New Program called "The Key"

[CRUISEFAN0001]

33 minutes ago, snaefell said:

Seems to me that so much depends on the length of your cruise,being on 12 nights cruises seems like an awful lot of money for what you get.

Good point.  Even a 7-day cruise for 2 or more people gets "pricey"... $279...

[RFerrington]

1 hour ago, ShillyShally said:

Us too - they knew what they were doing giving us a trial membership - HOOKED 🙂  My travelling partners usually get pre-check when I book all of our tickets but I also expect that's because I enter my KTN from Global Entry as well.

Yes, I have Global Entry too (travel for work outside of the US quite a bit) so between GE, TSA Precheck and CLEAR I've got just about every advantage possible for boarding a plane and re-entering the US !

 

The only problem with CLEAR is that it is not in every airport and sometimes, even when it is in the airport, it is not at every Terminal...but for the locations that I travel the most, it is perfect !

[ShillyShally]

2 minutes ago, RFerrington said:

Yes, I have Global Entry too (travel for work outside of the US quite a bit) so between GE, TSA Precheck and CLEAR I've got just about every advantage possible for boarding a plane and re-entering the US !

 

The only problem with CLEAR is that it is not in every airport and sometimes, even when it is in the airport, it is not at every Terminal...but for the locations that I travel the most, it is perfect !

Yep, same combo of all 3 here too - since I learned about GE after already having TSA Precheck and since the benefits of GE trump Precheck I added GE - we've loved it even for our more limited traveling and I'll be curious this summer about getting into stadiums that have CLEAR - it would be interesting as well if they ever had CLEAR lines in the future at cruise terminals but for most of our travels it has made it so less stressful.  I admit I have been in a small airport with no CLEAR and limited PRECHECK and I forget what I have to do in regular lines 🙂

[ShillyShally]

53 minutes ago, snaefell said:

Seems to me that so much depends on the length of your cruise,being on 12 nights cruises seems like an awful lot of money for what you get.

I was thinking that too since if we book a 12 night in a JS or higher we'll be diamond and that's tempting but suddenly Key becomes a lot less tempting.  We'd drive to port for that one and since we really loved it for the on/off perks it may not be as needed if we book that one!

[blueridgemama]

This is our first cruise (Symphony) on a mega ship and I am apprehensive about getting on and off the ship with so many passengers, standing in long lines and crowds. We may use the zip line but will not be using the Rockwall or flowrider so those 2 perks won't matter. We also don't need internet. That leaves priority embarkation, dropping off our carryons,  lunch at Chops, reserved seating at the shows, breakfast on the last day and faster disembarking  Ours is only a 4 night cruise so is not too expensive for the 2 of us. For our first cruise I think the perks are worth it. After we experience the big ship experience I may decide that we will not need to use it on subsequent sailings.

[LMaxwell]

5 minutes ago, blueridgemama said:

This is our first cruise (Symphony) on a mega ship and I am apprehensive about getting on and off the ship with so many passengers, standing in long lines and crowds. We may use the zip line but will not be using the Rockwall or flowrider so those 2 perks won't matter. We also don't need internet. That leaves priority embarkation, dropping off our carryons,  lunch at Chops, reserved seating at the shows, breakfast on the last day and faster disembarking  Ours is only a 4 night cruise so is not too expensive for the 2 of us. For our first cruise I think the perks are worth it. After we experience the big ship experience I may decide that we will not need to use it on subsequent sailings.

Everyone can have breakfast on disembarkation day in dining room.  

 

On a 4 day cruise you will have a LOT of self-disembark.  I have read many people NOT really viewing this as a perk on the shorter cruises since so many walk off.  

 

Priority embark only counts if you are at the terminal first.  

 

Honestly, just buy lunch at Chops and set your carryons down.  You're going to spend over $200 on a bunch of absolute NOTHING especially if you didn't want the internet.  your money, choose what you want, but you could do a heck of a lot more with it than this 

[PamD5]

53 minutes ago, blueridgemama said:

This is our first cruise (Symphony) on a mega ship and I am apprehensive about getting on and off the ship with so many passengers, standing in long lines and crowds. We may use the zip line but will not be using the Rockwall or flowrider so those 2 perks won't matter. We also don't need internet. That leaves priority embarkation, dropping off our carryons,  lunch at Chops, reserved seating at the shows, breakfast on the last day and faster disembarking  Ours is only a 4 night cruise so is not too expensive for the 2 of us. For our first cruise I think the perks are worth it. After we experience the big ship experience I may decide that we will not need to use it on subsequent sailings.

 

 

Same here, won't use flowrider or rockwall, but looking forward to reserved seats, easy on off and a nice lunch.  Can't wait, enjoy your cruise 🙂 

[Russ Lomas]

5 hours ago, CRUISEFAN0001 said:

Good point.  Even a 7-day cruise for 2 or more people gets "pricey"... $279...

Try multiplying your number by 3 because I had 6 in a family cabin.  Then try multiplying that by 1.35 for our Canadian exchange rate.  That is $1130 Canadian for the Key for 7 days.  No thanks.

