Earlier this summer, I was interviewed by USA TODAY for a feature about wearable cruise technology. Today the article officially went live! 📰
I was quoted in a story covering Royal Caribbean’s WOW Bands, which I used during our June cruise on Utopia of the Seas. The article now appears on the homepage of USA TODAY’s Travel section and even includes my photos, my opinion, and a link to my TikTok account.
Here’s a behind-the-scenes look at what I shared, and why I’m officially Team WOW Band.
🚪 What Are WOW Bands?
WOW Bands are Royal Caribbean’s version of wearable cruise tech- part bracelet, part SeaPass card. I bought mine onboard and used it to:
- Unlock my stateroom door
- Pay for drinks and merchandise
- Skip the search for my keycard multiple times a day
It was waterproof, lightweight, and honestly… kind of a game-changer. I used to keep my SeaPass tucked into a phone case. With the WOW Band, I didn’t have to think about it at all.
From the article:
“I loved that I didn’t have to fumble for my room key,” I told USA TODAY during our Bahamas sailing on Utopia of the Seas.
“It was a big convenience not having to carry that [card] around.”
🧒 New: WOW Bands for Kids with Location Tracking
Royal Caribbean is launching a new Adventure Ocean WOW Band on their upcoming Star of the Seas ship. The wristband includes a “Find My Kid” feature, allowing parents to see their child’s location onboard when connected to ship Wi-Fi.
The waterproof band is available at the kids club during registration. It’s part safety, part convenience, and one more step toward a hands-free, card-free cruise.
🛳️ How Other Cruise Lines Compare
While I’ve personally tested Royal Caribbean’s version, the USA TODAY article also explored wristbands across other cruise lines:
- Disney Cruise Line: DisneyBand+ works on the ship and at Disney parks
- Virgin Voyages: “The Band” is made from recycled plastic and looks sleek
- Princess Cruises: OceanMedallion opens your stateroom automatically
- MSC Cruises: MSC for Me wristbands are waterproof and easy to wear
Each brand takes a slightly different approach, but the trend is clear: wearables are replacing the keycard.
💬 Pros & Cons of Cruise Wristbands
Pros:
- Hands-free convenience
- Harder to lose
- Can include kid-tracking features
- Sometimes reusable (like ours. We’re saving them!)
Cons:
- Some don’t replace the keycard completely
- Not everyone likes wearing something on their wrist
- A few cruisers still prefer “old school” keycards
💡 Final Thoughts
If you’re on the fence, here’s my honest take:
The WOW Band was worth it. For $9.99, it made every part of my cruise easier- from grabbing drinks to getting back to my cabin without digging through my bag.
Being quoted in USA TODAY was a total surprise, and I’m incredibly grateful to journalist Nathan Diller for reaching out after seeing my TikTok content. The full article is packed with insights from travelers and cruise execs, and it’s worth a read if you’re curious where cruise tech is headed.
🔗 Read the Full Article
📰 Battle of the (Wrist)Bands: Will Wearable Tech Replace Cruise Keycards?
By Nathan Diller, USA TODAY
📲 Stay Connected
I share cruise tips, travel hacks, and points strategies on TikTok. Follow along if you’re planning your next adventure:
👉 @charityky on TikTok
And don’t forget to check out my Cruise Essentials List on Amazon!
Charity Bradley 🌺 
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