Get ready for Ocean Medallion Class™

[diane.in.ny]

Could not have said it better myself.

 

And I have now learned that if I do that I won't be able to get into my cabin :(

 

I thought this was going to be optional and I could still get a cruise card. I have since learned that is not the case and I will have no choice but to walk around with the medallion.

 

Wonder if I could figure out a way to attach it to my lanyard?

[Thrak]

That's like saying since the local police are responsible for your safety, they should have 24-hours a day access to knowing where you are.

 

Sorry. I do not agree. Neither Princess nor the police should be tracking my every movement.

 

I went to Costco this evening. While I was there my PHONE asked if I wanted to upload stuff about Costco. Trust me, people know where you are.

[Thrak]

I don't think the system will be doing real-time tracking of everyone onboard. That would need a lot of computing power. Instead, when you request something, then the system will determine where you are. Or if you enter a venue, it may note your entrance for crowd control purposes. It's not going to be a virtual Marauder's Map.

 

Love it! I read this to my wife and it made her laugh out loud. :D

 

(I have to wonder how many here won't get the reference though.)

[Thrak]

And for those who don't want the medallion, Princess, like Disney can print cards with the same chip inside - technically its exactly the same thing, but most people will think they are different.

 

And I have now learned that if I do that I won't be able to get into my cabin :(

 

I thought this was going to be optional and I could still get a cruise card. I have since learned that is not the case and I will have no choice but to walk around with the medallion.

 

Wonder if I could figure out a way to attach it to my lanyard?

 

I think the quoted text in red above addresses your concern. You most likely will be able to have a card if you want one.

 

As for your lanyard, Princess will have a variety of wrist bands, necklaces, lanyards, etc. they will be happy to sell you. Otherwise you can always just put a little pouch on your lanyard to hold the medallion.

Edited January 7, 2017 by Thrak

[diane.in.ny]

Thrak,

 

Thanks for finding that in this thread. :D

 

I obviously missed it.

[GUT2407]

And I have now learned that if I do that I won't be able to get into my cabin :(

 

I thought this was going to be optional and I could still get a cruise card. I have since learned that is not the case and I will have no choice but to walk around with the medallion.

 

Wonder if I could figure out a way to attach it to my lanyard?

 

You will be able to get alanyard, or a wrist band or who knows what else, to carry it.

[scottlad]

Actually you don't have to use the medallion if you don't want to do so. Its plainly stated in the release info. Those who are afraid of the technology or uncomfortable with it are free to continue on as they have in the past. Princess will happily issue you a standard cruise card.

 

It seems that was a misinterpretation of what they said about it being optional. Dave Monk's interview with Tony Roberts from Princess clarified this, and it's in the FAQ too. I think we all saw that you had to opt in and assumed that meant the Medallion.

 

The text from Princess' Ocean FAQ (http://www.princess.com/ships-and-experience/ocean-medallion-class/ocean-faq/) says:

 

"While you must carry a Medallion while onboard, it’s up to you how much or how little you want to take advantage of the full experience."

 

and

 

"If you do not want to take advantage of the full Ocean Medallion Class experience, you can switch your privacy setting to "Safety Only" and enjoy the cruise the same great way you do today."

 

I'm super excited about the Medallion. can't wait to try it out.

[diane.in.ny]

You will be able to get a lanyard, or a wrist band or who knows what else, to carry it.

 

Based on what I've read, I can get anything to carry it as long as I'm willing to pay for it. :(

[GUT2407]

Based on what I've read, I can get anything to carry it as long as I'm willing to pay for it. :(

 

That's about right, but it's been a long time since I've seen Princess give out free lanyards.

[linanles]

And for those who don't want the medallion, Princess, like Disney can print cards with the same chip inside - technically its exactly the same thing, but most people will think they are different.

 

The Medallion works on Bluetooth Low Energy technology (introduced with Bluetooth 4.0) which requires a battery and more than one chip. See the exploded view of the Medallion in the video presentation. I don't think you will fit all that onto a card otherwise they would just issue cards to everyone. The card is more likely to have just the NFC (near field communication) contactless features and not the location sensing through Bluetooth.

[cr8tiv1]

That's about right, but it's been a long time since I've seen Princess give out free lanyards.[/quote

 

You can get your card punched in the casino...and they give you a free lanyard.

[scottlad]

I don't think the system will be doing real-time tracking of everyone onboard. That would need a lot of computing power. Instead, when you request something, then the system will determine where you are. Or if you enter a venue, it may note your entrance for crowd control purposes. It's not going to be a virtual Marauder's Map.

 

It's not really that much to do. The sensors are constantly checking for Medallions in range. Since they know which Medallions any given sensor can see, they know the location. With 7000 sensors they can pinpoint things pretty precisely. That's how they enable the ability for family members to see where everybody is. Tony Roberts said in his interview with Dave Monk that even in Safety Mode, where you opt out of the advanced features, your family can still see your location:

 

"The ability to locate people is one of the safety features, it’s an interesting scenario that someone wouldn’t want to be found but ultimately people [in their family] will be able to see where they are. I’m not sure we’ll be able to*disable that, but perhaps that is something we should*check.’"

