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WOW bands - your thoughts?

karen_g

By karen_g,
in Royal Caribbean International

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karen_g

karen_g

Posted
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Questions regarding WOW bands (on Harmony OTS if that matters):

 

1) If you have a WOW band, are there any circumstances (other than getting off/on the ship), where you would ALSO need to present your actual card?

 

2) For people who have put their cruise card on a lanyard, do you prefer lanyard or WOW band, and why?

 

Thanks for any insights and opinions! :)

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HallOfPromise

HallOfPromise

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My fiancee and I are planning on getting some on our 9/15 Harmony cruise, but also would like to hear from others and their experiences with the bands, both the good and bad.

 

We are both coming directly from Walt Disney World and figured since we will be using Magic Bands during that leg of the vacation, might as well get the WOW Bands as well.

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tOSUSteve

tOSUSteve

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Had WOW band on Anthem - I'm a fan, wife did not want one. She always has a purse/bag, so her seapass card is always with her. I hate carrying around a card, so I liked being able to purchase drinks, LOVED opening stateroom door using wow band.

 

 

The only thing that does get frustrating is taking it on/off to purchase drinks, they need a mobile scanner so you dont need to take it on/off. If they would improve that and add getting on/off ship using them, I would be a HUGE fan!!!

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Islander001

Islander001

Posted
Posted
Questions regarding WOW bands (on Harmony OTS if that matters):

 

1) If you have a WOW band, are there any circumstances (other than getting off/on the ship), where you would ALSO need to present your actual card?

 

2) For people who have put their cruise card on a lanyard, do you prefer lanyard or WOW band, and why?

 

Thanks for any insights and opinions! :)

My wife and I used the WOW bands on the Anthem for the fist time on August 9 2018. We loved them. They replace your sea card for everything onboard. They open cabin doors, get you in reserved shows, check your account at guess services, water proof and get drinks at any bar. The only time my wife need to move hers was when I was getting drinks for her at the bar (we had the DX package). VERY convenient. I am going to miss them on my next cruise on the Adventure.

Lanyard only used them at port never on the ship.

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karen_g

karen_g

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Had WOW band on Anthem - I'm a fan, wife did not want one. She always has a purse/bag, so her seapass card is always with her. I hate carrying around a card, so I liked being able to purchase drinks, LOVED opening stateroom door using wow band.

 

 

The only thing that does get frustrating is taking it on/off to purchase drinks, they need a mobile scanner so you dont need to take it on/off. If they would improve that and add getting on/off ship using them, I would be a HUGE fan!!!

 

 

 

I didn’t realize that you have to take them off to buy drinks; I guess that’s ok for me since I probably only buy about 1 drink per day.

 

What about the dining room? Do you need to take it off for them to record your cabin number for Anytime Dining?

 

Oh, and what about purchases at the onboard shops?

 

 

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twangster "Live from...." Rare

twangster

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Ship card is required to leave and return to the ship. Wow band only works on board. Most cruise terminals want to see your seapass card to approach the ship. Seapass card has name, ship and date on it, wow bands do not. Security personnel cannot look at a wow band and confirm you are a valid passenger. If they let people off with just a wow band, they couldn't get back on board.

 

Handy when swimming, can leave card in cabin. PITA at bars as you must take it off and hand it over (most of the time). It wasn't suppose to be that way but that is what happens. Nice to have as backup in case you leave card in cabin.

 

Harmony seapass cards have an embedded chip in them so they can't be punched. If you desire a lanyard you have to use one with a pouch to slide the card in and out of. I used to use lanyards but don't anymore, seapass card just goes into a pocket now.

 

I've heard the tan line argument. To each their own. I use a watch or wow band to keep an eye on tanning levels. If I can see a distinct tan line or if skin is looking red compared to unexposed skin (under wow band), it's time for more sunscreen or time to seek shade. I don't seek a tan on a cruise. I use plenty of sun screen and don't avoid the sun, just not looking to tan like some folks do. If I have a slight or minimal wow band tan line at the end of the day I know I've picked my SPF properly.

