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Ocean Medallion Question Thread - Part 1


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I thought it would be a great idea to have a sticky so everyone can put their questions in one place for any questions about the ocean medallion so others who have experienced it or have answers could help out rather than having many threads open.

 

This is a great way to share experiences and knowledge.  Plus maybe we can get some official answers on here at some point!

 

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Figured I would start with what I have experienced in regards to the medallion. 

 

I know one of the big questions asked if when the medallion sailings get added to the Ocean ready app.  It appears for now that it's somewhere around the 60 day mark.  Mine have been added on their own without having to add them myself.

 

Another question I have been seeing posted here with frequency is when when the medallion be mailed.  It appears for now that Princess is mailing them out so cruisers receive them around 2 weeks prior.  I know when you order the email received does say 2-4 week however.  

 

Also see people questioning whether or not you need your cell phone all the time to use the medallion.  Without carrying your cell phone, it does work for opening your door, charging at any venue like stores, bars and speciality restaurants as well as using in the casino.  You can also use the large screens that are around the ship to locate those in your party and other things. 

Perhaps other posters can share their latest experiences with it.

 

I've used in twice on the Regal and I'm using in next month on the Caribbean Princess and excited to see how much more it can do now. 

 

 

Edited by Host CJSKIDS
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2 hours ago, CCFC said:

Do they just mail them out to the US? I am on the CB in July and flying out from England.

 

Yes, for now it's only the US that Princess is mailing it to.

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Very frustrated with the  app.  I still cannot get it to recognize my booking number. We are 47 days out from our sailing.  I've made three phone calls to the "Ocean Navigator" line and I keep being told call back in a week and they've opened a ticket.

 

I'm wondering if the problem is my device, although I can't get it to add on the ocean website either. Anyone else with a Samsung Galaxy having issues?

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I am 29 days out.  I have completed all the steps under Essentials but when I hit the medallion button it say it can't retrieve my information.  I called and was told I had to wait until 20 days out. My sister (same cruise different cabin) just finished hers and did not get any errors hitting the medallion button.  So I think I was given bad information. 

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2 hours ago, RMM34667 said:

I am 29 days out.  I have completed all the steps under Essentials but when I hit the medallion button it say it can't retrieve my information.  I called and was told I had to wait until 20 days out. My sister (same cruise different cabin) just finished hers and did not get any errors hitting the medallion button.  So I think I was given bad information. 

 

I have often said that I think Princess recruits their IT staff from those who failed at their career as a Walmart greeter... :classic_blush:

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I used OM for my Caribbean Princess Cruise in Feb 2019.  I don't think you can complete the Ocean Ready App until after final payment. Once Princess receives final payment confirmation; the info will then be avail to be loaded onto your ocean ready app.  The biggest complaint with the ocean ready app was not being able add their reservation #.. Again, I think the reservation or booking number will not work until after final pmt.  So people who try and load everything onto the app more than 60 days out will not be able to accomplish it.  This would also be true for the other ocean apps too.  For my Feb cruise I was able to input all my info in Dec. The last week of Jan I received email saying my medallion was  mailed; and I received the medallions about a week later; or the first week of Feb.  We sailed Feb 16. 

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I heard that with the Medallion, when you walk in to a bar, your picture, name & cabin # will pop up on the bartender's screen.  Does this happen if you are just walking past the bar?  For example, if I want to take a picture in one of the bars, will the bartenders call out my name and say HI?  IMHO, I think that's rude and will get old after a while.  Especially for people like me who like to take pictures around the ship.

 

I also heard that the waitstaff in the dining rooms will also have all of your information.  Do they carry around a tablet of some kind and everyone who is at the table, their information pops up?  If you have some dietary restrictions, I certainly hope they don't say out loud "so, Ms or Mr [so and so] I see you have "such & such" restrictions.  Especially if you are sharing a table with 8 other strangers.  

 

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Denali2003, some of what you mention is correct.  If you walk into a bar and you order a drink thru the ocean now app; you name and picture will appear on the screen; that way the waitstaff can see your picture;; then look for you in the bar to deliver your drink. This works in bars, at the pool, etc.  In the dining room; unless your order food or drink from your app; your name, picture, etc does not appear to dining room staff.  I sailed on Caribbean Princess in Feb. This ship was full ocean medallion; meaning your medallion worked everywhere.

