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New Program called "The Key"


ValerieJo
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Quick Review Of The Key Aboard Anthem Of The Seas Sailing April 6th-

Payed $19.99 PP Per day

 

-Check in was a pleasure and we where on board in about 30 minutes

-Checked carry on bags and got credentials was very easy and quick

-Went to Chops and was denied entry because they where full which sucked

so we went to Jamies which worked out well. Food was very good and waiter was awesome

-Carry on bags where delivered to stateroom and put in closet

-Key seats for The Gift show where center stage and second row which where amazing (didnt see Rock show)

-There was one slot each for the whole week for Ifly,Rock climbing, Flowrider and North Star. This feature of The Key was a joke and unfortunate. I feel this is not what was advertised.

-Priority Disembarkation was terrific at CoCoCay, we where in the very first group off the ship which secured us fantastic seats at the pool (which was amazing, the place will be incredible when its all done

-Last day was a pleasure, we ate breakfast in Silk which was a nice quiet ending. We where then escorted off the ship to a separate baggage claim area, then escorted strait to a customs agent with no line. We skipped very very long lines both on the ship and in customs. We where off the ship and in the truck in about 20 minutes.

 

So the only disappointing part was the reserved times for attractions, otherwise I would definitely purchase The Key again for the right price

 

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Just boarded the Ovation at 11AM this morning in Sydney it is now 1:30PM.  Ate lunch in Chops very good, went to our cabin at 1PM... supposed to be open time.  Door still shut  a couple of dozen people standing looking at it.  I said, it is 1PM and 15 seconds, so I opened it.  It is a 16 night cruise, so there are 3 morning flowrider sessions and 3 after 5.  Not great not bad...  There are no Ifly sessions, no bumper car sessions, the only other is rockwall.  So, flowrider is the only real benefit for times at activities. 

 

The first stand-up session is 5 to 7.... which means I will be sober at dinner at 7:30PM.  I don’t know yet if this is a ship that allows diamond drinks in the dining room, and since we are Jamie’s tonight and Wonderland tomorrow, probably won’t find out til day 3.  

 

JC

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2 hours ago, KeithWT said:

Quick Review Of The Key Aboard Anthem Of The Seas Sailing April 6th-

 

-Went to Chops and was denied entry because they where full which sucked

so we went to Jamies which worked out well. Food was very good and waiter was awesome

 

Thank you so much for your review. Mind telling us what time you boarded and went to Chops?

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46 minutes ago, Colonialdame said:

Has the Key program had any impact on Suite, Pinnacle, or Diamond Plus passengers on smaller Vision Class ships?

 
Just curious what type of impact you think they might have, other than a potential 2-minute delay getting on board?
 

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Valid question, but no preconceived notions.  Checking in hasn’t been an issue for us no matter what cabin or loyalty level we had at the time.  After all, you can’t get your cabin any earlier than anyone else.  Just thought I’d ask and maybe hear from folks who may say they didn’t even notice the program existed or maybe that reserved seating was impacted.  That would be pure speculation.  The only thing I thought was kind of neat was that carry on luggage drop off was available until cabins were ready.  Hate schlepping luggage up to the Windjammer. 

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1 hour ago, Colonialdame said:

Has the Key program had any impact on Suite, Pinnacle, or Diamond Plus passengers on smaller Vision Class ships?

 

No longer priority boarding line for Diamond Plus  through security at Galveston.

 

Key passengers have joined reserved seating area in balcony but wasn't a problem. The theatre was no where near full when we were there and it was the first time in 5 cruises that I even found the reserved seating area! It is on the right hand side of the balcony and I have always gone to the left same view and open seating!

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29 minutes ago, brillohead said:

 
Just curious what type of impact you think they might have, other than a potential 2-minute delay getting on board?
 

 

On our Ovation sailing (day two here), the priority was Back 2 Back, Star class, Pinnacle, D+ and then Key.  Followed by Diamond Emerald Platinum,... etc.

 

jc

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20 hours ago, cre8tiv said:

Anyone recently off Allure of the Seas with Key? Experiences? Thx

 

20 hours ago, cre8tiv said:

Anyone recently off Allure of the Seas with Key? Experiences? Thx

No one... was curious about on peak traveling with kiddos on the Allure and Key usage???

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1 hour ago, cre8tiv said:

 

No one... was curious about on peak traveling with kiddos on the Allure and Key usage???

 

I am curious too - we bought The Key for 4 people at $24.99 pp per day for Jun 30 sailing on Allure. 

