Princess Medallion

[Janet-S-K]

In 2018 we cruised with Princess and did online registration.  It wanted me to scan passports for Medallion program.  I was concerned about doing that and completed registration without that step, we went thru normal check in and was issued Medallions at time of boarding.  Sure enough they were hacked and who knows how many people were affected!!  But besides that I show an entry on Princess that said the Medallion opened your cabin door which provided extra safety in this era of Covid since it was contact free....WRONG!!  The door is unlocked but you still have to use the door knob to enter the cabin--that is not contact free.  Also since the device was new when we had them not all areas had device to read it-such as ordering drinks at dinner.  They just asked cabin number and name and didn't even ask to see the medallion--since your name is posted outside your cabin on the screen I can not tell you how many times we had to go to Guest Services to have an FRAUDULENT DRINK ORDER REMOVED FROM OUR ACCOUNT!!  When this terrible virus threat is over I will still not scan my passport and when boarding will insist they remove our names from screen outside the door.  Sometimes technology is not your friend :-)

[cruzsnooze]

Why don't you just go to guest services and get a regular cruise card, that's what I do. You can turn the medallion in or just lock it in the room safe forever. Sometimes the old way is easier and less stressful.

[wallyj]

For the initial sailings, Princess may require Medallion use for ability to track others you may have been in close contact if someone eventually tests positive. I believe the current MSC sailings in Europe require each passenger to wear its tracking device. So if you want to cruise, you may be required and accept using Medallion. Just a guess  at this point, but Princess did say, the first sailings would be Medallion sailings. I know there are certain exceptions for passengers to forego using Medallions and maybe those would have to not sail till it is no longer required if Princess says they need ability to track?

[MissP22]

6 hours ago, wallyj said:

For the initial sailings, Princess may require Medallion use for ability to track others you may have been in close contact if someone eventually tests positive.

That feature in itself would be a great advantage for Princess if it becomes available. They could require all passengers to carry a medallion even if they had no intention of using it & requested a card instead. 

We've never had any problems with using the medallion rather than a cruise card. 

They never said that the cabin door would open itself, only unlock as you approached. 

[skynight]

The medallion has come a long way since the initial trials in 2018. Not certain if you can remove the name from the screen by your door. My recollection is that the screen only lights up when your medallion is nearby, thus other people can't access the screen. You are not required to enter any data into the medallion app. It's your choice. You can pick up your medallion at the pier check-in. We did this without any issue at all. Once on board you can trade your medallion for a cruise card at passenger services. You are encouraged to enter all your immigration data, including passport data, into the cruise personlizer which is not the same as the app. If you fail do this you have to show up at the pier hours early and complete all the immigration information there, plus you will not be able to print your boarding pass. No matter how you handle the situation your passport will be scanned as required by law. For international travel Princess must have passport information and  your photo for legal and security ID purposes. For some itineraries Princess must collect your passport at check-in. As staff gets more experience with medallion use they will be less likely to create improper drink billings. Doubtful that Princess intention is to commit fraud. I never experienced one improper billing on our last two full medallion cruises, total 40 days, but I have read it can happen. An improper billing is caused by the server's error to properly match your photo on their tablet or screen. Eighteen months experience since your cruise should reduce these occurrences.

Any cruise during the pandemic will have risks for any surface you touch and any person you may have connect with. No medallion or cruise card can eliminate this risk. 

Edited September 3, 2020 by skynight

[MissP22]

You can opt out of having your name shown on the screen if you prefer.

 

There's still one bad feature about the medallion program they haven't corrected. If you should loose your medallion & someone finds it, they can locate you cabin via the public screens & have access to it until it's reported lost even if there's no name shown on the door.☹️

[latebloomer56]

We will be on our first medallion cruise in 2022 hope all issue are ironed out. My husband doesn't like the idea that the ship can track you, but maybe by 2022 we can get cards and leave these in the cabin.

Thanks folk's

[cruzsnooze]

The medallion will NEVER be required because there is a warning about not using it if you have a pacemaker or other  issue with magnets. The booklet that comes with the medallion has this warning. It has been posted on this site and someone who kept their booklet might be kind enough to post that warning for us.

 The liability for Princess would be significant if they didn't offer the alternative to the medallion which is a old style cruise card. 

[skynight]

31 minutes ago, latebloomer56 said:

We will be on our first medallion cruise in 2022 hope all issue are ironed out. My husband doesn't like the idea that the ship can track you, but maybe by 2022 we can get cards and leave these in the cabin.

Thanks folk's

Doubtful the ship is tracking your every move. Most likely some ship's officers do have the ability to locate you if the need arises. To me this is a plus. Especially helpful on b2b turn around days at U.S. ports. Princess staff probably do or will create internal stats showing how many passengers are at various venues during various activities. This can help their activity planning. You can also use the medallion to find each other on board. You can do this on any of the large screens around the ship. You do not require your own smart device. You can only locate others that allow this function. The ship already knows your on board spending habits with or without the medallion.