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49 minutes ago, AF-1 said:

Denali2003, some of what you mention is correct.  If you walk into a bar and you order a drink thru the ocean now app; you name and picture will appear on the screen; that way the waitstaff can see your picture;; then look for you in the bar to deliver your drink. This works in bars, at the pool, etc.  In the dining room; unless your order food or drink from your app; your name, picture, etc does not appear to dining room staff.  I sailed on Caribbean Princess in Feb. This ship was full ocean medallion; meaning your medallion worked everywhere.

 

I was watching a video of the medallion (done by Princess) and a woman said she walked up to a bar and they said her name.  She did not mention in the video if she had already ordered the drink or if her info just randomly popped up.

 

So, if you're just walking through, your info doesn't just pop up for the bartender to see?  When you walk up to a bar and order a drink, do you have to give them your medallion, just like we did for the cruise card?  Or will their tablet / computer automatically "scan" your medallion without giving it to them?  I guess this is where I am the most confused.  Sorry for rambling on about this.  I like to know what to expect before getting there.  We will be on the Sky this Winter.  

 

Thank you for confirming about the dining room.  That could get embarrassing, especially for people with restrictions.

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Does anyone know if they track every where you go to on the ship and how often?  For example, will they know how many times you went into the gift shop just to look around?  Or how many times you walked through the casino and did not gamble?  How many shows you went to?  

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Those are all really good points about tracking.  Did you know that Walmart and other retailers use the same type of technology in their stores without your knowledge.  Those little RDFI chips are embedded in lots of products and even the shopping carts...the difference is the tracking is anonymous.  Tracking could help the cruise line figure out where there are problems in their public areas for example do too many people congregate in one area at a given time causing a jam...could they spread events through out the ship to avoid that.  It could help identify popular or unpopular venues.  The problem is that the tracking is not anonymous and will we now be subject to targeted advertising from various stores on ship.  "Mr.. Smith, we saw your wife lingering over by the jewelry store; perhaps we could help you chose something special for her."  

Personally, I am excited to use the new technology; especially the Ocean Compass.  I also like the idea that you can order a drink and have it delivered to you anywhere on the ship.  I hope that this does not cause people to treat the wait staff like delivery robots but instead speeds up service.  

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What is the impact of your profile photo as compared to your security photo?

 

Security photo is supposed to be recent, passport style photo.  Profile photo seems to be more lax.

 

Right now I have solid security photos uploaded but also silly photos uploaded for profile photos (photos of our pets).  Will this cause any confusion?  Seemed like it would be funny to recognize our pet photos as our own, but if it's going to cause any confusion it's easy enough to change.

 

I'm assuming anytime your photo pops up for a crew member they see the security photo, but I don't know.

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2 minutes ago, Asquare said:

Our security type photo is horrible...mugshot looking...no glasses, hair off the face.  I hope they can see both photos and get a good laugh on our behalf...we don't look like the same people.  

Yeah same, well, mine at least.  My wife chose a nice photo of herself that may or may not have to be re-taken when we board the ship.  It fits the requirements from a size and angle perspective, it's a dead-on head shot, but she's wearing her glasses and smiling.  I encouraged her to change it but she really doesn't want to change it.....I figure I'm just going to file this under "pick your battles" and worst case she'll have to re-take it as we board; not the end of the world.

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2 hours ago, Denali2003 said:

I heard that with the Medallion, when you walk in to a bar, your picture, name & cabin # will pop up on the bartender's screen.  Does this happen if you are just walking past the bar?  For example, if I want to take a picture in one of the bars, will the bartenders call out my name and say HI?  IMHO, I think that's rude and will get old after a while.  Especially for people like me who like to take pictures around the ship.

 

I also heard that the waitstaff in the dining rooms will also have all of your information.  Do they carry around a tablet of some kind and everyone who is at the table, their information pops up?  If you have some dietary restrictions, I certainly hope they don't say out loud "so, Ms or Mr [so and so] I see you have "such & such" restrictions.  Especially if you are sharing a table with 8 other strangers.  

 

I just disembarked a back to back on the Royal Princess 3/30-4/13.  When we were on our way off the ship, walking by the closed gift shops, etc., a crew member was standing there with a small tablet. I didn't think anything of it.  As I'm passing by he says, "Have a safe journey home, Erica".  I wasn't expecting it and therefore didn't hear it, but my husband did.  He tells me as we've passed by - that crew member knew your name.  It kind of freaked me out.  LOL  And it wasn't a bar tender or another member of the wait staff that might have gotten to know me during our two weeks onboard.  So there's that!

