Key Review-Liberty of the Seas Sept 2019
We purchased The Key for our Liberty of the Seas Cruise out of Galveston in September and thought it was fantastic. In Galveston, your perks don't start until after you get through security. We arrived about 11 to the port, but the security line went quickly. Once you get through security, the priority boarding starts. RC staff are ready to direct Key members to the priority line. We were immediately directed to an agent, checked in and then headed to boarding. We were led to the priority boarding area, where there was no wait, and were on board quickly.
We left a pretty full room of cruisers who were still waiting to board.
Once on the boarding deck, there was another RC staffer holding a "Key" sign and we were pulled aside for pictures and taken to the main dining room for luggage drop off and lunch. This was all very organized and you knew exactly where to go. There was a little bit of a wait for luggage drop, but not inconvenient. They also had extra Key Stickers for your SeaPass card at luggage drop.
We were seated with a group for lunch and small talk was fun. Lunch was a casual pace, and we were not in a hurry. It was a limited Chops menu, but our whole table went for the steak. Yum!
We were able to place drink orders during lunch (part of our separate drink package) so that was nice. By the time we were done, rooms were ready and we started our cruise. Our carry on luggage that we dropped at the dining room was already in our room when we finished lunch.
The priority seating for the ice skating show was awesome. The venue was pretty full about 10 minutes before the show, and we were shown to reserved seats. They didn't really open the seating until after the show started, because Key guests were filing in up until the show started.
One night, we received a fruit plate in our stateroom for being in the key.
One other night, we received chocolates.
The seating for main shows is in the center balcony, and we utilized the seating perk for 2 other shows during our cruise. We didn't take advantage of the private hours for ice skating, rock climbing, or FlowRider.
We did utilize priority departure in Grand Cayman because they tender, and actually caught a group of Key members on the way down to the tenders. We were on a tender very quickly.
From what I could tell, it was fairly organized.
Internet was great all week, too so A+ for that inclusion.
On the morning of de-embarkation, we went to breakfast in the last half hour of service. Seating and service was slow, but the staff was overwhelmed getting folks walked down to leave the ship and seated for breakfast. The food was great and we were not in a hurry to get off. We finished breakfast and they elevatored our group down to get off the ship.
Once you get your luggage in the terminal, the perks end.
We were queued in the normal customs line (no biggie).
Overall, priority check-in/boarding, lunch, the convenience of internet, and reserved seating made it a good purchase for us. We are two adults, so no kids to factor in the pricing. My husband LOVED not having to wait in the terminal to board. "Value" is subjective, but I think it was money well spent on the cruise. I would get the key again. I booked super early though, and I believe it was $20 a person per day when I booked. FWIW, I have no "status" yet with RC, so for my first RC cruise, I'm glad I bought the Key.