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tOSUSteve

tOSUSteve

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I didn’t realize that you have to take them off to buy drinks; I guess that’s ok for me since I probably only buy about 1 drink per day.

 

What about the dining room? Do you need to take it off for them to record your cabin number for Anytime Dining?

 

Oh, and what about purchases at the onboard shops?

 

 

Sent from my iPhone using Forums

 

They just ask for room# for MTD and I am pretty sure they also just asked when we purchased something in the shop

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Islander001

Islander001

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I didn’t realize that you have to take them off to buy drinks; I guess that’s ok for me since I probably only buy about 1 drink per day.

 

What about the dining room? Do you need to take it off for them to record your cabin number for Anytime Dining?

 

Oh, and what about purchases at the onboard shops?

 

 

Sent from my iPhone using Forums

Clarification.....she took hers off because she did not want to walk to the bar to get her own drinks and you can only get 1 drink at a time with the DX package so for 2 drinks drinks you need 2 bands or 2 cards.

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karen_g

karen_g

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They just ask for room# for MTD and I am pretty sure they also just asked when we purchased something in the shop

 

 

 

Thanks for this info. I liked the idea of wearing the band, but not if it meant I also had to find a place to carry around my Seapass card also. I almost never have pockets when I need them!

 

 

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smplybcause

smplybcause

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Ship card is required to leave and return to the ship. Wow band only works on board. Most cruise terminals want to see your seapass card to approach the ship. Seapass card has name, ship and date on it, wow bands do not. Security personnel cannot look at a wow band and confirm you are a valid passenger. If they let people off with just a wow band, they couldn't get back on board.

 

Handy when swimming, can leave card in cabin. PITA at bars as you must take it off and hand it over (most of the time). It wasn't suppose to be that way but that is what happens. Nice to have as backup in case you leave card in cabin.

 

Harmony seapass cards have an embedded chip in them so they can't be punched. If you desire a lanyard you have to use one with a pouch to slide the card in and out of. I used to use lanyards but don't anymore, seapass card just goes into a pocket now.

 

I've heard the tan line argument. To each their own. I use a watch or wow band to keep an eye on tanning levels. If I can see a distinct tan line or if skin is looking red compared to unexposed skin (under wow band), it's time for more sunscreen or time to seek shade. I don't seek a tan on a cruise. I use plenty of sun screen and don't avoid the sun, just not looking to tan like some folks do. If I have a slight or minimal wow band tan line at the end of the day I know I've picked my SPF properly.

Or you could use http://www.sunburnalert.com

 

Sent from my SM-G960U using Tapatalk

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katiel53

katiel53

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If I want to use my SeaPass info for the casino, is there a way the slot machines recognize the wow band or do I need to use my card?

 

I enjoy time in the casino and even though I don't get enough points to give me free drinks or a free cruise, I do get some money off the next cruise and I sure don't want to miss out on that.

 

Thanks.

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Bronx12

Bronx12

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Questions regarding WOW bands (on Harmony OTS if that matters):

 

1) If you have a WOW band, are there any circumstances (other than getting off/on the ship), where you would ALSO need to present your actual card?

 

2) For people who have put their cruise card on a lanyard, do you prefer lanyard or WOW band, and why?

 

Thanks for any insights and opinions! :)

 

 

As a suite guest, you now get an RF chip installed under your skin. Lol! Maybe in the future ;)

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womack214

womack214

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We liked the wow bands. The sea pass cards cannot be hole punched anymore so it was nice to be able to just have the band. Of course getting on and off the ship you will need the card and I believe you needed the card at muster drill. Someone will correct me if I am wrong on that. I don’t recall having any issues at MDR or stores with using the bands. I think the bands were $5 and well worth it for us and especially for young adults under 18.

 

 

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cindivan

cindivan

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I think a lot is personal preference. Our family of 5 got them on the Harmony (DH, me, 3 sons, 20, 18, 16). We tried them. Although we had to go to guest services to get a couple to work.

 

But after a day or so no one really wanted to wear them all day. I don’t love wrist bands and the boys almost always had a pocket to put their seapass card in. I think they were perhaps also scarred from having to wear the kid wristbands when they were younger. [emoji57]

 

 

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