Ocean Medallions Vacation Update Direct From Princess

[blue cow dog]

Ok, so we all know that Ocean Medallion isn't going as fast as they thought it was going to go, and other ships are being removed from Ocean Medallion vacations, but the $100,000.00 question is has anyone heard how many cabins are now Ocean Medallion on the Regal Princess? When are they adding more? When do they expect the whole ship to be Ocean Medallion??

[caribill]

Thinking by the time this gets rolled out Disney will have moved on to the latest and greatest and this ***** stuff will be rendered obsolete ??? As slow as this has gone there must have been some major unforeseen stumbling blocks.

 

such as

 

 

The problem on a ship is that it is made of metal. The walls are metal which is great for the magnets we bring to use in our cabin. Metal shields electrical signals making reception sometimes very difficult. On land our buildings are not 100% metal even though large buildings and commercial buildings certainly use some metal in their construction. The problem then for the ship is getting the signals to every inch of the ship.

[moki'smommy]

Thinking by the time this gets rolled out Disney will have moved on to the latest and greatest and this ***** stuff will be rendered obsolete ??? As slow as this has gone there must have been some major unforeseen stumbling blocks.

Disney has chosen to not use their "Magic Band" technology on the ships outside of the kid programming areas. This is the technology that they have been using at the parks and hotels for several years. On the other hand, they have gone to a "touchless" system with their Key to the World cards to open doors and such. You put the card near the door, in or out of a holder, and it will unlock. Any credit card sized card controls the lights in the rooms, much as in many European hotels. There are no rumors of any more advanced systems on the ships.

[pablo222]

The ***** technology that Princess is using does not directly need the internet. Rather it relies on the intranet which means it is self contained on the ship using the same technology as the internet. All communication with the individual medallions is done locally and accesses the onboard computer system's database. While the technology has been in use for years, the problem on a ship is that it is made of metal. The walls are metal which is great for the magnets we bring to use in our cabin. Metal shields electrical signals making reception sometimes very difficult. On land our buildings are not 100% metal even though large buildings and commercial buildings certainly use some metal in their construction. The problem then for the ship is getting the signals to every inch of the ship.

 

But ... they put a screen and rfid reader outside each cabin.

Yet, people are having problems opening their cabin door. No metal attenuation involved.

 

Additionally, I presume many functions would be handled onboard -- opening doors, shipboard account, etc.

Carnival's goal is to monitize your experience. I think they might have to phone home for that.

 

http://www.orlandosentinel.com/business/technology/os-carnival-te2-orlando-20170109-story.html

 

 

 

[cruisinglady65]

No, the plan is to make it across the fleet eventually. At first all ships were to have it by the end of 2020 but now that has probably slipped. The four were chosen to be the first to get ***** originally.

 

The big plan for Carnival Corp is to have all of their 100+ ships using the new technology eventually. They chose Princess to be the first cruise line of their corporate group to implement it which Princess has labeled *****.

 

 

Do you think that the Ocean Medillion will be working by November 1, 2018, as i am sailing the Regal Princess on a 10 night caribbean repro cruise?

[weedpindle]

Ok, so we all know that Ocean Medallion isn't going as fast as they thought it was going to go, and other ships are being removed from Ocean Medallion vacations, but the $100,000.00 question is has anyone heard how many cabins are now Ocean Medallion on the Regal Princess? When are they adding more? When do they expect the whole ship to be Ocean Medallion??

 

As of 1/28/18 sailing of the Regal, 110 cabins have *****. It was a pain to get the cabin door to open 50% of the time ( the old card lock works much faster). One time the Wheelhouse bar used ***** to charge my beer, all other bars used my card. Did,t buy anything in a shop so I don't know if they use ***** yet. In the casino ***** works great.

[enyliram]

e mail from princess today. on REGAL march 25 my cabin will NOT have ocean medallion.

[californiagirl]

We are on the 3/18 Regal cruise and received notice today that we will not have ***** either. We are on Emerald deck forward. Does anyone know if requested, they are still giving onboard credit for the lack of *****?

