ZandZ

8 minutes ago, rhinomike said:

 

 

K. Got it. I found it. Now I see lots of back and forth going on above. I have two cabins. Me and my wife in one and my three college age kids in a connecting room. Do I have to buy it for all of us or just me and my wife?   It will be $1400 for all five of us. Is it worth it?  We are first time RC cruisers. Platinum on Carnival and NCL.  

Its everyone in the cabin i believe... However, if you are looking to enjoy the perks together, you would have to buy for everyone, wouldn't you?

7 minutes ago, marcg125 said:

Based on another blog not currently offered on Majesty, Vision of the Seas and Quantum of the Seas.

Thank you for the info.  That does make sense - there is no specialty restaurant on the Majesty...  However, since I am traveling alone the cost of getting just one, for the internet alone, would have justified it....  

Just checked the cruise planner for my August cruise - the key is not available.  Not sure if it was never offered (Majesty) or sold out.  

If you are going to the Statue of Liberty, there is a Museum that I think is small enough to visit in a little over an hour, if that.  Its right there.  Even if you don't go inside - the building is beautiful and there is a cute little park.  Also, the Bull aka we-must-all-laugh-at-balls-today statue.

https://americanindian.si.edu/visit/newyork/

Just now, lenquixote66 said:

 

I have no doubt. Sickening.

8 minutes ago, lenquixote66 said:

Sorry about that,I had a junior moment.

No worries.

3 minutes ago, lenquixote66 said:

I do not think that anything has changed really with the exception that areas in Brooklyn that were 100 percent black have now been "yuppified" and people of other races are now living in those areas. The racism that existed years ago still exists,in my opinion.

I always hope for the best in people. I dont want to admit that you are right. I do think that a lot of the people that were racist chose to move away from new york and the space has been filled up but immigrants and transplants... 

8 minutes ago, lenquixote66 said:

Let us not make this a racial point. I dated a black woman for 2 years who lived in a 100 percent black area in the Bronx.I had no qualms about picking her up ,taking her home and going to restaurants in her area.

I was mugged by white people.

I never did. Never about that. I was making a point at to how NYC and we have grown as a community.

11 minutes ago, lenquixote66 said:

Were you not in Boston when you posted yesterday ? Now you are in NYC,hmmm.

 

Keep up. I havent been to Boston in 10 years, since my mom moved down to Florida lol.

3 minutes ago, olemissreb said:

The Key is available on my Serenade cruise in Sept.  Not sure it's worth the extra $140/pp though...mom and I probably won't be on board in time to take advantage of lunch at Chops and we won't really have carry-ons that we will feel comfortable leaving with someone.  At 82 & 56, mom and I are not going to take up rock climbing or the flowrider (which isn't on Serenade anyway right?) either.  And really - is there a bad seat in the house for the shows?  Only thing that we would take advantage of would be the priority debarkation in Boston since I had a airhead moment and booked an 11am flight.  Is that 1 item worth and extra $280? I don't think so.

 

I didn't read through all 35 pages, has anyone done this and was it truly worth it?  Specifically on a smaller ship like Serenade.

I read pretty much the entire thing - because I was also wondering if its worth it for me, being that I would only really need 1 item from the list of perks.  Having said that, I would be worth it for me - because mine is the internet.  If I was in your shoes I would not get the Key for this trip.

2 minutes ago, HBE4 said:

 

Sorry, i meant to say the amount of Key's remaining was NOT readily accessible. I changed my post but i think you knew meant. 🙂

 

And you bring up a good point, it's been said that the maximum cap is 100 for Key, does't mean every ship will have 100 to sell. Could be less on the smaller ships.

No i understood what you mean. 

I am thinking of a smaller ship like the Majesty... Even on a small ship like that, would 100 keys make a difference?  I don't think so, although doubt it would be offered they don't even have a specialty restaurant...   

4 minutes ago, HBE4 said:

 

It would be interesting to see what happens but first, someone would need to know if their cruise had already sold 99 Keys and only one was left.  Unfortunately, that information is readily accessible. Unlike booking a hotel room thru certain online booking sites that seems to always have a big, red, flashing message "Only 2 rooms left"!!

yeah we will never know.  :)  Also, i am sure its not 100 on each, I am sure they would calculate based on number of passengers.  

1 minute ago, HBE4 said:

 

It'll probably take 6 months to a year for Royal's IT dept to fix the glitch. In the meantime, people will get used to the idea of purchasing The Key for just one person in a cabin.

 

Then, when the glitch is fixed and the rule finally enforced, expect CC to be flooded with complaints of the "new"  money-grabbing scam by Royal.

