Can I sail an OCEAN MEDALLION sailing if I don't have a cell phone???

[PMGS247]

Totally fine without a phone.  Just a re-shaped cruise card with a couple small benefits such as it being wearable for easy access, keyless cabin entry, speedy transactions, etc.

 

I'm fresh off the island princess where we had to go back to a cruise card after doing a medallion cruise in May.  Spoiler alert: Medallion wins!  It's not that different, but I did find myself missing the small quality of life benefits of the medallion, especially going back to the cruise card, more so than I noticed them as benefits the first time around with the medallion.  The phone stuff I couldn't care less...it's fine and kind of cool at a glance but I didn't really use it other than to get the free drink.  Going back to the beloved cruise card I missed the non-phone app benefits more than the phone-related benefits.

 

As for the photo they just take your photo as you board the ship with a handheld tablet.  During my medallion cruise I had pre-loaded photos for both myself and my wife.  They look at your pre-loaded photo and make an on-the-spot call as to whether it is acceptable or not.  If you don't have one or the one you uploaded isn't acceptable they just take your photo then and there.  5 seconds if that; no biggie.  My wife's photo was re-taken, mine was not.  

[ontheweb]

2 hours ago, Tedferg said:

To my mind there is an advantage to Medallion when ordering a drink, the server apparently gets your info on a pad. So no fishing for cruise card and showing you have PBP. But that is all accomplished without a smart phone.

neither of us is really a drinker, so that advantage is not important to us.

 

I guess I could use it to find DW, but really once I know which swimming pool is her favorite I could do that without help.

 

I see no advantage for us, and just want our old fashioned cards. Really opening a door is no big deal.

[PMGS247]

17 minutes ago, ontheweb said:

neither of us is really a drinker, so that advantage is not important to us.

 

I guess I could use it to find DW, but really once I know which swimming pool is her favorite I could do that without help.

 

I see no advantage for us, and just want our old fashioned cards. Really opening a door is no big deal.

 

None of it is a big deal.  It is a very minor impact to the experience, but there's no real disadvantages, either.  Even if you choose to ignore the benefits you gain exactly nothing by going back to the cruise card.  Maybe a souvenir?  I kept my medallion from last May as a souvenir and I like it better than the cruise card I still have in my wallet from last week 😂

 

You can use the medallion exactly the same way as the cruise card for literally everything on board.  You just don't have to reach for it and hand it over as much since some things become automated.  If you want to ignore the functionality just hold the medallion up to your cabin door....the door will unlock 😉 

Edited December 23, 2019 by PMGS247

[camper49]

19 hours ago, Cruise Raider said:

 

I used it for my one free drink ordered through the app ... had to get the bartender to help me.  After that, I locked my phone back up in the safe.  I am not one to be married to that device anyway.  It's kind of my pet peeve when people at my dinner table take it out and start texting or shopping online ... I  just get up, go the hostess and ask to be re-seated.  But, that's my issue ... hahaha 

 

19 hours ago, Cruise Raider said:

 

I used it for my one free drink ordered through the app ... had to get the bartender to help me.  After that, I locked my phone back up in the safe.  I am not one to be married to that device anyway.  It's kind of my pet peeve when people at my dinner table take it out and start texting or shopping online ... I  just get up, go the hostess and ask to be re-seated.  But, that's my issue ... hahaha 

How do u get the free drink? We also like to shut off our phones & lock em up but wouldn’t mind a free drink!

 

[Cruise Raider]

3 minutes ago, camper49 said:

 

How do u get the free drink? We also like to shut off our phones & lock em up but wouldn’t mind a free drink!

 

 

Each person should be able to use one of the Medallion apps (cannot remember the name of it .. but think it might be Ocean Now?) for one free drink per cruise.  I had thought it was just because we were on the first sailing with the Medallion on our ship ... but others have recently stated that it is still available to everyone.  It just needs to be ordered through the app.  I had the bartender help me order ours .... so can't exactly tell you how to go about it.  My phone was on airplane mode the whole time so no cell service (or even WiFi) needed for this.  If you go when it is slow, I'm sure a bartender or beverage server would be more than willing to help you out for your free drink.  

[PMGS247]

1 minute ago, Cruise Raider said:

 

Each person should be able to use one of the Medallion apps (cannot remember the name of it .. but think it might be Ocean Now?) for one free drink per cruise.  I had thought it was just because we were on the first sailing with the Medallion on our ship ... but others have recently stated that it is still available to everyone.  It just needs to be ordered through the app.  I had the bartender help me order ours .... so can't exactly tell you how to go about it.  My phone was on airplane mode the whole time so no cell service (or even WiFi) needed for this.  If you go when it is slow, I'm sure a bartender or beverage server would be more than willing to help you out for your free drink.  

 

Yep I can confirm it is Ocean Now.  Login either with Ocean Ready login/password or with cabin number once on board.