[Grego]

So finally they have come to grips with reality. Changing a ship to host ***** is a huge undertaking and one they did not have experience implementing. I believe sales got the advantage of the IT group and way oversold it. I have seen this over and over again where sales does not listen to the technical people. This new approach is a lot more logical. They need to get one ship up and running on ***** before spreading it to another ship. That way they have found a lot of the problems before trying to replicate *****. Welcome to the real world.

 

That's a good summary. The technology is there and has been for years, but not implemented on a ship like these before. A lot going on and with that a lot of "gotchas" along the way. They will get is sorted out and the process throughout the fleet will be much better.

[weedpindle]

The 110 cabins that have ***** are in muster station B , decks Baja and higher

[dides]

The 110 cabins that have ***** are in muster station B , decks Baja and higher

 

Baja 301-336, Marina 201-243, Lido 201-302, plus Caribe 336 and 337 were added a few cruises later.

[toeloop]

I received an email from Princess yesterday informing me that my cabin is part of the selected group for my 4/8 Regal sailing and I will have the Ocean Medallion. For guests residing in North America, you contact an Ocean Navigator at least one week prior to your cruise to confirm your shipping address for your Medallions. Guests who prefer not to have a Medallion shipped or who reside outside North America will be able to collect their Medallion during check-in.

They also state that they have placed an indicator on my booking that my stateroom should not be moved or changed from the Ocean Medallion activation group without my specific request. If I wish to be considered for a complimentary upgrade, that it could result in my being moved outside of the Ocean Medallion activation group of staterooms. I am to let an Ocean Navigator know your preference to upgrade or stay in the activation zone.

[WVBill]

I received an email from Princess yesterday informing me that my cabin is part of the selected group for my 4/8 Regal sailing and I will have the Ocean Medallion. For guests residing in North America, you contact an Ocean Navigator at least one week prior to your cruise to confirm your shipping address for your Medallions. Guests who prefer not to have a Medallion shipped or who reside outside North America will be able to collect their Medallion during check-in.

 

They also state that they have placed an indicator on my booking that my stateroom should not be moved or changed from the Ocean Medallion activation group without my specific request. If I wish to be considered for a complimentary upgrade, that it could result in my being moved outside of the Ocean Medallion activation group of staterooms. I am to let an Ocean Navigator know your preference to upgrade or stay in the activation zone.

 

What's the "tone" of their messages? Are they being totally "up front" and letting you know you are an early adopter and should expect problems or is their messaging still "this is wonderful, you'll love everything ***** can do for you, etc. etc"?

As others have said - I think one of their problems with ***** was that they "oversold" it. - they let the marketeers drive the implementation schedule. Which really doesn't make sense because it's not like Princess is "first to market" on any of this technology...

[voljeep]

well, let's see

 

while we've never cruised Disney (except for The Big Red Boat), what does Disney have on their ships that compares to the *****?

 

after all, it was hyped by Barnival that the 2 top people in charge of the ***** had been leads in the Disney wristbands used at the parks and hotels...

[toeloop]

What's the "tone" of their messages? Are they being totally "up front" and letting you know you are an early adopter and should expect problems or is their messaging still "this is wonderful, you'll love everything ***** can do for you, etc. etc"?

As others have said - I think one of their problems with ***** was that they "oversold" it. - they let the marketeers drive the implementation schedule. Which really doesn't make sense because it's not like Princess is "first to market" on any of this technology...

 

It goes on to say the following:

On your cruise, you’ll be among the first to enjoy new enhancements designed to make your voyage more connected, engaging and memorable – giving you more of the vacation you love.

 

You can look forward to:

• 
  
• Our newly renovated Princess Cruises Port Everglades Ocean Terminal: Enhanced arrival experiences including a more comfortable setting and relaxed embarkation that includes playful interaction with your Ocean Tagalong created in the SocialOcean app.
  

• 
  
• MedallionNet™*: The best Wi-Fi and digital experience at sea: fast, reliable, pervasive and affordable with an access point in every stateroom, enabling you to easily share your Princess vacation experiences with family and friends on social media. During your preview cruise, MedallionNet is available for:
  
  • $9.99 per device (for a 24-hour period) or
    
  • $29.99 for up to four devices (for a 24-hour period) charged to the same stateroom folio or
    
  • FREE for our Platinum and Elite guests (one device per guest).
    

• 
  
• Ocean Portals: In public areas throughout the ship you’ll find large, interactive screens where you can create your Tagalong, play several fun games and take a look at the key events and destinations on your voyage.
  

