Saturday, September 8, 2018

Medallion Class™ and Ocean Medallion™ Updates on the Caribbean Princess

If you're looking for Medallion Class™ and Ocean Medallion™ Updates on the Caribbean Princess for the week of September 8-18, 2018, here ya go!


September 17
First up, I was able to use my Medallion to get off and on the ship today. Woo hoo! They have a Medallion sensor similar to this one. 
Most everyone taps their cards but I asked to use my Medallion instead. And it worked! We still have to do a second scanning with the cruise card like we've always done. My understanding is that soon it will just be the Medallion sensor being used.

 Secondly, we received this voucher when we left the ship today. Free unlimited wi-fi in port? A second woo hoo! 
But alas, it was not available under our wi-fi choices at the place where we went for the day in Nassau. While at the Bearded Clam we were within the free downtown wi-fi zone and a half mile's walk from the ship, it didn't work for us. And the other passengers in the same location couldn't get it to work for them, either. I tried multiple times during the day to get it to show up but it didn't. I even went out to the main street hoping for some magic. Nada. (Thank goodness for the Bearded Clam's free wi-fi.)
Only when we headed back and got even closer the ship did it finally pop up.
Honestly by that time I was so tired of trying all day I didn't care anymore so I didn't go beyond the log-in screen. Hopefully someone else on this sailing had better luck than I did and can report what the speed and reliability was like.

It sounds like this will be something to look forward to in the future while on Medallion Class ships. I'll let you know if I hear anything more.

This evening we have new choices on our on-demand TV. There is an entire section devoted to the Medallion.

While I was able to watch one of the videos (and recognized some folks on it!), I think it must be in test mode. Because when the video ended, the screen went black. And stayed there. No back button worked, no up and down buttons worked, and even turning it off and on didn't work. (Oops, I think I broke the TV.) So no catching up on movies tonight. Bummer. If you're on the ship now or in the coming weeks and you were able to watch the videos I'd like to hear what you thought of them.

Want to see the progression of the roll-out? I started on Caribbean Princess back on August 18. Check out how we got here:
August 18-25 updates can be found here.

 As usual, if you have any questions or comments, please click on the envelope icon at the top right of this screen.

September 16
The other day I mentioned I had thought I had played one of the Medallion™ casino games, the Tipsy Tentacle Slots™, on an app before but now can’t access it. Today I got clarification on what has happened. Originally the casino-type games were combined with the non-wagering games in one app. They’ve now split the apps into two. The OceanCasino™ app houses the casino games; the PlayOcean™ app houses non-casino games. Since the portal confirms players are of legal gambling age, the split should help keep kids away from those casino-type games. 

 OceanCasino has:
*Tipsy Tentacles Slots
*Keno on Deck
*King’s Cruise Lottery

 PlayOcean has:
*Word Tangle (a word scramble game)
*Teaser (a trivia game)
*Match (a shape matching game)

 PlayOcean is also where you can create a tagalong. Today I got a sneak peek at folks setting up their tagalongs on one of the portal screens down at OceanFront. They are activating the screens during certain hours when OceanFront is open. Be sure to stop by and check it out!

 Update to the update: Before dinner a PlayOcean screen came alive for me by the forward elevators on the Lido Deck.

 Ocean Now shows what is happening around the ship.
It gave me the option to create my tagalong. It prompted me to place the Medallion on the sensor to access my account.
It also allowed me to choose from the games.
 
Here's a look at Word Tangle.
 And Teaser.
 And Match.

Want to see the progression of the roll-out? I started on Caribbean Princess back on August 18. Check out how we got here:
August 18-25 updates can be found here.

As usual, if you have any questions or comments, please click on the envelope icon at the top right of this screen.


September 15
As I get ready to wrap-up my coverage of the Medallion roll-out, I thought I’d mention those important things to know for those folks getting ready to join the ship for the next cruise. (Hello to the big group of my blog readers joining September 18!)