[phabric]

I have a cell phone with no data, I have it for emergencies.  Being Canadian, I have to pick up my Medallion at the port.  The port agent took my picture and handed me my Medallion.  I used the Medallion to open my cabin door.  A few days into my second B2B cruise my Medallion did not work on the door.  Guest Services gave me a new Medallion with my name and cruise date in minutes.  If I wanted a drink,  I would give my Medallion to a passing waiter.

[pablo222]

10 hours ago, Daniel A said:

 If the medallion makes you uncomfortable, I understand once onboard you can go to Passenger Services Desk and ask for an old fashioned cruise card instead. 

This is what was promised early on.

 

I have read some posts lately of people being denied.

 

As to the posts that the medallion without a phone is exactly like a cruise card...

 

The difference is that Princess can track the location of the medallion.

 

Some posters are concerned about this, and some are not...

 

Edited December 23, 2019 by pablo222

[Doug R.]

22 hours ago, Cruise Raider said:

 

  I am not one to be married to that device anyway.  It's kind of my pet peeve when people at my dinner table take it out and start texting or shopping online ... I  just get up, go the hostess and ask to be re-seated.  But, that's my issue ... hahaha 

You would hate to be my table mate as I take my phone out immediately upon seating and check my blood glucose. Some of the texting that irritates you so badly may be checking the Patters for scheduling of events or may be taking pictures of the food.

[susancruzs]

Thanks for the responses and for this thread.  Appreciate it and I'll proceed as I always have, sounds convenient for the door, and not much different for drinks & purchases.

[Cruise Raider]

51 minutes ago, Doug R. said:

You would hate to be my table mate as I take my phone out immediately upon seating and check my blood glucose. Some of the texting that irritates you so badly may be checking the Patters for scheduling of events or may be taking pictures of the food.

 

No no no ....that would not bother me at all.  I realize there are places and times for phone use and that is not what I am talking about.  

[cruzsnooze]

Last cruise I didn't even bother with the medallion. Just go to guest services and ask for an ole fashion cruise card and use that if you prefer. I laugh at all the posts stating how handy the medallion is to open your door when your hands are full. It merely unlocks it, you still need a hand to use the handle to open the door. People with pacemakers are being advised not to use the medallion and/or if near one such as on a elevator don't get one close to your chest. I bought a 10 pack of RFID sleeves on ebay for a dollar to put my medallion in because I don't like the idea of being tracked. I didn't need it since i got a regular cruise card at guest services. 

Edited December 23, 2019 by cruzsnooze

[Colo Cruiser]

39 minutes ago, cruzsnooze said:

People with pacemakers are being advised not to use the medallion and/or if near one such as on a elevator don't get one close to your chest.

This is bunk. Stop posting this fake news.

[AskOceanMedallion]

On 12/22/2019 at 11:55 AM, VKMcCarty said:

As I hear more & more about it, I wonderful if i'm going to be OK in my upcoming Caribbean OCEAN MEDALLION cruise WITH NO CELL PHONE.

 

Will I have trouble boarding without the app downloaded?? I have nothing to download it upon.  I've used the Medallion before to enter the cabin, but it's sounding more & more like non-cell-phone users might  not really be welcome. 

 

I've thought about maybe getting a burn phone just for the cruise, but I'm not really savvy about how to use it, anyway. I hope I'll be OK.

Hello @VKMcCarty.  Thank you for posting this question. 

 

You will be completely OK without your cell phone. However you choose to cruise, the Medallion is there in service to you to help maximize your vacation time.

 

Some guests use the Medallion solely to get more easily on and off the ship, to enjoy keyless stateroom entry and for hassle-free payment around the ship. 

 

Others opt to engage a bit more and use the MedallionClass digital experiences to view and plan on board activities; order food, drink, retail and service that find them anywhere on board; locate their shipmates around the ship; get turn by turn directions around the ship; play games; and wager in areas other than the casino.

 

But however deeply you want to engage, at no point is the Princess MedallionClass Experiences limited to a smart device. 

 

Digital experiences are easily accessed using interactive digital kiosks (aka "portals") located throughout the ship or on your stateroom TV, as well as via the MedallionClass app. 

 

Ultimately, however you want to explore the MedallionClass Experience is up to you. 

 

 

[ontheweb]

11 hours ago, AskOceanMedallion said:

Hello @VKMcCarty.  Thank you for posting this question. 

 

You will be completely OK without your cell phone. However you choose to cruise, the Medallion is there in service to you to help maximize your vacation time.

 

Some guests use the Medallion solely to get more easily on and off the ship, to enjoy keyless stateroom entry and for hassle-free payment around the ship. 

 

Others opt to engage a bit more and use the MedallionClass digital experiences to view and plan on board activities; order food, drink, retail and service that find them anywhere on board; locate their shipmates around the ship; get turn by turn directions around the ship; play games; and wager in areas other than the casino.

 

But however deeply you want to engage, at no point is the Princess MedallionClass Experiences limited to a smart device. 

