New Program called "The Key"

[Tree_skier]

This is a three day cruise. This is day two. Nothing yesterday. 

[alexpfsu]

4 hours ago, MichiganMan4 said:

Just off the 4/20 Symphony and had The Key. 

 

Do you have your sheet still with the actives and times still that you could post?  If not do you recall how many times Flowrider was on it.   Where you able to get priority access to activities during regular hours like people have talked about before on Symphony?

 

Going on the same ship in 30 days or so and trying to see if I should keep the Key. Or should we just drop it and get our money back. 

 

Thanks for the current review on Symphony with the Key.

[tinkr2]

On 4/24/2019 at 11:48 AM, Biker19 said:

This may have changed since January, but at that time Key customers went in the Suite line, it may not be so obvious outside the terminal and even inside the signs may not reflect that, but we observed Key holders being directed at that line.

People have continuously reported going to the far right where the suites go. That is where I am heading next week.

On 4/24/2019 at 6:42 PM, LiamsMommy2008 said:

We are on the Symphony Thanksgiving cruise as well 🙂 May or may not keep the Key I purchased for that trip, depending on how our Harmony cruise w/ Key goes in June.  I purchased for both cruises back in February at 19.99. Glad now that I did! 

 I also purchased a long time ago for 2 cruises. Pretty glad I did. I can always cancel if I want.

7 hours ago, ZoeyVictoria said:

 

So, if you had dropped off your luggage with the porters instead of carrying it on, you would need to have long pants and socks in your carryon to take advantage of ice skating.  How many people keep long pants in their carryon for a Caribbean cruise in April?  If you had your schedule in advance, you could have done just that.  But, am I correct in understanding that the letters are received in the cabin, after the starting time of the scheduled activity?  Is there one bit of common sense applied to this process?

This is something I would pitch a fit about. I always drop my luggage at the curb. I come on the ship with a beach bag. I want to ice skate. I would be down demanding some credit after that. That is really poor planning on their part. No one arrives in jeans and socks and a sweater.

[xpcdoojk]

So, Day 12 from the Ovation.  The DW tried to book another Ifly and told it was full, showed her card with the key and we now have a 1:20PM tomorrow.  We were on the first tender yesterday with a private excursion, Patrick’s Tour (Maohi Nui).  

 

Odd thing the key sessions are in stone when you board, so today since key was at 10AM, and advanced stand-up at 9AM.  There were 4 of us when everyone else had to quit, IE 10 quit.  1 showed up with 15 minutes left.  After the key the line was starting at 18.  I checked out.  

 

JC

[Biker19]

42 minutes ago, xpcdoojk said:

The DW tried to book another Ifly and told it was full, showed her card with the key and we now have a 1:20PM tomorrow. 

So, Key alone got you another Ripcord session ?

[MissLittle1959]

4 hours ago, MichiganMan4 said:

 

No fruit plate for us...  not that we needed it.  Vitality Spa and Park Cafe were each 1 floor away. 

 

Out of curiosity, did they deliver it daily? Or just once?

I believe it's a one time thing.  That's all we got it on Anthem.

[MichiganMan4]

3 hours ago, alexpfsu said:

 

Do you have your sheet still with the actives and times still that you could post?  If not do you recall how many times Flowrider was on it.   

 

Where you able to get priority access to activities during regular hours?

 

Ask and ye shall receive...

 

Good point about priority access, meant to add that.  We were told (nothing in writing) priority access was available but only l on non-sea days.  Which didn’t do us much good as the lines weren’t that long on those days.

[xpcdoojk]

2 hours ago, Biker19 said:

So, Key alone got you another Ripcord session ?

 

Yes, she thought it was blocked out and didn’t think she could get me in.  After I left the Key flowrider session went down, and the person manning the desk is the nice young man on the ship for a month from the home office of the Ifly people, and I told him when he said it is full, that he doesn’t know about the key (he was our flight guy for our flight last week), and that the Mauritian behind him would be able to book it.  Sure enough.  I got added to my wife’s session.  So, yes, the key alone got me that reservation.  I think after we fly we can probably either get another flight thru the Key.  I am now kicking myself for not playing the Key card earlier.  I probably could get Nadia, the Diamond Concierge, to make one too.  That was going to be my next attempt.

 

jc

[RadioPeri]

1 hour ago, xpcdoojk said:

 

I think after we fly we can probably either get another flight thru the Key.  I am now kicking myself for not playing the Key card earlier.  I probably could get Nadia, the Diamond Concierge, to make one too.  That was going to be my next attempt.

 

Eesh, maybe it's because I could care less about these "perks", but this all sounds so incredibly small and petty to me.

This is the behavior that $20/day per person engenders? Or $35/day??? Oof. NO THANK YOU.  