  • All decks are Medallion decks so you will receive your Medallion at check-in. 
  • MedallionPay™ points are in the shops and bars. You simply place your Medallion on the sensor and it accesses your account. 
  • When gambling in the casino, you place your Medallion up against the sensor to activate your account information and player bank.
  • Currently, upon embarkation, disembarkation, and at muster drill your cruise card is being scanned twice. You first tap it on a Medallion device where a crew member confirms it is you on a tablet. Then the second time is the usual scanning with the crew member again confirming your photo. This will be changing very soon, possibly with the next cruise. There will only be one tap, the one on the Medallion device. 
  • As long as you have your Medallion with you, your cabin door will automatically unlock when you approach it. 
  • There are portal screens around the ship with Medallion sensors. Right now if you place your Medallion up against it, the sensor turns from blue to green but nothing happens to the screen. These screens will be activated soon, perhaps as soon as the next voyage.
  • The free MedallionNet offering for Platinum and Elite loyalty members is for a limited time only and may (or may not) be ending this cruise. 
  • If you have any questions about the use of the Medallion or problems with it not working, Ocean Front is the place to go. Ocean Front is on Deck 7 aft, between the photo gallery and Club Fusion. This is also where the accessories (not yet on sale) are on display. Staff members called Navigators are stationed at Ocean Front to help with Medallion-related issues. The hours available are posted on a screen there. You can also find Ocean Front hours posted near the excursion desk on Deck 6 forward.

Want to see the progression of the roll-out? I started on Caribbean Princess back on August 18. Check out how we got here:
August 18-25 updates can be found here.

As usual, if you have any questions or comments, please click on the envelope icon at the top right of this screen.

 September 14
I did some wandering down in the Ocean Front area of Deck 7...
and came across the Ocean Casino games portals showing off for me. Tipsy Tentacles Slots™ was offline. 
 But as soon as I got closer the screen started showing off for me.

So then I saw Keno on Deck™ offline.
 
As I approached it showed off for me, too.
 

And King's Cruise Lottery™ was offline. And did not show off for me.
All of these games can be found on various portals around the ship. They are not yet activated (just in the show off mode, I guess!) but they will be ready to go soon.

They are also part of the Ocean Casino app that is available for download. 

September 13
I again visited Ocean Front on Deck 7. This is where the Navigators, the folks who can answer Medallion questions, are located. It is also where the accessories are on display. They've added the color-coded Medallions to the little plastic sleeves. They look sharp. 
They've also added Coming Soon signs to all the accessories.
And have their hours posted for the entire cruise.


 September 12
I saw something new yesterday when going ashore in St. Thomas. I saw it again today when going ashore in San Juan so I know it wasn't just a fluke. Along with getting our card scanned we are still tapping our cruise card on a Medallion device. But today the Medallion-like device doesn’t look like this one from the first day. Remember the one I found out I wasn't supposed to be taking a picture of?

Now, it’s more of a Medallion sensor looking something a bit similar to this. I didn’t take a photo of the actual sensor because as I learned earlier, no photos are allowed. (It’s a security issue.) We are currently still using our cruise cards to tap even this Medallion-type device when embarking and disembarking the ship.

Something else I’ve learned this week is about the OceanView app in the coming soon section.

The other day I shared that the OceanView programming is on our TVs in the stateroom. They are TV series like Ocean Treks with Jeff Corwin, The Voyager with Josh Garcia and Vacation Creation. I also shared there is an app that will soon be available for download.

It's my understanding this OceanView app will allow you to watch the programs at home on a Roku, Amazon Fire TV or Apple TV. But I found out you can also stream the content on your device. I’ve watched some of the shows and they kind of get you in the mood for cruising. Might be a good way to get the cruise itch scratched when you are stuck at home.


