Magic bands?

[dzorn]

Do the ships use magic bands? It's been a while since we cruised.

 

[bumbershoot]

No.

Kids club uses something that looks just like it, but other than that, no.

 

[dzorn]

guess I'll dig out my lanyards. I wish they did.

 

[PrincessShmoo]

guess I'll dig out my lanyards. I wish they did.

It's just not logistically feasible. The KTTW cards are used for identification for port calls. Unless DCL wants to set up the technology in all ports of call to enable the wristband usage, not to mention the training for it, I doubt that it's going to happen.

 

[Steelers0854]

It's just not logistically feasible. The KTTW cards are used for identification for port calls. Unless DCL wants to set up the technology in all ports of call to enable the wristband usage, not to mention the training for it, I doubt that it's going to happen.

I don't really see the difference between the KTTW card and a magic band when it comes to the ports. In most ports I briefly show a security guard my card from 15 feet away as I walk past them, it's not like they are actually checked to ensure it's all the correct information. And it's not as though I can get onboard the ship without it being scanned and verified. Unless DCL does it differently than all the other lines we have been on?

 

[PrincessShmoo]

I don't really see the difference between the KTTW card and a magic band when it comes to the ports. In most ports I briefly show a security guard my card from 15 feet away as I walk past them, it's not like they are actually checked to ensure it's all the correct information. And it's not as though I can get onboard the ship without it being scanned and verified. Unless DCL does it differently than all the other lines we have been on?

Well, whether they did inspect the ID, or not, they are supposed to. The magic bands do not have information printed on them. They require some sort of reader to access the info. With the KTTW card it's all printed right on there.

 

[disboardlover]

Also, anytime you want to order a drink in one of the onboard establishments, they would have to bring a portable reader to your location. I think they figure such a major investment in equipment and training is not needed.

However, it would be nice if they could allow you securely add the KTTW cards for your family to the DCL app on your smartphone. It still would not work for transactions unless they updated all equipment to work with NFC or some other protocol (and an open NFC API from Apple for iOS devices), but that might be a more likely scenario in the future.

 

[Steelers0854]

Well, whether they did inspect the ID, or not, they are supposed to. The magic bands do not have information printed on them. They require some sort of reader to access the info. With the KTTW card it's all printed right on there.

Yea in all my cruises I have never had any of them actually look at the card.

Also, anytime you want to order a drink in one of the onboard establishments, they would have to bring a portable reader to your location. I think they figure such a major investment in equipment and training is not needed.

However, it would be nice if they could allow you securely add the KTTW cards for your family to the DCL app on your smartphone. It still would not work for transactions unless they updated all equipment to work with NFC or some other protocol (and an open NFC API from Apple for iOS devices), but that might be a more likely scenario in the future.

This is a good point. It would be harder to manage this although they did rollout an easy solution at the WDW restaurants. But your right, a pretty significant investment.

 

[PrincessShmoo]

Yea in all my cruises I have never had any of them actually look at the card.

Well, I've had the "just glance over the crowd" type look as well as some port guards that looked at both the KTTW card and my driver's license. In Hawaii, the bus we were on coming back from our excursion was stopped outside the gate and the security guard came onboard and checked everyone's ID. And, surprise, there was one couple that didn't have it. They had their KTTW cards but no ID. They were both escorted off the bus. And then one of them was escorted onboard to retrieve the necessary IDs. The other person waited at the outside gate.

 

[ludari]

Although I'm not a fan of the magic bands in the parks (I always seems to have problems with mine) I look forward to having a magic band on the ship. This past March I was on my first RCCL cruise and used something similar to a magic band and it worked well and it was much easier to carry than your typical KTTW card lanyard. I find that the KTTW card + lanyard can be a little awkward when working out in the gym, swimming in the pool (although I know the KTTW is waterproof) and other water activities (aquadunk, aquaduck, hottub, etc).

 

[Dug720]

Although I'm not a fan of the magic bands in the parks (I always seems to have problems with mine) I look forward to having a magic band on the ship. This past March I was on my first RCCL cruise and used something similar to a magic band and it worked well and it was much easier to carry than your typical KTTW card lanyard. I find that the KTTW card + lanyard can be a little awkward when working out in the gym, swimming in the pool (although I know the KTTW is waterproof) and other water activities (aquadunk, aquaduck, hottub, etc).

You wear it in the gym? I always pull it off and stick it in one of the bottle holders or with a towel on the floor next to me. Or at the pool just on a chair with my towel, cover-up, and shoes. Easy peasy!

 

[ludari]

You wear it in the gym? I always pull it off and stick it in one of the bottle holders or with a towel on the floor next to me. Or at the pool just on a chair with my towel, cover-up, and shoes. Easy peasy!

I don't wear it in the gym but like you said I put it in one the bottle holders as well. It's just easier to have the magic band on your wrist and forget about it. Okay, I have put my KTTW with lanyard on my chair with a towel near the pool area and once I had my lanyard stolen and other time the cast member picked up my towel with my KTTW and lanyard and threw it in the used towel bin. Of course he fished it out but with a magic band you don't have worry about things like that.