[GEORGIEGIRL]

On 4/27/2019 at 1:02 AM, Ashland said:

So an average lunch in Chop's....disembarkation breakfast great...but could you have gotten the same without the Key in the MDR?.....and front of the line....And this all cost an extra how much ?? 

Not sure I get how this could be worth it ??

As I stated before, I'm not sure it was worth the $20.00 pp per day. We were on the "Enchantment" which does not have the flowrider. I guess it all depends on the person and what they hope to get out of it. My wife liked it. It was only a weekend cruise so it wasn't that big of an amount. Not sure I would do it for a week long or longer cruise. I could have gotten a regular breakfast menu for the last day. However, as I stated earlier the "Key" breakfast was awesome..... 

[xpcdoojk]

So, wanting to ride the Ifly more makes me petty and small?  OK?  I am just posting facts, 

 

We just made our second flight, and was told can’t book again.  On the Anthem in 2016 I flew 6 times that was a 9 or 10 night sailing.  In 2017 on the Ovation I think we flew 4 times on a 15 night sailing.  On the Ovation this time we flew 2 times on a 16 night sailing.

 

So, you are ok with getting less and less of an activity on board that is mostly not operating all day long?  

 

JC

[Tree_skier]

22 hours ago, RadioPeri said:

 

Eesh, maybe it's because I could care less about these "perks", but this all sounds so incredibly small and petty to me.

This is the behavior that $20/day per person engenders? Or $35/day??? Oof. NO THANK YOU.  

So why is it you are posting on this thread again?

[xpcdoojk]

1 hour ago, Tree_skier said:

So why is it you are posting on this thread again?

 

 

Just curious did I come across as petty and small?  I am trying to figure out if I am clueless or a jerk?

 

jc

[seanjulz]

7 minutes ago, xpcdoojk said:

 

 

Just curious did I come across as petty and small?  I am trying to figure out if I am clueless or a jerk?

 

jc

I didn't think so you are actually giving information that people like myself are wanting I'm doing the same cruise as yours in reverse in September and your post have been very appreciated 

[RadioPeri]

1 hour ago, Tree_skier said:

So why is it you are posting on this thread again?

 

I missed your witty repartee.

 

💋💋💋

[Lindanuf]

On 4/27/2019 at 3:04 PM, alexpfsu said:

 

Do you have your sheet still with the actives and times still that you could post?  If not do you recall how many times Flowrider was on it.   Where you able to get priority access to activities during regular hours like people have talked about before on Symphony?

 

Going on the same ship in 30 days or so and trying to see if I should keep the Key. Or should we just drop it and get our money back. 

 

Thanks for the current review on Symphony with the Key.

Here is from Symphony 2 weeks ago.

[blueridgemama]

On 4/27/2019 at 7:25 AM, mcdni said:

I’m on the Allure at the moment with the key. I’ll post a full review once I’m in the airport with some time tomorrow. 

 

there is a new thread:  Key Reviews.  It is going to be dedicated to just reviews so it would be great if you post your review there.

[blueridgemama]

Please post all actual Key Reviews in the new thread entitled:  Key Reviews.  The moderators have agreed to delete all posts from that thread that are not actual reviews. This will make it easier for folks to read actual reviews and not just opinions.

[tcmagnum]

1 hour ago, blueridgemama said:

Please post all actual Key Reviews in the new thread entitled:  Key Reviews.  The moderators have agreed to delete all posts from that thread that are not actual reviews. This will make it easier for folks to read actual reviews and not just opinions.

I think a new thread with only reviews is a great idea.  And the moderator stated she is already deleting posts that are not reviews.  I don't need opinions from someone who haven't used the key, but facts from someone who has actually used the key...

[kdavis5472]

We just got off Symphony this past Saturday - Sailing date of 04/20/19- Western Caribbean.

 

I purchased the Key when it first came available - at $19.99 per person  - and have followed along the threads up until the time of sailing.

 

I was upset that the terms changed significantly from the time we purchased the Key until our sailing, but hung in there, thinking that I would "go with the flow" and see what happened.  Here are my opinions - others may be different....... 

 

Embarkation Day - Our family of 5 (me, hubs, MIL, sons ages 16 and 22) arrived at the port at about 10:30am and were one of the first ones on the ship before 11am.   We boarded right after the Diamond and Star guests, at the same time as the suites were called.  Walked right on.  Easy. However, there were tons of people boarding at the same time, and I know they did not check to see if we actually had the Key or not - so not sure if the Key was any real value, as the boarding was so streamlined as it was.  

 

We first went to the theater and my mother in law dropped off her carry on.  The attendant was super nice and took the bag quickly.  She told us that all of our Key paperwork would be waiting for us in our cabins.

