Why We Weren’t Wowed by WOW Bands
Royal Caribbean has initiated using WOW Bands on their Oasis and Quantum Class Ships. WOW Bands are water-resistant, ready-to-wear wristbands that can be used instead of a Sea Pass card for accessing select ship features with just a tap of the wrist. In theory, the WOW Bands are a good idea, but at this point, we were not exactly wowed by them. Let me explain why.
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If you have followed our blog, you know that we LOVE Disney. WOW Bands remind me of the Magic Bands that Disney uses in their parks and at their resorts. Other cruise lines like Virgin Voyages have similar wristbands too.
Cost
WOW Bands are not free of charge, except for Star Class guests who get Star Branded ones for free. They currently cost $9.99 each but should be able to be re-used on other ships in the same class, or so we thought. Also, if they are lost or stolen, you have to pay again to have one replaced.
We purchased our original bands on Harmony of the Seas and are planning a trip in June onboard Allure of the Seas which is also an Oasis Class ship. We thought by purchasing the bands now we could use them in June, justifying the cost. Nope. Allure is the only Oasis Class ship that does not use WOW Bands. So much for that idea. So, if you are planning a trip on Allure keep in mind that WOW Bands do not work on this ship.
WOW Band Features
WOW Bands can be used for opening your room door and they work quite well for this. However, when purchasing drinks during a show, you have to remove them and send them with the bartender. Although this did not happen to us, the wristband could easily be mixed up with someone else’s or dropped. There is no identifying information on the WOW bands so who knows if you actually get yours back when your drink arrives.
The next feature that WOW Bands offer is they are water resistant. This is a nice feature to have when swimming in the pools, however, you still are required to take them off when using the Flow Rider. I can see it being a possible safety hazard and not wanting someone to get scratched by them, but it is just simply not as convenient as being able to leave them on. If you don’t have someone with you to hold it, there really isn’t a good place to put it to keep it safe.
Arcade Use
In the Arcade the Sea Pass Cards are easier to use than the WOW Bands. It simply swipes better.
Using the WOW Band in Port
When getting off and on the ship while in ports the WOW Bands are not acceptable forms of identification. You still are required to use your Sea Pass Card as your identification. Except for Perfect Day at Coco Cay, you also cannot use them for charging purchases.
Because they are linked to your onboard account you CAN use them on Royal Caribbean’s Private Island of Coco Cay.
Final Thoughts
WOW bands are Royal Caribbean’s newest wristbands that can be used instead of a Sea Pass card. They are used for accessing select ship features with just a tap of the wrist. It has good features such as opening your stateroom door and onboard charging, however we were still not wowed by them.
For the amount you pay extra for them, they just don’t make sense when they do the same things that your Sea Pass card can do for free. It is just as easy to use a Sea Pass card for opening your stateroom door, purchasing items onboard, and being used for identification when leaving the ship while in port. For these reasons, we don’t recommend spending the extra money to purchase a WOW band. The exception is for Star Class guests who get Star Branded ones for free.
Ready to start planning your own Dream Vacation? Contact me today: amberh@destinationsinflorida.com. I understand that each family is unique. I offer individualized family vacation planning to help you tailor your vacation to fit your family.
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