Forgive the geek here.. since i already purchased one I cannot test this.. Can someone try?  Maybe the site will only allow this if only one key is available?  I mean, its an if/then statement, kinda.  

lol sorry.  

18 hours ago, lenquixote66 said:

Great that you feel safe on NYC subways. Many people that I know personally have had negative experiences on NYC subways.Would you take the L train after midnight,I think not.

also, to answer your question directly.   I go out every Friday.  Prior to figuring out that parking is not an issue in the area I go to, I took the train there and back.  Coming back at about 3am-5am.  Not the L train, but I can give you specific lines if you really want.  Never an issue.

I drive now because I'm not a drinker and its more convenient and because I love to drive.  Not because I felt the subway was dangerous.. If anything, I am more concerned about the walk from the train to my apartment lol.

16 hours ago, lenquixote66 said:

 

My point is that the L train goes through some of the highest crime areas in NYC .Traveling from Union Sq to Bushwick  is a rellatively safe ride.

The typical tourist walks around with a camera and maps and is prey to muggers.

When i was a kid traveling in some of the areas you have mentioned was not even possible.  I would never feel safe in Bushwick.  And the guy I dated at the time, who was black, was not able to walk me from the train because I lived in Bensonhurst.  We now live in a City that is safer than it ever was.  Do bad things happen?  Sure they do.  Does that mean that tourists should take the bus because going down in the subway would put them in danger?  That is ludicrous and not statistically valid.  But yeah, some people want to hold on to their fears.  

18 hours ago, lenquixote66 said:

Great that you feel safe on NYC subways. Many people that I know personally have had negative experiences on NYC subways.Would you take the L train after midnight,I think not.

It sounds like most people you know personally do not reside in the 5 boroughs...  just saying.

1 hour ago, Got2Cruise said:

You previously stated you haven’t been on a subway since 1990. I don’t know the particulars of your mugging but the subway is safe now. Stop scaring people. 

Thank you!

2 hours ago, lenquixote66 said:

There is a lot of crime on NYC subways. I am 6''5 and a former semi-pro basketball player. I was mugged by a guy with a knife.If I was approachable anybody else can be ,especially tourists.

 

If you have time ,take a bus .

i am sorry.  i take subways all hours of day and night.  This, generally speaking , is false.  Im sure someone will go and dig up stats in a NY Minute but I think you are at risk of being mugged on a street as much as you are in the subway, and both are pretty minimal, statistically.  The city has gotten so much safer and better.  Use common sense, stay in the area close to people whenever possible, keep one headphone out at all times, be aware of whats happening. 

What's interesting is I usually show up at 11 anyway. Aside from the one time they had issues at port and it took close to 4 hours, I have never had to wait what I thought was a crazy amount of time.

I like to be on early and I also like to escape my moms as early as I can lol. 

5 hours ago, SmashatSea said:

Sorry about that, we did not bake the cupcakes. They had different premade flavors we could pick and then a couple designs they walked us through. 

No its ok, I misunderstood. I think baking is the easy part anyway.  Thank you for your reply.

4 minutes ago, Biker19 said:

They hold a section of seats for suite/pins/key but they don't check to see if you have a reservation - that check (for reservations) is done at the outer doors. At some time before the show, they let anyone sit there.

And that makes complete sense to me.

1 minute ago, rockmom said:

Yes, I get that, but in the description when you purchase it, it states 'no need to make reservations'.

Maybe there is a some sort of a guarantee on seats... 

1 minute ago, marcg125 said:

I believe they have selected seats in the theater that are only for suites, pinnacles and now the key. You still have to reserve based on which shows and times to which you are going (suites have concierge to set up times).

I would think so, yes... I mean, I've attended MAYBE 3 shows the entire time I have cruised.. Its just not my thing, and I live in NYC.  Why would they keep seats for everyone just in case everyone shows up.

11 minutes ago, Ivana Cruise said:

Just got into cabin. There was an envelope waiting for us. In the envelope were letters explaining the benefits and the available times at venues. They made us reservations at Northstar and iFly.  Our carry on bags were in our closet. There was also the WiFi codes in the envelope. 

Thank you, this is very helpful.

4 minutes ago, rockmom said:

When you are looking at Voom Surf & Stream are you looking at the price per person?  Or are you looking at the price that is a bundle for 3 devices, which will be much less per device than three individual ones.  They have bundles of 2, 3 or 4 devices.  

I looked at 3 devices - although usually I would get 2 and a deluxe alcohol+voom for myself.  So, if I were looking at the Voom for 3 devices - thats 322.80.  My Voom+Alcohol is 380.  My Alcohol alone is 330.  It just looks like, with the chops lunch and internet for 3 devices (because 3 keys are being purchased) and the perks I could potentially use, its a good deal.