 

Chops was not open yet, so we went and made our specialty dining reservations first.   We were then the second in line to eat at Chops.  Yes, the food was fantastic, but it was packed and lunch took a while.  It was ok for us, other than my kids were antsy in wanting to get out and start exploring the ship.

 

After eating at Chops, it was announced that the cabins were ready, and so we went to check them out.  The Key paperwork was sitting for each of us on our beds. We all quickly signed in to the Wi-Fi and quickly read through the "benefits" of being a Key member.  I noticed that that special Key hours for the flow rider, zip line, ice skating and rock wall were reduced to one hour for the entire week - mostly on the sea days if I recall.  

 

We went up to the sports area to sign our waivers and it was there we received a wrist band to show that we were Key members.  We were told that being a Key member would only allow us special time during the set-aside hour for the attractions - if we wanted more - during non-Key hours, we would need to notify the attendant and they would "work us in" - and were advised that it would create a "fuss" so it was discouraged to even try - and to just wait until it is our Key hour - I asked how come we only got one hour for the whole week and was told "demand".  They were not very helpful.  I got the impression that there were problems before and they were trying to discourage Key members from "cutting line" or making a scene.  So, for our family, while we all planned on participating in the Key hour during the cruise, we ended up not really needing it for anything other than the flow rider.  Rock wall, zip line and ice skating - we had no problems and there was never much of a wait for these attractions.   

 

Now, the flow rider was another story.  There was always a line. We decided to wait until the Key hour - which happened to be from 9-10 on the second sea day - almost end of our trip.  By then, everyone in my family gave up, except for me - I waited for this all week long and by golly, I was going to do it!   There was a private session from 8-9am that day and for some reason, they ran long - so our Key time did not start until 9:10am - yes, I was keeping track.  There were 12 Key people in the line and  the attendants came around in the beginning and checked for the Key on our Sea Passes.  They gave each of us a Key wristband - (others like me, had taken them off from the very first day because I didn't want them to show in our formal pictures for the whole trip!!)  All went well for the first turns -we all took a turn with the wakeboard.  Then things got a little hairy.  Other people - non-Key people, started getting in line, making the 12 people line into a 20 people line. The attendants did not check their Sea Passes and as such, I am pretty sure that some of those peeps were not Key people.  I ended up getting 2 turns in that hour.  Actually, at 9:49pm, the attendants made an announcement that beginning at 10am, anyone could ride, and if they got in line now - meaning at 9:49am - the time would be 10am before their turn came around. I thought this was totally unfair - we already was gypped at the beginning of the hour and now were got gypped at the end of the hour too.  Other Key riders thought the same thing.  So, my advice - if one of the main reasons you are getting the Key is for the flow rider, do not do it.  Ok, my rant over  the flow rider access is over. On to the next Key "benefit"....

 

We did enjoy the priority seating at the shows.   Yes, we did have to make prior reservations which was NOT required in the benefits when I purchased the Key, however, from reading others experiences beforehand, I did make reservations on the planner prior to sailing for our family.  We arrived at each show about 20 minutes and were directed to the special Key/Suite sitting area- which were very good seats, not the prime, but really good.   (If  you do not have the Key and you want the best seats, show up 30 minutes ahead of time and you can get prime seats.... except for some seats that were always reserved for the peeps that paid mooloo money, and if you paid $30k for a cabin, my family agreed - let them sit where ever they want even in the middle of the ice if they so desire!)    

 

Priority debark at ports - no real benefit. I did take my Key benefits sheet with me each time we were at port - just in case. But I never needed it - there were never any lines to get off - or even back on the ship - for that matter.  (Note - Symphony did not tender in any port, so that may have been  be different if we had to tender anywhere)

 

Fruit basket - I read where others received a fruit basket for being a Key member, which I never really "got" - because fruit was abundant on the ship  - and free, but regardless, we did NOT get a fruit basket.  I looked at it as one less thing to clutter up our cabin.

 

One other benefit that was not mentioned anywhere, but as Key members, we did not have to "check out" pool towels. We simply told the towel attendant that we were Key members and we did not have to scan our cards like everyone else.  Funny to think, but this was a nice benefit, as I regularly saw a line of peeps either waiting to scan their sea pass cards to check in or out a towel, while we simply just told them we were "Key" and they handed over as many towels as we wanted - or we just leaned in and pitched our used towels into the bin.  I wonder how they really knew or kept track that we were Key members anyway. There is no way they remembered us every day.    