 

When they walked through the door unlock process during the keynote, for example, they mentioned that the portal outside your door activates and lists where your family members are, along with other info.

 

So it may not show your footsteps as you walk like in HP, but it's the next best thing. :)

[Loonbeam]

That's what I mean. I always advise providers of my Penicllin allergy, just in case. But basically any info communicated to special services can be quickly made available.

 

Basically, assuming it is implemented properly and there are decent processes, like Magic Bands, the potential positives far outweight the negatives.

 

 

Unless a passenger has notified Princess of a severe allergy (such as to peanuts or gluten), the system will have no record of or access to the passenger's medical records and other allergies.

[UpcountryTravelers]

.....

Anyway, my take away is that Medallion is going to be the Princess/Carnival equivalent to Disney's Magic Pass. ....

 

Don't think so. From what I have read, it will do far, FAR more.

 

(I do hope it will have better fingerprint technology than Disney's.)

[Thrak]

I'm pretty sure you will have the ability to input that sort of information from home before you ever leave for your vacation. That's part of what they are looking for from this system.

[Loonbeam]

I thought so too, but apparently Disney has managed a version of it. No idea how it works but the cards are supposedly readable up to at least 10 feet which is beyond NFC range.

 

If the cards would be NFC then the door readers would have to handle it and you would lose some functions.

 

That said, from another post, while they could issue cards, not sure they are going to...

 

The Medallion works on Bluetooth Low Energy technology (introduced with Bluetooth 4.0) which requires a battery and more than one chip. See the exploded view of the Medallion in the video presentation. I don't think you will fit all that onto a card otherwise they would just issue cards to everyone. The card is more likely to have just the NFC (near field communication) contactless features and not the location sensing through Bluetooth.

[GUT2407]

That's about right, but it's been a long time since I've seen Princess give out free lanyards.[/quote

 

You can get your card punched in the casino...and they give you a free lanyard.

 

Got off Emerald about three weeks ago, card was already punched on boarding, no lanyards free anywhere including casino.

[Thrak]

You are welcome to my Princess lanyard. We got it as a fabulous prize for something or other. Neither of us used a lanyard. They are around here somewhere...

 

We also have lanyards from a TA we booked with for a 17 day canal transit. She gave each of her passengers a gift every day. One day we each got a bottle of wine, one day decks of cards, one day a lanyard, etc. She even gave us (one) copy of The Path Between the Seas. One day I went to her table and she gave me a bag of salt water taffy for each of us. I said that my wife might never see her bag so they gave me an extra one just in case. :D

[caribill]

That's about right, but it's been a long time since I've seen Princess give out free lanyards.[/quote

 

You can get your card punched in the casino...and they give you a free lanyard.

 

I do not think it will be wise to punch a hole in the medallion.

[caribill]

"The ability to locate people is one of the safety features, it’s an interesting scenario that someone wouldn’t want to be found but ultimately people [in their family] will be able to see where they are. I’m not sure we’ll be able to*disable that, but perhaps that is something we should*check.’"

 

When they walked through the door unlock process during the keynote, for example, they mentioned that the portal outside your door activates and lists where your family members are, along with other info.

 

Somewhere along the way either you must specify who you want to be able to locate or others must specify who they want to be able to locate them. Not sure which way it will work.

 

Also no idea of how you specify. By booking number? By cabin number? By name? Other?

 

I wonder if people can opt out of being located by others.

[caribill]

I'm pretty sure you will have the ability to input that sort of information from home before you ever leave for your vacation. That's part of what they are looking for from this system.

 

There are still a number of passengers who do not use computers.

 

Their TAs assist in filling out the Personalizer and in printing boarding passes and luggage tags.

 

TAs must be thrilled with needing to assist in customizing the medallions before a cruise.

[caribill]

 

As for your lanyard, Princess will have a variety of wrist bands, necklaces, lanyards, etc. they will be happy to sell you. Otherwise you can always just put a little pouch on your lanyard to hold the medallion.

 

Or maybe it can be a prize for winning at trivia.

[caribill]

I wonder if the crew and staff will have their versions of medallions so that Princess knows where they are at all times.

[Steelers36]

Honey, where have you been?

Oh, I was just wandering around. Nothing special.

BS. Your medallion showed you were in the bar for the past two hours!

 

No place to run. No place to hide.

 

Of course it could be even worse if you were in her sister's cabin for those two hours. :eek:

 

LOL. Yes, I had those same thoughts as you.

[Steelers36]

You can always place it in a RFID blocking wallet and temporarily go off the radar.:D

 

I wonder if security would sound a "man overboard" alert if you ran towards a railing and leaned over while at the same time stuffing the medallion in a RFID blocking wallet? :D

Edited January 7, 2017 by steelers36