The Key - How to Value Royal Caribbean's Extra Perk Program

The Key is offered by Royal Caribbean as a way to purchase additional perks on a Royal Caribbean cruise. This perk program has a lot of benefits you cannot buy as a one-off. However, many people will ask themselves, if The Key worth it? Luckily, I have MANY booking with Royal Caribbean and I am pricing checking, what is the "value" of the key perks and benefits. This will allow you to calculate the "value" for your specific cruise and help answer the question if you should purchase The Key. All calculations for the Key Program are done on a per person basis.

Filmed onboard Royal Caribbean's Liberty of the Seas.

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[kellycobbs]

Thank you for the video; great tips on checking cost comparisons. I purchase The Key, and it isn't always for the money value. Yes, we get internet- that is a perk, but really it's 1. avoiding the buffet and mass crowds on embarkation day and departure day because you're eating at Chops. I'm not a buffet girlie so this is clutch. 2. And most importantly because RC will let The Key passengers board at any time in the morning. You board right after the suites which allows you to get your restaurant dining reservations quickly and avoid crowds and lines on embarkation day. On one of my sailings, I received a noon boarding time. I didn't like that time. I called RC and was told I have The Key- I can come when I like. I know it says 30 min boarding window, but I have been doing this for every sailing since with no issues, about 5x. I buy The Key every time because it's worth not having the line plus the internet. Too bad they got rid of the free room service because then it would be a given. Happy cruising and looking forward to watching more of your videos.

[harperwood]

Fantastic! First cruise will be in June on the Liberty, to Halifax. I am so super excited. I have purchased all the things! Including the Key! I cannot.WAIT.

[brenttuckertravel]

Hey, Brandon. I get the key whenever I do not book a suite. I enjoy the priority embarkation and debarkation and the welcome lunch. The internet is the majority of the cost. Without the multi-device internet, I would not get the key. If I book a sky or star suite, I never get the key.

[richscary]

Great breakdown!!! We have gotten the key a couple of times but only on Oasis ships when not staying in a Suite. We appreciate the reserved seating area for the aqua theater and ice shows but you are right... The internet is the big value with the key!

Have you ever done a video like this for the drink package? Especially if you are a Diamond member?

Great video as always! Thanks!

[laplet]

Great review!!! You are spot on about the value being primarily in the internet package. We have used the Key twice. The first time is when the Key was first introduced and the embarkation lunch was actually in Chops Grill. Also, the price we paid was only $2 per day more than the Zoom internet package. The second time we paid an extra $3 per day, but by then Royal Caribbean was selling a lot more Key packages and had moved the "Chops" lunch into the Main Dining Room. After that the price differential rose to levels that no longer made sense for us. By the way, the non-existent Premier Pass Package that Royal accidentally offered for sale, for one day before they caught their error, would have been an excellent value though. Even though Royal said it was a mistake they did give us a $50 on board credit for each package that we had purchased. That made it worth the effort.

[FrancisSiuChock]

Thanks for the video. And one year later on the sailing we just completed (August 2024) The Key $57.99! One day internet $23.99. The Key is so not worth it as you MUST purchase it for the entire length of your sailing. As noted in the video, unless you are purchasing internet everyday (which we don't) it is so not worth it.

[YoutubeWithCJ]

The key was worth it to me. So I’m definitely getting it again for my birthday cruise in January. There were a few perks that I enjoyed that came along with it, and I only got it for the internet package. It was just a couple of dollars more.

[martinejoseph]

Hello Brandon... Love your explanation. I guess the key would make sense if you are at the base of the royalty program and on one of the biggest ships.

[julieb]

We dexided that a $3 a day difference was worth it even on a 10 night cruise. We get to board 2 hours before our scheduled boarding time. Have a sit-down lunch while luggage is delivered to our stateroom, priorty tendering at both ports.all the other stuff and special breakfast on debarkatio morning.

[louriesellers]

For me the keys is worth is considering its only $4 more then voom and i like the luggage being in my room when the room is ready.

