Get ready for Ocean Medallion Class™

[Swath]

This is the same garbage we had on Quantum of the Seas: the rubber wristband, yuck!! :eek:

WOW Bands are RFID

 

O-C-E-A-N Medallion = NFC+Bluetooth Low Energy

Pendant chain, Watchband or Place in Pocket

[caribill]

I think I bit of both. I thought I heard or read in one of the promos that you can now order spa services and such from any staff member...so now will stewards not only have limited time to turn our cabins they will now be stopped in the hallways to book spa treatments...same for waiters...they would be able to do this as well.

 

I wish you could cite where you saw that. I do not think that cabin stewards or waitstaff will be booking any spa services for you.

 

To properly do that they would have to be thoroughly trained in what the spa offerings are and how to properly book them.

 

Staff such as cabin stewards, wait staff, bar staff, etc. are very well trained for the job they have to perform and, in general, do not know much about other job areas on a ship. Wait staff do not know much about the cabin steward job and vice-versa, even if they are cabin mates.

[caribill]

One of the other reasons that liquor etc are not pre-delivered is that its not the stewards who take them but its not unknown for other Pax to sneak in during setup time to 'drop off their bags'.

 

 

The mini-bar setups can be in your cabin before you embark. Room service does not wait until you are on board to deliver them.

 

Of course the earlier you board, the better the chance that they have not put the setup in your cabin yet.

[cruzrbachoua]

I wish you could cite where you saw that. I do not think that cabin stewards or waitstaff will be booking any spa services for you.

 

To properly do that they would have to be thoroughly trained in what the spa offerings are and how to properly book them.

 

Staff such as cabin stewards, wait staff, bar staff, etc. are very well trained for the job they have to perform and, in general, do not know much about other job areas on a ship. Wait staff do not know much about the cabin steward job and vice-versa, even if they are cabin mates.

Sadly I watched so many videos and articles. ..but I believe it was because the staff would have tablets and be able to pull up the info. It was stated that they would be trained...but if you think about people book spa treatments in the personalizer and all that shows is a description of the service so if the staff only have access to that they could read or show ot to the guests. But that was also part of my point. ..I hope the poor waiters and stewards now dont have to learn more and do more. ..possibly with the same pay. I also would not be one asking these staff members to do this. .while I love the pampering I can book those and do things on my own.

 

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Edited January 26, 2017 by cruzrbachoua

[cruzrbachoua]

Ok I think I found it. It is this video:

 

 

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....Plus if they cant and say no I am sorry you have to go to the spa I can see an incident like Thrak explained where some foofoo guest gets irate cause they felt slighted cause their steward didn't/couldn't book a spa or specialty dining thing...but it does not specifically call out that stewards and waiter will do this...just perhaps me reading into them stating the crew can do it for you with their tablets.

 

 

 

 

What is Ocean Compass™?

Ocean Compass is a digital portal that provides you access to your digital experience dimension. Serving as personal experience concierge before, during and after vacation, the Ocean Compass has an intuitive and innovative interface. It is available online, on smart devices, on kiosks in port terminals, on stateroom TVs, on interactive surfaces located throughout the cruise ship and on devices carried by crew members. You can use the Ocean Compass to enhance your vacation, select experiences and create personalized event-based itineraries. No guest is required to have a personal device to access Ocean Compass. The Ocean Compass also serves as a digital media platform that features custom experiential media content as well as access to vacation photos captured during a cruise vacation.

[Loonbeam]

I was thinking of larger and more expensive bottles of pre-ordered booze via the gift system. The smaller ones in mini bar switches are less risk.

 

The mini-bar setups can be in your cabin before you embark. Room service does not wait until you are on board to deliver them.

 

Of course the earlier you board, the better the chance that they have not put the setup in your cabin yet.

[crochetcruise]

I was thinking of larger and more expensive bottles of pre-ordered booze via the gift system. The smaller ones in mini bar switches are less risk.

