Live from the Regal Princess First Ocean Medallion Cruise November 13 2017

Wasn't room service available 24 hours a day? Now it says 20 hours or am I reading it incorrectly?.

As a pessimist, I have to wonder -- how long before the rest of the items are either

eliminated, or have a charge?

When we were on the Regal (2 weeks ago) our key/card got demagnetized and I stopped by Guest Services to get a replacement. They gave me another card that was slightly different (although it looked nearly the same) and told me that this was the new type card and would not get demagnetized. They also mentioned that one is not supposed to punch a hole in the card (like for a lanyard). My impression was that this was the card they would use for those that did not want a *****.

 

Hank

Yes, those are the new cards with the rfid chip in them, I collect refrigerator magnets and have demagnetized my card a couple of times, so I don't think that will be an issue anymore

Sent from my SM-N950U using Forums mobile app

When we were on the Regal (2 weeks ago) our key/card got demagnetized and I stopped by Guest Services to get a replacement. They gave me another card that was slightly different (although it looked nearly the same) and told me that this was the new type card and would not get demagnetized. They also mentioned that one is not supposed to punch a hole in the card (like for a lanyard). My impression was that this was the card they would use for those that did not want a *****.

 

Hank

In reference to punching holes in the RFID cards, it's because there is an antenna in there that could be damaged by the punch. Damaging that antenna renders the card useless.

In reference to punching holes in the RFID cards, it's because there is an antenna in there that could be damaged by the punch. Damaging that antenna renders the card useless.

Thanks, I never knew that. Good stuff. Well, not good if you want to punch a hole in it.

I was wondering if since everyone in a cabin has to have the AIBP (insert new name here), with ***** could one person order drinks for their partner - thinking of sending the DH down to get coffee from the IC in the mornings so this would be a benefit to be able to order two specialty coffees, one in each name.

Everyone in the cabin does NOT need to purchase the AIBP. We are sailing on the 26th and I have the AIBP and my wife will have the coffee card (still a Punch Card?). We will have the medallions but have not received them yet.

I was wondering if since everyone in a cabin has to have the AIBP (insert new name here), with ***** could one person order drinks for their partner - thinking of sending the DH down to get coffee from the IC in the mornings so this would be a benefit to be able to order two specialty coffees, one in each name.

Everyone in the cabin does NOT need to purchase the AIBP. We are sailing on the 26th and I have the AIBP and my wife will have the coffee card (still a Punch Card?). We will have the medallions but have not received them yet.

It's only if you received the drink package as part of the Sip and Sail promotion that both people in the cabin had to take it.

If you purchase it then it's fine if only one person wants it.

And the computer will have no way of knowing which is the case so your husband will have to take both medallions with him to get two coffees. (I've done this to get two glasses of wine - BUT if you get to know a particular bartender you won't need his card after the first couple of days , the bartender will already know you both have the package and will probably have memorized your folio number)

I was wondering if since everyone in a cabin has to have the AIBP (insert new name here), with ***** could one person order drinks for their partner - thinking of sending the DH down to get coffee from the IC in the mornings so this would be a benefit to be able to order two specialty coffees, one in each name.

With the medallion system your photo will appear to the server. If photo doesn't match you can't be served. At least that is the way the system is supposed to work. Once the staff gets to know you, it might be possible for the person going to get the coffees to carry both medallions, and thus be able to get one coffee for each person. Everyone in the cabin does not have to purchase the Premier Beverage Package.

Well MedallionNet was down on Regal for almost 12 hours. Not good after luring us in with fantastic speed and never needing to log off lol.

We actually saw someone use their medallion on a slot machine in the Casino last night - some machines have a blue medallion button and the passenger just needs to touch the button with their medallion, it flashes green and then they can play.

Sandra and Chris

In reference to punching holes in the RFID cards, it's because there is an antenna in there that could be damaged by the punch. Damaging that antenna renders the card useless.

xray:

https://hackadaycom.files.wordpress.com/2014/08/fk67pzdhz3yaa3u-large.jpg?w=800&h=510

xray:

 

https://hackadaycom.files.wordpress.com/2014/08/fk67pzdhz3yaa3u-large.jpg?w=800&h=510

OK, that was the coolest post I've seen in a while.