 September 11

  • There is a lot of buzz about the new accessories for the Medallion. From what I understand they are working on getting feedback from passengers about the different versions they have on display. Again, pricing is not confirmed and the accessories are currently not for sale. 
  • Last night I got a preview of some of the upcoming Ocean Casino ™ games and features. These will be available to play in practice mode when in port and for wagering when in international waters. These can be played at portals around the ship or on your own device. There will even be new portals installed in a location you wouldn’t expect. Construction will start soon so if you’re on the ship in the next few weeks you’ll know where I’m talking about. As the portals are activated in the coming weeks I’ll share more details.
  • These past few days we’ve had a film crew on board making videos around the Medallion features. Can’t wait to see what they have to show us.
  • I know I mention it quite a bit, but MedallionNet™ continues to amaze me with the speed and reliability. The free period for Platinum and Elite passengers will be going away soon, but when it does I’m more than happy to pay for the $9.99 a day package. It’s a bargain for someone like me who needs to upload blog postings and photos and videos while on the ship. I still don’t know how I’m going to make it with our three ship hop coming up in another month. The internet on Crown Princess, Royal Princess, and Grand Princess will make me feel like I’m back in the olden days of dial up.
  • One thing about having the Medallion displays panels near the cabin is that we no longer have mailboxes on the wall. I’ve been told there are plans to put some back up in the future. When that happens it will certainly be easier for the stewards and passengers. Right now cabin stewards have to put the papers in the door handle or slide them under the door. (The one I made for the door has been working great and hasn’t been stolen yet. Yay!)

Want to see the progression of the roll-out? I started on Caribbean Princess back on August 18. Check out how we got here:
August 18-25 updates can be found here.

As usual, if you have any questions or comments, please click on the envelope icon at the top right of this screen.


September 10
I feel like each day I make a new discovery. Today I made another visit down to Ocean Front, the area on Deck 7 just aft of the photo gallery, where some of the Navigators are stationed. If you want to know more about the Medallion, this is the place to be. They have set hours on sea days and port days. With today being a sea day they are there from 9-noon, 3-5, and 7-9.  You’ll find staff available to answer questions and show you some of the accessories that will be for sale. They aren’t for sale yet, but I ran across some new things that I didn’t see the other day.

 What about a necklace that will hold your Medallion while on the ship and additional inserts you can use when at home?

Or even one with a bit more pizazz? 

When the Regal Princess first started rolling out the Medallions, there were complaints about the sports bands not staying secure. They’ve worked on solving that issue by adding an additional strap on the end of the band. See the difference? On the left is the new one; on the right is the old one.

What about a Medallion color-coded to your loyalty level?

They also had some new bracelets.

Again, they aren’t yet for sale but from the conversation I hear and the emails I’m getting, it seems passengers are getting excited about seeing them available soon.

 I also came across an insulated water bottle and a tshirt.

They also had a travel journal with lines for writing as well as a place to note the weather.


Who knows what new discovery I’ll have tomorrow!
Want to see the progression of the roll-out? I started on Caribbean Princess back on August 18. Check out how we got here:
August 18-25 updates can be found here.

As usual, if you have any questions or comments, please click on the envelope icon at the top right of this screen.

 September 9, 2018
A couple updates from around the ship:
*The Ocean Front screen across from the shore excursion desk now has the times they will be open during each day of the cruise. It certainly helps to know ahead of time when folks will be around for excursion assistance.

*Ocean Front on Deck 7 has a MedallionPay spot even.

They also have a new brochure there on how to access MedallionWeb. When I’ve been around it seems it is what most people have questions about. 

Now some device updates:
There are several Ocean™ things popping up when logging into your device. 

 I've done some screen captures for you.The Ocean Concierge is where you find the electronic version of the Patter, your stateroom account, where you can book excursions, locations and times around the ship, and much more. This is something we’ve been able to access for years on Princess ships but it seems it’s been renamed from whatever it was being called before. This information does not require a download. 

The other icons are apps needing to be downloaded. 

