Key Card Availability on Embarkation

[WaterSky]

In as much as your cabin may not be available on boarding, when is the key card in your mailbox on embarkation?  During our last cruise we boarded the ship about noon and went to the buffet. We found that we could not get soda without our keycard.  Your experience and advice would be helpful. Thanks

[luvteaching]

On HAL the cabins are usually available on boarding and the key card is in the slot outside the cabin. My usual routine is to head to the cabin, drop off the carry-on luggage, grab the key card and then head to the Lido for a salad and a very small taste of bread pudding! 

 

Karen

[Cruise Suzy]

On our last cruise, we were able to board before even the Lido opened. Passengers did not bother to go to staterooms for key cards because they figured they would not be available. However, passengers were able to get beverages at the Sea View Bar by showing their boarding pass.

[CruiserBruce]

Just got off Zaandam. Boarded at 11:10...rooms weren't ready, so no room key. Waiter took our order, "charged" it to our room number, but it never got charged because we had the drink package.

[CruiseMob]

Is this new? I haven't cruised HAL since 2019, but if I'm remembering correctly we used to be given our key card on checkin pre-boarding.

[Cruise Suzy]

1 hour ago, CruiseMob said:

Is this new? I haven't cruised HAL since 2019, but if I'm remembering correctly we used to be given our key card on checkin pre-boarding.

 

Key cards have been in mail slots next to stateroom doors since the restart from COVID in 2021.

[RedIguana]

1 hour ago, CruiseMob said:

Is this new? I haven't cruised HAL since 2019, but if I'm remembering correctly we used to be given our key card on checkin pre-boarding.

It's been that way a few years at least, if not since the restart. RCL group has been doing it that way a few years before covid.

[CruiseMob]

Thanks Cruise Suzy and RedIguana! I better research other changes, especially around embarkation and disembarkation since I last cruised. Fortunately I have time. I just booked a 2025 cruise. Thanks again!

 

Of course now I'm hungry 🤤 as the most amazing Mexican restaurant here is called Red Iguana! 😁

[POA1]

We sailed in December 2023 and again in early April 2024. Both times our stateroom keycards were in the mail slot at our room. We picked them up and could order beverages almost immediately.

 

I say "almost immediately" because there was no bar right by our mail slot.

[Shippy]

 SHOULD THEY LEAVE THE KEYS OUTSIDE THE DOORS ???

 

We recently got off the Eurodam.

We ran into a couple where someone else mistakenly went to their cabin.

They dropped their stuff off in the room, left & locked the door.

  The people who belonged in that cabin had a heck of a time finding someone to open the door & get them new keys.

 The cabin stewards hauled away the stuff that was left there mistakenly by the wrong person.

[albingirl]

I always thought it was strange that they leave key cards outside your stateroom door.  First of all, that is your key card for drinks and other very important things that matter.  Casino isn't open but you could charge a boatload of drinks on that card.  Never mind, just thinking of mischief and mayhem.

[Sea-n-Ease]

6 hours ago, albingirl said:

I always thought it was strange that they leave key cards outside your stateroom door.  First of all, that is your key card for drinks and other very important things that matter.  Casino isn't open but you could charge a boatload of drinks on that card.  Never mind, just thinking of mischief and mayhem.

Totally agree.  Sounds like the practice has been in place a while, but sure seems a bit unsecure.

[Fly and Sail]

12 hours ago, albingirl said:

I always thought it was strange that they leave key cards outside your stateroom door.  First of all, that is your key card for drinks and other very important things that matter.  Casino isn't open but you could charge a boatload of drinks on that card.  Never mind, just thinking of mischief and mayhem.

 

There is plenty of security and CCTV on the ship. Not the ideal place for any kind of shenanigans.

[DAllenTCY]

Those same people probably will take the wrong suitcase at the end of the sailing, too.

 

How difficult is it to recognize your own name?

 

David

[CruiserBruce]

47 minutes ago, DAllenTCY said:

Those same people probably will take the wrong suitcase at the end of the sailing, too.

