Ocean Medallion Question Thread - Part 1

[cruiserdru]

The value of time to any one person is even more subjective than opinions on the quality of the food on board.

 

Any cruiser has the option to ignore the capability and let Princess deal with it at check-in. We are still required to fill in our cruise personalizer in advance and provide passport info if needed for the cruise to be able to print out a boarding pass and luggage pass. (I imagine there is a way around that but I'm guessing it is a royal PIA.) You will still be issued a medallion.

 

In that scenario, there is no cost benefit analysis because you didn't have to do anything you haven't been doing all along. Then you can see for yourself if the Medallion provides any benefits.

 

Yes, I am one of those who has been frustrated by this system and its current level of quirkiness. I have tried to work with this software on multiple platforms. I have made it into a game to beat the software. It remains to be seen if I have won but I do now have an order # for my medallions.

 

The friendly, but not necessarily quickly responsive, folks at the help line are surprised when someone calls who has taken the time to document what steps they have followed, using which platform, and which version of the software. It makes it easier for them to diagnose the problem and fix it.

 

Not if, but when, they get this up and running smoothly (and yes, it does seem to be taking way too long), many will be amazed at how well it can work.

[Doug R.]

33 minutes ago, SargassoPirate said:

Has anyone done a cost/benefit analysis of the medallion for us passengers? How much time and aggravation has one encountered getting Ocean Ready and how much of a benefit did one realize once on board? Was the extra time worth it?

 

Following this thread has me thinking not to bother with all the technology ahead of time and instead just head to the ocean when I'm ready. 

 

What's the worst that can happen, other than a slower check in at the pier?

You also will slow down those behind you in the check in line. Could be a plus though depending on your outlook in life. 😁

[voljeep]

16 minutes ago, Doug R. said:

You also will slow down those behind you in the check in line. Could be a plus though depending on your outlook in life. 😁

actually no ... there are / were separate lines for people with OM's, people who just needed to pick up OM's, and then the people who needed the process as usual

[Doug R.]

2 minutes ago, voljeep said:

actually no ... there are / were separate lines for people with OM's, people who just needed to pick up OM's, and then the people who needed the process as usual

 

When I sailed on the Regal in January everyone was in a single line. Thanks for the heads up.

Edited May 31, 2019 by Doug R.

[voljeep]

2 minutes ago, Doug R. said:

 

When I sailed on the Regal in January everyone was in a single line. Thanks for the heads up.

this was on the CB on 5/14 out of PE/FLL

[SargassoPirate]

24 minutes ago, Doug R. said:

You also will slow down those behind you in the check in line. Could be a plus though depending on your outlook in life. 😁

Ha ha 👍 My outlook on life nowadays is not to get in a big toot over most things and not to get in a big hurry to get anywhere.   I look at technology as a tool to be used, but only when it's a convenience to me.

 

A few extra minutes in line at the pier when I'll be cruising for 7, 14, 21, or more days is inconsequential - especially if I don't have to deal with a wonky app or website in order to be "Ocean Ready"

 

 

[PMGS247]

1 hour ago, SargassoPirate said:

Has anyone done a cost/benefit analysis of the medallion for us passengers? How much time and aggravation has one encountered getting Ocean Ready and how much of a benefit did one realize once on board? Was the extra time worth it?

 

Following this thread has me thinking not to bother with all the technology ahead of time and instead just head to the ocean when I'm ready. 

 

What's the worst that can happen, other than a slower check in at the pier?

 

I would say it's in the eye of the beholder.  For me I enjoyed being able to be proactive and do things early.  Hell it probably took me longer to do all the photos of myself, wife, and our documents than it would have at the pier, but I didn't care.  That's me though, I enjoy the pre-cruise preparation work.

 

I'll point out I was NOT one of the people who ran into any of the tech issues and therefore did not suffer that aggravation.  The app worked perfectly from start to finish, my medallions arrived 3 weeks before the cruise and everything checked out perfectly at the pier resulting in a check-in process that was barely more involved than when you get back on board after getting off at a port.

 

Not everyone experienced this though, but from what I could tell it was not a big deal to pick up the medallions at the pier..basically the same check-in as you would have experienced with a cruise card.

 

My recommendation to anyone on the fence would be to give it a shot, download the app and start trying to get ocean ready.  It's definitely a feeling of accomplishment to show up, have it all done and get ushered through in the blink of an eye.  As if you've been there all along and just scanning in and changing your status to "on board".  Very familiar "ding" sound when scanning in with the medallion as you've always heard when boarding with the cruise card.  On the flip side, if you start running into difficulties and start getting frustrated just move on and bring the standard documentation and boarding passes.  It'll be fine at the pier; same experience as it's always been you'll just be handed the medallion rather than a card.

[Ep010835]

2 hours ago, SargassoPirate said:

Ha ha 👍 My outlook on life nowadays is not to get in a big toot over most things and not to get in a big hurry to get anywhere.   I look at technology as a tool to be used, but only when it's a convenience to me.

 

A few extra minutes in line at the pier when I'll be cruising for 7, 14, 21, or more days is inconsequential - especially if I don't have to deal with a wonky app or website in order to be "Ocean Ready"

 

 

 

WALDT

 

If you’re happy doing it your way then I’m happy for you. 