• 
  
• OceanFront: A new location onboard where you will find our Ocean Navigators who can help you connect to MedallionNet, SocialOcean and OceanConcierge and answer Ocean-related questions. Ocean merchandise and accessories will be available for purchase, and guests can enjoy an interactive area featuring smart tablets with our new PlayOcean games.
  

• 
  
• OceanConcierge™: Accessible using any web browser while on board, this helpful guest portal lets you plan activities, purchase shore excursions, view your stateroom folio, pre-order breakfast, see upcoming onboard events, venue hours and more.
  

• 
  
• SocialOcean™*: Free instant messaging with guests aboard Regal Princess, at home or around the world using WhatsApp, WeChat, Facebook Messenger or iMessage on iPhone. Be sure to download SocialOcean from the Apple App Store or GooglePlay before leaving home to select and customize your Tagalong.
  

• 
  
• OceanView™: Compelling, immersive and experiential travel programming showcasing exotic destinations. Available for viewing in your stateroom on our new 4K Ultra HD televisions.
  

• 
  
• PlayOcean Casino: The games you enjoy for fun can be even more rewarding while at sea. PlayOcean Casino lets guests wager** real money on six casino-style gaming experiences including slots, poker, bingo, roulette, keno and lottery via your smart device from anywhere on board. You can download PlayOcean Casino from the Apple App Store or once onboard for Android users.
  

• 
  
• PlayOcean Everywhere: Four casino games are available for fun anywhere, at any time – at home, en route, and on board. Once you've boarded, try your hand at Tagalong Sprint and This or That – available on our high definition Movies Under the Stars screen as well as your mobile device. You can download PlayOcean Everywhere from the Apple App Store or GooglePlay.
  

• 
  
• All-new Princess Cruises’ Sailaway Celebration: Includes a thematic musical sendoff that reflects the destinations on your itinerary, the nationalities of the guests on board and photos shared by guests and crew.
  

• 
  
• Games Under the Stars: Fun, interactive games played on the 300-square-foot Movies Under the Stars screen including Tagalong Sprint and This or That.
  

• 
  
• Princess Casino: The Princess casino onboard Regal Princess has been transformed and features new slot machines and tables that more conveniently tie wagering and winnings to player banks using the Medallion. Also in the casino, guests will find slot machines dedicated to the new game Tipsy Tentacle Slots.
  

Thank you for choosing Regal Princess. We look forward to welcoming you aboard. Whether it’s fresh local cuisine, world-class entertainment or enriching experiences, we’re certain your vacation will be filled with memorable moments.

[Grego]

I'm sure it all will be fine by the time we board her again this year for the New Year's Eve voyage. We booked the Feb 25th voyage knowing we wouldn't be participating in the ***** experience, but that's OK. They apologized and give us some additional OBC which they really didn't have to do, but it made sense to help put out the flames that were starting.

[Lskravy]

I received an email from Princess yesterday informing me that my cabin is part of the selected group for my 4/8 Regal sailing and I will have the Ocean Medallion. For guests residing in North America, you contact an Ocean Navigator at least one week prior to your cruise to confirm your shipping address for your Medallions. Guests who prefer not to have a Medallion shipped or who reside outside North America will be able to collect their Medallion during check-in.

They also state that they have placed an indicator on my booking that my stateroom should not be moved or changed from the Ocean Medallion activation group without my specific request. If I wish to be considered for a complimentary upgrade, that it could result in my being moved outside of the Ocean Medallion activation group of staterooms. I am to let an Ocean Navigator know your preference to upgrade or stay in the activation zone.

 

 

 

Very interesting. I’m on the April 15th voyage which is still being sold as an “Ocean Medallion Vacation”. I’m curious to see if Princess will back down from that in the coming days. I was hoping to have the ***** on my cruise. I’m cool with new tech, even if there are bugs.

 

 

Sent from my iPhone using Forums

[Happy2cruise]

Very interesting. I’m on the April 15th voyage which is still being sold as an “Ocean Medallion Vacation”. I’m curious to see if Princess will back down from that in the coming days. I was hoping to have the ***** on my cruise. I’m cool with new tech, even if there are bugs.