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1 hour ago, Asquare said:

Tracking could help the cruise line figure out where there are problems in their public areas for example do too many people congregate in one area at a given time causing a jam...could they spread events through out the ship to avoid that.  It could help identify popular or unpopular venues.  The problem is that the tracking is not anonymous and will we now be subject to targeted advertising from various stores on ship.  "Mr.. Smith, we saw your wife lingering over by the jewelry store; perhaps we could help you chose something special for her."  

Personally, I am excited to use the new technology; especially the Ocean Compass.  I also like the idea that you can order a drink and have it delivered to you anywhere on the ship.  I hope that this does not cause people to treat the wait staff like delivery robots but instead speeds up service.  

 

That's what I'm afraid of.  You won't be able to walk 2 feet on Decks 5-7 without being bombarded with people trying to sell you something, just because you walked into a store just to look around.  I always look in the stores.  Don't buy anything, I just look around and see what they charge for certain things.  On one cruise they had a price tag of $142 for a bathing suit  😲 It wasn't fancy, just a plain blue one like you would see at Wal-Mart for $25.

 

As far as ordering drinks, does that apply to specialty coffees?  For example, can you be in the Horizon Court eating breakfast, then decide you want a Latte or something, can you order it and have it delivered to the HC?  Or if you're in the Vista Lounge in the afternoon and want a "pick me up" of caffeine, can you have coffee and/or tea delivered there?

 

I know I ask A LOT of questions.  My brain thinks in the future.  It can be annoying for some people.  Sorry.

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1 hour ago, Denali2003 said:

 

That's what I'm afraid of.  You won't be able to walk 2 feet on Decks 5-7 without being bombarded with people trying to sell you something, just because you walked into a store just to look around.  I always look in the stores.  Don't buy anything, I just look around and see what they charge for certain things.  On one cruise they had a price tag of $142 for a bathing suit  😲 It wasn't fancy, just a plain blue one like you would see at Wal-Mart for $25.

 

As far as ordering drinks, does that apply to specialty coffees?  For example, can you be in the Horizon Court eating breakfast, then decide you want a Latte or something, can you order it and have it delivered to the HC?  Or if you're in the Vista Lounge in the afternoon and want a "pick me up" of caffeine, can you have coffee and/or tea delivered there?

 

I know I ask A LOT of questions.  My brain thinks in the future.  It can be annoying for some people.  Sorry.

You're not annoying at all, you and I seem to share the same concerns about the new "technology" and its possible invasiveness. We're boarding the Royal next Saturday for our first experience with OM. Until I sort out what it does and doesn't do, I'll be hiding myself by "cloaking" the Medallion and only bringing it out when needed i.e. buying things, opening our cabin door and getting on and off the ship. I really don't want crew members calling me by name from a tablet, or contributing to Princess's data mining, that simply isn't very appealing at all. 

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Let me try and calm your fears.  I have been on Caribbean Princess with full ocean medallion. It is a nice system; right now it seems like a novelty since everyone is getting used the the technology. There were some bugs when I was on board in Feb. I could order food and drinks with my phone app. I do not think you can order a latte from int'l cafe and have it delivered to a bar somewhere else.  If you are sitting in the piazza and order a latte the watistaff can find you.  If you order a drink by the pool they waitstaff will find you.  Does is speed up the boarding or disembarkation process?  It may be a little faster than using your cruise card.  With the medallion you walk by the detector and the screen turns from blue to green and dings; same ding when you put your cruise card in machine.  There is no machine and all security personal have ipads;  the biggest hold up I noticed was on boarding day. Some people had their boarding pass but did not have a security photo to go with the medallion.  Everyone needs a security photo;  I read above that some people don't like their security photo.  You can change it in the ocean ready app up to the time you actually order your medallion;  once your medallion has been ordered you won't be able to change security photo until you get on board.  You can take a new one when you board.  The security personal are there with their ipads and can take a photo.  Any more questions let me know; I will be glad to help.  I enjoyed using the medallion; I enjoyed the digital touch screen by all the elevators.  

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Thanks for the info AF-1!

 

There are two different photos - Security, and Profile.  I get where the Security photos would come in to play, that seems pretty obvious, but how do the profile photos play out throughout the cruise?

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PMGS247,  the profile photo will show up on your screen outside your cabin.  This photo can be anything;  it can be a firetruck if that's what you want.  Security photo has to be a frontal pic;  it can not be a side pic

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11 minutes ago, AF-1 said:

Any more questions let me know; I will be glad to help.  I enjoyed using the medallion; I enjoyed the digital touch screen by all the elevators.  

 

I have another question.  On some of the ships there were these kiosks where you could swipe your card and get a print out of all charges that you've made on the ship.  How do you get that with the Medallion?

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