Get ready for Ocean Medallion Class™

[Thrak]

No, it wasn't CC that said that you could stay with the cruise card, it was on a PDF where I read it. I had a copy around here somewhere but have misplaced the darn thing.

 

 

I'd certainly be interested to see that. Tony Roberts was asked that specific question during his Q&A session. He definitely did not say you could still use a cruise card. He merely said that they could put your medallion into security mode that would still allow you to be tracked by Princess. The question specifically asked about being able to use a cruise card and he just spoke about the medallion without ever even mentioning the cruise card.

 

The pictures I've seen of the locks certainly don't seem like they would work with a card...

 

The question and answer period starts

and I think the first question asked addresses this issue.

[Colo Cruiser]

Well, I think you are forgetting that previously when you bought anything, it went on your folio, so they already knew everything that you purchased and your buying habits. They could also see who went into and out of your stateroom.

 

I don't think the end result will be as nefarious as you are making it out to be. :rolleyes:

 

 

 

They can already do that.

[Loonbeam]

Realistically there is only one new data point being potentially tracked that they couldn't already and that is your location on ship. Everything else is already available, if not as easy to get..

 

And if you think other places aren't doing this by other means, well.. Disney is the most obvious example but there are also venues using facial rec, distinctive image rec, motion sensor tracking etc, all to figure out traffic flow.

[caribill]

near the end of the Q&A. He said you don't need your own tablet crew will have tablets to help you book and order things. Didn't call out that it was all crew or that you had to go to the spa crew to book spa. It is also mentioned in the FAQ page on princess site. As it is now we all can walk up to the spa to make rsvp or to the dine line for specialty dining, but the way they are stating this led me to believe that all staff carrying one of the tablets can help you book anything....

 

I can interpret that two ways:

 

1) the crew member will let you use his/her tablet to make a booking or order something

 

2) the crew member will make the booking for you or order something for you

[caribill]

The new device to be launched by Princess and other cruise lines not only does things like open your stateroom door when you are a few feet away (a "wonderful" advantage that I didn't need to have), but it is also a terrific tracking device for the cruise line so that they can keep on file electronically everything about you. They know what you eat, drink, and buy. Previously, they would have had to track your paper purchases and orders. Not any longer. With this device, it is not only possible to record your entire voyage electronically, but they can record ALL of your voyages and ALL of your activities. They know how many times you enter your cabin during a typical day, and what you do with your day. Previously, all they had were the records of what you purchased. Now, they know everything.

 

 

I wonder if it will unlock you cabin as you walk by on your way to somewhere, without intending to enter the cabin at all.

 

I also wonder now if it will eliminate incorrect charges to your onboard account or make it easier to find incorrect charges. Previously they had to search through paper receipts to find the original charge slip and see who signed it.

[caribill]

Well, I think you are forgetting that previously when you bought anything, it went on your folio, so they already knew everything that you purchased and your buying habits. They could also see who went into and out of your stateroom.

 

 

But today they do not know what on board events I attend, what MUTS movies I watch, when I am in the buffet, what shops I browse in, how often I look at photos in the photo gallery, when I am relaxing in Skywalkers, how often I play trivia, what shows I go to (or if I leave a show early), etc.

Edited January 27, 2017 by caribill

[caribill]

Yes, they love to tell you - you can track your children and know where they are. That is idiotic. You know only where they WERE! And, to find that out, you have to stand in line at the front desk and wait to ask somebody. If they are children, you know that they are not where they were five minutes ago.

 

No, you can use any smart screen device, either your own or one of the ones Princess will have around the ship, to locate where the child's Medallion currently is located. Now if the child is actually with the Medallion is another question.

[caribill]

Well, I think you are forgetting that previously when you bought anything, it went on your folio, so they already knew everything that you purchased and your buying habits. They could also see who went into and out of your stateroom.

 

 

They can already do that.

 

At best all they can do now is know which cruise card opened a door. They do not know how many people entered the cabin once the door was opened or who the people were. They also have no knowledge of when you leave the cabin.

 

With the Medallions, they can detect every person (or at least every Medallion) that is in your cabin and know when they entered and when they left.

 

Remember that one of the announcements said how a performer in the Princess theater could see the names of passengers watching the performance on cabin TVs.

[Thrak]

I can interpret that two ways:

 

1) the crew member will let you use his/her tablet to make a booking or order something

 

2) the crew member will make the booking for you or order something for you

 

I will lay pretty heavy odds that no crew member will even be allowed to let a passenger touch their tablet.

[Musky Ike]

The casino slot machine question is still unanswered. I presume they will issue a new "princess players club" card that you might be able to use from ship to ship much like land based casino groups, but who knows.