 

 

Sent from my iPhone using Forums

We're on the 4/1 sailing and received an email yesterday that we are not part of the *****.

[40yearcruiser]

Very interesting. I’m on the April 15th voyage which is still being sold as an “Ocean Medallion Vacation”. I’m curious to see if Princess will back down from that in the coming days. I was hoping to have the ***** on my cruise. I’m cool with new tech, even if there are bugs.

 

We are also on the April 15th Trans-Atlantic b2b with the Baltic cruise. We are still hoping to be included in the ***** group but haven't heard anything. So far our cabin is not among those that have been posted as included. A miracle breakthrough with the tech between now and then?

[pablo222]

As of 1/28/18 sailing of the Regal, 110 cabins have *****. It was a pain to get the cabin door to open 50% of the time ( the old card lock works much faster).

 

That is very sad commentary on princess' ability to implement.

[weedpindle]

Just got off the Regal on 2-4-18, was in one of the 110 cabins with *****. Not worth the hassle. We were advised by ***** staff that it will be some time before entire ship is converted. Hopefully it will work properly on our Aug cruises but I'm not holding my breath.

[whatcruiseisnext]

Just got off the Regal on 2-4-18, was in one of the 110 cabins with *****. Not worth the hassle. We were advised by ***** staff that it will be some time before entire ship is converted. Hopefully it will work properly on our Aug cruises but I'm not holding my breath.

 

We are on the April 15 Transatlantic and our cabin is in the test group as well. From everything that I have read it will be more trouble than it is worth at this time.

 

Cold you elaborate a bit about some of the hassles? Thanks so much!

[It'smegrandma]

Just got off the Regal on 2-4-18, was in one of the 110 cabins with *****. Not worth the hassle. We were advised by ***** staff that it will be some time before entire ship is converted. Hopefully it will work properly on our Aug cruises but I'm not holding my breath.

 

Were you able to use Facebook Messenger or other instant messaging as part of the ***** ? It is advertised as part of SocialOcean. That would be a benefit of ***** so I could keep updated on an ill parent while on vacation.

[T Tail]

WOW! Is anyone concerned about their privacy with this program? Obviously not. Not one other comment in this thread about this!! THEY will know everything about you as you roam about the ship. How much time you spend in the bars. How much time you spend in the casinos. How much time you spend in the sun. Do you exercise? Computer algorithms will take all that info and they will end up knowing more about you, than you do! (how long do you think it will be before they realize that this information is valuable to every company on the planet..and they sell it to your life insurance company, your medical insurance company, your bank etc. Oh you went into the jewelry store, then sell that tid bit of information to every jeweler in your town!),

 

When someone knows everything about you, THEY control you! They influence all your actions, all your opinions. You are not the same person when you are being monitored. Can't anyone see that? Isn't anyone concerned about that?

 

I have 255 days on Princess. I will NEVER sail on a ship where they intrude on my privacy like this, where they track me like a dog in order to gather info so that they can market better to me. You jumped the shark with this one Carnival.

 

It's called Freedom folks. I'd much rather open my own door!

 

T Tail

Edited February 11, 2018 by T Tail

[floridalover5623]

WOW! Is anyone concerned about their privacy with this program? Obviously not. Not one other comment in this thread about this!! THEY will know everything about you as you roam about the ship. How much time you spend in the bars. How much time you spend in the casinos. How much time you spend in the sun. Do you exercise? Computer algorithms will take all that info and they will end up knowing more about you, than you do! (how long do you think it will be before they realize that this information is valuable to every company on the planet..and they sell it to your life insurance company, your medical insurance company, your bank etc. Oh you went into the jewelry store, then sell that tid bit of information to every jeweler in your town!),

 

When someone knows everything about you, THEY control you! They influence all your actions, all your opinions. You are not the same person when you are being monitored. Can't anyone see that? Isn't anyone concerned about that?

 

I have 255 days on Princess. I will NEVER sail on a ship where they intrude on my privacy like this, where they track me like a dog in order to gather info so that they can market better to me. You jumped the shark with this one Carnival.

 

It's called Freedom folks. I'd much rather open my own door!

 

T Tail

Don't you think your spending habits are already being tracked with the cruise card?

What makes you believe it will be any more intrusive with the *****?