The Key and Check-In?

[ULCajunCruiser]

If I've purchased The Key will I still need to try and get as early a check in time?  The description says

• "Priority access into the terminal (within booked arrival time) on Day 1."
• Not sure what that means.  Port of Miami if that matters.

[BuckeyeCruisejunkie]

Ours was Port Canaveral but our experience was that we received an email about a week before the cruise listing the Key benefits, which also said that we could check in between 11 and 11:30.  If we could not make that window, then we were instructed to checking at the time from our online checkin.  The Key guests were called to board right after the suite guests.

[twins_to_alaska]

No. I was at Port of Miami May 6 Freedom with The Key. I got 12 noon when I checked in. The Key email I received 15 days prior said

 

Please arrive at the terminal between 11:00 AM - 11:30 AM. If you are not able to make the early access window, you should arrive within your appointment time and will receive priority access into the terminal.

 

I arrived for 11. We were let onboard at 11:30. Chops lunch didn't open until noon.

Edited May 21, 2022 by twins_to_alaska

[pcur]

Actually, Key and Suites are after the back-to-back passengers are escorted back on the ship.  But, there are usually so few b2bers that it doesn't make any difference time-wise.

[GJustice]

1 hour ago, pcur said:

Actually, Key and Suites are after the back-to-back passengers are escorted back on the ship.  But, there are usually so few b2bers that it doesn't make any difference time-wise.

I'd never noticed them before, but last week there were nearly 50 B2B guests in the pen ahead of us.

 

We've been getting there early (drive down the night before) and have been able to walk right in as soon as they were ready to start checking people in even WITHOUT the Key.

[pcur]

1 minute ago, GJustice said:

I'd never noticed them before, but last week there were nearly 50 B2B guests in the pen ahead of us.

 

We've been getting there early (drive down the night before) and have been able to walk right in as soon as they were ready to start checking people in even WITHOUT the Key.

Yes, it is a bit like a cattle drive, isn't it?  😄

[GJustice]

1 minute ago, pcur said:

Yes, it is a bit like a cattle drive, isn't it?  😄

Well, getting there early definitely makes for a less aggravating morning. 🙂 

[ULCajunCruiser]

Thanks, that's what I was hoping!!

[johnjen]

I've looked at the so-called "benefits" of "the key" and never really noticed much advantage to it except for the cruise line making extra money. 

 

Best wishes to the OP on the cruise and I hope that you gain satisfaction from spending the extra money on this program (please let us all know how it goes).

[ULCajunCruiser]

10 minutes ago, johnjen said:

I've looked at the so-called "benefits" of "the key" and never really noticed much advantage to it except for the cruise line making extra money. 

 

Best wishes to the OP on the cruise and I hope that you gain satisfaction from spending the extra money on this program (please let us all know how it goes).

It's really a matter of choice.   I had to have the high speed zoom, so I in essence bought The Key for $6 a day!!