[beg3yrs]

I also wonder now if it will eliminate incorrect charges to your onboard account or make it easier to find incorrect charges. Previously they had to search through paper receipts to find the original charge slip and see who signed it.

 

They could use a touch screen signature similar to what's done with credit card purchases on Square. There you sign with your finger.

[beg3yrs]

The casino slot machine question is still unanswered. I presume they will issue a new "princess players club" card that you might be able to use from ship to ship much like land based casino groups, but who knows.

 

Or, the card reader on the machines would be replaced with a proximity sensor for the medallion. That, combined with a PIN (and that's already in place) should do the trick.

[Duck Duck Cruise]

I am wondering if Princess is going to mail the Medallion to passengers outside of the States. Disney only mails their Magic Bands within the States. If, they mail outside of the States will we receive it on time? Sometimes mail from the States to Canada takes 10 days or longer.

 

Some people do not complete their personal information until closer to sailing date. How can they mail the medallion out if you have not completed the information?

 

The check in staff will loose their jobs as Princess will not be using as many.

 

I enjoyed wearing my Disney Magic Band much easier than having a plastic card.

 

Thank you for asking this question. We live part time in another country from our US address so it would not be possible for us to receive them.

[Thrak]

Just like people who forget or don't have their boarding pass, Princess has said those who forget the medallion can get a replacement at the port. I don't suppose it will be engraved with your name but they are easily able to give you a working medallion - just like if you are onboard and lose the thing.

 

Of course they may be able to do engraving right there. If so, cool. If not, it won't affect how the medallion works.

Edited January 27, 2017 by Thrak

[Loonbeam]

The following is all 3rdhand, so take it with the appropriate grain of salt, but from a couple of contacts (I am following this pretty closely as the tech interests me a lot for various reasons)

 

1> It's likely cruise cards will still be issued for a few months after initial rollout as a backup but the intent is to completely eliminate them.

 

2> For the initial rollout it is also likely that all medallions will be the same color, but the eventual intent is to color them according to level. If you level up after ones are shipped - still open question.

 

3> Confirmed that no individual traffic tracking will be done at this point, only aggregate flow information (people entering and leaving venue, average time stayed etc). Data will only be collected to generate that type of info. This doesn't mean they couldn't do it in the future just that there are no plans to do so now as that's a lot of data for little value.

 

Real time locating will be on request only and only as related to duties.

 

4> They have LOTS of accessories planned and maybe even custom medallions in the future.

 

5> There will be a huge increase in onboard infrastructure for this, some of which could be used to also support other services not related to the medallions like video streaming to devices in the future for PPV movies. There also may be some small improvement to wi-fi in terms of overall bandwith on board. The sat connection will not be altered or improved as part of this. Data will not be sent to HQ in real time, but end of cruise (this may be different for the pilot) (Personal assessment - what it sounds like is the system will gather data on the ship, then package it up end of voyage into a summary, send to HQ and clean system for next voyage)

 

6> Still debate on whether to use pin codes or biometrics for sales confirmation (may have been settled, person didn't know)

[satxdiver]

I definitely can see Princess issuing both the medallion and cruise card until they get full confidence in the system as there will be problems at first. That is only good practice. The medallions will have a code that referenced to the cruise database will point to the person. Duplicates can be easily issued as it is only a matter of database update. With 3000+ pax onboard I doubt they really care that Joe Cruiser never went to the theater. What they will do is find out what demographic went to a particular show, lounge or MDR vs HC and attendance levels. It helps them decide what lounges, shows, etc are popular and what are not resulting in scheduling changes. There is a lot of information that can be gathered that will allow Princess to better the cruise experience. For the non-wonks on here that is called data mining.

[floridalover5623]

Just like people who forget or don't have their boarding pass, Princess has said those who forget the medallion can get a replacement at the port. I don't suppose it will be engraved with your name but they are easily able to give you a working medallion - just like if you are onboard and lose the thing.

 

Of course they may be able to do engraving right there. If so, cool. If not, it won't affect how the medallion works.

 

Did you get the impression that everyone's name would be engraved?

Maybe I'm wrong but I read it as it being an option.

[Thrak]

I definitely can see Princess issuing both the medallion and cruise card until they get full confidence in the system as there will be problems at first. That is only good practice. The medallions will have a code that referenced to the cruise database will point to the person. Duplicates can be easily issued as it is only a matter of database update. With 3000+ pax onboard I doubt they really care that Joe Cruiser never went to the theater. What they will do is find out what demographic went to a particular show, lounge or MDR vs HC and attendance levels. It helps them decide what lounges, shows, etc are popular and what are not resulting in scheduling changes. There is a lot of information that can be gathered that will allow Princess to better the cruise experience. For the non-wonks on here that is called data mining.

