Sea Card or Wrist Band

[Mythbuster]

I did not see any place during check in to select and pay for the wow band, does anyone know how to get one. I also want one as I loved the Disney one and thing there are times when it will come in handy.

 

Thanks.

Mary

 

According to the videos, everyone will get a Sea Pass Card as normal. There will be wristbands in the room that can be taken to activation stations on board. You will be charged $2 for each activated wrist band. If you activate the wristband you can still use your Sea Pass card. The Sea Pass card and wrist band will both have the same type of RF chip in them so the doors and waiters will use the same RF reader, no need for the bar staff to carry 2 different types of readers as one person suggested.

[Plut0]

According to the videos, everyone will get a Sea Pass Card as normal. There will be wristbands in the room that can be taken to activation stations on board. You will be charged $2 for each activated wrist band. If you activate the wristband you can still use your Sea Pass card. The Sea Pass card and wrist band will both have the same type of RF chip in them so the doors and waiters will use the same RF reader, no need for the bar staff to carry 2 different types of readers as one person suggested.

 

Thanks so much for the information. I will definitely activate mine. My DH says he will most likely stick with the sea pass. :)

[shipshape sam]

According to the videos, everyone will get a Sea Pass Card as normal. There will be wristbands in the room that can be taken to activation stations on board. You will be charged $2 for each activated wrist band. If you activate the wristband you can still use your Sea Pass card. The Sea Pass card and wrist band will both have the same type of RF chip in them so the doors and waiters will use the same RF reader, no need for the bar staff to carry 2 different types of readers as one person suggested.

 

That makes sense compared to our speculation! :roll eyes:

 

 

I like Royal trying out stuff like this. For me I think I would still use only card and tether it with my lanyard for now, but you never know. I also think for $2, I would activate it and play with it to see how I liked it.

Edited September 23, 2014 by shipshape sam

[DonnaK]

Call me old-fashioned but I will stick with just the Sea Pass

Edited September 23, 2014 by DonnaK

[EbayCruiser]

I think I will use both. I am anxious to try out the new sea bands, I think they would be really handy.

[Little Fish973]

According to the videos, everyone will get a Sea Pass Card as normal. There will be wristbands in the room that can be taken to activation stations on board. You will be charged $2 for each activated wrist band. If you activate the wristband you can still use your Sea Pass card. The Sea Pass card and wrist band will both have the same type of RF chip in them so the doors and waiters will use the same RF reader, no need for the bar staff to carry 2 different types of readers as one person suggested.

 

 

Videos? Can u direct me to them?

[Baded]

I have a feeling that the wrist band will be the way, the only way soon, so might as well try it. I wonder if it would be possible to use the same one on cruises you take later on the Q or A? Also what about the slot machines will we still have to use the card to get the casino points or will they be upgraded? So many questions and only so many ships.

[transam84]

Definitely going to try the wristband. I hate lanyards and if I don't have pockets it will be nice not to need a purse or fanny pack.

[DEIx15x8]

I have a feeling that the wrist band will be the way, the only way soon, so might as well try it. I wonder if it would be possible to use the same one on cruises you take later on the Q or A? Also what about the slot machines will we still have to use the card to get the casino points or will they be upgraded? So many questions and only so many ships.

I asked Royal Caribbean specifically about B2B and they said no. They are only good for a single sailing and you must purchase a new one for every sailing regardless of if they are B2B or separated by a period.

[mrsrebel10]

i was wondering the same thing about the slot machines. my husband will be there once and awhile so anyone know? the wrist bands seem the way of the future but, what about sizes? my husband has got bigger wrists then i do and if they are one size fits all, i'm afraid im gonna lose mine.....any ideas

[Treacher1]

If they want us to use the wrist bands - fine - but don't continue with nickel and diming us - just include in the passage fare. We all can afford $2, but just add it to cost of cruise - charging extra just makes us feel oh they have another thing they can charge us extra. I understand this gives an option to use or not - same with auto gratuities - just include in fare.

