Benefits and Review
The Key is a program that Royal Caribbean provides for purchase in order to give you priority access to certain ship amenities. The price for this program varies depending on the ship you are on and how many days you are traveling, but the average cost is about $25. It may be cheaper on different ships, and it’s always a good idea to watch for sales. I have purchased it for under $17 in the past.
What are the Benefits
Guests that purchase The Key will be able to enjoy the following amenities and add-ons:
- Priority check-in and boarding on embarkation day – you will have a special line to check-in and have early access
- Carry-on bag drop off in the Main Dining Room with stateroom delivery
- A welcome lunch that is served in the Main Dining Room with a special menu from Chops Grille
- Exclusive private hours for certain onboard activities. These could include Rock Climbing, FlowRider, ETC.
- Priority departure at ports of call from ship-to-shore
- VIP seating for many of the shows in the Main theater, Aqua Theater, Studio B, ETC
- Surf & Stream high-speed internet package – 1 package per paying guest
- An exclusive a la carte breakfast on debarkation day and your choice of departure time.
My Review of The Key
I purchased The Key for my last cruise on Oasis of the Seas. I was able to find a sale price and purchased it for $21.99 per day. I was a solo cruiser on that ship, however, all guests over the age of 5 in a stateroom must purchase the package. Once purchased, your Seapass card will have a Key emblem on it confirming your purchase.
One definite pro for me was that I was going to purchase the internet package anyway. Since this is included in The Key, it was only a few additional dollars a day. The Chops Grille lunch was delicious, and I would highly recommend it. Even if you do not use The Key, I would say that a meal at Chops Grille would be worth it!
Embarkation and Debarkation
Priority embarkation and debarkation was also a big plus for me. I didn’t have to fight the crowds and was able to take my time. However, if you need to leave the ship early because of an early flight, then this would not be a benefit for you. In the same vein, if you do not plan to see any shows or use any of the onboard activities, then again, this would not be a benefit for you.
So, Is The Key Worth It?
Now that you have read what the benefits of this package are, this is of course a very personal decision. If you do not plan to use many of the benefits, it may be cheaper to just purchase the internet package alone. If you want the Chops Grill lunch, you can also purchase that separately. Many of these benefits are also very similar to what you would receive if you had purchased a Suite on the ship or if you are Diamond Level or higher with Royal Caribbean. In that case, you may already be receiving many of these benefits, and I would not recommend purchasing The Key.
You can also visit the Royal Caribbean Website for more information on The Key Program.
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