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On 4/15/2019 at 11:52 AM, Jem76 said:

Travelling in August on harmony and have been looking at the key

can anyone tell me if this is a good option to take

Thanks

There are 90 pages of opinions on whether you should get it or not.

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On 4/14/2019 at 1:31 AM, Grenouille21 said:

 

One of the things that bothers me most about this is the inconsistent implementation, even on the same ship!  It really just seems like this is an idea that wasn't well thought out.  I am fine with the idea of a pay-to-play option for people who would benefit from the extras that are included.  But when those specific extras are NOT included, what are you even paying for?  

 

If they are not going to be able to offer private hours on FR because of private lessons, maybe they need to rethink offering that as a benefit?  

 

I just can't see The Key lasting much longer, especially as more people are sharing their actual experience.  

On both my rather large fb groups for Symphony and Harmony, everyone's loved it. I ave only seen one negative. newer cruisers perhaps? Not quite as jaded as the cruise critic critics? I do not see the key going anywhere.

 

On 4/15/2019 at 11:22 AM, lovescats5 said:

You cannot think there would be an extra special line for Key people to get back on the ship after an excursion or beach day.  Even with a genie, we get off first but getting back on is up to us.  I have never seen a line that was long enough, unless you waited until the last minute maybe, that there would need to be a special line for a group of people.

Man that is a perk that really infuriates the masses. It is a perk of NCL haven cabins and people really lose their mind when they are standing in the hot  sun waiting to board and you cut that tender line. My hubby will not do it. Last time I left him and was showered and having a drink when he arrived. I am surprised star class does not include that but do not think it should be a key perk.

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34 minutes ago, tinkr2 said:

On both my rather large fb groups for Symphony and Harmony, everyone's loved it. I ave only seen one negative. newer cruisers perhaps? Not quite as jaded as the cruise critic critics? I do not see the key going anywhere.

 

According to your signature, your sailings on Harmony or Symphony are yet to come, so of course all of the people in your rather large FB groups are excited about The Key.  They haven't used it!  It sounds GREAT in theory!

 

I objectively reviewed The Key and pointed out several areas where they did well, but also several where they completely missed the mark.  If RCI keeps removing benefits after people have paid for them, people will complain, and this program will either change dramatically or go away altogether.  It will not continue the way it is now, that is 100% guaranteed, because it is being implemented differently every single week on every single sailing.  

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1 hour ago, Grenouille21 said:

 

According to your signature, your sailings on Harmony or Symphony are yet to come, so of course all of the people in your rather large FB groups are excited about The Key.  They haven't used it!  It sounds GREAT in theory!

 

I objectively reviewed The Key and pointed out several areas where they did well, but also several where they completely missed the mark.  If RCI keeps removing benefits after people have paid for them, people will complain, and this program will either change dramatically or go away altogether.  It will not continue the way it is now, that is 100% guaranteed, because it is being implemented differently every single week on every single sailing.  

I was not referencing my date groups but the large general fb groups for Harmony and Symphony. These are full of lots and lots of feedback from people who HAVE used the key. They also have objectively reviewed it. Many mostly positive reviews. You have made an incorrect assumption based on my signatures. That also does not reflect my past sailing groups. I actually do not think anyone on my sailing fb group has the key.

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16 minutes ago, irzero said:

I wont be accepting such little extra flow rider times. Ill be kicking off as soon as a board if this is the case by the time i go and getting a refund.

 

the advert said "daily" reserved time at flowrider,rockwall, etc etc

I understand how you feel.  Rccl will likely say daily... means one thing per day at what appears to be ridiculous times. 

 

Although canceling online is so easy, perhaps when u cancel you can tell them Why via a call??

 I am disappointed in the Inconsistencies I keep reading about, per ship, per itinerary. 

They ve had long enough to get this straightened out. 

We re on an Upcoming Allure with Key. I didn’t get it for those perks. I’m going to wait it out a little longer for our trip. 

Good luck and Enjoy that cruise!!

 

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41 minutes ago, irzero said:

I wont be accepting such little extra flow rider times. Ill be kicking off as soon as a board if this is the case by the time i go and getting a refund.

 

the advert said "daily" reserved time at flowrider,rockwall, etc etc

Interesting! 🤔

So what are you going to do? 🤔

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43 minutes ago, irzero said:

I wont be accepting such little extra flow rider times. Ill be kicking off as soon as a board if this is the case by the time i go and getting a refund.