(y)

Fabulous thread, thank you. I have one question... I loved the room service expansion... I wonder if Princess is rolling it out to other ships? Specifically, the Royal, of course!

With the new Medallion system & from what I’ve been reading & apparently no card readers at your stateroom door can you ask what happens if your Medallion doesn’t work at your door what are you supposed to do?

Thanks!

Tom😎

With the new Medallion system & from what I’ve been reading & apparently no card readers at your stateroom door can you ask what happens if your Medallion doesn’t work at your door what are you supposed to do?

Thanks!

Tom😎

Probably the same thing you would do if your cruise card didn't work, go to Passenger Services or your cabin steward.

Interesting read, and very informative... thank the op for all the time and effort providing this excellent information!

As an IT guy for over 25 years, and having seen every iteration of technology, this is cool, but, just not a great implementation, and TBH, very hokey. Everyone still carries their phones (or other devices). Now, you have this "Medallion" to carry too... and all those overpriced "holders", LOL. Absurd. You still need your device to message other friends on the ship, this thing does nothing for that. RCL went another direction and got it RIGHT with their way of doing this... the Excalibur system.. which uses your existing device... phone, whatever. You can check into the cruise with your phone like you board a plane with your boarding pass on the device...

Now that's smart, and well thought out. INTEGRATED, not having to carry yet another device. Medallion? Sorry, it's just not. What you can do utilizing the power of your phone just cannot be done with a device like this.

so what happens on RCL if you "don't have a smartphone" ? From what I understand, and I may be totally wrong, on Princess with the Medallion, you can access features from your TV, and various outlets around the ship

It’s kind of odd they have a sensor in the bathroom. Like someone posted earlier...hmmm you’ve been spending a lot of time in the bathroom. Are you I’ll?

 

But maybe it has something to do with the lighting system if they eventually tie the lighting system to the Medallion. So if the lights automatically turn on in the room when you’re in the cabin with your Medallion maybe they’ll automatically turn on the bathroom lights when your Medallion is in the bathroom...since there’s a separate switch for the bathroom.

Just off a B2B on the Regal this morning. Aaron, assistant cruise director who is one of the ***** people for you to ask questions of, answered this question. He was very forthcoming. Said surveys told them that a lot of people like to be on their phones in the bathroom and when closing the door, the signal would drop. They added the sensor in the bathroom to prevent this from happening. I will quote him: "We are not tracking whenever you do No. 2."

so what happens on RCL if you "don't have a smartphone" ? From what I understand, and I may be totally wrong, on Princess with the Medallion, you can access features from your TV, and various outlets around the ship

Well, that's a pretty small demographic today... young and old, most folks have one, but...

Fain said passengers who don't own a smartphone or similar device or don't want to carry one while aboard a ship still will be able to do everything from checking in to ordering a drink the old-fashioned way. Traditional key cards for opening doors still will be available, for instance.

"This is in addition to what we do, not instead of it," he noted. "If you want to do (the check-in process) on paper, we'll do it on paper."

The RCL implementation is interesting, but it does raise a few questions.

"Almost everybody has a smartphone" is logically equivalent to the statement "some people do not have a smartphone." In this very thread there have been posters who seem to be proud owners of flip phones. Is RCL say that if you don't have a smartphone, then they don't want you as a customer?

Then there are people, like me, who don't feel compelled to carry their phone (and I do have a smartphone) around and, so, leave it in the cabin safe.

Also, and I agree that it is unlikely, people do lose their telephones at times. My 40 years in IT taught me that if it can happen, it will happen.

I assume that RCL has some sort of accommodation for these scenarios. Does anybody know more about how these exceptions are handled?

Also, does your smartphone open your cabin door? If so, then I guess I won't be leaving my phone in the cabin safe. If not, am I correct in assuming that the passenger is issued a key of some sort?

The RCL implementation is interesting, but it does raise a few questions.

 

"Almost everybody has a smartphone" is logically equivalent to the statement "some people do not have a smartphone." In this very thread there have been posters who seem to be proud owners of flip phones. Is RCL say that if you don't have a smartphone, then they don't want you as a customer?

