What are your experiences with "TheKey"?

[Valen9]

This December will be my first cruise on Royal.  I see something called "TheKey" offered.  How do you use it?  What are people's experiences with it?  Do you recommend getting it?

[Biker19]

6 hours ago, Valen9 said:

Do you recommend getting it?

Only if you were going to buy the Voom package anyway and it's within a couple of $ of that.

[Wanna Be Retired]

My husband has joint issues.  Just taking my carry on bags and having them dropped off and going for a nice lunch really sets the tone for us and has been worth the money, but like Biker said, it has to be within dollar limits.  I looked at some of my cruises and they want $49 a day.  That’s never going to happen.  

[ShillyShally]

2 hours ago, Wanna Be Retired said:

My husband has joint issues.  Just taking my carry on bags and having them dropped off and going for a nice lunch really sets the tone for us and has been worth the money, but like Biker said, it has to be within dollar limits.  I looked at some of my cruises and they want $49 a day.  That’s never going to happen.  

This, loved that feature on the last cruise we took where we got the Key, but we got it at $19.99 a day, I'd jump at that again, lowest I've seen is $24.99 but I got voom at $15.99 which I haven't seen yet again so it's hard to justify the expense.

[mil76]

When they first introduced the Key, they did a private hour on the Flowrider every morning for Key holders.  Most people who got the Key were interested in the other perks like special meals, reserved seats for the shows and not having to lug bags around on embarkation, not the Flowrider benefit.  So my son and I ended up with 6 hours of having the Flowrider all to ourselves on a 7 day cruise.  We were planning to get internet anyway and the Key was only a few dollars more a day, so instead of $349 an hour for the private hour on the Flowrider, it worked out to just a few bucks a day.  To top it off, they also did not make my wife buy the Key even though she was in the room with us.

 

They have since cut back the Flowrider Key hours to one day per cruise, they make my non-Flowriding wife buy the Key now, and the only perks she would use it for she gets already via being D+ and buying the unlimited dining package.  So the Key no longer makes sense to us, but it sure was fun while it lasted! 

[GCS2000]

1 hour ago, ShillyShally said:

This, loved that feature on the last cruise we took where we got the Key, but we got it at $19.99 a day, I'd jump at that again, lowest I've seen is $24.99 but I got voom at $15.99 which I haven't seen yet again so it's hard to justify the expense.

 

This here.  My wife and daughter would be doing the key in 2 weeks as well but its been $47.99 since day one of booking the cruise.  Voom 2 device package they already have was only $18 so it definitely wasn't worth the extra money for the key (unfortunately).

 

[GimmeOcean]

It's $42+/day for my two booked cruises and for the life of me I can't see the value for 2 people for 7 days, and especially not for 14. Maybe I'll check for Black Friday deals but that's a big increase over Voom+2nd device for one person, and benefits that seem to mostly be for embarkation/debarkation.

[trihawks1]

We only do The Key on Oasis class ships.  First you do get on the ship a tad earlier with a special line vs one line with tons of people (depends on port).  Second, we love dropping off our carry on bags at the MDR where the staff will take to your cabin for you.  Third, the Chops lunch in MDR is a nice way to start the cruise without fighting for places to eat on the busiest day.  Fourth, we both do Voom so add that into the cost.  We don’t do Flo Rider, Zip line etc.  Fifth, saved area of seats for The Key at the Aqua Show, Ice Skating show, theater, etc. (still need reservations).  Sixth, disembarkation breakfast in MDR.  Then after breakfast, we went a different way to disembark (might have changed…depends on ship).  This allowed us to avoid the LONG lines of passengers getting off the ship.  We also had a separate area to grab our suitcases vs thousands to search thru.  Then once we had our suitcases we had a separate line to go thru customs/face recognition etc and off the ship.  
 

Add the cost of a Chops lunch with gratuity, two Voom devices, and to us it’s worth the extra to have less stress to the start and ending of the cruise.  Not strolling our carry on luggage around until cabins open up, nice lunch, reserved seats, and disembarkation…makes things smooth and relaxing.

[Valen9]

We'll be on Anthem of the Seas.  

 

When I priced it, Voom was $20/day and TheKey was $31/day.  Prices have gone up since then.

 

Is this something I should wait for Black Friday to price?  My cruise starts December 24 and final payment is September 11, so there is time.

[cft8]

We got it for our cruise on Freedom last December. Like others have mentioned, for us it was not that much more than internet. We enjoyed the dining room lunch and not having to fight the Windjammer crowds. We also had a late flight, so the disembarkation breakfast was a nice, leisurely way to end the cruise.  I think for one show we took advantage of the reserved seating, but we didn’t make it to the ice show before they released the seats. We didn’t do any of the dedicated times for the Flowrider or the rock wall, but if I remember right, they weren’t that convenient. 
 

I’d do it again if it was close in price to internet for two devices. 

[Sunshine3601]

8 hours ago, Valen9 said:

We'll be on Anthem of the Seas.  

 

When I priced it, Voom was $20/day and TheKey was $31/day.  Prices have gone up since then.

 

Is this something I should wait for Black Friday to price?  My cruise starts December 24 and final payment is September 11, so there is time.

I would wait and see if it goes on black Friday sales.

IMO, an extra $11 per day per person isn't worth it.   

Voom you can buy 1 device and share it.  

If need 2 voom devices you are best to purchase under 2 under one person, cheaper than buying 1 device per person.

[vjmatty]

I’ve done it only once, based on the following circumstances at the time:

 

-It was 14.99. That made it cheaper than the Voom+1 extra device plan.

 

-It was on Anthem…lots of activity venues which made the special time access worthwhile.

