Tracking Feature Available To Parents On Newest Royal Caribbean Ship

Royal Caribbean has introduced a new “Find My Kid” feature aboard its newest mega-ship, Star of the Seas, giving parents real-time tracking of their children’s whereabouts via the Royal Caribbean app.

Designed for young cruisers aged three to twelve, the service uses the colourful, waterproof Adventure Ocean WOW Band, which acts as a tracker that parents can monitor from their smartphones.

The feature is particularly appealing on the line’s largest vessels, like Star of the Seas and Icon of the Seas, which each carry up to 7,600 guests across 18 passenger decks packed with attractions.

Parents can enrol their children in the system once onboard by visiting the Adventure Ocean Kid’s Club on Deck 6.

WOW Bands cost $14.99 if purchased on the ship, but can be reused on future cruises without extra charge.

As well as location tracking, the bands can be set up to unlock stateroom doors, make pre-approved purchases, and display the child’s muster station in case of emergencies.

To use the tracker, parents connect to the ship’s WiFi, open the Royal Caribbean app, select the “Find My Kid” option, and view their child’s live location on the ship’s deck maps.

While WOW Bands are already available on several Royal Caribbean ships, the live-tracking function is currently exclusive to Star of the Seas.

However, a similar system, “Kidfinder,” was tested on Icon of the Seas in summer 2024, suggesting a wider rollout could follow.

When Should Children Roam Cruise Ships Alone?

The launch of live location tracking technology comes alongside an ongoing debate about the right age for children to explore cruise ships without supervision.

Views among parents are sharply divided, with some happy to grant freedom from as young as eight or ten, while others insist on waiting until late teens or even adulthood.

Cruise lines themselves do not enforce a specific minimum age for solo roaming, but their kids’ club policies offer a guide.

On most family-friendly lines, children can sign themselves out from around age 12 or 13, although some allow it as early as seven with parental consent.

These age thresholds often reflect the transition from supervised activities to more independent teen lounges, which may be unstaffed but still monitored by cameras.

Parental attitudes, however, vary widely. A significant minority (according to those I surveyed) would not allow even 17-year-olds to roam freely, citing concerns over safety and behaviour.

Others feel comfortable granting independence earlier, especially if their child is mature and familiar with the ship’s layout. Ships with built-in tracking systems, such as Princess Cruises’ Medallion or, now, Royal Caribbean’s WOW Bands, can make parents more confident in giving children space.

Some parents prefer to start small, allowing limited solo trips to fetch food or attend short activities before permitting full freedom.

Safety rules are also an important part of the conversation, from avoiding balconies and not trusting strangers to knowing muster stations and sticking with siblings. The ship’s onboard communication options can also influence decisions.

Ultimately, the right age is subjective, depending on a child’s maturity, the ship’s environment, and the family’s comfort level.

Tracking tools like “Find My Kid” are likely to sway the conversation, offering reassurance to cautious parents while enabling children to enjoy a taste of independence on the high seas.

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Jenni Fielding is the founder of Cruise Mummy. She has worked in the cruise industry since 2015 and has taken over 30 cruises. Now, she helps over 1 million people per month to plan their perfect cruise holidays.