Medallion roll out slower than anticipated

It's hardly "exciting." Your cruise can be just as fun with or without it as long as you have a positive attitude.

I agree that a cruise is what you make of it.... BUT, in my case, I was comparing a few cruise lines since I wanted a change from my regular cruiseline, and the ocean medallion was the main 'tipping point' for me as to why I chose Princess.

If Princess had advertised it as a slow phased out rollout, or not a sure thing, I may have gone with another line and waited until it was fully implemented to do a future cruise with Princess.

To me, the point is, this was false advertising by Princess. I'm disappointed with that.

I'm looking forward to hearing the answer to this as well. I don't get the big deal either but maybe we're missing something? :)

Me either. I'm into techo stuff but frankly I couldn't care whether my cruise was a medallion cruise or not. I certainly wouldn't book a cruise because of it.

After reading all these posts and opinions, I am in the low tech category group. Being a proud baby boomer, I think I have adapted to the hi tech world quite well. Just like getting accustomed to when I first began working with a manual typewriter, then an IBM selectric (as my boss said, now you can make mistakes faster), to a mag card, then a big floppy disc word processor, a computer, then a PC, then the laptop (big and heavy) and finally the tablets. And let's don't even talk about phones!!!!! My point being they are all tools with a lot of attachments (meaning lots and lots of extra functions) that you can choose which ones work best for you. It seems we have all become "taken" with the next new shiney gadget and lost sight of stopping and smelling the roses. What, there isn't an app for that? I suppose it will be fun to try out this new toy and decide what functions I might like to use that I feel are worthwhile for me. Heaven knows I only use a tiny tiny fraction of what my iphone7plus can do, and it doesn't bother me one little bit. But if any cruise line one day introduces a "virtual cruise to virtual ports of call", then you can finally count me out of adapting! I take a cruise to see and experience the places I have never seen and have the joy of those breathtaking moments....not for hi tech gadetry.

Me either. I'm into techo stuff but frankly I couldn't care whether my cruise was a medallion cruise or not. I certainly wouldn't book a cruise because of it.

Sent from my SM-G955U using Tapatalk

I'm looking forward to hearing the answer to this as well. I don't get the big deal either but maybe we're missing something? :)

It's a data-gathering device masquerading as a convenience toy.

I am hoping they are still in the preview stage when I go in the spring! This way I might get some more OBC! But with my luck, my muster station or however they choose, I probably would be chosen to have the Medallion thingy! I really really don't understand all this interest one way or the other except for the "they should have known" and advertised differently, etc. So if it really means a lot to you and you don't get the circle, call and get some more OBC!!!! ;p

Pooh

It's a data-gathering device masquerading as a convenience toy.

Yes, this!! DH and I just had this discussion last night. It seems to us that the biggest beneficiary of this technology is Princess. Plus, neither of us want to be tracked by Princess as we move around the ship. And they will charge for the special holders? More money making for something we don't need. We are fine with using the key card and using that to get drinks, etc. Seems easier for us to keep track of things with the key card but some of that remains to be seen.

I do have to say that I'm not surprised Princess had to back off their complete rollout. The one thing companies should have learned by now is to gradually introduce new tech into their operations. As some previous posters noted, this never goes as well as expected. In fact, it is more likely to not go as expected, so a more conservative approach is warranted.

If people booked a cruise to be the first to experience this they should have allowed for the risk of it not working as expected, which was reasonably predictable. Could have experienced it after the first few cruises were completed and reduced their risk and disappointment. I'm not sure it was false advertising as much as optimistic thinking by Princess, since it will be offered but not to all pax.

ML

Ok, so i watched the video on Princess.com on the Medallion issue. Sorry, but whats all the fuss about ??? Don't really see what the big deal is with this. Either I'm missing something, or what little they offer, is a total waste of money. I can tie my own shoes, thank you.......they make a reservation for you at a Specialty restaurant ???? That's Very difficult to do....They book a tour for you ??? Again, that's difficult....Why the Bracelet ?? Just have a different color room key. Again, someone fill me in here, as to what the big deal is with this Medallion.

I'm finding the idea of delivering drinks where I am to be appealing - while there's bars everywhere, if I'm comfy, then it will be nice to not have to move. Does that mark me as very, very lazy? Yes, but I'm on vacation!

Also, my wife and I finding each other is useful.

Plus, neither of us want to be tracked by Princess as we move around the ship. And they will charge for the special holders?

Princess has plenty of ways to track you already. Sure, the medallion is one more, but trust me, if Princess cares to find out where on the ship you are, they can.

Princess has plenty of ways to track you already. Sure, the medallion is one more, but trust me, if Princess cares to find out where on the ship you are, they can.

Yeah, right. That explains those announcements they make asking people to come to the front desk or report to the theatre to zero out the pax count.

Looks like some people are afraid that they might be caught by their spouse doing sometime they shouldn't. :p;p

Looks like some people are afraid that they might be caught by their spouse doing sometime they shouldn't. :p;p

Like being in the casino when you told your spouse you'd be at the lecture on the mating habits of the blue footed booby?

Yes, this!! DH and I just had this discussion last night. It seems to us that the biggest beneficiary of this technology is Princess. Plus, neither of us want to be tracked by Princess as we move around the ship. And they will charge for the special holders? More money making for something we don't need. We are fine with using the key card and using that to get drinks, etc. Seems easier for us to keep track of things with the key card but some of that remains to be seen.

