin but I guess it all showed up under my name only . So we spent some time having to go around and explaining it and getting extra bracelets and then having to line up at the internet counter and explain why we should have 3 codes! Very annoying  - so if you have it , check to see that it is under each individual name before leaving . 
 
The theatre seating was great . They always had a great couple of rows reserved as long as you had a reservation .
 
The key hour at activities was a big fail. So many people had the key on our ship. When we made the effort to be at our hour of flowrider at 8am- 9am there were about 10-15 others which was no better than how it was the rest of the time !
At the rock climbing , they did not have a separate key hour just a separate key line . So all the people in the regular line were getting upset that we kept getting turn after turn before them . No emplyoyee explained it so people were just pissed off with us . 
So I think the activity hours were  a big fail. They mostly were at bad times too either 8-9 am or 5-6 pm.
we are about to go to our breakfast so hopefully that goes well.

Can you share more about the flowrider experience? Was it stand up or boogie boarding? Did they do both on the same side and you picked what you wanted when it was your turn? This is the first report of lines at the flowrider - it is spring break though so maybe that’s why? Did you do it multiple days or just the first and we’re turned off by the wait times.

I also read on another board that someone is saying they have 200 keys on Oasis Class now. When we booked - Royal told us it was 100.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[Fifthcruise]

50 minutes ago, Cel_cruise said:

 

Can you share more about the flowrider experience? Was it stand up or boogie boarding? Did they do both on the same side and you picked what you wanted when it was your turn? This is the first report of lines at the flowrider - it is spring break though so maybe that’s why? Did you do it multiple days or just the first and we’re turned off by the wait times.

I also read on another board that someone is saying they have 200 keys on Oasis Class now. When we booked - Royal told us it was 100.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

They allowed both in the same line. We went another time while still in port 2-3 pm and the line was long too. I think we definitely had more than 100 people with key . 

Edited March 17, 2019 by Fifthcruise

[ShillyShally]

On 3/14/2019 at 4:35 PM, jrljel said:

On yet another note, I usually get to the port around 10 or 10:30 am so as to avoid the crowds so if I were to get there a little later around 11 do you still wait in the security line as everyone else or is there a separate line for key holders?

Security same line as most everyone else, check-in though there is a key line.  We didn't have any real wait at security though so I didn't think about it at all.

[SailingIntoTheSun21]

Just boarded Symphony with the Key yesterday.  

 

We were on the ship within 15 minutes of arrival even with a bag inspection (magnetic hooks triggered the security) and a bathroom break.  That was without any Key related privileges. 

 

Lunch at Chops was the same menu posted earlier.  Lunch took 1.5 hours which was infuriating.  There is no reason for lunch to ever take that long.  The food was delicious but not worth being held hostage for 1.5 hours.

 

There is 1 designated hour for each activity this week.  Otherwise we get "Priority Line" privileges which means cutting in front of others in line.  I am not comfortable doing that so that is a wasted benefit.  

 

We will see about the show seating today.  

 

Is it worthwhile?  So far... NO.  

 

Otherwise the cruise has been awesome so far.

 

 

[jrljel]

1 hour ago, ShillyShally said:

Security same line as most everyone else, check-in though there is a key line.  We didn't have any real wait at security though so I didn't think about it at all.

Thank you! Yes, that's usually what happens with me as well but I just wondered.

[JoeFan]

Isn’t priority access the same as some suite access?  

 

That probably make more sense than the first hour of each day that may not benefit people and is probably under utilized. 

 

I wonder if this will get rolled out all over. 

[Fifthcruise]

1 hour ago, SailingIntoTheSun21 said:

Just boarded Symphony with the Key yesterday.  

 

We were on the ship within 15 minutes of arrival even with a bag inspection (magnetic hooks triggered the security) and a bathroom break.  That was without any Key related privileges. 

 

Lunch at Chops was the same menu posted earlier.  Lunch took 1.5 hours which was infuriating.  There is no reason for lunch to ever take that long.  The food was delicious but not worth being held hostage for 1.5 hours.

 

There is 1 designated hour for each activity this week.  Otherwise we get "Priority Line" privileges which means cutting in front of others in line.  I am not comfortable doing that so that is a wasted benefit.  

 

We will see about the show seating today.  

 

Is it worthwhile?  So far... NO.  

 

Otherwise the cruise has been awesome so far.

 

 

I agree the priority line up is awful. That is how it was for rock climbing and others didn’t understand and were annoyed with the people in the key line . 

[blueridgemama]

50 minutes ago, Fifthcruise said:

I agree the priority line up is awful. That is how it was for rock climbing and others didn’t understand and were annoyed with the people in the key line . 

