Get ready for Ocean Medallion Class™

[Steelers36]

From what I read, those lanyards/necklaces/bracelets are not 'supplied.' You have to buy one :(

 

In the promotional videos, including CES, you see a couple receiving their medallions in the mail and they have a clear plastic/vinyl strap so they can be worn like a wrist watch. I imagine there are also options to use your own chains or straps to clasp or otherwise wear a medallion without buying a new piece of jewelry.

[Steelers36]

Somewhere along the way either you must specify who you want to be able to locate or others must specify who they want to be able to locate them. Not sure which way it will work.

 

Also no idea of how you specify. By booking number? By cabin number? By name? Other?

 

I wonder if people can opt out of being located by others.

 

There will be something similar to Princess@Sea. When we cruised last November, you had to exchange Id's with fellow passengers in order to text with them using the app. I fully expect there to be a similar situation with medallion so privacy is protected.

[JimmyVWine]

Don't think so. From what I have read, it will do far, FAR more [than Disney's].

 

Not really. Disney has just begun to scratch the surface of what its RFID system can do. Not sure that the Medallion can do more. But maybe Carnival will enable more functionality. When you get to the end of Small World and you get greeted by name, or when you get a personalized ghost at the end of the Haunted Mansion, or when the servers at Be Our Guest can deliver your pre-ordered food to you regardless of where you sit yourself down, it becomes pretty clear that Big Brother Mouse is following your every move. But there is a big difference between a day in a theme park and a sea day on a cruise ship. At the theme park, you are out and about creating your own adventure, much of which has been pre-planned (to death) months in advance. Disney has less of a need to make suggestions or subtle pushes. Your day is pretty well mapped out. On a cruise ship there is more leisure time and down time. (That is why we choose a cruise vacation, right?) So the cruise line benefits more from pushing you or making suggestions (that will get you to spend money.)

 

Never lose sight of the fact that no company will spend hundreds of millions of dollars on a system just to make the lives of its customers easier. (Disney spent upwards of $2B on its technological upgrades). There has to be a return on investment. The patent application of Disney's Magic Band says so in black and white. Same here. This is designed to increase passenger spending. That is the first "win". If the passengers love the system or find that it enhances their cruise, well that is the second "win" in the "win-win" equation. But never forget that the first "win" is far more important to Corporate HQ.

[Thrak]

I wonder if security would sound a "man overboard" alert if you ran towards a railing and leaned over while at the same time stuffing the medallion in a RFID blocking wallet? :D

 

They might be so "amused" that they put you ashore - along with all your stuff - at the next port.

[linanles]

I wonder if security would sound a "man overboard" alert if you ran towards a railing and leaned over while at the same time stuffing the medallion in a RFID blocking wallet? :D

 

I bet by the November 13th you will be able to buy Princess Medallion blocking wallets on ebay. :D

[pablo222]

I wonder if the crew and staff will have their versions of medallions so that Princess knows where they are at all times.

 

That is a really interesting comment. I wouldn't want to work

under such conditions.

 

In many jobs, if one wishes to 'escape completely', they collude

with a co-worker to cover for them.

 

Unless the chip is embedded, one could simply have a co-worker

hold your chip while going for a smoke.

[SteveH2508]

Regarding monitoring of people's movements - this may have a longer term benefit in terms of ship design and space utilisation. They could identify pinch points and crowding issues and design the ships better to cope.

[floridalover5623]

I think the quoted text in red above addresses your concern. You most likely will be able to have a card if you want one.

 

As for your lanyard, Princess will have a variety of wrist bands, necklaces, lanyards, etc. they will be happy to sell you. Otherwise you can always just put a little pouch on your lanyard to hold the medallion.

 

I can't stand the thought of wearing a nerdy necklace to hold a medallion but I'll improvise a small clipped belt pouch for mine or just keep it in my pocket.

It'll be easy to find if I lose it.

 

That's about right, but it's been a long time since I've seen Princess give out free lanyards.[/quote

 

You can get your card punched in the casino...and they give you a free lanyard.

 

What your referring to wasn't a lanyard but a bungee cord to clip to your card when it's in a machine.

[SteveH2508]

I can't stand the thought of wearing a nerdy necklace to hold a medallion but I'll improvise a small clipped belt pouch for mine or just keep it in my pocket.

It'll be easy to find if I lose it.

 

 

 

What your referring to wasn't a lanyard but a bungee cord to clip to your card when it's in a machine.

 

I wonder if they will sell the flares, flowery shirt and faux chest hair to make the medallion man complete?:rolleyes:

[floridalover5623]

I wonder if they will sell the flares, flowery shirt and faux chest hair to make the medallion man complete?:rolleyes:

 

I'm sure they'll have a full selection to go with any attire. :D

They never miss a change to make a buck.

[dtb55]

Based on what I've read, I can get anything to carry it as long as I'm willing to pay for it. :(

 

 

 

Or you can put it in your pocket, or in your purse or wallet. I might glue mine to my forehead.

 

 

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk Pro

[Steelers0854]

Love it! I read this to my wife and it made her laugh out loud. :D

 

(I have to wonder how many here won't get the reference though.)

 

 

 

10 points to Gryffindor!

 

Sorry couldn't resist....

[Elevatorman]

On the one hand it does sound interesting and innovative and perhaps will enhance the cruise experience. On the other hand it is frightening in that your every move will be tracked and stored, so much for privacy. Although I do see somewhere that the passenger may be able to fine tune it a bit.