Edited May 31, 2019 by Ep010835

[KG2019]

9 hours ago, Ep010835 said:

 

 They appear to be exactly $.01 cent less expensive than the Princess bands purchased on board. 

 

For a penny it seems to me the better choice would be to have one that is specifically designed for the OM device. 

 

Am I missing something?

Thank you!

[Plant]

14 hours ago, Ep010835 said:

 

 They appear to be exactly $.01 cent less expensive than the Princess bands purchased on board. 

 

For a penny it seems to me the better choice would be to have one that is specifically designed for the OM device. 

 

Am I missing something?

The Amazon offer is for 3 bands, not one.

[Ep010835]

6 hours ago, Plant said:

The Amazon offer is for 3 bands, not one.

 

Well now, THAT certainly makes a difference. Thanks!!

[richmke]

On 5/31/2019 at 5:36 AM, Ep010835 said:

 

 They appear to be exactly $.01 cent less expensive than the Princess bands purchased on board. 

 

For a penny it seems to me the better choice would be to have one that is specifically designed for the OM device. 

 

Am I missing something?

 

For the Fitbit, it is literally like fitting a round coin into a square hole. It works, but does not have a clean look. IMHO, for a few dollars more per band, I'll go for the cleaner look for a wristband that can be used again on future cruises (until they change the shape to a square).

[pamwigs]

On 5/31/2019 at 7:31 AM, Doug R. said:

 

When I sailed on the Regal in January everyone was in a single line. Thanks for the heads up.

 

There will always be 2 lines at check in. One for ppl that have their Medallion and are ALL Open Ready and a separate line for those that didn't get their medallion.

[pamwigs]

1 hour ago, pamwigs said:

 

There will always be 2 lines at check in. One for ppl that have their Medallion and are ALL Ocean Ready and a separate line for those that didn't get their medallion.

 

[Doug R.]

9 hours ago, pamwigs said:

 

There will always be 2 lines at check in. One for ppl that have their Medallion and are ALL Open Ready and a separate line for those that didn't get their medallion.

Actually they were boarding people so fast for my cruise on the Regal it really didn't matter as there was no line at all at 11 am.

[Ep010835]

2 hours ago, Doug R. said:

Actually they were boarding people so fast for my cruise on the Regal it really didn't matter as there was no line at all at 11 am.

 

Nice!

i wonder if there was a crush after that. A bunch of late arrivals?

[Ereggae]

Why do we need 4 or 5 apps for Ocean Medallian?  Couldn't they consolidate all the features into one app?

[Astro Flyer]

Has anyone experienced changing cabins on a MedallionClass ship?

 

We recently had B2B 7-day cruises in the same cabin & had one Ocean Medallion for both cruises.  By moving to a different cabin between cruises would we receive two OMs?

 

Or maybe somewhere onboard they can reprogram our OM?  Or does the device’s programming automatically change cabin access for the second cruise?  Or does the onboard system change the cabin because as I recall the OM doesn’t contain personal information but accesses the ship’s system?

Edited June 3, 2019 by Astro Flyer

[idahospud]

5 minutes ago, Astro Flyer said:

Has anyone experienced changing cabins on a MedallionClass ship?

 

We recently had B2B 7-day cruises in the same cabin & had one Ocean Medallion for both cruises.  By moving to a different cabin between cruises would we receive two OMs?

 

Or maybe somewhere onboard they can reprogram our OM?  Or does the device’s programming automatically change cabin access for the second cruise?

We just finished a B2B on the Royal. We changed cabins, kept the same Medallion, and didn't have to do a thing to make it work on the second cabin. It just did it automatically. 

Edited June 3, 2019 by idahospud

[Astro Flyer]

1 minute ago, idahospud said:

We just finished a B2B on the Royal. We changed cabins, kept the same Medallion, and didn't have to do a thing to make it work on the second cabin. It just did it automatically. 

Great!!!  Thanks! 😊

[Plant]

5 hours ago, Ereggae said:

Why do we need 4 or 5 apps for Ocean Medallian?  Couldn't they consolidate all the features into one app?

That would make things too easy!!

[CruiseVA]

I wish they would put an LCD watch on the face, then I'd get the watchband. Oh, and, make it waterproof.

 

[Fouremco]

19 minutes ago, CruiseVA said:

Oh, and, make it waterproof.

Already done.

[steamboats]

14 hours ago, Ereggae said:

Why do we need 4 or 5 apps for Ocean Medallian?  Couldn't they consolidate all the features into one app?

 

Ocean Ready is just for online check-in

Ocean Play is used onboard for interactive games

Ocean View is for videos only

Ocean Compass is for locating other people and wayfinder plus chat

Ocean Now is for ordering onboard

Ocean Casino...

 

So you can decide on your own what you need. I´d say Ocean Now and Ocean Compass are the minimum you need onboard.

 

What I don´t really understand is that the Princess Patter is in Ocean Concierge which is browser based and not an app. This should be included in the Ocean Compass app.

 

steamboats

[Ereggae]

Thank you so much steamboats.  Appreciate the prompt response.