 

Not sure where you got this info regarding cruise cards but, if correct, I am happy. I don't think it's correct but I certainly hope it is as there are obviously so many who don't want or trust the new system. Time will tell. It sounds as if you may have an "in" with Princess for inside info.

 

I have pretty steadfastly stated that I don't believe there will be cruise cards with this system - even for the maiden voyages - but, as I just said above, it will be great for those who are hesitant/resistant or whatever you might call it and it certainly wouldn't have any adverse effect for those of us who are looking forward to the medallions. It would be a classic "win-win".

 

On an unrelated note:

Given all the angst in regard to this change I have to wonder how many users are going to freak out about the new look and feel in these forums. :eek:

Edited January 27, 2017 by Thrak

[Loonbeam]

See my post above. The medium term goal is the elimination of cards, but probably not on the first ship for the first 6 months or so, it will depend on how the rollout goes.

 

Not sure where you got this info regarding cruise cards but, if correct, I am happy. I don't think it's correct but I certainly hope it is as there are obviously so many who don't want or trust the new system. Time will tell. It sounds as if you may have an "in" with Princess for inside info.

 

I have pretty steadfastly stated that I don't believe there will be cruise cards with this system - even for the maiden voyages - but, as I just said above, it will be great for those who are hesitant/resistant or whatever you might call it and it certainly wouldn't have any adverse effect for those of us who are looking forward to the medallions. It would be a classic "win-win".

 

On an unrelated note:

Given all the angst in regard to this change I have to wonder how many users are going to freak out about the new look and feel in these forums. :eek:

[Thrak]

See my post above. The medium term goal is the elimination of cards, but probably not on the first ship for the first 6 months or so, it will depend on how the rollout goes.

 

So how does a cruise card work with the new door locks? The ones shown in the video lack any kind of slot for the card as it is currently used.

[cruzrbachoua]

So how does a cruise card work with the new door locks? The ones shown in the video lack any kind of slot for the card as it is currently used.

Perhaps the door locks shown were just promo and not the actual doors that will be on the ship. We have seen and heard stuff in the video that is not coming to fruition. ..or perhaps that is what it will look like only on the new build majestic princess. I believe someone said on here not to believe all we see in these videos.

 

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[scottlad]

No, it wasn't CC that said that you could stay with the cruise card, it was on a PDF where I read it. I had a copy around here somewhere but have misplaced the darn thing.

 

There is another place on the Princess website where they address privacy concerns also. Here's a direct quote from that pub. The point that I find hard to understand is that with the apparent great concern for "privacy", is that so much of it is about things that already exist and that they have already said that you can opt out if you want. Now, whether that will continue to be an option or not is a different question.

 

Tom

 

"Privacy Concerns?

All information provided before and during your cruise will be encrypted and is not stored on your Ocean Medallion. The most advanced software security models, tools, and methods are fundamental to Ocean Medallion Class. However, any guest is also welcome to opt out of all services at any time."

 

 

 

They've been pretty clear that you can opt out of the "services" by using Safety Mode which limits the Medallion to working as key, onboard purchases, and family member location. Not opt out of having the Medallion. It says in the OCEAN FAQ on the Princess site: "While you must carry a Medallion while onboard, it’s up to you how much or how little you want to take advantage of the full experience."

 

 

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[scottlad]

I'm just happy Princess is giving it's passengers the option of using the medallion or sticking with the cruise card. This way everyone will be happy in their choice. Personally I'm sticking with the cruise card to make me happy.

 

 

 

Cheers - Ken & Darlene

 

 

 

The Princess site states: "While you must carry a Medallion while onboard, it’s up to you how much or how little you want to take advantage of the full experience."

 

People have been assuming opting out means no Medallion but what you're opting out of are the extra services.

 

On a side note, Kenosha native here, but moved on after high school.

 

 

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[likeadisguise]

Perhaps the door locks shown were just promo and not the actual doors that will be on the ship. We have seen and heard stuff in the video that is not coming to fruition. ..or perhaps that is what it will look like only on the new build majestic princess. I believe someone said on here not to believe all we see in these videos.

 

Or the new cruise cards will have RFID like they have in some hotels - you don't have to insert your key card, just hold it up to the lock.

[cruzrbachoua]

Or the new cruise cards will have RFID like they have in some hotels - you don't have to insert your key card, just hold it up to the lock.

So true. .

 

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