Get ready for Ocean Medallion Class™

[cruzrbachoua]

This seems to me to be a silly change by Princess. They are spending more money on tech (when their own internet and app on board work so poorly already) probably to save on staffing at the port. I like the cruise card...confirms your dining choice /dining room/table. Where do we get that info then?

 

 

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I bet it will be a card or some kind of memo in our cabins that say the time dining room etc...but that is a good point as usually that is on the card, and when we travel with friends that is how we confirm that we are indeed linked and eating together for the traditional time we chose. I just hope we still get the patters on paper as i put those in my memory books and find it quicker to just pull it out to see what is going on and where.

 

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[TW6cruiser]

And I agree that these are their equivalent of Disney's magic bands. But when you are walking around a theme park or the Disney resorts it is sort of fun to wear them. But on a cruise this is not going to be part of my wardrobe...especially while in port.

 

 

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[cruzrbachoua]

Yeah true they say you shouldn't look like a tourist in some ports to avoid being targeted...well a big medallion on your wrist or neck sorta screams tourist. .lol

 

 

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[Thrak]

Yes, I misspoke when I said that was where I saw it. I did finally find one place where it was in print, but there was another one besides this one, I'm pretty sure I saw it. This one is at this link:

 

http://www.cruisecritic.com/news/news.cfm?ID=7442

 

Look at the end of the posting, where the FAQs are and you'll find it as the 3rd question:

 

Are they mandatory for all passengers?

Anyone who wants to forego the medallion and concierge for a key card can absolutely do so.

 

 

I knew I'd seen it somewhere, just took me awhile to find it.

 

 

Tom

 

Please note this part at the beginning: See below for our answers

 

Note the word "our". This is a Cruise Critic article - NOT a Princess article. CC has put out a bit of misinformation. I trust what Princess says - not what Cruise Critic says.

[pris993]

Technology services isn't it great???

Tony

 

Agree Tony... this reminds me of how the airlines, hotels, have transferred responsibility to guests... print your own boarding pass for example... checkin prior to boarding so you don't lose your seat... service and joy of travel was much better before.

 

I don't want to order my meals from a computer... much prefer to talk to a waiter.

 

I really think this is more about selling products and services then enhancing one's cruise experience.

[Todd320]

Please note this part at the beginning: See below for our answers

 

Note the word "our". This is a Cruise Critic article - NOT a Princess article. CC has put out a bit of misinformation. I trust what Princess says - not what Cruise Critic says.

 

This statement below is from an AP article that is linked from the Princess website.

 

Whether anticipating guests' needs will feel useful or creepy remains to be seen. Those who might be spooked don't have to use the medallion or can limit how much they want to participate, Carnival CEO Arnold Donald said.

 

I believe both articles received the information directly from Princess but the question is if they were given the correct information.

Edited January 11, 2017 by Todd320

[caribill]

I don't think they're spending millions to save thousands.:rolleyes:

 

As one article about the Medallion said:

 

If the Medallion keeps passengers from waiting in lines, then they can be spending money elsewhere on the ship instead.

[SoCal Cruiser78]

...Slip it in an RFID screening pouch and you should be incognito...

 

I've though about doing this also. I have nothing to hide, but I resent how our privacy is being rapidly taken away from us.

Edited January 11, 2017 by SoCal Cruiser78

[Thrak]

I've though about doing this also. I have nothing to hide, but I resent how our privacy is being rapidly taken away from us.

 

It won't be on all Princess ships for a while. If it really bothers you that much I would suggest cruising on another line. That's the beauty of having choices. Vote with your dollars.

[Steelers36]

No they stated that folks that uploaded their stuff online before leaving were ocean ready and once you arrive at the pier for embarkation you go through the security check point and then simply walk on the ship...no check in counter as the pic or passport pic will pop up on the handheld device the princess team member is holding as you approach with the medallion. only if you forget the medallion or it didn't ship in time or didn't fill out the stuff online would you need to go to a check in counter. This was addressed in the most recent video here https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2M16...youtu.be&t=943

 

This may be true but myself and evidently at least a few others understood the statements made by Princess to be that you go through security and then onto the ship (oh yeah, and the health form police plus the somewhat optional embarkation photo stop). No more stops at the desk to have them search for your keycards, check your documents and give you the ship's pocket map.

