Tom The Key Programme is a priority access pass to shows, activities and many other benefits onboard Royal Caribbean Cruise ships. You may have heard about it but wonder what it is really about. In this post, we’ll have the complete review of The Key Programme by Royal Caribbean Cruise and share with you some of the key benefits we’ve experienced during our most recent Cruise To Nowhere aboard the Quantum of the Seas!
Book with Klook Here: Royal Caribbean Cruises
Royal Caribbean Cruise The Key Program Benefits
The benefits of The Key Program are found on Royal Caribbean Cruise’s website here. The Key Guests will enjoy the following exclusive and special amenities during their cruise vacation:
– Priority access into the terminal (within booked arrival time) on Day 1*
– Carry-on bag drop off in the Main Dining Room with stateroom delivery**
– Exclusive welcome lunch in the Main Dining Room featuring the Chops Grille® menu***
– Private time at onboard activities**** including Rock Climbing, FlowRider and more
– Priority departure at tender ports of call from ship-to-shore
– Early access at shows in the Main theater, Aqua Theater, Studio B, and Two70 (all guests must have a reservation in order to qualify)
– VOOM® Surf & Stream 1 Device high speed internet – 1 package per paying guest
– On debarkation day, enjoy an exclusive á la carte breakfast and choice departure
When you receive your SeaPass card, it will have a Key icon confirming your purchase of The Key. If you don’t see it, ask your Stateroom Attendant or go to Guest Services to apply the icon.
* Priority access will not be offered in Vancouver, Canada or at any ports in Australia. There is no priority queue in the ART test area, for Singapore.
** Carry-on luggage drop-off service is limited to two pieces per guest and can weigh no more than 25 pounds per carry-on.
*** Welcome Lunch will not be offered in Singapore
**** Onboard activities included in private time vary by ship and sailing. Schedule of private time will be delivered onboard with welcome letter on Day 1.
Do note that the only difference between The usual Key programme vs The Key programme during our cruise to nowhere on Quantum of the Seas, was that there isn’t a welcome lunch. Once onboard, you’ll find the benefits of the Key, placed in a beautiful envelope in your state room. It also indicates the details of the of your exclusive activities. During our cruise to nowhere, the exclusive activities were:
Day 2 – Friday – At Sea
830am to 10am FlowRider
Day 3 – Saturday – At Sea
9:00am to 10:00am Rockwall
8:45pm to 9:30pm Bumper Cars
Royal Caribbean Cruise The Key Benefits Embarkation
As mentioned above, The Key program currently does not extend to ART testing at Raffles City. However, once you’ve completed and received your ART results, you’ll be greeted by staff with The Key signboards at the cruise terminal. The Key Program not only allows for priority access (during your booked arrival time), it also provides luggage drop-off to your room upon embarkation.
=> We value this benefit at $100USD (at least), simply because it costs alot more to be in Suites to enjoy this priority boarding at cruise terminal. Not to mention, being whisked away quickly, saves you time waiting, giving you an hour more of enjoyment. How would you value that additional hour of holiday?
Royal Caribbean Cruise The Key Benefits Complimentary Room Service
For us, one of the biggest benefit of cruising with The Key is the access to complimentary room service during your cruise. Without the Key, each room service costs $7.95USD (exclusive of 18% gratuity). These charges can quickly add up, especially when you want to nibble a little while catching free on-demand movies.
You’ll also be delighted to know that the room service menu is not just run-off-the-mill type of dishes. The Royal Burger (usually only served once onboard the cruise to nowhere) is offered on this menu. The 8 oz. prime wagyu beef, crispy bacon, aged cheddar, served on a toasted brioche bun with fries was an absolute delight. The Philly Cheesesteak was surprisingly delicious as well. The Grilled Salmon seems to be another great dish on the room service menu. In addition to the complimentary fruit platter that comes with the Key Program, you can also order light snacks like pancakes and fruit plates through the complimentary room service. This was definitely a great value that comes with the Key Program.
There’s also 25% off dining at Specialty Restaurants. If you’d like to try out perhaps just one Specialty Dining Restaurant (definitely choose Chops Grille), this could work out nicely as well. Otherwise, we’d recommend the Unlimited Dining Plan instead, especially for cruises to nowhere.