 Play Ocean is where you create your tagalong.
You first create an account and then choose your interests. I didn’t see anything that stuck out for me. Where are the reading, writing, and relaxing choices? (Having relaxation tied to the spa doesn't count. And books? Does that mean a book to buy or a book club?) I didn’t go beyond that screen.

Ocean Casino is a downloaded app that will let you play the casino games. I tried logging into it here on ship but after the password screen it denied me access. 

While it was available for download, maybe it’s not functional yet once on the ship? I’m sure I had downloaded and played it at home before.

There are some other options coming soon. OceanView programming is on our TVs in the stateroom. They are TV series like Ocean Treks with Jeff Corwin, The Voyager with Josh Garcia and Vacation Creation. It's my understanding this OceanView app will allow you to watch the programs at home on a Roku, Amazon Fire TV or Apple TV.

I believe the OceanNow one is where you can use your device to order drinks from wherever you are around the ship. And OceanCompass may help you find the rest of your group on the ship? I'll work out finding out more on these "coming soon" apps.

Want to see the progression of the roll-out? I started on Caribbean Princess back on August 18. Check out how we got here:
August 18-25 updates can be found here.

 As usual, if you have any questions or comments, please click on the envelope icon at the top right of this screen.

September 8, 2018
We have some new and exciting things happening around this ship today.

Starting this cruise all decks are now officially Medallion decks. Woo hoo!

There were three informational sessions held in Explorers Lounge today so no matter what time passengers arrived on the ship they had an opportunity to sit in on one. I sat outside and listened to two sessions and attended the third. Had to listen to Jan Swartz! While sitting outside the two sessions I listened to folks talking and asking questions as  they were leaving. Most of the questions appeared to be internet-related. Platinum and Elite passengers are sure excited about the unlimited, super-fast wi-fi that is available free for this cruise. There were a couple passengers who appeared to have mixed up the Medallions. The writing on the Medallions is pretty small. During check in passengers who were checking in together grabbed the Medallions that were handed to them without checking that the name on the Medallion was their name. It sounded like an easy fix to have the cruise card attached to the right Medallion, but if you are sailing soon and receive a Medallion at check-in, double check to see if the one you are grabbing is your own.

Ocean Front, the area between the photo gallery and Club Fusion on Deck 7 went live today. Here's the picture from the other day. It's a nice, bright space.
Korli, the lead Navigator (Navigators are staff members who help with Medallion-related things) has a team working with her in the area. I was there today and they were really busy. 

The accessories aren't for sale yet. I heard some price points last night but I haven't confirmed them so I'll hold off a bit before sharing that info. You know me, I'm a Joe Friday, just-the-facts-m'am kind of m'am. I did get to take a closer look at one of the clips that will be for sale. When I looked at them in the display case I thought they just slipped onto your clothing.
Actually, they clip on. (Guess that's why they're called clips!)
A neat, secure, and discreet way to keep your Medallion on you.

One thing I keep forgetting to mention with MedallionNet is about airplane mode. It's always good practice to make your last minute calls before muster drill and then put your phone in airplane mode. Now with the unlimited internet it has to be in airplane mode to work. Hopefully with more people using airplane-mode MedallionNet there will be fewer people with outrageous phone bills.

And one more thing... a few times on this trip we've had something weird happening with the cabin door. My Medallion would be on my nightstand and hubby's would be on his. But we could hear the door unlock, lock, unlock, lock. It would do it several times over. I asked someone about it yesterday and he told me it had to do with the door itself, not the Medallion. He said to open the door and re shut it and it would stop it. Well, he was right. We opened the door and shut it and it didn't do it again. I guess it has to do with whether the door is absolutely, positively, completely shut. Be sure to close the door tight to prevent it from occurring.

Again, a big thanks to those of you who have been open and willing to answer questions around the Medallion roll-out. I couldn't do these updates without you!

Want to see the progression of the roll-out? I started on Caribbean Princess back on August 18. Check out how we got here:
August 18-25 updates can be found here.

As usual, if you have any questions or comments, please click on the envelope icon at the top right of this screen.