[Dave85]

If they want us to use the wrist bands - fine - but don't continue with nickel and diming us - just include in the passage fare. We all can afford $2, but just add it to cost of cruise - charging extra just makes us feel oh they have another thing they can charge us extra. I understand this gives an option to use or not - same with auto gratuities - just include in fare.

 

I agree. I think charging $2 for this is just tacky. It should be included in the fare and available for those who wish to use it.

[DEIx15x8]

If they want us to use the wrist bands - fine - but don't continue with nickel and diming us - just include in the passage fare. We all can afford $2, but just add it to cost of cruise - charging extra just makes us feel oh they have another thing they can charge us extra. I understand this gives an option to use or not - same with auto gratuities - just include in fare.

 

I'm sure there looking at it the same way as the chocolates.

 

• Average 4,250 guests per sailing
  
• Cost of $2 per person
  
• Total net profits when included: $-8,500
  
• Total number that will likely use it: 1,500 (guess)
  
• Total profits wasted when included: $5,500 per sailing
  
• Total net profits when not included: $0
  
• Total profits wasted when not included: $0
  

Even if they increase the cost of the cruise by a minor $2 per person that is still a large amount of money that will be thrown away. At least they are not going the Disney route. Disney gives everyone at the hotels one but charges normal guests for them. They retail for $15 each and they sell limited edition ones to get people at the hotels to buy one even though they got a free one (just basic colors). Royal seems to be charging the actual cost of the band rather than trying to profit off of them. I do not think they make any gains by charging for them, but they certainly save compared to including them.

[DKNYC]

I would try the Bands at least once to see how it works out. At least I can't demagnetize it with the clasp on my evening clutch that I might carry around at night. Previously that would happen once per cruise and I would have to make a late night trip to the service desk to get a new card.

 

Also I think they would just keep pax in the terminal till the cabins are ready then "release the masses". :)

 

Wouldn't it be interesting if the Wow Band vibrates or something when you walk past your favorite bar or restaurant. I guess that would get annoying after awhile. :eek:

 

Denise

[Mythbuster]

Overtyme,

 

Are you sure that an RFID chip is not also embedded in the QOS Sea Pass cards? Even if it isn't many are already walking around the ship with RFID chips in the Drink Cups which is how the drink machines work.

 

Don't worry too much about the RFID in the wristband providing too much details about where and what you are up to. Most high frequency RFID chip only transmit 3 feet or less. So RCCL won't know anymore about you than they already know through using your Sea Pass card to purchase drinks, tee shirts or slot machines.

 

Also your smartphone has a setting that can be turned on or off for transmitting your location. I usually keep mine turned off.

 

I do agree with you that they should not be charging for the wrist bands. I believe they are trying to discourage the frivolous activation of bands that are never used. They are one-time-use bands like you Sea Pass Card, if it is not activated and left in the cabin they can use them for future guests.

[mandylennon]

A good idea for children/teenagers, not having to nag all the time "have you got your card?" The $2 charge may be a deposit, they are obviously more than just a plastic wrist band, they have a chip in it and as it is a new concept, I expect they need a new member of staff to deal with this and all the teething problems that will go along with it. Will you still need a card key to enter your cabin?

[floridaglen]

Apologies if this has already been asked but am I correct in thinking that there will no longer be a check-in desk and that we will be able to board the ship immediately upon arrival?

[hitaway4]

Apologies if this has already been asked but am I correct in thinking that there will no longer be a check-in desk and that we will be able to board the ship immediately upon arrival?

 

You'll still have check-in. It just won't be as long and/or cumbersome.

[floridaglen]

You'll still have check-in. It just won't be as long and/or cumbersome.

Thanks, I was wondering when we would be asked to fill in the health form if there was no check-in desk so that answers my question.

[DEIx15x8]

Cheap Bastards!!! How tacky!!! Go do Disney, they just give you the wrist bands. It's not like they're not making their money on you. Either this is a technology that they want to adapt or it isn't.

 

Also, keep in mind that they benefit when you wear those bands.

 

They're RFID (Radio Frequency ID) wrist bands, which allows them to track your every movement around the ship, determine your daily patterns, and if they deploy technology properly (eh hem), then they can even custom tailor advertisements to your likes based on your purchases, demographics, location and proximity to the items that they want you to purchase...

