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New Program called "The Key"


ValerieJo
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4 hours ago, lowbass said:

It took us less than 15 minutes to walk out, grab our bags and get off the ship. I'm not paying for that.

 

Agreed.  The "priority debarkation" at the end of the cruise was a total waste.  We finished eating at 7:10 or something, and we were told we would have to wait for the next escort, which would not arrive until 7:30.  In that time, we walked off the ship and were in a taxi on the way to the airport.  

 

I agree that she didn't really give answers to why things were not as advertised.  That was not my purpose, though.  I don't care why things did not go as advertised.  That won't help me, as I am no longer on board the ship.  I wanted to give feedback so they are aware that people are unhappy.  If no one complains or brings it to their awareness, they will assume everyone is happy with the way things are, and it will continue as is.  I do not think that "as is" is worth the price.  I do not think "as is" is worth ANY price.  I hope that others will share their experience with RCI so they can understand how this program is working (or not) for their customers.  

 

If we sail on RCI again, I will not buy The Key, and if my clients ask I will give them my honest opinion, which is that it is not worthwhile unless all they care about is show seating.  IMO that is the only benefit that is not found elsewhere, unless you buy a suite or are Diamond or above.  None of the other benefits, in my experience, were worth Key membership as they can be purchased individually for less.  

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Priority debarkation at the Labadee stop this morning. We were down by the gangway before the doors were opened, loads of people, but we had the fishing excursion so we were in a hurry. No Key signage, so I asked the staff, the guy gathered us and walked us past the line, held up the others and showed us down the escalator. We were among the first off the ship. Some looks and speculation from the people we passed, but it was okay since we had staff escorting us.

 

No passing the line during regular hours for Flowrider, climbing etc. activities

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Today is last day at sea, had the key luggage tags and a letter in the room in the morning. Key breakfast on deck 4, then to go to a meeting point to be escorted off ship, and to ask staff to help us past lines ashore (so I take it as meaning there will be no separate line once off the ship). 

 

Also got a form for key feedback that needs to be left to the cabin attendant today.

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44 minutes ago, October17 said:

Today is last day at sea, had the key luggage tags and a letter in the room in the morning. Key breakfast on deck 4, then to go to a meeting point to be escorted off ship, and to ask staff to help us past lines ashore (so I take it as meaning there will be no separate line once off the ship). 

 

Also got a form for key feedback that needs to be left to the cabin attendant today.

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Which ship were you on?  I just got off anthem this morning and did not get that survey.  Did the breakfast which was nice but neither of us eat steak for breakfast so we ate light.  There was a sign up at silk as to which line to get in.  After breakfast we went to shore excursions desk and a girl with a big key sign took us to our luggage, waited for us to retrieve and guided us out the door thru customs. We didn’t have to show passports I’m assuming bc we did customs in Boston.  Didn’t even have to declare anything either.  

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Just off Allure this morning - choice departure refers to putting your luggage out night before, with special key tags and then breakfast (for key guests) and meet up at champagne bar for escorted debark.  The other option is to carry all your luggage, meet at Champagne for priority/special debark.  The in room note is somewhat unclear, but it leans to key ppl debarking after express/early ppl.  On allure this morning, first ppl off the ship were two lines simultaneously- one was the regular express/early and the other line was key ppl.  The slight negative is the key ppl in the terminal are routed to the suite/pinnacle exit to luggage area- which is elevator only, so you end up waiting a little for the next elevator.

 

big picture, key was worth the expense- didn't use all the perks but ones we did use were worthwhile.

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2 minutes ago, icemanoneaatl said:

Just off Allure this morning - choice departure refers to putting your luggage out night before, with special key tags and then breakfast (for key guests) and meet up at champagne bar for escorted debark.  The other option is to carry all your luggage, meet at Champagne for priority/special debark.  The in room note is somewhat unclear, but it leans to key ppl debarking after express/early ppl.  On allure this morning, first ppl off the ship were two lines simultaneously- one was the regular express/early and the other line was key ppl.  The slight negative is the key ppl in the terminal are routed to the suite/pinnacle exit to luggage area- which is elevator only, so you end up waiting a little for the next elevator.