[fknows]

if you want the internet package for the whole cruise, its worth the extra to buy the key, but you have to buy it for each party of your group

[TheRiverPirate]

We tried "The Key" back in December 2019 on our RCCL Mariner of the Seas cruise. I did a YT video of the experience, and "The Key" was a mixed bag when it came to the benefits. Some crew members then were not familiar with "The Key" perks. I bought "The Key" for our weekend cruise on the Allure of the Seas in February 2024. I was able to apply $50 onboard credit toward the cost which makes it almost the same price as the Internet package by itself. I am curious to see if this time "The Key" is better or still something I can skip next time.

[ldyc]

As of August 14, 2023...

The Key full price is $41.99 and sale price is $30.99.
The Internet full price is $26.99 per guest per day and sale price is $19.99.
Full price difference is $15 and sale price difference is $11.

For my trip, my group of four will be on a cruise for three days. With everything on sale, the Internet would've cost us $59.97 each or a total of $239.88 for one device. Since we're two to a room, each room's internet would've cost $119.94. We bought The Key on sale, so it came to $185.94 per room or $92.97 per person, which is an extra $33 for the perks that come with it. I will say tho, I wish the prices were still as long as what's shown in the video.

Speaking of the perks, they've apparently changed since this video roughly four months ago. What's Included now are the following:

1. The Key designated arrival time gives you priority access into the terminal on Day 1. Priority access details will be communicated via email and may vary by port.
2. Carry-on bag drop off and delivery to stateroom. Drop off your carry-on bags in the Main Dining Room until 1:30 pm.
3. Exclusive welcome lunch in the Main Dining Room featuring The Key Signature menu. Savor our signature lunch menu, showcasing guest favorites across appetizers, entrees, and desserts. [Me: I look forward to seeing what these menus are.]
4. 20% off at all specialty restaurants throughout your cruise when you make your reservations on Day 1 of the sailing. Subject to availability. [Me: A big perk to me since I want to try things.]
5. VOOM® Surf & Stream 1 Device high-speed internet.
6. Access to the fast lane at onboard activities and private time at the FlowRider®. Activities vary by ship. [Me: No rock climbing? D:]
7. Priority ship-to-shore departure at tender ports of call. [Me: Another big perk in my book.]
8. Dedicated seating section at shows in the Royal Theater, AquaTheater, Studio B and Two70® (reservations required on Quantum and Oasis Class ships). [Me: We're on Freedom of the Seas.]
9. On debarkation day, enjoy an exclusive à la carte breakfast and depart at your leisure with Choice Departure.

[caryrae]

One thing for people to remember you can purchase the packages internet, the key, beverage etc but keep checking the website since the prices are always changing. If you check and let’s say the key is now cheaper you can just cancel it buy it at the cheaper price and you’ll get a refund for what you paid previously. Always check around holidays and Black Friday, they like to reduce prices then. When we first booked our cruise the key was 10% off but now I looked and it is 35% off making it $18.99 per person per day.

[claudiamalagon]

My first cruise ever will be Jan-2025 with RC- Independence of the Seas. Family of 4 here, wondering if the Key is worth since it would cost us around $620. Have never cruised before so don't know what to expect with/without the key.

[jeannearc]

For the VIP shows . Do you sit on the "VIP" seats . Because i see those signs during shows.

[nichtsistkostenlos]

One thing to take note is that these calculations are for a single person. When you buy the Key, it's per person per day. When I cruise with my wife and kids, it never makes sense to get the key because we will typically only buy internet for two devices for the whole voyage and the cost difference between that and the Key for all passengers is not even close. I think for shorter sailings with one or two people, it can make a lot of sense, for us personally, the value is never there.

[peanut]

Hi Brandon!

Appreciate if you could advise on how to purchase The Key? Am on my royal carribean app but I can’t find the option anywhere… does it only appear prior to x number of days you are sailing? my cruise is in May!

[lanacica]

I always purchase Voom Internet before I cruise. Never gat discount for D+. Do I need to wait and purchase on the ship or maybe get before and ask once I go on the ship for discount?

[christinevillela]

I always look, but the Key almost never makes sense for me EXCEPT for my Greenland cruise. All Greenland ports are tender ports and the Key price over internet was only $3 per day. I wanted that priority exit since every port will be self explore. The lunch and priority seating is a bonus. I will enjoy the priority embarkation and debarkation.