=> We value this at $9.5USD, considering that you’ll at least order room service once a day. Anything more, or the utilisation of the 25% discount at Specialty Restaurants, increases the value of this benefit.
**Do note that eventhough we had the Deluxe Drinks Package during this cruise, room service does not include drink orders outside of their menu (i.e. gourmet coffee or alcoholic drinks are only available at an additional cost).
Royal Caribbean Cruise The Key Benefits Private Hours for Ship Activities
The most popular activities aboard the Quantum of the Seas have got to be FlowRider, Rockwall as well as Bumper Cars. While FlowRider and Rockwall allows for several rounds, waiting times have been reported to be as long as 2 hours. Moreover, as it was the school holidays, there was a limit of only one Bumper Cars booking per room. This means that without The Key, you’ll be looking at only one Bumper Cars session during the entire cruise to nowhere! 😲
However, with The Key programme, you’ll get dedicated hours at these activities – giving you more time to enjoy the activities and spending less time waiting. For instance, we got to enjoy Flowrider 4 times and Bumper Cars 6 times during the dedicated sessions. There was no need for us to spend time making any bookings. Just appear at the allocated time slots (with the correct attire) and you’re good to go. As for Rockwall, we did it just once. Once was enough to tire us out without the need to go for another round. 😅
Book with Klook Here: Set Sail with Royal Caribbean Cruise
=> We value this benefit at $20USD, simply because it costs the equivalent if you were to try FlowRider at Sentosa.
Royal Caribbean Cruise The Key Benefits Surf + Stream VOOM Connection
This Surf + Steam VOOM would be the other reason why you would get the Key for your next cruise. If you’re already planning to get VOOM which costs typically $13.99USD per day, you’ll only pay an additional $10USD per day to get the remaining benefits. The set up was pretty straight forward as well. All we had to do was to fill up the details and utilise the vouchers that came with The Key.
=> We value this benefit at $14USD, the price you’d pay for VOOM by itself. We’ve actually tested out the speed of VOOM Surf + Stream and you can really stream your videos out at sea. Definitely lives up to the “fastest internet at sea” accolade.
Book with Klook Here: Royal Caribbean Cruises
Royal Caribbean Cruise The Key Benefits Early Access at Shows
If you take a closer look at the second photo above, we were seated right behind Star Class Suites passengers in the Royal Theatre. These suites costs upwards of $2000 per person. By getting the Key Programme, we were able to snag great seats in the house, at a fraction of the time. Of course, unlike suite passengers, we had to do the bookings via the Royal App ourselves. Genie’s help would have been nice though.
=> We value this benefit at $50USD, simply because we enjoyed the awesome seats for the shows. If you value the difference between balcony seats and excellent vantage seats, The Key programme gives you just that difference at a fraction of the price.
Royal Caribbean Cruise The Key Benefits Special Farewell Breakfast
As part of the entire Key experience, you’ll be treated to a special farewell breakfast at The Grande Restaurant from 7am to 8:30am on the day of departure. At first, we didn’t think much about it and thought that it would be a pretty ordinary breakfast. We were so wrong! The Royal VIP Signature Crab Benedict came with a generous portion of crab cake while The Royal VIP Steak and Eggs was probably one of the most delicious steaks we’ve had for breakfast. The meal leaves the Key passengers majorly satisfied, ending the cruise on an excellent note.
=> We value this benefit at $10USD as the top-up for a Sirloin Steak costs $16USD. This was a smaller version albeit, tasty and you can probably order seconds as well.
Is Royal Caribbean’s The Key Worth It?
According to our estimates above (removing the $100USD and $50USD) benefits respectively, we still see that The Key Program delivers a value of $53.50USD
Room Service: $9.5USD
Private Hour Activities: $20USD
VOOM Surf + Steam: $14USD
Farewell Breakfast: $10USD
This excludes our valuation of priority embarkation and priority seatings for shows. Even at $50USD, compared to the cost of The Key at $25USD, it is already delivering excellent bang for your buck.
Here’s a video review of The Key Program by Royal Caribbean Cruise…
If you enjoyed our content, “Like” us on Facebook Today!
