KEY

[FunaC]

Is KEY worth getting for Liberty of the Sea on a 6 day Bermuda sailing?

[Tree_skier]

Without knowing the price they are charging it is impossible to say.

[LindaD22]

For our Brilliance 12-Nt sailing in January, the Key is on sale at $18.99 pp/pd. This makes it a good decision for us as we like the Chop’s lunch on boarding day with drop off of our luggage, plus internet for each. The other benefits are nice but not a deciding factor on this cruise. 

[Biker19]

57 minutes ago, FunaC said:

Is KEY worth getting for Liberty of the Sea on a 6 day Bermuda sailing?

It depends on the value you place on the perks above the Voom package - for many that's only worth $2-3/day.

[time4u2go]

1 hour ago, FunaC said:

Is KEY worth getting for Liberty of the Sea on a 6 day Bermuda sailing?

Do you require internet service on the cruise?

[FunaC]

 No, not really- I do t know what the perks would be to get it. I can see maybe in a larger ship for reserved seats, but I’m not sure. 

Edited November 13, 2023 by FunaC

[time4u2go]

Just now, FunaC said:

 No, not really

Then it's probably not worth it.

[FunaC]

Besides internet, which really only one of us would want, what would the other perks be? I know it’s early boarding, but what is the earliest I can board without it? 

[Biker19]

26 minutes ago, FunaC said:

I know it’s early boarding, but what is the earliest I can board without it? 

Without Key, you would probably board maybe 5-10 minutes later - that assumes you are waiting to board. Once boarding starts and the waiting area clears, there’s no advantage for Key (other than perhaps a slightly shorter check in line). 

[FunaC]

32 minutes ago, Biker19 said:

Without Key, you would probably board maybe 5-10 minutes later - that assumes you are waiting to board. Once boarding starts and the waiting area clears, there’s no advantage for Key (other than perhaps a slightly shorter check in line). 

Thank you!! 

[FunaC]

Another question, where is the lunch that comes with key? I see it says a welcome lunch in the main dining room, but what’s the menu? 

[Biker19]

46 minutes ago, FunaC said:

I see it says a welcome lunch in the main dining room, but what’s the menu? 

That may vary by ship but usually some specialty venue derivative menu.

[TheDawg79]

Consider this…you are paying for the Key for everyday of your cruise, however the benefits are HEAVILY loaded on embarkation day. You are paying for very minimal benefits for all the other days. 

[GJustice]

Marginally to us, like someone said it's heavily loaded for embarkation day. We travel with a small rolling carry on, CPAP machine, small backpack and DW's "who know what" bag and rollator, so the bag drop is DEFINITELY worth it. She uses a wheelchair through the terminal, so not sure which line goes faster getting onboard. Generally, we get to bypass the bulk of the line, but DID have to wait for "general boarding" last time as they were running short on "wheelchair assistants" to get her onboard. We don't get her scooter until we get to the room.

We DID get the $18 deal during Halloween sale for one of our 2 upcoming cruises. More than that and I'll pass.

[Keksie]

It is worth it for us for the following reasons, but we watch and get it for a little over the voom price.

 

Early boarding - not getting up at midnight to check in and get a good time. 

Drop off of carry on items

Quite lunch - the windjammer is busy 

Voom for both of us.  My husband uses WiFi calling to check in with a friend of his in poor health.  I like to stay in touch with my son.

Tender access if needed

Last morning not crowded breakfast

Escort to bypass lines and easy to find luggage

[renza]

The key is really not worth it unless you are solo. 
people all try to say oh well it was the same price as the Internet or maybe a couple dollars more. They do not understand that if you purchase the Internet under one person with multiple devices, it comes out cheaper the more devices you add to one person. Getting on and off the ships nowadays are so fast you do not need the key for that as far as shows on the bigger ships it’s still of no advantage you still need to show up 20-30 minutes before to get your seats, whether you have the key or not. If you want to give money to Royal, they love it go ahead and purchase otherwise it’s not needed. 

Edited November 13, 2023 by renza

[FunaC]

41 minutes ago, renza said:

The key is really not worth it unless you are solo. 
people all try to say oh well it was the same price as the Internet or maybe a couple dollars more. They do not understand that if you purchase the Internet under one person with multiple devices, it comes out cheaper the more devices you add to one person. Getting on and off the ships nowadays are so fast you do not need the key for that as far as shows on the bigger ships it’s still of no advantage you still need to show up 20-30 minutes before to get your seats, whether you have the key or not. If you want to give money to Royal, they love it go ahead and purchase otherwise it’s not needed. 

Thanks for you guidance!!