 

I do have to say that I'm not surprised Princess had to back off their complete rollout. The one thing companies should have learned by now is to gradually introduce new tech into their operations. As some previous posters noted, this never goes as well as expected. In fact, it is more likely to not go as expected, so a more conservative approach is warranted.

 

If people booked a cruise to be the first to experience this they should have allowed for the risk of it not working as expected, which was reasonably predictable. Could have experienced it after the first few cruises were completed and reduced their risk and disappointment. I'm not sure it was false advertising as much as optimistic thinking by Princess, since it will be offered but not to all pax.

 

ML

There is no doubt that Princess will be the bigger beneficiary of the technology. One example is it will allow for exponentially more streamlined service reducing costs in the long run. Another, as so many have pointed out it, will create more sales opportunities. As a shareholder in CCL I applaud their efforts to reduce costs and increase sales while providing potentially much better service options. As an IT geek of 30+ years experience I can see a lot of additional functions this system will be capable of performing in future. As a passenger I applaud their efforts because it will avail to me a more heightened experience that will make my vacation more comfortable.

As others have said that yes we could go to the bar to get a drink, or we can wait for a waiter..or we can just order it on our phone/tablet. I too left my smart phone in my room on my 1st few cruises but stopped after Carnival released the HUB app. It was more convenient for me to carry the phone than it was to carry the daily Fun Times.

It hearkens me back to the advent of VCR. I had a lot of friends that said "Why would I want to watch a movie in my home? I would prefer to go to the theater". Within 3 years they all had a VCR........

The point I'm trying to make is a lot of people scoff and find issues with new tech until they try it. Then usually, if done right, it catches on and people become proponents.

Like being in the casino when you told your spouse you'd be at the lecture on the mating habits of the blue footed booby?

Or worse .. A cabin not your own ........:evilsmile:

can you 'turn off' the Medallion - such as Princess can still track your every move for "security" purposes, but your spouse can't ? - Not that there's anything wrong with that...

Or worse .. A cabin not your own ........:evilsmile:

Kind of what I was inferring. ;p

Kind of what I was inferring. ;p

I understood. I just have less tact than you! ;p

can you 'turn off' the Medallion - such as Princess can still track your every move for "security" purposes, but your spouse can't ? - Not that there's anything wrong with that...

Yes, you can do that. You can also specify other people who are allowed to know your whereabouts. Handy if you're in a large group, or not.

I understood. I just have less tact than you! ;p

I'm not to sure about that one. I get into trouble with my comments almost constantly without even trying. :evilsmile:

Some folks say they booked a medallion cruise so they could try this new technology, but once having tried it, how many of them (or others) would choose one cruise line over another because it offers hands-free door-opening or anyplace-drink-ordering?

Some folks say they booked a medallion cruise so they could try this new technology

And then one can return to cruise critic, and seem important with their medallion knowledge.

I think this is why some people book guarantees...

They can get a lot of attention here.

First, ask "what did I buy, how come I don't have cabin?"

Then, later "When to guarantees usually get assigned?"

Then, (and this can be repeated at various intervals):

"It is x-weeks/months/whatever, and I still don't have a cabin..."

I do have to say that I'm not surprised Princess had to back off their complete rollout. The one thing companies should have learned by now is to gradually introduce new tech into their operations. As some previous posters noted, this never goes as well as expected. In fact, it is more likely to not go as expected, so a more conservative approach is warranted.

 

If people booked a cruise to be the first to experience this they should have allowed for the risk of it not working as expected, which was reasonably predictable. Could have experienced it after the first few cruises were completed and reduced their risk and disappointment. I'm not sure it was false advertising as much as optimistic thinking by Princess, since it will be offered but not to all pax.

According to an article on Cruise Critic, Regal was in drydock being prepared for this technology in April 2017.

https://www.cruisecritic.com/news/news.cfm?ID=7777

So I would have expected the last 6 months to be used by staff testing the technology, preparing for a launch date of November, as advertised on their website.

I definitely feel this is false advertising. If not, why doesn't Princess clearly state "Ocean Medallion technology will be rolled out in phases on the Regal between November 2017 and March 2018 (or whatever date)...and it will not be available to everyone" ?

Then if they do a full rollout earlier, everyone is happy. Why deceive people?

Why are people receiving emails that it won't be fully implemented after they have made final payment. (I have no evidence of this, only from reading posts on Cc)

This isn't about how useful ***** is or isn't. IMHO, this is not being advertised clearly or fairly.

Even if their original intentions were to have it fully implemented, and they now realize they can't, why not update their website?

We just got off the Regal on Saturday, I can tell you that there was a staff of about 10 people (3rd party) working on the ***** during our cruise. They were working on our deck (Emerald) and particularly cabin E102 as I had pictured earlier in this thread.

Possibly Princess under estimated the amount of work and timeline to get this accomplished as we are seeing now. Projects like this are enormous once started and unforeseen problems and road blocks are bound to happen.

Looks like some people are afraid that they might be caught by their spouse doing sometime they shouldn't. :p;p

Although with the Medallion Princess will track everybody (even their employees), other passengers can only track you if you give permission specifically to each person you want to be able to know where you are.

Although with the Medallion Princess will track everybody (even their employees), other passengers can only track you if you give permission specifically to each person you want to be able to know where you are.

So I understand from all the announcements.

Assuming both husband & wife normally have the location feature turned on it would make me wonder why all of a sudden one of them would turn it off???

:confused::confused:

To me it only means they have something to hide & don't want to be caught. :D