Can someone explain the benefit of the medallion to me as the customer?

[kywildcatfanone]

I'm on the regal now, and seeing many cabins with the new small tablet on the wall, which I guess lets you unlock your door without your cruise card, since the door hardware has been changed.

 

Is it anything other than a marketing ploy for Princess to track your habits onboard and be able to market to those habits?

 

I don't like that they did it for most of the cabins on the lido deck, which is our preferred cabin location.

 

 

I don't see the benefit to the cruiser that I can tell.

[Pam in CA]

Once fully operational, there are quite a few advantages to the Medallion.

 

You'll be able to bypass check-in and go directly to security and board the ship at embarkation.

 

Your cabin door will automatically unlock as you approach it and re-lock after leaving.

 

It won't demagnetize.

 

You'll be able to receive notifications of fresh foods in the IC and elsewhere.

 

You'll be able to make spa, specialty restaurant and other reservations on your device 24/7. You can get a massage in your cabin, for instance.

 

Your drink packages will be automatically recognized by your server.

 

You'll be able to automatically review ship photos of yourself on your device.

 

You'll be able to play casino, bingo, and trivia games and scavenger hunts on your device.

 

And more...

 

You'll be able to turn options on and off. And, you'll have the option of not using the Medallion and using a cruise card if you wish but then you won't have access to these benefits. And they are benefits.

[moki'smommy]

It is supposed to make your life "easier," In reality, I think it is exactly as you said--it lets them track you.

 

Disney has a system on their newer ships where you don't have to slide your card to unlock the door, you just tap it or hold it near the lock. This can be convenient if your hands are full, etc. as if I'm wearing my card on a lanyard or in a pocket, I can get it close enough to the door without touching the card. But it must get really close to the door mechanism. Supposedly the Princess system will "sense" the medallion and unlock the door as you approach with less manipulation than above.

 

It will let them know how many brewed coffee/tea or unlimited sodas you got (?)...it will let them track you around the ship. Yeah, I don't see that this is any good for me!

[ne1travel]

A couple we we were with did it and had to carry a fob of some sort around there neck all the time. No thanks

 

 

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[JF - retired RRT]

One "benefit" of the tracking (for the ship's crew), they'll know immediately if you "fall" overboard and have your medallion on.

Another benefit (yes for the ship's benefit), those who are doing a B2B and don't show up to the meeting place on time OR when trying to get the count to zero, so they can start letting passengers board...they'll know where you are and can track you down. You'd still have to have the medallion with you, tho'.

[Hlitner]

Yeah, just think. With the *****...Princess will now know how much time you spend in the bathroom (where they have installed a sensor). That really is a great benefit. As to having it open my cabin door and turn on the lights.....that sure sounds like something worth the Millions of dollars being spent by Princess to implement this device.

 

The truth is that the ***** is mainly a benefit to the cruise line (if they ever get it to function properly) in that they can monitor everything done by a cruise (including where they go on the ship) for marketing purposes. Just think of it. Now, you get a few "flyers" sent to your cabin everyday advertising sales, art auctions, etc. With the ***** and a paired device you will be able to receive round the clock marketing of "wonderful things" like art auctions, exercise classes (for a price), shore excursions, etc. WOW! Can't wait :(.

 

Hank

[konatyme]

I'm guessing that the "device" you'll need is a smartphone? So those of us who don't feel the need to have a smartphone are out of luck as far as any of the "benefits" go. Oh, well. To me, it did just feel like a way for Princess to track my spending habits.

[JF - retired RRT]

It is supposed to make your life "easier' date='" In reality, I think it is exactly as you said--it lets them track you.[/quote']

It should for many things:

1) when a drink waiter approaches you, he'll know who you are, what you like to drink and if you have a drink package.

2) walk into a store, pick out the things you want and "wave" the medallion at the check-out thingy. Done.

3) order a drink (in the theater, on Promenade deck, at the pool) and the waiter will know where you are. No walking to a bar to grab your drink.

4) your steward will know if you're in your cabin. Should prevent those embarrassing moments when the steward knocks so light you can't hear it and then opens the door...and you're standing in the middle of the cabin with no clothes on.:eek:

[JF - retired RRT]

I'm guessing that the "device" you'll need is a smartphone? So those of us who don't feel the need to have a smartphone are out of luck as far as any of the "benefits" go. Oh, well. To me, it did just feel like a way for Princess to track my spending habits.

Do you have a tablet or a computer? You can use those, too.

[MrMan]

I'm guessing that the "device" you'll need is a smartphone? So those of us who don't feel the need to have a smartphone are out of luck as far as any of the "benefits" go. Oh, well. To me, it did just feel like a way for Princess to track my spending habits.

 

You are making wrong assumptions. Kiosks are your friend

[JF - retired RRT]

Yeah, just think. With the *****...Princess will now know how much time you spend in the bathroom (where they have installed a sensor).

Take it off when you go in the bathroom.;)

[MrMan]

It is supposed to make your life "easier' date='" In reality, I think it is exactly as you said--it lets them track you.

 

Disney has a system on their newer ships where you don't have to slide your card to unlock the door, you just tap it or hold it near the lock. This can be convenient if your hands are full, etc. as if I'm wearing my card on a lanyard or in a pocket, I can get it close enough to the door without touching the card. But it must get really close to the door mechanism. Supposedly the Princess system will "sense" the medallion and unlock the door as you approach with less manipulation than above.

 

It will let them know how many brewed coffee/tea or unlimited sodas you got (?)...it will let them track you around the ship. Yeah, I don't see that this is any good for me![/quote']

 

You realize they do that today with your key card. They know what drinks you ordered, what dining room you ate at and what time, where you shopped, what spa services you used and when, what machines you like in the casino etc.