[thinfool]

So what if someone gets my passport number?  My US passport has no sensitive information on it.

 

What's more, anything that is on my passport is also available online thru a cheap, $2. records search.

 

And who cares what cabin you are in?  If I want to know your cabin, I can follow you along and see where you go.  We're on a ship, after all.

[Mike45LC]

I have had some incorrect bar charges on my statements, both pre-Medallion and Medallion.  I don't think there were more erroneous charges on Medallion cruises.  The Purser's Desk was pleasant about correcting the statements in every case, it was not a big deal.  I check my statement every couple of days in any event.

 

[Tolkmit]

15 hours ago, latebloomer56 said:

We will be on our first medallion cruise in 2022 hope all issue are ironed out. My husband doesn't like the idea that the ship can track you, but maybe by 2022 we can get cards and leave these in the cabin.

Thanks folk's

 

With the number of cameras on the ship, they are able to track you with or without medallions. Medallions make it easier is all.

[latebloomer56]

8 hours ago, Tolkmit said:

 

With the number of cameras on the ship, they are able to track you with or without medallions. Medallions make it easier is all.

Yes and they know your habits by your purchases. I don't have an issue and I'm sure they fixed the medallions opening other cabins in error. This happens with the cards as well but who wouldn't be spotted carding all the cabin doors :).

[MissP22]

13 minutes ago, latebloomer56 said:

Yes and they know your habits by your purchases. I don't have an issue and I'm sure they fixed the medallions opening other cabins in error. This happens with the cards as well but who wouldn't be spotted carding all the cabin doors :).

I don't think there was ever a problem with a card or medallion opening other cabin doors- only the assigned cabin where they were programmed to work.

[cruzsnooze]

The medallions are harvesting information to market better to you. They want to know how long you spent in shops, casino's theatre and restaurants etc.............

  Now if they only used that info to your advantage to see how long you left your pool chair unattended it might work towards your favor 😃

[Cruise Raider]

BTW, you don't have to scan your passport or photo in online ahead of time to receive your Medallion in the mail prior to your cruise.  They will simply do those two steps at check in and it only takes a minute to do so.  If the system was hacked, it left you no more vulnerable than before the medallion.  Your information is in the system as it has always been.  

On our last Medallion cruise, it was the first cruise during the roll out on the Royal.  There were just a couple of glitches we noticed (such as the medallion scanners not being sensitive enough and locater not working) but never did we receive any erroneous charges on our bill.  As a matter of fact, we've received a lot more erroneous charges on our bill prior to the Medallion.  The Medallion Net is worlds better and I love those touch screens (probably will need to hand out styluses to use them in the age of CoVid) to tell you what time and where an event or show is taking place ... even directions on how to get there. 

When playing in the casino, the medallion also proved useful as, not once, did I forget my card in the machine. 

I for one, could care less if I am being tracked.  I'm on a ship ... it's not like they can't track me anyway and I'm really not all that paranoid about the ship's staff knowing where I am or what I am doing throughout the day or night.  I would not bother to leave my house if I were.  I actually think this will be a useful tool for contact tracing, especially in the days of the CoVid cruising.  And, maybe they can also tell how long people are waiting in line to be seated.  Maybe they will even use it to host events / shows in the proper venue for future performances.  

I find no downside to the Ocean Medallion ... but, that's just me.  

 

[Mike#1]

An interesting assortment of responses.  1.-I have no problem being "traced" 2.-I have no problem with my passport being scanned at check in since  it goes directly to the system...my concern was scanning it at home and sending it online for registration purposes.  I always complete online registration quickly and book excursions early via online portal.  When we had the Medallions ALL cabins had names and cabin numbers activated 24/7.   I was very aware of that when walking down to elevators,  I was not provided the option of receiving a card to use rather then the Medallion-it was simply given to us in a envelope that had our name and cabin number on it--no instructions or notice of magnets, so I guess I'm just lucky I don't have a pacemaker.  It is irrelevant who caused the drink charge errors, we still had to be vigilant about checking account-which we did not have as a concern when we used a card, signed for drink AND RECEIVED A RECEIPT.  Guest Relations was more then pleasant about making corrections but it was a waste of our time and theirs!!  So if this virus ever lets us sail again we will request a card and if necessary put tape over our names.  For the person that said the information on the passport is no big deal since it is all a matter of "public record"...that may be true but how many identity thieves do you think would take the time to research all that when they could just get it all in one place!?!?  Our records have been hacked FOUR times, Expedia, health ins., UCLA Medical and pension--in all situations we were notified and provided with one year of credit monitoring at N/C...but we were not notified by RCCL-I had to read about it in the newspaper 😞

[AF-1]

Janet-S-K;  I understand you had a bad medallion experience.  You used the medallion in it's starting stages.  Like any tech device;  it has evolved and will get even better.  The iphone gets better ever year; so will the medallion.  This is life we live in filled with techy devices;  so embrace change and it will embrace you.  Have a great day.  I have personally used the medallion and can't wait to use it again on my next cruise.  