 

the advert said "daily" reserved time at flowrider,rockwall, etc etc

 

If you go to your cruise planner today and check the wording for the flowrider, climbing wall etc. it no longer says  "daily hours". The wording on my Symphony and Mariner cruises now says "private hours" so they are no longer promising daily hours. The wording has changed multiple times in the last few months and I suspect it will continue to change as the program evolves. If you are reserving the Key specifically for those attractions, especially the flowrider, I think you are going to be very disappointed. 

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I’m on Harmony with my group, two families 7 people total, we all have the key. Boarding in Port Everglades was smooth, great signs and fast. We - the key people - had a separate waiting area next to emerald. We were the second group to board, after pinnacle etc. I counted about 80 people in the Kay waiting area around 10:30.

 

Harmony has cabin access at noon instead of 1pm, not carry on luggage drop off. We didn’t get to use that, since we went to Chops lunch as it opened at 11:30.  Restricted menu, as shown in earlier posts.

 

Not or a load of Key hours for activities, but something every day. The kids have used flow rider and climbing wall. 

 

Theatre seating was the the row behind tier guests, second row in the center, on the “raised bit” - great seats imo. Fine Line seating was the same, “regular benches” behind the tier seats. Center, and great seats. There has been an attendant checking sea passes by the seat rows, they were opened up around 5-10 minutes before show time.

 

I asked about priority debarkation at ports, they are all docked. Guest services said that nothing specific is organized for the early arrival ports, but to tell staff and “they will try to help you”. Boarding has been a breeze, the dock people noticed the key sticker, and directed us to a different gangway, no people there, and easy to get an elevator. 

 

Tomorrow we we arrive at Labadee at 10 and the Sport Fishing excursion meets ashore at 10:15. And I want to go out early to grab a good bungalow. Will be interesting if they have some sort of priority debarkation.

 

Each of our cabins got a fruit basket delivered on day 3.

 

TLDR: show seating has been great, easy to find 7 seats in good location when arriving about 15-20 mins before showtime. Voom is essential (and can be bought separately). Boarding at Port Everglades was so easy.  Kids love the activities with less queue.

 

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Oh and on the boarding in Sydney, the only group that was specifically isolated before entering the terminal was star class with a sign for people to pile up around.  They went around to Pins, D+, D and Key and gathered them individually based on a mass pile of people and peoples voices.  IE no signage beyond Star class genie.  Then we went into a room upstairs with an amount of chairs less than the mass allowed in.  Again, no sections all upper levels in same place. Then they called the B2B, then Suites, then Pins, then D+, then Key.

 

In our 16 day cruise there are 5 total Flowrider key sessions.  Only Rockwall and flowrider have sessions.

 

jc

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IMO this is the type of perk that's for people who like perks and who don't mind paying extra for it.

 

For my wife and myself it would be a no.

 

$24.95pp/pd to drop off our carry-on for an hour or two, no.

 

$24.95pp/pd for chops lunch on embarkation day, no. We would pay that for each of us for a one time lunch. We probably could get a better deal with a dining package.

 

$24.95pp/pd for one Voom service on one device,no. We don't get the internet service on the ship. But if we did, we would probably get it bundled with a drink package which we do get anyway and save some money on it.

 

$24.95pp/pd for priority debarking on tender ports, no. Not sure how many tender ports Royal cruises to but we have never had to tender. And we don't try to be the first off the ship at port anyway.

 

$24.95pp/pd for priority seating at venues, no. We recently were on the Allure Eastern sailing and we didn't have reservations for a show we wanted to see in the theater, so we were on stand-by. When we did get to sit down we were 2 rows behind the priority seating in the balcony. There really is not a bad seat in the theater. And we could have sat as close or closer than the priority seating.

 

$24.95pp/pd for private sessions on the activities, no. My wife and I don't do any of these but I could see some people who would like this because the flow rider and rock climbing were very busy. I personally don't think it's worth it but some would.

 

For my wife and I that would be and additional $350 for our 7 night cruise. The only things that would interest my wife and I would be the Voom and the Chops lunch. Both of which we could get for far less than $350.

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4 hours ago, October17 said:

I’m on Harmony with my group, two families 7 people total, we all have the key. Boarding in Port Everglades was smooth, great signs and fast. We - the key people - had a separate waiting area next to emerald. We were the second group to board, after pinnacle etc. I counted about 80 people in the Kay waiting area around.

 

Not or a load of Key hours for activities, but something every day. The kids have used flow rider and rock wall

 

 

Do they give your priority for activities during regular hours? Or do you only have the very few key hours for activities.

 

If it is only 2 or 3 flow rider sessions in a 7 night trip it isn't worth it to me anymore. 

 

Thanks for your answers with someone that is using the Key right now. 

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