Royal Caribbean - Spectrum of the Seas

[KelThazard]

For those deciding if should get "The Key", which is RC's "fast lane" perks while on cruise, here's my experience so you can decide for yourself.

Damage (Price): About $250 per pax for a 6D5N trip to Klang -> Penang -> Phuket -> SG. The price fluctuates between $40-$60 per pax per night.

Perks:

1. During embarking process, once you complete check-in, you can proceed to immigration right away. If you don't purchase the key, you have to go to the assigned letter group and wait it's your boarding group turn to board. This means an earlier start to your holiday.
2. Welcome lunch at MDR is pretty exclusive. You seated at above floor while the rest sits at the lower floor. While they queue up for buffet, you get fine dining experience with unlimited mains and dishes. You can always ask for seconds but try not to waste food.
3. During disembarkation to destinations, you can be the first to disembark right after those tour groups batches. Depending on who you met, you might even get VIP escort to the priority exit. Similarly, during embarkation, you are the first to go up the ship and skip the queue. I find this especially useful during Phuket tender as we have to wait for the ferries to fetch us from cruise ship to phuket tender terminal. We're literally escorted like VIPs once we approach the CSO and she bring us all the way to the front of VIP queue with many looking on with envy. So if you like such a feeling, go ahead buy the key.
4. If you buy the key, don't drop your luggage at the terminal. Instead, bring it up and leave it at the assigned place. They will bring it up your stateroom for you.
5. VIP access to all shows. So you get to go in like 30 mins earlier, and pick the best seats. However, some other key guests, especially those with big families/ friends very xia lan. They will sit the best seats then say whole row taken and wait until 15mins before then chope for their family/friends. The staff tried to tell them off but they even guai lan say they already paid for the key so it's their right.
6. Most importantly, you get free paid wifi for 1 device per pax so no need buy separately.

Cons:

1. While there's private time for activities, I didn't get to enjoy much because I spend the time disembarking and travel rather than use the facilities on the ship. On the last day, the private time was too crowded (remember other key guests) for me to use. The only time I enjoy it was for bumper car as they have private time session for bumper car (usually 9.30pm or the last 30mins)
2. Although you are key guest, you don't have other exclusive benefits (e.g. dine in suite lounge, complimentary beverages, priority seating in windjammer during crowd, etc.)
3. As I'm a late owl (usually spend my nights at the bar until late then go casino until close before I go up sleep) and wake up late, I had assumed that the last day would be departure OTOT. For those who are like me (spend time at casino till late), take note of this. While RC states that you can depart anytime you like, their staff will chase you out of your room by 9/9.30am which is the cut off timing that everyone has to leave their room.
   
   So what happened to me was I woke up at 7.45am. Decide to go for the "exclusive departure breakfast" at MDR for The Key guests and then go back shower and OTOT leave. I reach MDR at 8am and ordered and waited 40-45mins before my food came. I had to tell the person to dabao my food as I want to rush back wash up.
   
   When I go back the housekeeping person again remind me to vacate my room, latest by 9.30am. In the end, I didn't even have chance to wash up or properly eat the breakfast. Just disembark, cab home and shower. If I had gone to the Windjammer,I would have been done with my breakfast in 20minutes and have time to shower.
   
   So this episode left a bitter experience in my otherwise wonderful 6D5N trip.

Hopefully, my experience will give those of you who are considering the key more insights into this privilege program.

 

[therat]

No I meant the paid internet package, cause that's what I heard about it as well. Am thinking twice about the internet package if it doesn't allow for VPN connection.

Oh. this I cannot help.
I went to RC cruise 4 time. Never bought a single package.
No photo, no internet, no key, no attas restaurant,

Only use On board credit to buy drink

 

[frederick_ang]

I got to know from here that the app will have free messaging service, i then manages to find a website to teach how to do this. It is as below, but i cannot find the place to "Log into Unified Guest Account". Can anyone help on this please?

To stay connected with friends and family when onboard the ship, guests have to (i) first download the Royal Caribbean International app, (ii) log into Unified Guest Account Connect to the network (no internet purchase necessary), and then (iii) link to friends and family reservations (both parties must agree to the linking).


i also found on RC website that there is Laser Tag but i dun see it mentioned anywhere. Does anyone know more info about this please?

Thanks in advance alot.

 

[therat]

I got to know from here that the app will have free messaging service, i then manages to find a website to teach how to do this. It is as below, but i cannot find the place to "Log into Unified Guest Account". Can anyone help on this please?

To stay connected with friends and family when onboard the ship, guests have to (i) first download the Royal Caribbean International app, (ii) log into Unified Guest Account Connect to the network (no internet purchase necessary), and then (iii) link to friends and family reservations (both parties must agree to the linking).


i also found on RC website that there is Laser Tag but i dun see it mentioned anywhere. Does anyone know more info about this please?

Thanks in advance alot.

For the messaging,
Once you on board, you can message. No need to login or do any setup.
What I noice.. no notification during in coming message. you need to open the app

 

[serena_sim]

Hi, anyone got updates on what is the ifly pricing onboard? Last year December i went it was 40usd per pax. But i saw online that we can now purchase in advanced at a price of SGD$53.50 per pax. So want to check if there is any price increase onboard for the ifly.