 

big picture, key was worth the expense- didn't use all the perks but ones we did use were worthwhile.

 

 

Thank you.

 

For comparison.

 

The last time we debarked as suite guest on Allure, we met at the C-lounge, The concierge keyed the elevators for us then  took the elevators to the champagne bar, then escorted off the ship (:( ) down the escalators right to customs  (we did the free luggage valet).

The time from suite lounge to airport took about 25 min.

 

Safe travels.

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Under Cruise Planner, Internet I see choice called the Key for an Aug 30 Ovation sailing.  Never saw that before:

Summary of your benefits:
• Priority check-in and boarding. Upon arrival at the terminal, follow The Key check-in signage to your designated check-in area.
• Carry-on bag drop off and delivery to stateroom. Drop-off your carry-on bags in the main theater until 1:30pm.
• Exclusive welcome lunch at Chops Grille or Jamie’s Italian. Seating is first come, first served from 11:30am – 1:30pm.
• Private hours at onboard activities including Rock Climbing, FlowRider and more. The private hours schedule will be provided on the welcome letter you will receive with your SeaPass card.
• Priority departure at ports of call.
• Seats in the exclusive VIP seating section at shows in the Main Theater, AquaTheater, Studio B and Two70. You must reserve your show tickets in advance in the Entertainment section of Cruise Planner (up to 72 hours before your sailing) or onboard the ship.
• VOOM ® Surf & Stream 1 Device high speed internet.
• On debarkation day, enjoy an exclusive à la carte breakfast and choice departure.

 

$25 per day pp.  Everyone in stateroom must sign up.  Quick thoughts are that it lessens value of loyalty levels and suite reservations but it will certainly make some happy.

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25 minutes ago, xpcdoojk said:

I mis spoke (typed) a while back there are 6 key sessions for the flowrider on our 16th night sailing.

 

JC

Wow that's still terrible, is there a heap of people with the key or have the just been tight arse with the extra hours? 

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42 minutes ago, WmFoster said:

$25 per day pp.  Everyone in stateroom must sign up.  Quick thoughts are that it lessens value of loyalty levels and suite reservations but it will certainly make some happy.


In what way does it lessen Suite or Crown & Anchor perks?

 

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For those just off Allure..

can you tell me what time ur check in time was? What time you actually arrived? 

Curious as we got 2pm.. and Chops  1130-1

my TA spoke with rccl... was told to arrive at noon?!?  

That won’t work for a Chops lunch, so figure we ll show up at 11 and see how it goes. 

Thanks! 

 

 

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7 hours ago, cre8tiv said:

For those just off Allure..

can you tell me what time ur check in time was? What time you actually arrived? 

Curious as we got 2pm.. and Chops  1130-1

my TA spoke with rccl... was told to arrive at noon?!?  

That won’t work for a Chops lunch, so figure we ll show up at 11 and see how it goes. 

Thanks! 

 

 

 

As I understand it you can arrive whenever you want and that the time they assign you is just a suggestion. Is this correct?

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37 minutes ago, blueridgemama said:

 

As I understand it you can arrive whenever you want and that the time they assign you is just a suggestion. Is this correct?

 

Correct, for cruises out of US ports.

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14 hours ago, Lionesss said:

 

 

Thank you.

 

For comparison.

 

The last time we debarked as suite guest on Allure, we met at the C-lounge, The concierge keyed the elevators for us then  took the elevators to the champagne bar, then escorted off the ship (:( ) down the escalators right to customs  (we did the free luggage valet).

The time from suite lounge to airport took about 25 min.

 

Safe travels.

I wasn’t aware that Allure had a CL?

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We arrived to the pier just before 1045a - and were on Allure by 11a.  We walked over to the theater to drop our carryon bags and retrieve our key pprwrk.