[Anubi]

I would like to know what they are going to do with all that accumulated information. I want to read the small print before signing on especially with respect to third parties.

One other thing to keep in mind, if it doesn't make them money they wouldn't be doing it. :mad::mad::mad:

[OCruisers]

We don't have a smart phone or any other device.

How will the medallion help us? :confused:

[memoak]

The one aspect I absolutely hate is that they can track where you are on the ship. Nobody's business but my own.

[BDRebel]

Personally, I do not care if they are really interested in timing my bowel movements. I don't see that information as being too marketable.

They already have multiple cameras in every public area on the ship, so my hiding spots are already known.

I honestly do not realistically see any downside to the medallion -- just a lot of benefit and convenience to me.

[Pam in CA]

It’s not that different from your car having a keyless entry/start fob instead of a key to open the door(s) and start the car.

 

You’re already being tracked on the ship or even at home whenever you use any Internet site, print a page from your printer at home, etc. Back in the 90’s, you could track how many people were landing on your page, what page they were previously on, where they went next, how much time they spent on each page, what links in the page they clicked, what operating system they used, etc. If you don’t think it’s far more sophisticated now, then you’re walking in a cloud. [emoji4]

[CU64]

Question: when their hardware has a glitch, will I be locked in or out of my cabin?

[nukesubsailor]

Do the medallions have your name on them like the key cards have? If not, it might be interesting if a couple picked up each other's medallion by mistake.

[BDRebel]

No more likely than you are now.

Currently, the hardware in your door lock reads your card and sends a signal to the mainframe that you are trying to get into your room. The mainframe tells the door to unlock.

The same system is used for the medallion, except instead of a card reader, the door has an RFID reader to pick up the medallion signal.

 

If I recall correctly from the news releases, your name is printed on the medallion, as well as your choice of color (you and your spouse could get different colors).

[WVBill]

The truth is that the ***** is mainly a benefit to the cruise line (if they ever get it to function properly) in that they can monitor everything done by a cruise (including where they go on the ship) for marketing purposes. Just think of it. Now, you get a few "flyers" sent to your cabin everyday advertising sales, art auctions, etc. With the ***** and a paired device you will be able to receive round the clock marketing of "wonderful things" like art auctions, exercise classes (for a price), shore excursions, etc. WOW! Can't wait :(.

 

Hank

 

On the other hand - maybe they realize they're wasting money sending "flyers" to people who never have gone to an art auction, or the spa and probably never will. With *****, they can see that and only send marketing material to people who are likely consumers.

 

You don't think Cruise Critic is monitoring when you log on and off and the kinds of threads you comment on in order to target the marketing e-mails they send to you?

 

Disney started doing it shortly after they opened in 1955. They observed that most people walked on the right-hand side of Main Street heading to the castle when they first entered the park, and the opposite side when leaving. They knew people wouldn't want to carry a lot of mementos around with them all day, so they put all the souvenir shops on the side you'll pass when leaving.

 

In today's world you are going to get advertisements in multiple forms every day. Sure, most of us wish they would just stop but if I'm going to get advertised to, I'd rather if be for something I'm interested in.

 

As to them "tracking me" - - I'm not doing anything illegal so I'm not worried about it.

 

By the way - can you allow another passenger to see where you are? That would be very handy for families to meet up.

[Thrak]

You can allow your entire party or anyone you choose to know where you are or you can opt to turn that off.

 

There is no personal information in the medallion

 

You can record your preferences - Bloody Mary is always extra spicy, Gin and Tonic is always made with Tanqueray, etc.

 

They don't care at all about your bathroom habits

 

Nobody "had to" wear the medallion around their neck. I will keep mine in a pocket. Lots of people wear their key card around their neck and nobody is freaking out about that.

 

You don't need a smart phone or tablet as there will be screens all over the ship and also in your cabin (possibly the TV in your cabin) that interact with the system

 

If you have a Facebook account you are already more tracked than anything Princess will be doing

 

There are a lot of reasons that I look forward to them getting this working properly. Of course it's to the company's advantage to have it or they wouldn't spend the money on the system but it's not all one sided. The medallion fear reminds me of the people in Downton Abbey who were afraid of the telephone and the electric lights. It's something different so automatically bad. People had the same kind of reactions when businesses stopped using metal keys and went to key cards. Now key cards are accepted and nobody bats an eye.

[Optotronics]

The medallion will only track you if you let it. Just pop it in your rfid proof wallet and remove when you want to use it.

It also won't save you or find you if you go overboard. RFID only has a short range of only only a few meters and that's not going to trigger any man overboard alert when someone's signal disappears because they could just be out of range or slipped it into something metal that block rfid.

It will help them see which places onboard are being used and which are not and will assist with future ship designs

[greenie082756]

I completely agree with Thrak.

 

Yes the Medallion is mutually affective for both the consumer and the business.

 

Please Princess track how many times an ice cream cone is given away so that the next time I get my always available ice cream cone, you have the cones available and not ran out because of not having any idea of how many you had in stock versus demand. I was surprised when they told me they were out of cones when we were on day 2 of the cruise. :eek:

 

If you think you were not being tracked before on the cruise ship then you are not knowledgeable about technology now. It starts when you book a cruise with them. You give them so much information and when you board the ship your photo is taken so they can associate your name with your face. It goes on from there when you use your room key card through out the ship. Don't forget to smile for the cameras. :halo:

 

I am looking forward to the Medallion experience. I however realize that this most likely will not be in full effect until 2019 is my guess. :(

[AF-1]

Question: when their hardware has a glitch, will I be locked in or out of my cabin?

 

You will still have a key card as backup