CincinnatiGal Posted April 14, 2011 #1 Share Posted April 14, 2011 http://www.*****.com/2011/04/14/royal-caribbean-wins-rfid-journal-award-soda-package Royal Caribbean wins RFID Journal Award for soda package In: Awards News Royal Caribbean 14Apr2011 Royal Caribbean won a 2011 RFID Journal Award for Best Use of RFID to Enhance a Product or Service. The award was for Royal Caribbean's use of RFID technology to enable guests to prepay for unlimited soft drinks, and to then serve themselves fountain beverages without having to wait on a service bar line. Royal Caribbean's RFID readers are built into the soda fountains that have antennas installed in the drip trays. Royal Caribbean's director of fleet beverage operations Bob Midyette claims each beverage container has a built-in near-field EPC Gen 2 RFID inlay from Alien Technology. Back-end software confirms the guest's ID number and allows the fountain to dispense a 16-ounce drink. "The system allows us to improve service to our guests," Midyette explains, "and enhance sales with something that feels like magic." Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kitty1 Posted April 15, 2011 #2 Share Posted April 15, 2011 They had it on the Majesty. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ander026 Posted April 15, 2011 #3 Share Posted April 15, 2011 They also have it on the Freedom Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Moeve Posted April 15, 2011 #4 Share Posted April 15, 2011 Does that mean you now have to carry around those cups with you all the time?? How unpractical!!! or is there a chip in you card? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
birdylady Posted April 15, 2011 #5 Share Posted April 15, 2011 Does that mean you now have to carry around those cups with you all the time?? How unpractical!!! or is there a chip in you card? No, you can still get a drink at any bar by showing your card. This is only set up by the pool so if you do have your cup, then you can just help yourself without waiting in line at a bar. Erika Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CP3o Posted April 15, 2011 #6 Share Posted April 15, 2011 I loved it but the cupcake shop is moving faster onto more ships than the fountain idea so I think Majesty/Freedom were test ships and it's not moving forward for some reason. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DisneyNutMary Posted April 15, 2011 #7 Share Posted April 15, 2011 Wow, what a cool idea! Great for kids who tend to get lost or unseen in the lines by the bar. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sg1phileshipper Posted April 15, 2011 #8 Share Posted April 15, 2011 Wow, what a cool idea! Great for kids who tend to get lost or unseen in the lines by the bar. Indeed, great idea for the small kids and of course also for the not so small kids :D Cindy Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare BillOh Posted April 15, 2011 #9 Share Posted April 15, 2011 They had it on the Majesty. I saw it there too, its a great idea. When I use to buy the soda package, the worst part was trying to get a refill from bartenders pool side, they all but ignored you with one of those cups in your hand. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Baseballkurt Posted April 15, 2011 #10 Share Posted April 15, 2011 If only they could add this to the booze package. :) A special glass and an adult beverage station would be grand. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare silentbob007 Posted April 15, 2011 #11 Share Posted April 15, 2011 If only they could add this to the booze package. :) A special glass and an adult beverage station would be grand. That would be like Celebrity's autovend wine on some of their newer ships. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CP3o Posted April 15, 2011 #12 Share Posted April 15, 2011 I saw it there too, its a great idea. When I use to buy the soda package, the worst part was trying to get a refill from bartenders pool side, they all but ignored you with one of those cups in your hand. I think pax loved it and I'm guessing bar staff too. I would think the increased sales (b/c people buy again after they'd stopped buying b/c of the hassles of bartenders ignoring you or the kids) would offset the cost of people drinking more soda than normal (cheap) because it's handy. But it must have failed RCCL test b/c it hasn't moved forward. Not all things tested that pax like go forward or every ship would have a Compass Deli. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mkringen Posted April 15, 2011 #13 Share Posted April 15, 2011 It would be nice if they put it on Radiance while she is in dry dock. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DarthGrady Posted April 15, 2011 #14 Share Posted April 15, 2011 I think pax loved it and I'm guessing bar staff too. I would think the increased sales (b/c people buy again after they'd stopped buying b/c of the hassles of bartenders ignoring you or the kids) would offset the cost of people drinking more soda than normal (cheap) because it's handy. But it must have failed RCCL test b/c it hasn't moved forward. Not all things tested that pax like go forward or every ship would have a Compass Deli. I wonder if they might also be considering that faking RFID signals are getting more prevalent? Usually with credit card fraud, so I'm not sure if anyone could/would take the time to hack a soda fountain, but you never know. People have done far more to get much less. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cruzincouple2011 Posted April 15, 2011 #15 Share Posted April 15, 2011 So does this mean you have to protect your cup with your life so that someone doesnt steal it and rack up hundreds of dollars in soda charges? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tranquil Waters Posted April 15, 2011 #16 Share Posted April 15, 2011 So does this mean you have to protect your cup with your life so that someone doesnt steal it and rack up hundreds of dollars in soda charges? You pay for your soda package before you get the cup. So there is no such thing as racked up charges. ;) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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