 

When I sailed on the Golden Princess in November, I had pre-ordered Canapes, and items from Gift Services. I received cards from my Steward when he came to introduce himself-I was in a Window Suite, and offer the Welcome Glass of Sparkling Wine and instructions about the Safety Muster-

to be handed to Room Service when they brought the Canapes and was told to take the Gift Services cards to the shops-tried Calypso Cove but needed Vines. I was able to exchange the cards with no trouble. I think you'd have the same system.

 

Muster for me was in the Casino, and I paused before reaching the door to get my cruise card in the nice leather wallet out of my handbag and flip it open ready to be scanned. The gentleman looked a bit startled at a Blue Card holder being so organised but directed me through and recommended I find a seat to sit on, I was sitting by a pokie machine-disabled while the muster was on to my knowledge. I could clearly hear everything and a staff member was close by to demonstrate how to put on the life jacket, I could see him very clearly and he was watching my reaction too! I've flown quite a bit in recent years, and always pay strict attention to the safety instructions. Murphy's Law has a nasty sense of timing, always arriving at a most inconvenient time!

[Thrak]

He does mention, very briefly almost at the end that people can get help from crew to book things. The presentation also shows (earlier) a waiter taking an order for wine later (or the next day) to be received in the theater.

 

One thing many people are saying is that the medallion comes with the basic plastic wristband. If you watch this presentation you can start

(way toward the end) one of the questions is about what comes with the medallion. Tony Roberts plainly states that "what everybody gets is the medallion" and that wristbands, etc. are extra cost items. Of course he may be misinformed regarding the clear plastic band shown in the video but then again he may be correct. It is an "official" Princess press briefing.

[sonoradweller]

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.

 

This is actually a spying device, and that is why they want to use it, so that they can increase profits by knowing what various passengers do. If you do not do what others do, forget about that being available.

 

And, if you want privacy, forget that, too.

[Cruiser411]

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.

 

This is actually a spying device, and that is why they want to use it, so that they can increase profits by knowing what various passengers do. If you do not do what others do, forget about that being available.

 

And, if you want privacy, forget that, too.

 

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:

[beg3yrs]

... This is actually a spying device, and that is why they want to use it,

 

Take a look at various definitions of spying. They all state that spying is done in secret. If you take a Princess cruise on a Medallion class ship, the information is out there in the public domain that the location of each medallion is tracked and that's hardly secret. What's more I'll bet the revised cruise contracts will include a consent section to having your medallion tracked as well.

 

Nope, it isn't spying.

[sonoradweller]

No, I didn't forget. I said that previously they had to track you paper-by-paper. That was not profitable to do. Now, with the device, you can be tracked electronically and everything can be detailed on a central file in the cloud. Not only everything on board this ship, but on all voyages.

 

Nefarious? Yes, of course it is. Do not think for a moment that it is instituted to add a service - this is why I said that you do not need it to open the door of your cabin. In fact, if you just pass by the cabin with this thing, the door will open. It is more convenient if you just wave a device in front of the cabin lock and it will not open when you do not want it to do so.

 

No, it is instituted at considerable cost to increase profits by monitoring your activities. It knows which shops you stop and stare at. This is described as knowing where you are. 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, it is to find where you stop and start in the shopping zone.

 

All of this is a fancy tracking device for them. They want to know what you order at dinner. Now, they know only by what they keep on a sheet of paper. This is useless to them.

 

Yes, I favor having personal ID cards as an American citizen. We need them. The stupidity of using social security numbers when other civilized countries use ID cards that are really accurate is unknown to the unwashed American. But, there is no reason to give Princess or any other company all of your private preferences and how many times you order mashed potatoes.

[latserrof]

Big Brother is watching, not spying.

[umuva]

Eat in the buffet. They won't know what you ordered. From the Buffalo Springfield song: "paranoia strikes me, into your heart it will creep. "

 

 

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[floridalover5623]

Eat in the buffet. They won't know what you ordered. From the Buffalo Springfield song: "paranoia strikes me, into your heart it will creep. "

 

 

Sent from my iPad using Forums mobile app

 

Every spoon will have a detector on it, so there is no hiding.

Of course you actually don't have to eat it....or maybe their weighing your bathroom waste also. :rolleyes:

[Pierlesscruisers]

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.