 

[e33_lizabeth]

seems like a few reported that

Oooh, thanks for the info!

 

[shaff12]

Activities/shows can be found in your cruise planner. Should be same for same cruise.

Silk road is fast hand fast leg. I went on the cruise twice but didn't get to see it. Finally managed to get reservation for my upcoming May cruise. This is the only show that needs advance reservation. The rest just need to go and queue.

Also to add on, not just fast hand fast leg book and reserve.
Must go there early to queue even if you made a reservation.
Else you end up may not be able to get a seat even and gotta stand further behind the main seating area and cant get a good view!

So make sure to go early to queue too after securing the reservation!

 

[chococat84]

Hi!

Can check with recent cruisers, where will the ship be docked at Phuket? We will be going onboard in early June and unsure if we are near the Patong beach area. I read-see around that the ship will dock at different places depending on the monsoon period.

Thanks!

 

[frederick_ang]

Hi!

Can check with recent cruisers, where will the ship be docked at Phuket? We will be going onboard in early June and unsure if we are near the Patong beach area. I read-see around that the ship will dock at different places depending on the monsoon period.

Thanks!

my cruise is on the end of the May. i called the hotline yesterday and they told me that the ship will be docked at sea and we will tender on small boats to kalim pier.
but i cannot find any info on google about kalim pier at all.
may we can wait for more input from others, i would like to know about this too please.

thanks.

 

[chococat84]

my cruise is on the end of the May. i called the hotline yesterday and they told me that the ship will be docked at sea and we will tender on small boats to kalim pier.
but i cannot find any info on google about kalim pier at all.
may we can wait for more input from others, i would like to know about this too please.

thanks.

thanks for providing information from your side!
yep, hope to hear more input from others

 

[kurt_629]

Oh. this I cannot help.
I went to RC cruise 4 time. Never bought a single package.
No photo, no internet, no key, no attas restaurant,

Only use On board credit to buy drink

really ok to go without package?
will i be missing out the food and drinks?

 

[kurt_629]

Anyone on board the same trip as me this July?

which date are you on?
i'm on Jul 27 — Jul 31

 

[kurt_629]

Silk Road can book on cruise planner? I thought only can book when on board.

i dont see/find any Silk road on the app..

 

[bluecrab]

Just sharing this here for info, managed to get answers in black and white.

For the 4D3N Penang cruise, no visas required if you are not disembarking even if you aren’t a Singaporean, as long as you hold PR/residency

Hi, May i ask how did you get this in black in white? I wrote to them last week, but have not gotten a reply yet. my family has no plan to disembark, and my wife is a PR so we would like to not have to apply VISA if there is no need to. Thanks.

 

[therat]

really ok to go without package?
will i be missing out the food and drinks?

different people different taste
To me, the complentary meal in windjammer, 2-70, pizza, ice cream, hot dog, coffee, tea, etc.. all these are good for me.
I already eat non-stop.

I'm not a big eater or alcoholic lover.

 

[OnTheEdge]

Hi, May i ask how did you get this in black in white? I wrote to them last week, but have not gotten a reply yet. my family has no plan to disembark, and my wife is a PR so we would like to not have to apply VISA if there is no need to. Thanks.

Hi yes, but I only got the black and white about 3 days before my trip.

Things to note though: your wife may need to bring her NRIC there to make things easier. My wife didn’t bring so we gotto keep logging into her Singpass to show them. They just need to make sure you don’t have any issues re-entering SG.

But do note that my cruise is to Penang and I think their decision is based on Malaysia’s policy, so if your cruise is to other countries then you may need to check.

Hope this helps!

Edit: do note that their general hotline/email etc folks isn’t aware of this as far as my experience shows, you need to somehow try to get hold of their folks in SG (I called their sg line during sg office hours). That guy double confirm can, but still they will not send in black and white for visa matters. So gotto wait for about a week before sailing date then the concierge emailed me and I just asked again in the email and that’s when I got the black and white confirmation.

 

[e33_lizabeth]

i dont see/find any Silk road on the app..

My last trip in June last year, I booked thru RC app after boarding the ship, using their internet connection. I’m not sure if it appears on the app prior to boarding.

as another member mentioned possibly can book earlier on cruise planner rather than onboard ship. Will try that when the time comes.

 

[junetns]

for those that just came back, for key vs suites (ie. Sky & Star class). Is the priority the same or is there another queue for the Star & Sky class?

 

[junetns]

I got to know from here that the app will have free messaging service, i then manages to find a website to teach how to do this. It is as below, but i cannot find the place to "Log into Unified Guest Account". Can anyone help on this please?

To stay connected with friends and family when onboard the ship, guests have to (i) first download the Royal Caribbean International app, (ii) log into Unified Guest Account Connect to the network (no internet purchase necessary), and then (iii) link to friends and family reservations (both parties must agree to the linking).


i also found on RC website that there is Laser Tag but i dun see it mentioned anywhere. Does anyone know more info about this please?

Thanks in advance alot.

no laser tag for spectrum

 

[flowerscflowers]

Usd

Does that mean I need bring cash USD on cruise???