It appears to be like like Royal Caribbean may be bringing again their WOW Bands.
Symphony of the Seas departed on a 7-night Western Caribbean cruise in February 11, 2023, and to many visitors’ shock, they discovered that they have been as soon as once more capable of buy WOW Bands at Guest Services!
Here’s every little thing it is advisable to know concerning the mushy relaunch of WOW Bands onboard Symphony of the Seas.
What are WOW Bands and what can you utilize them for?
WOW Bands are silicone ready-to-wear, waterproof wristbands that come geared up with RFID chips. They are a terrific possibility for many who don’t like to hold round their SeaPass whereas onboard. With the faucet of your wrist, every little thing is billed on to your onboard account; there’s nonetheless no want to hold money or bank cards.
All visitors are capable of buy and put on WOW Bands; they’re neither Crown & Anchor nor suite unique advantages.
The wristbands can be utilized for every little thing onboard besides the on line casino. You can open your stateroom door, make onboard purchases, entry lounges (for suite visitors and choose Crown & Anchor members), and even order a drink together with your drink package deal.
Note that in case you are ordering a drink on the pool deck or on line casino, the bartenders will not be geared up with cell scanners. You should take off your wristband and/or present your stateroom quantity. If you order at a bodily bar, they’re able to faucet your WOW Band whereas it’s in your wrist.
If you’re disembarking the ship in ports of name, you’ll need to make use of your bodily SeaPass. It is greatest to depart your WOW Band inside your stateroom if you find yourself disembarking the ship for the day.
How a lot do WOW Bands price?
WOW Bands might be bought at Guest Services for $5.99 every (yep, there was a worth improve!). If you could have an outdated WOW Band available, you’ll be able to reuse it! Just just remember to cease by Guest Services, to allow them to encode it in your particular voyage.
There are three colours accessible for visitors to select from: white, black, and blue. Every band prices the identical, no matter what coloration is chosen. On this particular cruise, yellow was not accessible, though it was up to now.
The worth additionally stays the identical all through the cruise, whether or not you purchase it on the primary final or final day. If utilizing a WOW Band pursuits you, you’ll get probably the most out of the worth by buying the wristband as early as doable.
What is it like utilizing a WOW Band whereas onboard?
I discovered about WOW Bands on day 2 of my 7-night cruise and instantly went to Guest Services to buy one!
I by no means heard Royal Caribbean make an announcement that WOW Bands have been accessible. I noticed different visitors sporting them and deduced that they have been introduced again.
My household and I bought WOW Bands on our Harmony of the Seas cruise in 2018, and we by no means actually used them due to what number of points we had. My dad stated he remembered us often visiting Guest Services to have them changed.
Since that was my final cruise earlier than the pandemic and Royal Caribbean discontinuing the bands, I used to be wanting to check out the entire options.
Since I’ve a drink package deal, my first cease, clearly, was the bar. I went to Boleros and ordered a glass of champagne on the bar; it was a seamless course of!
The scanner has some difficultly reaching the place I used to be sitting, so I assume when you have been sitting on the far finish of the bar or within the lounge space, you would need to take off your wristband and/or present your stateroom quantity.
I had no hassle opening my stateroom door. In truth, I favor utilizing the WOW Band for that, as I maintain my SeaPass in my telephone case and have to drag it out each time I need to enter my cabin. Having the WOW Band will make it simpler to get into my stateroom tonight once I return with Sorrento’s pizza and a drink! Last night time, I struggled opening my door with pizza in a single hand and my soda cup within the different.
My subsequent cease was the pool deck. I used to be disillusioned to study that the bartenders don’t carry cell scanners with them, as that type of defeats the aim of the WOW Bands; I requested just a few completely different bartenders in the event that they have been capable of faucet my wristband from my lounger, and so they all stated no. I was capable of present my stateroom quantity with out handing off my SeaPass or WOW Band.
Later on within the night, I used the WOW Band to order drinks at Izumi throughout dinner and Schooner Bar. My waitress at Izumi didn’t have a cell scanner, so she, too, needed to take my stateroom quantity. At the Schooner Bar, the scanner solely reached thus far, so I needed to get out of my seat to go faucet the wristband.
Thus far, I’ve loved the comfort of not carrying a SeaPass round; nevertheless, I want Royal Caribbean had higher outfitted their employees to have the ability to accommodate visitors with the bands. Having to take off my wristband, present my cabin quantity, or bodily transfer nearer to the scanner appears to defeat the aim of paying further for it.
What if you don’t want to make use of a WOW Band?
WOW Bands are completely elective. If you don’t want to pay for one, you’ll be able to proceed to make use of your SeaPass as regular.
Even when you choose to buy a WOW Band, you should use your SeaPass everytime you really feel prefer it.
Perhaps the WOW Band isn’t the appropriate accent for formal night time. No worries! Buying a WOW Band is not going to tamper with the performance of your SeaPass.
What ships have WOW Bands on them?
As of February 12, 2023, the one confirmed ship with WOW Bands onboard is Symphony of the Seas. Royal Caribbean has not made an announcement as to after they count on to roll them out on the remainder of the fleet. In truth, they by no means even introduced their launch on Symphony of the Seas.
When you board your ship, you’ll be able to all the time head to Guest Services to see if they’re accessible. If not, you’ll simply have to make use of your SeaPass as regular!