 

If your not willing to follow the priority policy and are unwilling to "cut in line" then the Key might not be for you. A simple "I paid extra for priority use" should be adequate. This is no different than when we buy movie tickets online and then bypass the ticket line. It might be helpful if they had signage at each venue with a brief description of the Key benefit for that particular activity. Since this is such a new program it is going to take a lot of trial and error to fine tune it and get it right.

[JoeFan]

I think priority access anytime is much better advertising than a scheduled off hour. It gives you the ability to put a key sign at every attraction all day. It will start the conversation. Why didn’t we get The Key. We have to make sure we do this our next cruise. 

[jrljel]

On embarkation day, how long was the lunch at Chops?  I am hoping that it is not too long!

[blueridgemama]

33 minutes ago, jrljel said:

On embarkation day, how long was the lunch at Chops?  I am hoping that it is not too long!

 

They stated 11/2 hours which they stated was unacceptable.

[jrljel]

That is why I am asking to see if others had a similar experience. If they did, was Jamie's Italian any better?

[SailingIntoTheSun21]

2 hours ago, JoeFan said:

I think priority access anytime is much better advertising than a scheduled off hour. It gives you the ability to put a key sign at every attraction all day. It will start the conversation. Why didn’t we get The Key. We have to make sure we do this our next cruise. 

 

Except there is no sign or separate line.  

So you would just go to the front of the line and flash your wristband, and no one knows why you get to go first.

 

2 hours ago, jrljel said:

On embarkation day, how long was the lunch at Chops?  I am hoping that it is not too long!

 

 1.5 hours.  I was watching the timing for other people, thinking it was perhaps our server, and it was the same.  They weren't slammed (empty tables), the menu is limited, and there is no reason why it should have taken so long.

[jrljel]

Thanks for the information on Chops. Now does anyone have any idea of how long it took at Jamie's Italian?

2 hours ago, blueridgemama said:

 

They stated 11/2 hours which they stated was unacceptable.

 

[lovescats5]

I know how you felt about not wanting to cut the line, we felt that way at first on our first Star Class cruise.  Since Star Class was only a couple of months old at the time we got a lot of dirty stares and comments but as time went on we realized we had paid for the privilege to go to the front of the line and if the people who were complaining would have paid the price they could have went to the front of the line also.  We will be in our 4th Star Class suite in 2 weeks and going to the front of the line is not an issue with us anymore.  You get what you pay for.

[Fifthcruise]

4 hours ago, JoeFan said:

I think priority access anytime is much better advertising than a scheduled off hour. It gives you the ability to put a key sign at every attraction all day. It will start the conversation. Why didn’t we get The Key. We have to make sure we do this our next cruise. 

It wasn’t priority anytime . It was during the one hour that it was supposed to be only key so still mostly at bad times . The rest of the time there was no priority .

 

we did use the priority line at the rock climbing but there should have been a sign so everyone else in line wasn’t complaining . The priority line was shorter than the regular line but they still alternated taking people between the two lines . 

[Fifthcruise]

4 hours ago, jrljel said:

On embarkation day, how long was the lunch at Chops?  I am hoping that it is not too long!

We were at chops from 12-1:15. So about 75 minutes . It was longer than the buffet but it was delicious !!!

Edited March 17, 2019 by Fifthcruise

[JoeFan]

4 minutes ago, Fifthcruise said:

It wasn’t priority anytime . It was during the one hour that it was supposed to be only key so still mostly at bad times . The rest of the time there was no priority .

 

we did use the priority line at the rock climbing but there should have been a sign so everyone else in line wasn’t complaining . The priority line was shorter than the regular line but they still alternated taking people between the two lines . 

 

Well then you aren't very clear or I misread.

"Enjoy these exclusive private hours or ENJOY PRIORITY DURING REGULAR OPENING HOURS AT ALL SHIPS ACTIVITIES LISTED ABOVE"

 

I would take that as during the times designated on the chart are exclusive for Key Members (Which isn't much) and the rest of the time you get priority access.

 

You even said you felt bad about jumping to the front of the line.

 

What is it, can you please elaborate?

 

 

[Fifthcruise]

There were 4 flow rider hours per week on the allure . Three of them were 8-9 am and one was 2-3 pm on a port day. All of them had big lines. They did have the whole pool open instead of being divided into two parts.my 9 year old found it was harder with it all open like that . 

We found the lines were shorter during non- key times .

There were 3-4 rocking climbing times . Two of them were 5-6 pm and the others 2-3pm. They never had a key only time . Just a priority line during those specific hours only . For rock climbing you must have socks as they give you special shoes to wear. 

We never made it to zip lining during the key hours but my daughter and husband did it during non key times and had short lines . 

 

Both chops and the final breakfast were great . We were escorted off the ship right into a customs line as soon as we were done breakfast and then our bags were right there in a special key area. 

 

We found everyrhing was great but the extra hours .

 

 

Edited March 17, 2019 by Fifthcruise