 

Debark day breakfast - this was nice.  A couple of days prior to leaving, something popped up on our TV, asking us what time we wanted to leave.  We picked 8-8:15.  So, on the last day, we ate in the dining room at 7 and then waited with a few other Key members to be escorted off the ship.  She took us through "back hallways" and we popped out right where the "Key" bags were.   This would have been an absolutely awesome benefit - and probably worth the entire cost of the Key in itself, except that one of our bags was MIA and we had to wait for at least 30 minutes for someone to find it.  I have no idea where it was, but all of a sudden, some girl appeared out of nowhere with our bag - during which time, we watched about a thousand people - non Key peeps - get their bags and walk out in front of us.  We still had  to go through customs - no Key benefit there - but that was completely painless and we were out of the terminal and in the parking garage in about 10 minutes - once we had all of our bags that is.....

 

Overall impression - would I get the Key again? Absolutely not.  Yes, we all had Wifi for the week and there were a couple of nice "benefits" along the way, but we are the type that likes to disconnect from society (and annoying work emails) when on a ship  and for what we paid, it was not worth it.   If the actual "benefits" we received were listed in the original offering of the program, I would not have purchased it.  What made the original Key beneficial to me was not what was delivered.  I was looking forward to the "no reservations required" for the shows - because I did not want to have to be on any schedule - if I wanted to go to a show on a night, I would have liked to just show up and not have to plan ahead like we were made to do.   I  was also looking forward to a few days of "Key only" activities - like the flow rider - not just 2 turns in a shortened hour constantly watching if the attendants were checking for wristbands.   Chops was nice - but next time, we could have just as nice a lunch at Park Cafe.  Shows - good seating, but we could have got just as good seats or better on our own.  The disembarkation was also nice but worth the cost?  No.  I am fine with my decision to buy the Key.   I just will not do it again.  

[CRUISEFAN0001]

2 hours ago, kdavis5472 said:

Overall impression - would I get the Key again? Absolutely not. 

 

....I am fine with my decision to buy the Key.   I just will not do it again.  

I only copied the start and finish of your great, detailed review post of The Key from sailing about 10 days ago.

 

What is nice to see is that you took the time to detail not only your experiences, but also the specific information point-by-point to the promoted "benefits". This reaffirms what many others have also seen firsthand. Thank you.

 

[ShillyShally]

39 minutes ago, CRUISEFAN0001 said:

I only copied the start and finish of your great, detailed review post of The Key from sailing about 10 days ago.

 

What is nice to see is that you took the time to detail not only your experiences, but also the specific information point-by-point to the promoted "benefits". This reaffirms what many others have also seen firsthand. Thank you.

 

Yes, agreed, thank you!  Ha, I wish I had known not checking out pool towels was part of it when we sailed last month but again, everyones' mileage has seemed to vary by ship and sail date with the key!  I enjoyed it for ours on Indy at $19.99 a day, but not sure I'd do it again, especially not at the higher price!

[TheRisleyFamily2021]

7 hours ago, kdavis5472 said:

, I would not have purchased it.  What made the original Key beneficial to me was not what was delivered.  I was looking forward to the "no reservations required" for the shows - because I did not want to have to be on any schedule - if I wanted to go to a show on a night, I would have liked to just show up and not have to plan ahead like we were made to do.   I  was also looking forward to a few days of "Key only" activities - like the flow rider - not just 2 turns in a shortened hour constantly watching if the attendants were checking for wristbands. 

This is exactly the basis for my indecision :(    I hustled to buy The Key before they changed "no reservations needed" to "must have show reservations.". The relatively few private activity hours is not what I signed up for either :/. I am fully disheartened, hoping that things might change back (just a bit!) 

[Iamcruzin]

On 4/27/2019 at 8:29 AM, ZoeyVictoria said:

 

So, if you had dropped off your luggage with the porters instead of carrying it on, you would need to have long pants and socks in your carryon to take advantage of ice skating.  How many people keep long pants in their carryon for a Caribbean cruise in April?  If you had your schedule in advance, you could have done just that.  But, am I correct in understanding that the letters are received in the cabin, after the starting time of the scheduled activity?  Is there one bit of common sense applied to this process?

With all of the sales , creative math and price changes, they don't have time to apply logic or common sense. 

[happymanitee]

44 minutes ago, LiamsMommy2008 said:

This is exactly the basis for my indecision 😞   I hustled to buy The Key before they changed "no reservations needed" to "must have show reservations.". The relatively few private activity hours is not what I signed up for either :/. I am fully disheartened, hoping that things might change back (just a bit!) 

I agree.  I purchased it back when it was first available.  If I had to chose today, I would definitely cancel it.  But, I don’t have to choose until November.  So, I’m going to keep it and see if the program improves by then.  If not, I’ll be cancelling then.  It doesn’t help that I’m sailing on Symphony and it seems like Symphony is getting some of the worst Key reviews.