 

Then there are people, like me, who don't feel compelled to carry their phone (and I do have a smartphone) around and, so, leave it in the cabin safe.

 

Also, and I agree that it is unlikely, people do lose their telephones at times. My 40 years in IT taught me that if it can happen, it will happen.

 

I assume that RCL has some sort of accommodation for these scenarios. Does anybody know more about how these exceptions are handled?

 

Also, does your smartphone open your cabin door? If so, then I guess I won't be leaving my phone in the cabin safe. If not, am I correct in assuming that the passenger is issued a key of some sort?

All great questions... typical IT guy! ;p Much is in that article on USAToday. I think they are looking further future-forward... there will always be a small segment that will not use this, or use that, etc. You, like me, will always have the phone... I use it for music in the gym, on deck, messaging (Princess app), and of course email and the usual "smart phone" activities. To quote the article again...

Now obviously, one advantage of the Medallion will be going in the water. But I don't care about that. I (and probably you) would simply prefer to leverage the capabilities of the phone, and having that interraction with a device you can type on, photogtraph, the security, and interracting with MENUS to allow you to SEE what you are doing. For me, it just makes sense what RCL is doing and if you don't have a phone, or don't want to carry it, you just use your card the traditional way.

How cool... passengers can user the app to order food and drink that will be delivered to them anywhere they are on a ship. How do you do that interractively with a Medallion? I'd much rather have the options I can pick from, and press GO!

It's only if you received the drink package as part of the Sip and Sail promotion that both people in the cabin had to take it.

If you purchase it then it's fine if only one person wants it.

And the computer will have no way of knowing which is the case so your husband will have to take both medallions with him to get two coffees. (I've done this to get two glasses of wine - BUT if you get to know a particular bartender you won't need his card after the first couple of days , the bartender will already know you both have the package and will probably have memorized your folio number)

Hmmm....now this might be one disadvantage of the medallion. When we had sip n sale on our last cruise, it wasn't unusual for one of us to take both cards and get 2 beverages to bring back to our cabin. The steward would think you are not in the cabin. I am sure they would knock before entering anyway, but it would be one case where it would appear that you were not there when you actually are... :confused:

Just off a B2B on the Regal this morning. Aaron, assistant cruise director who is one of the ***** people for you to ask questions of, answered this question. He was very forthcoming. Said surveys told them that a lot of people like to be on their phones in the bathroom and when closing the door, the signal would drop. They added the sensor in the bathroom to prevent this from happening. I will quote him: "We are not tracking whenever you do No. 2."

Thank you jdvmd for relaying that info to us! And it is quite funny that the assistant cruise director actually said “we are not tracking when we you do No. 2”. LOL!

Very good that the sensor in there is for connectivity. True...people might like to use their phone in there. Kind of equivalent to reading a periodical....High tech version.:p

Hmmm....now this might be one disadvantage of the medallion. When we had sip n sale on our last cruise, it wasn't unusual for one of us to take both cards and get 2 beverages to bring back to our cabin. The steward would think you are not in the cabin. I am sure they would knock before entering anyway, but it would be one case where it would appear that you were not there when you actually are... :confused:

Sent from my SM-G930P using Tapatalk

There's going to be a feature coming called something like "find my family". If the family member is under 18 they won't be able to hide their location. This could be good if your child/ grandchild/ etc doesn't show up for dinner when they're supposed to. If you're over 18 you'll have the ability to "hide" your location from your family. I'd imagine that Princess will be able to find anyone in an emergency situation but they wouldn't take advantage of the technology.

 

Kris

This is the feature that my extended family will find most helpful in our upcoming cruise. We all have a tendency to wander off on our own, and one family member does not speak English. We want to be able to easily locate each other when necessary.

There's going to be a feature coming called something like "find my family". If the family member is under 18 they won't be able to hide their location. This could be good if your child/ grandchild/ etc doesn't show up for dinner when they're supposed to. If you're over 18 you'll have the ability to "hide" your location from your family. I'd imagine that Princess will be able to find anyone in an emergency situation but they wouldn't take advantage of the technology.

 

Kris

what kind of lock is on the thing to prevent kids from removing it?