[blueridgemama]

29 minutes ago, Russ Lomas said:

Try multiplying your number by 3 because I had 6 in a family cabin.  Then try multiplying that by 1.35 for our Canadian exchange rate.  That is $1130 Canadian for the Key for 7 days.  No thanks.

 

Obviously I would not buy it if it was $1130. But for the 2 of us on a 4 night cruise it is quite reasonable.

[CRUISEFAN0001]

40 minutes ago, Russ Lomas said:

Try multiplying your number by 3 because I had 6 in a family cabin.  Then try multiplying that by 1.35 for our Canadian exchange rate.  That is $1130 Canadian for the Key for 7 days.  No thanks.

OUCH!

[yesiamthere]

Just got back from seven nights on the Oasis of the Seas where both my daughter and I had purchased the key.  Here’s my take on it.  

 

We each paid $19.99 per day.  I don’t think the price will stay that cheap, already seen it up to $30.00 per day on other ships. Rumor has it that Royal will cap it out at 200 people.  When it was sold out they stopped offering it on the internet.  You can never ever buy it on the ship.  Since there were only two of us, and both were going to get the internet, it was a wise decision for us.  We arrived at the ship around eleven and had to go thru security with the crowd.  Once inside we headed to our floor number to check-in.  At this point, the key starts working for you. We got in a special line and were taken immediately and given our internet number to sign up.  Boarding had started so we did not have to wait in the special area for key members.  We headed to drop our carryons at the theatre with the promise that it would be taken and placed in our room at one.  

 

At this point, it was lunch time, so we made our way to Chop’s. Soon after arriving the placed filled completely up.  When that happens the key has to go to the Italian restaurant to eat.  

 

We were missing one carry on and one back pack when we got to our room at one.  The missing ones showed about thirty minutes later. Not what was promised.  

 

For all shows (except comedy) we had reserved special seating.  You have to make your reservations at least three days before cruise date.   We arrived around 15 to 20 minutes early each time.  Seating is right where I would want to sit!  For the water show we decided to try and go in the afternoon instead of our booked time that evening and had no problem.  We showed the lady our “key” on our sail pass and she let us right in and we saw the sign for key members held by a staff member.  Wonderful seats.  The ice show had the best seats of all.  We were second row in the middle.  I’ve seen this show before from the side and, folks, it was like watching a whole new show from the middle.  

 

Internet, overall, was pretty good though at certain times could be slow.  

 

There were special hours several times that week where the zip line, rock climbing and the surf was reserved for key members.  You will get a sheet with those times in your room.  We zip-lined and were the only ones there.  While there a couple showed but were told no-go because they did not have the key.

 

Suite people do not have to make reservations for shows; the key does.  There’s no cutting in line for flow rider for the key.  The key has a special hour several times a week where one side of the flowrider will be for key members.  Just one hour.  After that hour you are back in line with everyone else.  

 

Getting off the ship with the key was pretty darn easy.  We had a full breakfast in Chops then escorted behind the service desk and thru a special door and we were outside.  Immediately checked out.  The line, we avoided, was really long.  We then went with the masses to claim luggage (yours will be in a special area) then I told a worker we had the key.  She immediately took us to the front of the custom line.  Yes, we got a few stares but we paid for that service!

 

The key is not for everyone, especially families.  It requires that if one purchases it then everyone over the age of six must purchase it too.  But if you are paying just for yourself (as I did) or even a couple then the key might be worth the extra cost.  We found that though we were in an interior room we were treated more like we were staying in a suite.  We paid $19.99 a day which was a deal.  Yes, you can get good seats at the shows without the key but you better get there at least 30 minutes early.  

 

Best part to me was the last morning.  A relaxed full breakfast and an easy route to getting off the ship was wonderful.  

 

It boils down to what is important to you and where you want to spend your dollars!

Edited March 21, 2019 by yesiamthere
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[Tennis17]

18 hours ago, TennisCruiser62 said:

Any specifics for The Key on Anthem of the Seas? Did I miss anyone posting a pic of the Private Hours for activities on Anthem? I saw it for many other ships but not specifically Anthem heading to the Bahamas. 

I am also interested in the Key perks on the Quantum class ships.  We are heading to Alaska on the Ovation in June.  Will the "Key" include I-Fly and North Star select times?  If anyone could clue us in I'd appreciate it, thanks! 

[Ralphinsc]

Has anyone done the Key disembark as well as an excursion with airport transfer on the last day? We are doing that on our April 6-13 Symphony cruise. 

 

If I cannot find any information beforehand, I'll be sure to post some details of how that works afterwards. Mainly wondering about whether the luggage will have to be tagged specifically for the Excursion, for the key, or for both.

[brillohead]

11 hours ago, LMaxwell said:

Everyone can have breakfast on disembarkation day in dining room.  

 

Actually, breakfast for the unwashed masses is Windjammer on debarkation day, not in the MDR like with The Key.