 

I don't disagree with you guys. My response post was to indicate that the folks in the video are not showing ID's because they were boarding. The only place ID's are shown now is at check-in. The post I responded to was worded like there was an expectation of seeing ID's at that point, but it was a boarding scene and not a check-in scene.

 

I have to think there must be going to be some sort of verification before the actual boarding. Imagine you walk into T2 at Port Everglades, go thru security, and then go sit down and wait to board the ship. Security checks BP's right now. I bet there will be someone there checking Medallions that the folks coming in are in the right place for the right cruise, and docs are in order. It doesn't make sense to me that Princess would let folks get all the way to the ship entrance and then have to send them back for a faulty Medallion issue, or missing info or docs issue.

[floridalover5623]

This seems to me to be a silly change by Princess. They are spending more money on tech (when their own internet and app on board work so poorly already) probably to save on staffing at the port. I like the cruise card...confirms your dining choice /dining room/table. Where do we get that info then?

 

 

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You can get that info from any of the interactive boards, your cabin TV and possibly (I hope) from your smart phone and most likely at the entrance to any of the dining rooms.

 

Yeah true they say you shouldn't look like a tourist in some ports to avoid being targeted...well a big medallion on your wrist or neck sorta screams tourist. .lol

 

 

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No one says that you have to have it visible while off the ship.

How will ever know your a tourist then? :rolleyes:

[cruzrbachoua]

 

 

No one says that you have to have it visible while off the ship.

How will ever know your a tourist then? :rolleyes:

 

My response was to someone who said they won't wear it in port and also in the promo videos you see the people out at excursions wearing them as watches or necklaces. ...

 

 

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[floridalover5623]

My response was to someone who said they won't wear it in port and also in the promo videos you see the people out at excursions wearing them as watches or necklaces. ...

 

 

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Well the video's are only propaganda so we have to discount those anyway but for those that will display them when off the ship are probably the same people who wore their lanyards with the cards dangling.

Either way you'll be pegged as a tourist no matter what you do, how you act or how you dress. The least of it being wearing a Medallion or cruise card.

[SwissDave]

Great to see that Princess are upping the tech game and no doubt the whole aim of it is to appeal to a younger tech friendly crowd who have a lot of life left in them and can cruise with Princess for many years to come.

[jeffbrig]

This seems to me to be a silly change by Princess. They are spending more money on tech (when their own internet and app on board work so poorly already) probably to save on staffing at the port. I like the cruise card...confirms your dining choice /dining room/table. Where do we get that info then?

 

Simply swipe your medallion at any info screen, I'd imagine. Your cabin, any public space, probably at the dining room entrance too...

[jeffbrig]

Agree Tony... this reminds me of how the airlines, hotels, have transferred responsibility to guests... print your own boarding pass for example... checkin prior to boarding so you don't lose your seat... service and joy of travel was much better before.

And I actually prefer being able to check myself in and print my boarding pass before arriving at the airport. That's just one less line I need to stand in before getting to my gate.

 

I don't want to order my meals from a computer... much prefer to talk to a waiter.

I'm pretty sure you'll still be doing that in the dining room. This just gives you the option to order from non-standard locations and conveniently have the food or drink delivered to you there.

 

I really think this is more about selling products and services then enhancing one's cruise experience.

I'm not so sure. Speeding up the check-in/boarding process benefits all passengers. I do see other conveniences built in for me as a traveler. I like the idea of the doors unlocking automatically for me. Or having a drink land on the table as soon as I arrive at dinner. Or being able to easily locate others in my party if we've split up and are trying to meet later. But I will admit I am a bit of a tech guy...

[jeffbrig]

I've though about doing this also. I have nothing to hide, but I resent how our privacy is being rapidly taken away from us.

 

What privacy are you really losing here? The cruise line already has logs of whenever you open your cabin door. There's a record anytime you present your cruise card for a bar slip, casino game, specialty restaurant, boutique purchase, etc. They know when you're on or off the ship. They know if you've gone on a ship booked excursion.