[Mum2Mercury]

13 hours ago, time4u2go said:

Do you require internet service on the cruise?

This is really an important question.  If you're going to pay for internet anyway, The Key may only be a few dollars more.  If you're not paying for internet, it's quite expensive -- and don't neglect that you must pay X amount every day for every person in your cabin.  Quite expensive. 

10 hours ago, TheDawg79 said:

Consider this…you are paying for the Key for everyday of your cruise, however the benefits are HEAVILY loaded on embarkation day. You are paying for very minimal benefits for all the other days. 

That's true.  

After Day 1 your benefits are mostly special seating (which is not monitored -- I went to a show by myself and thought I'd sit up in the balcony.  After I chose a seat, I realized I was in The Key seating.  No one paid any attention to me.  I looked around and saw some people I knew, who definitely didn't have The Key, and they were sitting in the same area.)   Admittedly, we only sail in the fall, when it's not busy.  

And a couple times for various events -- like the rock climbing wall.  But you may or may not want to go at those times.  Not a great benefit. 

2 hours ago, GJustice said:

We travel with a small rolling carry on, CPAP machine, small backpack and DW's "who know what" bag and rollator, so the bag drop is DEFINITELY worth it.

I don't understand the value in this drop-off service.  If I carry something on, it's because I don't trust other people to handle it.  So why would I carry something on, then hand it over?  Especially a medical device?  

[Mum2Mercury]

1 hour ago, Keksie said:

Early boarding - not getting up at midnight to check in and get a good time. 

Of course your mileage may vary, but this isn't a hardship for me.  I'm always pretty excited to check in!  

Drop off of carry on items

As I said above, if I carry it on, it's because I want to maintain control of that item myself.  

Quite lunch - the windjammer is busy 

Busy, but we've never had a problem getting a seat.  Consider, too, that other smaller no-cost venues are open for lunch.  

Voom for both of us.  My husband uses WiFi calling to check in with a friend of his in poor health.  I like to stay in touch with my son.

Yes, if you're going to pay for internet access anyway, it might make sense. 

Tender access if needed

Consider that few ports use tenders any more, so this may or may not be of value.  

Last morning not crowded breakfast

People are up early for the last morning's breakfast, but few people linger -- finding a seat is not difficult.  

Escort to bypass lines and easy to find luggage

We always do self-disembarkation, so our luggage is never out of our control; someday if we reach the point that we cannot manage our wheeled luggage, this benefit might take on significance for us.

Clearly I am not the target audience for The Key.  

 

[FunaC]

4 minutes ago, Mum2Mercury said:

 

Thank you very much! I’m leaning towards this not being beneficial for us, for many of the same reasons you mentioned 😀

[Happytime22]

Holly shitzel:  My Key is $41.99 pd/pp.   That is crazy!

[Mum2Mercury]

2 hours ago, Happytime22 said:

Holly shitzel:  My Key is $41.99 pd/pp.   That is crazy!

Easy decision! 

[Keksie]

21 hours ago, Mum2Mercury said:

 

Like a lot of things on cruises what one person enjoys another person doesn't. We don't get a drink package because we are diamond and that includes enough drinks for us.  I don't see a value in the art auctions etc.  We do anytime dining and may eat at a specialty restaurant occasionally.  A cruise can be tailored to how a person likes to cruise.

 

Fyi - the carry on we drop off is not items we want control of it is full of my knitting projects, a book a sweater  and tractor magazines for my husband.  The things we carry to keep busy while driving or flying and in case I get cold.  I have a small backpack for those items.

 

[Wanna Be Retired]

We were doing it for the drop off.  I have to take a laptop.  We have old shoulders and backs.  Then I discovered I could get a specialty restaurant for lunch and two devices for internet and save a bunch of money.  By the time we are done with lunch our cabins are open.  The conversation and the laid back lunch sure makes the cruise start off better.

[Mum2Mercury]

7 minutes ago, Keksie said:

Like a lot of things on cruises what one person enjoys another person doesn't.

Yeah, I think we all agree with that.  

7 minutes ago, Keksie said:

Fyi - the carry on we drop off is not items we want control of it is full of my knitting projects, a book a sweater  and tractor magazines for my husband.  The things we carry to keep busy while driving or flying and in case I get cold.  I have a small backpack for those items.

So why not put them through with the rest of the luggage /with the porters?  If they're things you've wanted for travel but don't 'specially need for the first couple hours of the trip, why carry them on at all?  I'm trying to understand your logic. 

 

I'd carry on my wallet, jewelry, medicines, electronics.  Anything else I'd put through with the porters.  But those things I wouldn't want to hand over to anyone else.  

Edited November 14, 2023 by Mum2Mercury