Get ready for Ocean Medallion Class™

[Astro Flyer]

Lucky Duck!!

 

My Hawaii cruise has already affected my brain! :p

[Colo Cruiser]

I'll report it to the mods the either merge or delete if it's all redundant.

 

Couldn't report my post...could you or Colo please report my thread...thanks! :o

 

 

 

I have sent all 3 threads to them to be merged earlier.

[Colo Cruiser]

My Hawaii cruise has already affected my brain! :p

 

 

So the protocols are in place. :D

[Potstech]

And how is the on board message service working out for everybody> You cannot even get a daily menu on the thing after all these years of it "working"

[konatyme]

Not everyone has a smartphone--including me--but it looks like this is just another thing designed to force everyone to have one.:(

[tailspintom]

So many Luddites, so little time. :D I think this is just plain old fear of change. For those who are resisting this without even seeing the system in action, from the information available, it appears that some features are optional, why not wait to see what? For those who are going to discard their medallion or leave it in their cabin, How do you plan to access your cabin or are you going to lock yourself in there for the entire cruise? :eek: wiithout further information, I am pretty sure a password/PIN will be needed to access things like directions to your cabin.

 

I am pretty sure the same kind of folks who expressed instant rejection also were appalled when the cruise lines switched to the current card system.

 

I am a federal employee and when some of my relatives and friends express fears of "Big Brother" watching, I tell them don't compliment yourself, you ain't that important, but if you are feeling neglected try skipping paying taxes then "big Brother" will be interested. :rolleyes:

 

Yep, the Federal Government has demonstrated how well they can secure personal information, eliminate agency abuse, and maintain privacy. I am a bit less cavalier about having my personal information in the hands of strangers.

 

That being said, I can see how certain information could be beneficial. Wait staff knowing your preferences could allow a more Traditional Dining experience for Anytime diners. Cabin heating and cooling can be enhanced. The scheduling of tenders, lectures and other events may be improved. Indeed, it may be that a significant imrovement in crew efficiency is achieved by having dynamic information about passenger behavior. Lots of data can be used without having an individual's name, cabin and or credit card information available to crew members. Like Thrak, we will be on CB in January of 2018 and it will be interesting to see how Princess rolls this out.

[neverbeenhere]

Will it provide a mild electric shock if you are not in formal wear or trying to do traditional dining when scheduled for traditional?

Edited January 4, 2017 by neverbeenhere

[land lover]

I certainly am interested to see what it's all about...but I am a totally spontaneous person....so tracking my preferences will be a hard one.

Traditional waiters have always tried to be a step a head of us but most have learned we r consistently, inconsistent. That's why I love anytime dining.

 

If it can save time, I am all for it...but let's face it, they r only doing it for their benefit not ours....

Edited January 4, 2017 by land lover

[PghCruiseGrrrl]

So many people complain when Princess does something new, but I bet the same people would complain they were bored and had done everything Princess has to offer if they didn't ever shake it up a bit. :rolleyes: I'm all for a new adventure. :D

[beg3yrs]

Will it provide a mild electric shock if you are not in formal wear or trying to do traditional dining when scheduled for traditional?

 

Yes I know you're being facetious here but ... somewhere in the articles it says the device is not powered so, no electric shock will be possible.

 

Sounds like it's technology similar to RFID where transmitters around the ship send out "pings" and the device is configured to use the ping energy itself to issue a response. The response is simply a unique number (same number everytime). Other than that, no information is provided. What then happens is that number corresponds to a computer record unique to each passenger and that is stored in the ship's system. There is no passenger personal information stored in the medallion itself.

[Sea Hag]

Will it provide a mild electric shock if you are not in formal wear or trying to do traditional dining when scheduled for traditional?

 

That's in phase two - the next rollout where they tag all our ears as we're herded aboard. :D

[Bill B]

Will it provide a mild electric shock if you are not in formal wear or trying to do traditional dining when scheduled for traditional?

 

LOL... Even worse - it'll send targeted ads to your phone when you're walking by: the art auction, shops, casino, specialty restaurants etc.

 

The wrist bands shown in the video make it look like cheap, plastic watch.