[SLC1954]

I really missed the Medallion posts, I personally love the little device! I usually will choose Medallion cruises/ships.  BTY the magnet is very weak, actually weaker than a refrigerator magnet, so you don’t have to worry about it reseting your pacemaker (the “warning” is just legal blah that comes with it).   I just look forward to cruising again.

[ALWAYS CRUZIN]

1 hour ago, SLC1954 said:

I really missed the Medallion posts, I personally love the little device! I usually will choose Medallion cruises/ships.  BTY the magnet is very weak, actually weaker than a refrigerator magnet, so you don’t have to worry about it reseting your pacemaker (the “warning” is just legal blah that comes with it).   I just look forward to cruising again.

The reason you think the magnets are weaker is because the medallion does not sit flat against the fridge surface  like your fridge magnets do. The medallion is curved, the magnets are on the outer edge of it so the magnets do not touch against the metal of your fridge. The medallions have 4 magnets in them and they are strong magnets.

[voljeep]

19 minutes ago, ALWAYS CRUZIN said:

The reason you think the magnets are weaker is because the medallion does not sit flat against the fridge surface  like your fridge magnets do. The medallion is curved, the magnets are on the outer edge of it so the magnets do not touch against the metal of your fridge. The medallions have 4 magnets in them and they are strong magnets.

we've got medallions on our fridge ... been there since a 5/2019 cruise

[hobbyfarmer2]

On 9/2/2020 at 7:31 PM, Janet-S-K said:

In 2018 we cruised with Princess and did online registration.  It wanted me to scan passports for Medallion program.  I was concerned about doing that and completed registration without that step, we went thru normal check in and was issued Medallions at time of boarding.  Sure enough they were hacked and who knows how many people were affected!!  But besides that I show an entry on Princess that said the Medallion opened your cabin door which provided extra safety in this era of Covid since it was contact free....WRONG!!  The door is unlocked but you still have to use the door knob to enter the cabin--that is not contact free.  Also since the device was new when we had them not all areas had device to read it-such as ordering drinks at dinner.  They just asked cabin number and name and didn't even ask to see the medallion--since your name is posted outside your cabin on the screen I can not tell you how many times we had to go to Guest Services to have an FRAUDULENT DRINK ORDER REMOVED FROM OUR ACCOUNT!!  When this terrible virus threat is over I will still not scan my passport and when boarding will insist they remove our names from screen outside the door.  Sometimes technology is not your friend 🙂

Medallion has worked perfectly for both of us for our last eight or so cruises.  We have had two bogus charges honour account and both were pre-Medallion.  The server probably wrote down a wrong folio number which I think was a reasonably common occurrence.

[Ombud]

On 9/3/2020 at 9:47 PM, Tolkmit said:

 

With the number of cameras on the ship, they are able to track you with or without medallions. Medallions make it easier is all.

So true!! I was 'missing' 2 teenage boys in their room at 11pm check, I always had unlocked connecting rooms. Called PSD and they had security call me. Not only did they tell me where they were, they also popped it up on my TV. (Then I yanked them out of that area where a bunch were playing cards and gave them a strong tongue lashing). Turns out security had the group (6?) on surveillance -- they said the group was well behaved but when I say lights out its supposed to be lights out (TV movies on)

 

The only 'issue' I've had with the medallion was when they couldn't charge me for drinks so they just comped them. Both times it was on embarkation day before we left port

[JF - retired RRT]

12 hours ago, Mike#1 said:

Our records have been hacked FOUR times, Expedia, health ins., UCLA Medical and pension--in all situations we were notified and provided with one year of credit monitoring at N/C...but we were not notified by RCCL-I had to read about it in the newspaper 😞

Credit monitoring is essentially worthless. You'll find out AFTER someone uses your ID to open an account (or whatever). The best way to prevent identity theft if to freeze all 3 of your credit reports. It's a small PITA to unfreeze for accessing your credit when you open a new account (buy a house, buy a car, etc)...but much safer than monitoring.

[Ombud]

So true. Freezing & unfreezing is at least free for  those 60+. But even if you freeze it someone can TRY. Happened to me a few months ago. I only found out when USAA changed my Visa card stating someone tried. No activity according to experian, equifax .... Didn’t check TransUnion yet

Edited September 7, 2020 by Ombud