 

So now they're adding something that can tell which dining room or entertainment venue you're at. Maybe even which specific table you're sitting at? So what? I don't feel like I'm losing anything there.

[cruzrbachoua]

Simply swipe your medallion at any info screen, I'd imagine. Your cabin, any public space, probably at the dining room entrance too...

 

Then where does the service come into play. A friend of mine read this and said it seems like the burden of service is being pushed to the cruiser...you tell us when you want a drink electronically vs having roving waiters. You find out your info of where and when to eat...I see their point that it seems to want us to do a lot...but then again on my last cruise I was laying out when approached by a photographer and asked if I wanted a pic...while normally I do like the port pics and boarding pics for my memory book......a pic of me sweaty and greasy from sunscreen with a towel mark on my face as I just woke from a mini nap is not my idea of a great pic..lol

[latserrof]

This may be true but myself and evidently at least a few others understood the statements made by Princess to be that you go through security and then onto the ship (oh yeah, and the health form police plus the somewhat optional embarkation photo stop). No more stops at the desk to have them search for your keycards, check your documents and give you the ship's pocket map.

 

No more wine check-in?!

[linanles]

No more wine check-in?!

 

I think they would still have to scan your carry on luggage.

Did your really think they would for go the corkage on the extra bottles?

Remember this is all about getting more revenue.

[Doug R.]

You can get that info from any of the interactive boards, your cabin TV and possibly (I hope) from your smart phone and most likely at the entrance to any of the dining rooms.

 

 

 

No one says that you have to have it visible while off the ship.

How will ever know your a tourist then? :rolleyes:

 

By the Hawaiian shirts and black socks and sandals?

Edited January 12, 2017 by Doug R.

[latserrof]

 

I have to think there must be going to be some sort of verification before the actual boarding. Imagine you walk into T2 at Port Everglades, go thru security, and then go sit down and wait to board the ship. Security checks BP's right now. I bet there will be someone there checking Medallions that the folks coming in are in the right place for the right cruise, and docs are in order. It doesn't make sense to me that Princess would let folks get all the way to the ship entrance and then have to send them back for a faulty Medallion issue, or missing info or docs issue.

 

 

The cruise line may be subject to fine by the HSA for allowing passengers to board without the proper documents in their possession.

 

For one nightmare of a family with an exchange student who was missing a document, see this old post (though the OP didn't post the final outcome).

 

http://boards.cruisecritic.com/showthread.php?t=751526

 

One poster (the immigration attorney?) said that if that poor kid had been allowed to board the ship without the right paperwork, he would have landed in jail when he tried to re-enter the US "illegally."

 

Since many (most?) cruises are not RT US, other countries' immigration policies and requirements must be considered. Some countries do their immigration checks aboard ship and won't "clear" the ship for debarkation until all passengers have been cleared.

 

Will CCL stop checking dox and thereby accept the risk of delaying or missing a port, or of HSA fine?

Edited January 12, 2017 by latserrof

[easyboy]

By the Hawaiian shirts and black socks and sandals?

and hats.

[Thrak]

By the Hawaiian shirts and black socks and sandals?

 

My son cruised with us to Hawaii. He said everybody would know I was a tourist if I wore my Tommy Bahama shirts. I said they would know I was a tourist anyway. I had to laugh at him when I saw so many of the locals wearing Aloha shirts as well. While I do wear either Teva or Birkenstock sandals I can't abide socks with them. <shudder>

 

I don't care that they know I'm a tourist. They count on tourists for income. Only once have I been treated badly as a tourist. A guy pretty much deliberately ran me down with his truck in Alaska. I was backpedaling as fast as I could until I fell down in front of the truck and then he finally stopped. When I got up off the street and staggered out of the way he just drove off. :eek:

[Thrak]

I think they would still have to scan your carry on luggage.

Did your really think they would for go the corkage on the extra bottles?

Remember this is all about getting more revenue.

 

It was quite plainly stated by Princess that the security checks would remain unchanged. The big difference when boarding is not having to stop while they take your picture and verify who you are.