The ultimate in nickel-and-diming? Royal Caribbean tests charge for room keys worn on wrists
Cruise giant Royal Caribbean is testing a charge for the wristbands that substitute as room keys on its latest ships.
As of this month, most passengers on the line's new Anthem of the Seas must pay $4.99 for one of the rubberized WOWBands that can be used to open cabin doors and pay for drinks and other onboard extras.
Traditional plastic card room keys still are available at no extra charge.
Royal Caribbean unveiled the WOWBands with much fanfare in late 2014 on its new Quantum of the Seas, which was billed as the most technologically-advanced cruise ship ever. Anthem of the Seas is the second ship to carry them. The WOWBands still are available for free on Quantum. Passengers in suites on Anthem also still can get one for free.
Anthem began sailing out of New York earlier this month after an inaugural season in Europe.
Paste BN Cruise in April was among a handful of U.S. media outlets to get early access to Anthem before its christening in Southampton, England. For our deck-by-deck tour of the vessel, scroll through the carousel at the top of the story. The carousels below offer an inside look at the ship's swankiest suites in photos, and video of the ship and its sister Quantum of the Seas.
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