 

P.S. For anyone thinking of throwing it in the pool, I'm pretty sure it will be waterproof.

[AliceS]

Disney has had the wrist bands for a good while and they work great. I'll wait and see how it goes.

 

There are some crazy images going in my head though. The comedians should have some fun with this.

[CCFC]

Video of it here - https://videopress.com/v/BWKdHg3E

 

More information Here

Edited January 4, 2017 by CCFC

[tailspintom]

Sounds to me as if it's a test - albeit a very expensive test. The article specifically says you don't have to use it if you don't want to..

 

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.

 

Well, many of us asked to have the medallions returned to the MDR. Perhaps Princess got confused.

[yoyosma]

I hate Disney's wrist bands because I find them uncomfortable. My last season pass I just used the card in a lanyard, it worked well for getting into the parks and fast passes. I stayed offsite so no Disney room key.

 

I don't think I will mind the medallion, I'll just put it on a chain or whatever and wear it around my neck or maybe as a bracelet. Maybe glue it to my forehead as a 3rd eye - said with tongue in check.

[Go-Bucks!]

How do you plan to access your cabin

 

". . . don't have to use the medallion or can limit how much they want to participate, Carnival CEO Arnold Donald said."

 

Obviously you didn't read the article - the medallion is not mandatory. So not using it won't keep someone out of their cabin.

--------------------------------------------------------------------

 

"Donald said he hopes the service will encourage customers to sign up for repeat cruises while spending more on incidentals."

 

Here's the real reason they're trying this new system: making more money! I don't have to participate in their scheme.

 

And, BTW, you don't know that I'm afraid of change. I have all the newest tech stuff - I'm definitely not afraid of new things - but I don't necessarily think it's all beneficial either.

Edited January 4, 2017 by Go-Bucks!

[Go-Bucks!]

Thank you! I wanted to say the same thing! If you plan to leave it in your room, do you plan to never leave? This is going to be your new enhanced cruise card.

 

 

You also didn't read the article. Here's what it says:

 

". . . don't have to use the medallion or can limit how much they want to participate, Carnival CEO Arnold Donald said."

 

The medallion is not mandatory. So not using it won't keep someone out of their cabin.

[MSBerliner]

And then -- if I wish to receive a drink as soon as I arrive in the theater after dinner the waiter and I must know WHERE I will be seated. Does this mean we will then be required to select a seat in advance? Must I then arrive at a predetermined time? ???????

[GUT2407]

The article forgot to mention that with the sensors the cruise line will be able to collect very detailed information on each and all of its passengers automatically.

 

Now some of that information, such as tracking how many people are using a given area of the ship at a given time time could be very useful in deciding how to make better use of space.

 

On the other had they will be collecting lots of data on each person to provide their customized experiences. Think of it as Google pop up ads type interactions.

 

And that is probably a major reason they want it.

 

Big brother lives on at sea.

[GUT2407]

I suspect you will need to be very close to the door to unlock it.

 

Cars have had similar technology for years, with my car if I try to unlock with my left hand, key in right pocket I need to be facing square on for it to work, side on is no good.

[Thrak]

The article forgot to mention that with the sensors the cruise line will be able to collect very detailed information on each and all of its passengers automatically.

 

Now some of that information, such as tracking how many people are using a given area of the ship at a given time time could be very useful in deciding how to make better use of space.

 

On the other had they will be collecting lots of data on each person to provide their customized experiences. Think of it as Google pop up ads type interactions.

 

Perhaps they will find that Share is usually empty... :cool:

[mellon1]

I know we have been on multiple cruises with Princess and sometimes we get the same dining room person...he remembers everything...right down to the wine I ordered 2 years ago! I was impressed. In addition, I always get lemon in my water and the one time he squeezed it, it hit us in the eyes...no problem, we laughed, stuff happens. Next night we went to dinner and put our sunglasses on before he did the lemons. He couldn't even squeeze the lemons we all laughed so hard. Then 2 years later we see him, he remembers us and in one of the nights where the tables shift and you have another waiter because of the late night in port, we got him, Dino, and he brought his sunglasses for us to wear when he did the lemons. We laughed so hard. We love Princess because of the memories with the crew....they make our cruise.