 

Overtyme,

 

Are you sure that an RFID chip is not also embedded in the QOS Sea Pass cards? Even if it isn't many are already walking around the ship with RFID chips in the Drink Cups which is how the drink machines work.

 

Don't worry too much about the RFID in the wristband providing too much details about where and what you are up to. Most high frequency RFID chip only transmit 3 feet or less. So RCCL won't know anymore about you than they already know through using your Sea Pass card to purchase drinks, tee shirts or slot machines.

 

Also your smartphone has a setting that can be turned on or off for transmitting your location. I usually keep mine turned off.

 

I do agree with you that they should not be charging for the wrist bands. I believe they are trying to discourage the frivolous activation of bands that are never used. They are one-time-use bands like you Sea Pass Card, if it is not activated and left in the cabin they can use them for future guests.

 

The SeaPass is RFID based identically to the WowBands. If you go to your door and try to swipe you'll be there all day as the only way the doors will open is by tapping an rfid chip to it just like in Disney World. The SeaPass and WowBand each have a unique rfid code that registers back to the a database that says who the owner is. Everything is then setup by the owner so that either item will act identically. You just have a choice of form factors. This is identical to how Disney does it. They give both card keys and MagicBands (though I believe they now phased the cards out and you must request one) that can be used interchangeably. When we went to Disney World in October we stayed at two different hotels, only one had MagicBands but when we got to the second hotel our MagicBands still opened the doors since the cards were RFID based. Didn't matter that they didn't support the bands it was still linking back to me. I actually had 5 completely interchangeable items for that trip; 2 MagicBands (never found out why I got a second), 2 room keys (one per hotel), and a park ticket that were all RFID based and all acted as if they were the same item. These SeaPass cards and WowBands are now different. In fact if you go to Disney World you still are not required to have a MagicBand and most guests not staying on property do not use them, they just use there RFID based tickets.

[Overtyme]

Overtyme,

 

Are you sure that an RFID chip is not also embedded in the QOS Sea Pass cards? Even if it isn't many are already walking around the ship with RFID chips in the Drink Cups which is how the drink machines work.

 

Don't worry too much about the RFID in the wristband providing too much details about where and what you are up to. Most high frequency RFID chip only transmit 3 feet or less. So RCCL won't know anymore about you than they already know through using your Sea Pass card to purchase drinks, tee shirts or slot machines.

 

Also your smartphone has a setting that can be turned on or off for transmitting your location. I usually keep mine turned off.

 

I do agree with you that they should not be charging for the wrist bands. I believe they are trying to discourage the frivolous activation of bands that are never used. They are one-time-use bands like you Sea Pass Card, if it is not activated and left in the cabin they can use them for future guests.

 

Myth,

I'm not sure how the new cards are, but I wouldn't be surprised.

I guess my message got lost in my rant :o

 

I'm a tech guy, and I don't really have a problem with them following me around the ship. It's not all bad, and getting location specific content delivered to me would be great if they leveraged the technology.

 

My real problem is with them charging for a technology that they're implementing for their better good.

 

As for the 3 ft or less, I helped to implement a presence awareness solution for a corporation, as part of a conference room and public space reservation system, as well as for a tie-back to their security system.

That was a few years ago. Since then, there are now Ultra High Frequency RFID sensors that can detect >15 ft.

 

Sorry if I came across as paranoid in my last post. It wasn't supposed to be about that, as much as being frustrated with Royal for charging $2. It just seems so cheap.

[Mythbuster]

Overtyme,

 

You did come across a little paranoid but I guess we all are somewhat paranoid with so much secret surveillance and ID theft. At least with the cards you can use an RF sleeve if you are concerned. I use them for all my RF credit cards.

 

I am interested in the ultra high frequency chips that reach >15 feet. In the past you could only get that range if you had a battery operated transmitter, which would not be practical for a card or even a wrist band. Is the newer technology now capable of transmitting that far without a battery?

 

Again, I agree they should not be charging for something so small.