 

-The sailing was a transatlantic with only three port days, so they had no choice but to schedule the Key activities on sea days. 
 

-The embarking lunch was still with the full Chops menu instead of the current Key lunch.

 

-We were not booked in a suite, or even a JS, so the privileges were helpful. 
 

-Our pre cruise hotel was pretty much right at the ship, in Southampton, so getting onboard early was very convenient. 
 

Since that sailing I haven’t found the Key worth the expense, but YMMV. 

[Sea Dog]

We are fans of The Key but only when the price is right as we usually buy the internet package too. I like the sit down lunch with the Chops menu plus the ability to leave hand held luggage and backpacks so I don't lug them around for several hours. Also on disembarkation day we can take a leisurely breakfast with an enhanced menu and skip the line and go directly to the Key line for disembarkation.

[Carlos A.]

What's interesting is the new phrasing used here:

https://www.royalcaribbean.com/mex/es/faq/questions/what-are-the-benefits-of-the-key-program

 

"Access to the fast lane at onboard activities (activities vary by ship)and private time at the Flowrider"

 

Has anyone experienced this? It seems that there's no longer a "private" time for Key guest, now is a "fast lane" anytime.

 

 

[vjmatty]

13 minutes ago, Sea Dog said:

We are fans of The Key but only when the price is right as we usually buy the internet package too. I like the sit down lunch with the Chops menu plus the ability to leave hand held luggage and backpacks so I don't lug them around for several hours. Also on disembarkation day we can take a leisurely breakfast with an enhanced menu and skip the line and go directly to the Key line for disembarkation.

Ah yes that was another reason for the Key on that Anthem sailing….our ride after disembarking wasn’t coming until 10 so a leisurely breakfast made sense. 

[vjmatty]

5 minutes ago, Carlos A. said:

What's interesting is the new phrasing used here:

https://www.royalcaribbean.com/mex/es/faq/questions/what-are-the-benefits-of-the-key-program

 

"Access to the fast lane at onboard activities (activities vary by ship)and private time at the Flowrider"

 

Has anyone experienced this? It seems that there's no longer a "private" time for Key guest, now is a "fast lane" anytime.

 

 

Hmm that’s interesting, our sailing was this past October and we had designated Key times for iFly, North Star and bumper cars. Can’t say about the Flowrider or rock wall since I didn’t do those. 

[Jimbo]

30 minutes ago, Sea Dog said:

. Also on disembarkation day we can take a leisurely breakfast with an enhanced menu and skip the line and go directly to the Key line for disembarkation.

 Curious, What port was this where there was a Key Line for disembarkation on last morning of cruise?

[Sea Dog]

10 minutes ago, Jimbo said:

 Curious, What port was this where there was a Key Line for disembarkation on last morning of cruise?

 

Once in Miami and once in Port Canaveral. There was a sign for Key members to disembark. The other line was for called numbers we went where the sign say The Key no waiting.

[TwoMisfits]

35 minutes ago, Carlos A. said:

What's interesting is the new phrasing used here:

https://www.royalcaribbean.com/mex/es/faq/questions/what-are-the-benefits-of-the-key-program

 

"Access to the fast lane at onboard activities (activities vary by ship)and private time at the Flowrider"

 

Has anyone experienced this? It seems that there's no longer a "private" time for Key guest, now is a "fast lane" anytime.

 

 

 

I have noticed the language...and I am a fan.

 

I don't want singular set activity times for my kids.  I want them to go anytime, but not wait much in line.  It seems the Key price increase is to accommodate this new model b/c it will be more popular, if theme park fast passes are any indication..

[pcur]

3 hours ago, Sea Dog said:

 

Once in Miami and once in Port Canaveral. There was a sign for Key members to disembark. The other line was for called numbers we went where the sign say The Key no waiting.

I think they include Suites, Pinnacles, and Key passengers together once the early escort groups are off.  It's basically a priority line.

[Wanna Be Retired]

I just got off Voyager of the Seas where I had The Key.  I can’t tell you what we paid.  I forgot.  Getting on the ship and dropping off our bags was great!  We went to the lunch and it was great.  It certainly changed the way we started our cruise.  We both had Voom, however they could not keep my husband’s IPad connected so they refunded us 30% of our Key price.  We ended the cruise with the nice breakfast and then walked off the ship.  I think we got our money’s worth except for the Voom.  My husband said he was willing to pay for it because it made the cruise so much more enjoyable for him.

[Chrislynn55]

We'll have The Key for the first time on an upcoming Jewel cruise. After handing over your carry-on luggage at the Key embarkation lunch, how soon does it make its way to your cabin? Is it already there when cabins open up or will we be waiting for it?

[vision14k]

1 hour ago, Chrislynn55 said:

We'll have The Key for the first time on an upcoming Jewel cruise. After handing over your carry-on luggage at the Key embarkation lunch, how soon does it make its way to your cabin? Is it already there when cabins open up or will we be waiting for it?

It’ll be waiting for you when the rooms

Open!.

[Chrislynn55]

1 hour ago, vision14k said:

It’ll be waiting for you when the rooms

Open!.

 

Yay....thank you!

 

[GimmeOcean]

The Key is currently 25% off on the Labor Day sale... showing $30.99/day for 7 night on Anthem in Dec. Voom for one plus one device would be $223.93 at the current sale price, The Key for 2 would be $209.93 more than that.

 

So, are The Key benefits alone worth $209.93 on a 7 night cruise on Anthem from Cape Liberty? Considering it (and would recheck the prices on Black Friday).

Edited August 31, 2023 by GimmeOcean