 

 

So what?? I'm on a ship on a huge body of water. Do I really if somebody knows that I'm sitting by a swimming pool, sitting at a one-armed bandit, having a drink in a bar, sitting down in the International Cafe, or in one of the "stores" and buying a shirt? Let's face it, I suspect that none of us are some important that anybody gives a hoot in hades what we're doing while we're onboard the Whatever Princess. For that matter, they probably don't give a hoot where we are when we're on shore!

 

If you're so concerned about what someone might find out about where you are, what you're buying, what you're eating, etc. when you've got your medallion with you, then don't use the medallion and stick with the old cruise card! (Yes, they DID say that if you did not want the medallion, you could stick with the cruise card.) If you think Princess is "spying" on you, go cruise with somebody else who doesn't use the medallion.

 

Tom

[floridalover5623]

So what?? I'm on a ship on a huge body of water. Do I really if somebody knows that I'm sitting by a swimming pool, sitting at a one-armed bandit, having a drink in a bar, sitting down in the International Cafe, or in one of the "stores" and buying a shirt? Let's face it, I suspect that none of us are some important that anybody gives a hoot in hades what we're doing while we're onboard the Whatever Princess. For that matter, they probably don't give a hoot where we are when we're on shore!

 

If you're so concerned about what someone might find out about where you are, what you're buying, what you're eating, etc. when you've got your medallion with you, then don't use the medallion and stick with the old cruise card! (Yes, they DID say that if you did not want the medallion, you could stick with the cruise card.) If you think Princess is "spying" on you, go cruise with somebody else who doesn't use the medallion.

 

Tom

And in the end they'll still know the same facts about you except that they'll have to input the data manually.

NO DIFFERENCE.

[latserrof]

From the Buffalo Springfield song: "paranoia strikes me, into your heart it will creep. "[/quote]

 

Paranoia strikes deep.

[latserrof]

(Yes, they DID say that if you did not want the medallion, you could stick with the cruise card.) If you think Princess is "spying" on you, go cruise with somebody else who doesn't use the medallion.

 

Tom

 

Why the shouting? Can't someone express their reservations about one aspect of a cruise without being told to "go cruise with somebody else"?

 

And it was Cruise Critic, not CCL or Princess, I think, who (erroneously?) said you could stick with the cruise card.

[linanles]

Do not need the Medallion technology for that.

 

It could be implemented today by just adding that option to the Personalizer.

 

Many of the features of the new system could be implemented in Cruise Personaliser today but I guess they don't want to spend the money updating it when it will soon be superseded.

By now you should have guessed that Ocean Portal is just Personaliser V2 with a new name.

Edited January 27, 2017 by linanles

[Pierlesscruisers]

Why the shouting? Can't someone express their reservations about one aspect of a cruise without being told to "go cruise with somebody else"?

 

And it was Cruise Critic, not CCL or Princess, I think, who (erroneously?) said you could stick with the cruise card.

 

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."

[linanles]

They could also see who went into and out of your stateroom. :rolleyes:

 

I doubt that. The present locks are self contained with a number of stored unlocking codes, one for the passenger and one for stewards, maybe another for security. The passenger code is stored on your card. When you insert your card the door sees the correct code and unlocks. There would be a security log kept within the door lock but they would only access that with a reader they connect to the door lock if there is an issue.

The technology in the present door locks is quite a few years old now.

[Kenosha Cruiser]

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

[pablo222]

Previously, they would have had to track your paper purchases and orders.

 

What paper purchases?

 

All my onboard purchases are charged against my folio

from a point-of-sale Micros terminal.

[linanles]

What paper purchases?

 

All my onboard purchases are charged against my folio

from a point-of-sale Micros terminal.

 

Sometimes at sales in the Atrium they will just make out a paper docket which includes the item, price and your folio number and have you sign it. Of course they then have to go to a POS terminal later and enter that information so that it is in the computer and added to your on board account. Sometimes it has taken a couple of days for a purchase made this way to appear on our account. I guess they just do the manual entries when they have the time.