 

I actually read a different article. http://www.seatrade-cruise.com/news/news-headlines/carnival-s-ocean-medallion-class-harnesses-technology-to-personalize-cruising.html .

 

Did anyone notice the evil word "class" in that article? I wonder if there will be an extra charge for Medallion Class, how it will effect elite and platinum boarding benefits, and if only certain cabins will have access to this. Like Club Class. Which I am no way opposed to, at least not until I have experienced it first hand. I just have spent too much time reading the threads with all the club class angst. I guess I will experience in December on the Regal Princess, while enjoying my club class dining.

 

Change isn't necessarily a bad thing, it is just hard to accept sometimes. I think this one could be a winner as long as the helpful suggestions don't become too obtrusive like all the announcements for the art auctions.

 

The main info I got from this article is that Corp has figured out a new way to squeeze money out of passengers.

[floridalover5623]

The main info I got from this article is that Corp has figured out a new way to squeeze money out of passengers.

 

That is true but at the same time you can take advantage of all the good points (which seem to be many) without having to buy anything. I've been immune to all the sales pitches for years.

[ohioblue52]

An odd concern

 

What is it made of? What exactly touches your skin?

 

Hate those rubber bracelets and DD is allergic to metal.

 

Allergic to metal!!!:eek::eek: OMG How could a person survive in the world today if allergic to metal, it is literally everywhere. So sorry:(

[floridalover5623]

Allergic to metal!!!:eek::eek: OMG How could a person survive in the world today if allergic to metal, it is literally everywhere. So sorry:(

 

Probably cheap metal I guess. 18 K gold probably not so much. :D

[ghstudio]

One wonders what will happen when someone "accidentally" loses their medallion over the side while at sea. Will the emergency "man overboard" signals go off in the bridge? Will the ship do an emergency stop until the find the passenger (or not), etc?

[floridalover5623]

One wonders what will happen when someone "accidentally" loses their medallion over the side while at sea. Will the emergency "man overboard" signals go off in the bridge? Will the ship do an emergency stop until the find the passenger (or not), etc?

 

Not unless someone calls it in. Since there are no sensors in the water what would you expect to happen?

[greenie082756]

Well I find this all very interesting and hope it all works out okay. Definitely want to fine tune the abilities of the Medallion that's for sure. Looking forward to hearing others experiences with it as well as the CC new option. Lots of reading ahead I'm sure :rolleyes:

 

I do have one thought about this. Why can't they spend this kind of money and energy into improving the web site? :eek:

[julie3fan]

Allergic to metal!!!:eek::eek: OMG How could a person survive in the world today if allergic to metal, it is literally everywhere. So sorry:(

I'm allergic to cheap metals when touching it for an extended amount of time (like a necklace sitting on my neck all day). I'm even allergic to hypo-allergenic earrings. My ears actually get inflamed and oozy after just a few hours. I don't have trouble touching such things as cooking utensils, flatware, door handles, etc.

 

I've also become allergic to some plastics. I found that out after my forearms started to get red and itchy. Turns out I was allergic to the arm rest in my car! I had to have the center console covered in leather. And my cute little plastic Swatches? Sitting in a drawer along with the watches with metal bands and leather bands with metal clasps.

 

I guess I will be carrying my medallion in my pocket. I'd hate to find out the hard way I was allergic to it.

[caribill]

Regarding monitoring of people's movements - this may have a longer term benefit in terms of ship design and space utilisation. They could identify pinch points and crowding issues and design the ships better to cope.

 

For far less than the millions of $ they are spending for this, passengers can already tell them that information.

 

How about:

 

o Around the atrium by the boutiques when they put out sales tables and the aisles are almost 100% blocked

o By the forward elevators near the Princess Theater when a show is over

o Outside the aft dining room in the 15 minutes before the doors open for each seating

o On all but the newest ships the hallway by the photo gallery when events let out at the aft lounge

o On the Royal and Regal the hallway outside Princess Live! in the 15 minutes before an event ends and Bingo players can enter

 

and a number of others

[beg3yrs]

I do have one thought about this. Why can't they spend this kind of money and energy into improving the web site? :eek:

 

Excellent thought. Conversely, if they are as good implementing the medallion software as they are the web-site, oh the horror!

[RetiredNTraveling]

Attached is the "Princess Medallion w/Ribbon for Formal Wear". What if the ribbon colors could correspond to the Colors of the wearers National Flag?

 

 

Seriously,Do not take me serious.

Edited January 7, 2017 by RetiredNTraveling

[SadieN]

Allergic to metal!!!:eek::eek: OMG How could a person survive in the world today if allergic to metal, it is literally everywhere. So sorry:(

 

 

It's been interesting! Has its good and bad points.

Discovered the allergy when DD5 wore a cheap necklace to bed. Woke up with a angry red welt around her neck. Surprised Social Services didn't come knocking on my door.

Do you know how many rivets are on a typical pair of jeans? Anywhere from 3 to 11. They get covered up with patch tape.

Riding crowded buses/subways standing up is interesting, need to use a bandana to cover the metal.

Finally figured out how to wear a Fitbit, another use for duct tape :).

Can always tell if gold (14k and higher), silver (950) is high quality.

[kywildcatfanone]

so, is this a new member level, or is it simply a service you will have to pay extra for?

 

Looks like a service you pay extra for. I don't really see the value in it for us, but it might be to some folks.