 

Point is, sometimes crew gets credit for ideas....we were told this.

Edited January 4, 2017 by mellon1

[dtb55]

The new guest experience platform will debut on Princess Cruises' Regal Princess in November 2017, followed by Royal Princess and Caribbean Princess in 2018. The new Medallion Class on Princess Cruises will be rolled out over multiple years on the entire Princess Cruises fleet.

 

http://phx.corporate-ir.net/phoenix.zhtml?c=140690&p=irol-newsArticle&ID=2233686

 

 

 

It sounds very cool to me.

 

 

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[dtb55]

Just saw this information. What are your thoughts?

 

LAS VEGAS (AP) — What if your room on a cruise ship were to unlock automatically as you approach, or if the wait staff could bring your favorite cocktail before you even ask?

Carnival Corp., the operator of such cruise lines as Princess, Holland America and Carnival, wants to make that happen so it can get cozier with its guests and make cruises even more personalized.

Carnival is using the CES gadget show in Las Vegas on Wednesday to unveil new concierge technology designed to help crew members anticipate and respond to passengers' needs. It will rely on sensors and wearable trackers, and is scheduled to debut on the Regal Princess cruise ship in November.

The leisure-cruise industry is playing catch-up with travel peers like hotels and airlines, which now let you unlock rooms with a smartwatch or fly with a boarding pass on your phone.

Personalization is important as cruise ships get bigger and come across as impersonal, said Mike Driscoll, editor-in-chief of Cruise Week, an industry publication. Personalization can also help cruise companies attract more first-timers, including tech-savvy millennials.

"It's catching up to what life is like on the land," Driscoll said.

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.

"In the end, the guests will tell us," Donald told The Associated Press. "If it doesn't (resonate), it's back to the drawing board."

The linchpin of the system is a tracking medallion the size of a quarter. Cruise passengers wear it as a pendant, throw it into a purse or place it in a pocket. The medallion uses wireless technologies to communicate with sensors placed around the ship, cruise terminals and even airports, where staff can provide personalized greetings as passengers fly in.

Crew members armed with tablets can respond to any needs nearby. For example, a guest could be having a drink when a crew member comes by to remind him that a yoga class starts in five minutes. Or a waiter working poolside can ask whether a guest wants her usual gin and tonic.

In addition, interactive displays can offer personalized directions to guests' rooms. And the medallion ties into a payment system, so no one has to swipe or sign anything when buying souvenirs or drinks.

Donald said he hopes the service will encourage customers to sign up for repeat cruises while spending more on incidentals.

Different passengers might react quite differently to the service. "With your 83-year-old aunt in Saskatchewan, it might be too much," Driscoll said. But for a passenger in his 50s, such as Driscoll, it could make life on the ship "just easier."

Carnival plans to expand the setup to all other Princess ships in the next several years and eventually to other vessels. Carnival, the world's largest leisure travel company, owns more than 100 ships across 10 brands.

Personalization isn't new to the travel industry. Walt Disney World in Florida has a MagicBand wristband device that doubles as a room key and "FastPass" reservations to popular rides. The MagicBand is also linked to a credit card for speedier payments at restaurants and gift shops.

John Padgett, who was one of the chief architects of the MagicBand before joining Carnival in 2014, said the cruise ship's system goes further in eliminating the need to touch or tap a terminal. Sensors pick up signals automatically.

"There are no wires. There is no charging," Padgett said. "It doesn't require a guest or consumer to do anything specific."

Carnival officials say there will be safeguards against someone walking away with another guest's medallion. Each guest's profile is tied to a security picture, so a crew member can compare a passenger's photo on a portable device. Carnival also says the medallion doesn't contain sensitive information such as the stateroom number, much like a hotel room key. The company added that the system features additional authentication, although it declined to elaborate.

Donald said the technology could be adapted for other industries, too. Imagine a patient entering the hospital and being recognized immediately by a nurse without having to check in or fill out forms.

 

 

 

I love the idea!

 

 

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