 

Of interest, no written codes are given for internet access- these are now loaded onto your online account and you simply select the package thru your phone or tablet and use as normal.

 

Chops did not open until 1130a- we arrived at 1125 and were seated. At the theater carryon drop off, they mentioned Chops was serving until 1:30p.

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14 minutes ago, icemanoneaatl said:

We arrived to the pier just before 1045a - and were on Allure by 11a.  We walked over to the theater to drop our carryon bags and retrieve our key pprwrk.

 

Of interest, no written codes are given for internet access- these are now loaded onto your online account and you simply select the package thru your phone or tablet and use as normal.

 

Chops did not open until 1130a- we arrived at 1125 and were seated. At the theater carryon drop off, they mentioned Chops was serving until 1:30p.

THANK you for the details! Decided to grab a local hotel and we ll arrive early as well.

Nothing on our Setsail Pass says KEY, suppose we ll all just print off our paid receipts, just in case. 

First cruise on Allure... looking forward to it.. but maybe not the gazillion kids I keep hearing about, lol. 

Would you mind commenting on RCCL 

implementation/lack there of, of adult only areas being Kept, adult only?  Solarium, late nite comedy club, etc?

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1 hour ago, icemanoneaatl said:

We arrived to the pier just before 1045a - and were on Allure by 11a.  We walked over to the theater to drop our carryon bags and retrieve our key pprwrk.

 

Of interest, no written codes are given for internet access- these are now loaded onto your online account and you simply select the package thru your phone or tablet and use as normal.

 

Chops did not open until 1130a- we arrived at 1125 and were seated. At the theater carryon drop off, they mentioned Chops was serving until 1:30p.

I'm not sure about Allure but on Anthem this past week we took our luggage to the Royal Theater and received a blue wristband for the time being until we got our set sail passes in the state room.  We did however find a desk where an agent was with envelopes with all our info in them, including our internet passcodes.  So we had those without ever getting to the room.  This envelope also had the activities private times and other papers.  

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40 minutes ago, cre8tiv said:

THANK you for the details! Decided to grab a local hotel and we ll arrive early as well.

Nothing on our Setsail Pass says KEY, suppose we ll all just print off our paid receipts, just in case. 

First cruise on Allure... looking forward to it.. but maybe not the gazillion kids I keep hearing about, lol. 

Would you mind commenting on RCCL 

implementation/lack there of, of adult only areas being Kept, adult only?  Solarium, late nite comedy club, etc?

I can't figure out why there are so many who don't have the Key symbol on their printed set sail passes.  Ours was a black Key right alongside our Gold designation.  You will love Allure and no matter how many people are there, it will never seem crowded unless the parade is going on.  Enjoy her and make sure you see Mamma Mia!  It's fantastic!

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I can only speak for our trip last week on Allure, and from reading the comments- the experience varies from ship to ship and even sailing to sailing.

 

our key logo was not printed on our cards but instead a key logo sticker - mine was a bit lopsided and I had to be careful not to have it pulled off by mistake.  

 

Also of interest,  we did not get our room keys until we were at our door around 145p.  At Chops, I mentioned we were part of the key as we only had our set sail pass- he typed in our room number on the computer and voila - it must be indicated in their system- no problems simply great service.  We did not get our key paperwork until we arrived in the room- in an envelope on the bed- we didn’t really need it before then anyway.  In the envelope were the purple bands but we opted not to wear those and simply showed our card when needed.

 

an edited addition- we sailed on the last spring break sailing and there were a lot of kids- and no, I’m thinking because it was spring break, royal did not enforce adult only areas- I witnessed a diaper age child in an adults hot tub- suddenly started crying- and parents pulled him out- walked away 15 feet and dropped the babies swim shorts revealing the diaper and removed - assuming a dirty diaper- put the swim shorts back on and away they went- we decided against using the hot tubs at that point!

Edited by icemanoneaatl
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