Despite its flaws, I still think the medallion system is far superior to the card system that is used on other cruise lines. I was traveling with a group of 12 on NCL Joy over NYE, and let me tell you that trying to deal with all those cards at dinner was a NIGHTMARE. There were some nights I was asked to provide my card twice before I could even get a drink, despite the fact that I had a drink package that covered the cost of said drink. Ordering another drink? Be prepared to fork over your card again. Bottled water? “Can I see your card once more?” Sorry, but constantly having to produce that card was a nuisance, especially since NCL does not let you punch a hole in the card and clip it to a lanyard the way Princess used to do in the pre-Medallion era. On balance, I think the Medallion is much more convenient than the card, especially when the bar staff know how to use it properly.