We hope that this extensive and complete review of The Key program by Royal Caribbean Cruise has given you a better idea of what this programme is about and the benefits that are included. If you’re getting VOOM (Surf + Stream) for your next Royal Caribbean Cruise, why not check out The Key for the other additional benefits for just a small top up? Enjoy your next Royal Caribbean Cruise!
Related Posts on Cruise to Nowhere
Cruise to Nowhere: Royal Caribbean Cruise vs Dream Cruises – Which is Better?
Royal Caribbean Cruise Deluxe Beverage Package Review: How to FULLY Utilise Your Drinks Package!
Royal Caribbean Cruise Refreshment Package Review: Is It Worth It?
Chef’s Table Review: Royal Caribbean Cruise’s “Michelin-Styled” Dining with Wine Pairing
Royal Caribbean Cruise To Nowhere Revisited December 2021 (Quantum of the Seas)
Royal Caribbean Cruise to Nowhere Pre-departure ART Testing – What Has Changed?
Royal Caribbean Cruise Quantum of the Seas
Quantum of the Seas Royal Caribbean Cruise to Nowhere: Important Pre-Cruise Preparations!
Quantum of the Seas Royal Caribbean Cruise to Nowhere Day 1: Departing from Marina Bay Cruise Centre
Quantum of the Seas Cruise to Nowhere Day 5: Disembarkation Day =(
Cruise to Nowhere Review on Quantum of the Seas by Royal Caribbean Cruise!
Genting World Dream Cruise to Nowhere
Genting World Dream Cruise to Nowhere: Important Pre-Cruise Preparations!
Genting Dream Cruises Classic Beverage Package Review: Is it Worth it?
Genting World Dream Cruise To Nowhere Day 1: Bookings, Drinks and Shows
Cruise To Nowhere Genting World Dream Day 2: Chilling, Swimming and Attending Workshops
Dream Cruises Cruise to Nowhere Day 3: Gym, Jacuzzi, VR and Rope Course!
Cruise to Nowhere Review of Dream Cruises’ World Dream: Things to do Onboard!
Thanks for the review, this is very helpful
You’re welcome Summer! Hope it helps with your next Key program with Royal Caribbean Cruise!
Tom & Kate,
2bearbear.com
Hello! Thanks for the introduction of the Key program. Was wondering if the Voom Surf + Stream is a 1 day only voucher? Do you know if it is possible to share it via hot spot? Thanks in advance for the reply!
Hi Torishya,
Thanks for dropping by! As part of the Key Program, it was available throughout the cruise (not only 1 day). Hence, if all occupants are under the Key, they would have access to VOOM. Unfortunately, we have not tried the hot spot option before. Do share with us once you return!
Have an enjoyable cruise ahead!
Tom & Kate,
2bearbear.com
Hi Tom,
Thanks for the information, it is very useful. If all 3 occupants in the same stateroom are under the Key, do you mean that all 3 (i.e. total 3 devices) can use VOOM?
Hi Zin,
According to RCC’s website (https://www.royalcaribbean.com/sgp/en/faq/questions/what-are-the-benefits-of-the-key-program), it states “1 package per paying guest”
Hope this helps!
Tom & Kate,
2bearbear.com
Hello! Thanks for the great post. Would like to check if the key free room service meaning we does not need to pay the 18% too? so like for american breakfast is free for us to order as well? (: thank you!
Hi Joanna,
Yes, room service is included (i.e. no need for additional 18%). So you can choose to have some of the premium items on the room-service menu all day long without additional charges – some of which can be comparable to lunch menus. Yes, that includes American-styled breakfasts too.
On the last day, there will be a special breakfast arranged too. Look out for that!
Enjoy your next cruise!
Tom & Kate,
2bearbear.com
I needed to add this comment that TheKey no longer has free room service as part of the benefits. I just board the Spectrum of the Seas from Singapore to Penang. Don’t expect you’ll get a fruit platter or the bear too.
Hi Boon,
Thanks for the update! That’s unfortunate as they free room service was actually of great value. Hope you had a great trip nonetheless!
Tom & Kate,
2bearbear.com