[tinkr2]

On 3/18/2019 at 1:26 PM, Cel_cruise said:

I don’t envy you - having this change drop in the week of your cruise - but I think that the world is full of places where spending more gets you more and I think most people who are spending real money on Symphony are very aware of that philosophy and would understand. Nothing proves this true more than Disney and Universal - now it’s time for cruises to catch up!


I am unclear on your Disney reference. Disney does not allow a line jump like that. They do have the free fast pass system that anyone can access. Universal does have kind of that system nd it can be very annoying. On one ride (Red Fish, Blue Fish) we had a family of 8 kids go through the line about 6 times in a row and fill the whole ride up , over and over. So on a slow day, we waited an hour. I was pretty resentful.

I bought the key when they said it was exclusive. I know my husband will not what to do that . he might "cut" once , but over and over, no way. it makes me sad bc the flowerier was the whole reason I purchased it. I go in may so Ill keep it. November, I will see.

[tinkr2]

6 hours ago, yesiamthere said:

We had a full breakfast in Chops then escorted behind the service desk and thru a special door and we were outside.

 So on Oasis you ate in Chops rather than in the mar for breakfast on the last day?

[tinkr2]

 

1 hour ago, brillohead said:

 

Actually, breakfast for the unwashed masses is Windjammer on debarkation day, not in the MDR like with The Key.

 

I feel like there is an ability to eat in the mdr for everyone... unless that has changed

[Cel_cruise]

I am unclear on your Disney reference. Disney does not allow a line jump like that. They do have the free fast pass system that anyone can access.

We are Disney AP Holders and frequent visitors. Anyone can use the FP system - but not everyone knows how to use it to the same level. Using the ‘refresh method’- that is available to anyone - we can easily snag a FP for ‘now’ and cut all those guests who have been waiting in line for 45 minutes who didn’t know/think to try to do so. On busy days - we almost feel bad sometimes! ...but yes, anyone CAN do it though it’s clear that many do not!


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[LMaxwell]

6 hours ago, brillohead said:

 

Actually, breakfast for the unwashed masses is Windjammer on debarkation day, not in the MDR like with The Key.

Every cruise I've ever been on had breakfast in MDR final morning except for a pre-dry dock cruise on Enchantment. 

[LMaxwell]

1 hour ago, irzero said:

Same could be said for buying a bigger cabin or even a balcony. 

 

I usually take inside cabins because the price difference is massive at £100 per night per cabin. 

 

Instead i get a drinks package and dining package and now the key. 

 

If you were to do the above with a Balcony or Suite then you would be paying serious cash so most dont. 

 

Many think an inside cabin is slumming it compared to "their balcony" To me eating in the windjammer or MDR,  begging for your 3 free diamond drinks a night and camping out early for the best seats in the house is slumming it. 

 

You may not see any value in it but to me i dont see any value in the suites or balcony cabins. I could do the above 2 times for less than the price of one suite cruise. 

 

 

I don't cruise in a suite, just trying to help people not get ripped off.  See above, one person thinks MDR breakfast isn't a thing and is new for Key people; it's always been there.  Mostly "fake" perks and internet.  Waste of money. 

[vacationlover_mn]

6 hours ago, brillohead said:

 

Actually, breakfast for the unwashed masses is Windjammer on debarkation day, not in the MDR like with The Key.

Last month on symphony anyone could have breakfast in the MDR on debarkation day.  We opted to eat in the Windjammer.  They also had some pastries, yogurt, etc in the Cafe Promenade.

[marcg125]

8 minutes ago, vacationlover_mn said:

Last month on symphony anyone could have breakfast in the MDR on debarkation day.  We opted to eat in the Windjammer.  They also had some pastries, yogurt, etc in the Cafe Promenade.

Yeah just additional choices on the menu for the Key folk.

[MistyP]

 *

Edited March 21, 2019 by MistyP

[marci22]

The Key seems to be a good value for shorter cruises where people want to do a lot of the activities. Otherwise, it shows diminishing returns as your party gets bigger, does less rock climbing, and goes on a longer cruise.

 

They should just have a list of various 'upgrades' and charge $25 pp for everything depending on what you want. They would need limits on what they sell to keep it workable. I would pay $25pp for priority departure. 

 

[blueridgemama]

24 minutes ago, LMaxwell said:

I don't cruise in a suite, just trying to help people not get ripped off.  See above, one person thinks MDR breakfast isn't a thing and is new for Key people; it's always been there.  Mostly "fake" perks and internet.  Waste of money. 

 

I honestly don't need you to help me not get ripped off. I am a big girl and can make my own decision if I think something is worthwhile to me. I have researched the pros and cons of this program and have made an informed decision that I will try it and see how it works for me. Have you personally used the Key benefits? If you have not, then your opinion that it is a waste of money is not helpful to me. I appreciate and thank all the reviewers on this thread of those who have used the Key and have made note of the pros and cons of this program. I am going into it with my eyes wide open. If it does not deliver on its promises to make my cruise experience better then I will not purchase it again.