 

How difficult is it to recognize your own name?

 

David

We had the wrong suitcases arrive in our cabin. They had handwritten bag tags, meaning either the owners put the wrong room number, or they told the dock workers the wrong cabin number,  it was put on the tag.

[Blackduck59]

I have always thought the "keys in the mail box idea to be fraught with problems. I much preferred the get your card at check in. Of course that slows down check in as they have to find your boarding package at the back counter. In any event even if the cabin isn't "ready" you can grab the key, drop your carry on gear and carry on. Of course there are those who fail to read their boarding pass or check to make sure they have the right cabin, they are in a special class of cruiser often discussed on these boards.

[bajae]

I have zero experience with the “key in the mailbox” process but is there any “activation” that happens in the checkin process? So if someone does go to the wrong cabin, and they try to open the door, the card wouldn’t work since the real occupants haven’t checked in? I know this wouldn’t stop it if the real occupants have checked in but haven’t made it to the cabin yet. But in that case, hopefully the error is quickly discovered and corrected. 

[CruiserBruce]

5 minutes ago, bajae said:

I have zero experience with the “key in the mailbox” process but is there any “activation” that happens in the checkin process? So if someone does go to the wrong cabin, and they try to open the door, the card wouldn’t work since the real occupants haven’t checked in? I know this wouldn’t stop it if the real occupants have checked in but haven’t made it to the cabin yet. But in that case, hopefully the error is quickly discovered and corrected. 

Or simply the initial scanning onboard activates it, maybe. Or at least your shipboard account.

[alwaysfrantic]

My cards were not ready but the bartenders at lunch were more than happy to take the order on paper.  No problem at all.  
 

Once our cards arrived they actually didn’t work.  The concierge had to get new ones brought up. 

[Gunther1]

On 4/18/2024 at 7:59 AM, albingirl said:

I always thought it was strange that they leave key cards outside your stateroom door.  First of all, that is your key card for drinks and other very important things that matter.  Casino isn't open but you could charge a boatload of drinks on that card.  Never mind, just thinking of mischief and mayhem.

To use your key card in the casino, you have to enter your birthdate and month to get funds, so that wouldn’t be an issue.

 

Drinks, on the other hand, could be charged.

[oakridger]

9 hours ago, Gunther1 said:

Drinks, on the other hand, could be charged.

 

I was under the impression that when crew scanned your card at the bar/shop that your picture shows on their computer screen.  Is that not true?  If so, if someone had your card and tried to use it either by mistake or on purpose, the crew wouldn't let them.

 

`Nancy

[VMax1700]

Since the restart it has been keys in the mail slot. I prefer it that way as too often I can't remember which pocket i stored them in after receiving them at checkin.🤔

[wdw1972]

7 hours ago, oakridger said:

 

I was under the impression that when crew scanned your card at the bar/shop that your picture shows on their computer screen.  Is that not true?  If so, if someone had your card and tried to use it either by mistake or on purpose, the crew wouldn't let them.

 

`Nancy

That's my understanding too.  In any event, we've not heard of anyone's cards being taken and used by other passengers, so it's not something that even registers in my mind as possible things to be concerned with. It's been working for 2-3 years now.

 

Sue/WDW1972

[CruiserBruce]

8 hours ago, oakridger said:

 

I was under the impression that when crew scanned your card at the bar/shop that your picture shows on their computer screen.  Is that not true?  If so, if someone had your card and tried to use it either by mistake or on purpose, the crew wouldn't let them.

 

`Nancy

I have looked over the employee's shoulder several times...the picture doesn't show up at the bar or shop. It does at the gangway...perhaps at other other locations. But definitely not at bars or the stores.

[Haljo1935]

8 minutes ago, CruiserBruce said:

I have looked over the employee's shoulder several times...the picture doesn't show up at the bar or shop. It does at the gangway...perhaps at other other locations. But definitely not at bars or the stores.

Same - not seen pictures at bars or shops, do see them at gangway. The shops will collect signatures at checkout so fairly easy to validate purchases if necessary.