 

Digital experiences are easily accessed using interactive digital kiosks (aka "portals") located throughout the ship or on your stateroom TV, as well as via the MedallionClass app. 

 

Ultimately, however you want to explore the MedallionClass Experience is up to you. 

 

 

And if we just want to use the cruise card, can we just leave the medallions in the cabin or even the safe?

 

Do we have to use them to get on and off the ship?

[konatyme]

So glad to see all the postings about not needing a smartphone.  Hopefully, when we do a Medallion cruise next Sept., that will still be the case. I see some comments about checking smartphones for the Patter info.   I trust that there is also a print Patter being delivered to cabins each evening - ??

[voljeep]

14 minutes ago, konatyme said:

So glad to see all the postings about not needing a smartphone.  Hopefully, when we do a Medallion cruise next Sept., that will still be the case. I see some comments about checking smartphones for the Patter info.   I trust that there is also a print Patter being delivered to cabins each evening - ??

for now at least … I can see a time coming that it will either have to be requested or maybe even pick up a copy at customer service ...

[VKMcCarty]

15 hours ago, AskOceanMedallion said:

Thank you, OCEAN MEDALLION. I really appreciated this. 

 

Hello @VKMcCarty.  Thank you for posting this question. 

 

You will be completely OK without your cell phone. However you choose to cruise, the Medallion is there in service to you to help maximize your vacation time. Some guests use the Medallion solely to get more easily on and off the ship, to enjoy keyless stateroom entry and for hassle-free payment around the ship. Others opt to engage a bit more and use the MedallionClass digital experiences to view and plan on board activities; order food, drink, retail and service that find them anywhere on board; locate their shipmates around the ship; get turn by turn directions around the ship; play games; and wager in areas other than the casino.

 

But however deeply you want to engage, at no point is the Princess MedallionClass Experiences limited to a smart device. Digital experiences are easily accessed using interactive digital kiosks (aka "portals") located throughout the ship or on your stateroom TV, as well as via the MedallionClass app. Ultimately, however you want to explore the MedallionClass Experience is up to you. 

 

 

 

[Daniel A]

I have a flip phone but wanted to try some of the toys Medallion Class offers on board.  I bought an Amazon Fire 7 tablet on sale for $30.  Opened it on Christmas yesterday and I went on a website that gave instructions on how to load Google Play on the Fire Tablet.  I followed the instructions and I was able to load the MedallionClass app on the tablet.  It all seems to be working fine onshore but I won't say it was a complete success until I sail in February and try it onboard.  BTW I checked Amazon today and that sale is over so the Fire 7 is now $50. 

 

I did add a 256 Gig Micro SD card to the Fire 7 (I don't know if that made a difference or not.)  The processor is very slow, so it took overnight for Google Play to be able to show the MedallionClass app for installing.  It seems to be a pretty cheap way to have access to the Medallion Class apps instead of buying an iPhone or iPad or new android phone...

[CruiseVA]

On 12/22/2019 at 9:21 PM, casofilia said:

@wrongwaywatson

 

I thought it was super handy to find my husband! 

 

The one you had lost or a new one?

Now, that's funny!

[CruiseVA]

Glad to see you were able to load Google Play Store onto the Amazon Fire 7, the MedallionClass App will work fin onboard, I've not tried it on a Fire 7, but, if you could load it then there sould be no issues, other than the tablet is very underpowered.  A plus is you can load books & movies on it as well. Just make sure the APp your using for books & movies will/is storing them on the SD card.  Good luck!

 

[Daniel A]

1 hour ago, CruiseVA said:

Glad to see you were able to load Google Play Store onto the Amazon Fire 7, the MedallionClass App will work fin onboard, I've not tried it on a Fire 7, but, if you could load it then there sould be no issues, other than the tablet is very underpowered.  A plus is you can load books & movies on it as well. Just make sure the APp your using for books & movies will/is storing them on the SD card.  Good luck!

 

We'll be on the same Medallion Cruise maybe at some point we could meet up on board.  I'm always up for a beer with Captain America!  I'll bring the Fire 7 along.

[CruiseVA]

3 hours ago, Daniel A said:

We'll be on the same Medallion Cruise maybe at some point we could meet up on board.  I'm always up for a beer with Captain America!  I'll bring the Fire 7 along.

We're in!  Actually it's Capt Beermerica - LOL

 

[Globehoppers]

You guys not using the Medallion App are just making cruising on Princess more expensive for the rest of us...  You won't receive push notifications of art shows, faux jewelry sales and "free" games in the casino.  All that adds to Princess's bottom line and makes up for the millions of dollars Princess is paying to provide Medallion "service."  

[dogs4fun]

On 12/22/2019 at 9:55 AM, VKMcCarty said:

As I hear more & more about it, I wonderful if i'm going to be OK in my upcoming Caribbean OCEAN MEDALLION cruise WITH NO CELL PHONE.

 

Will I have trouble boarding without the app downloaded?? I have nothing to download it upon.  I've used the Medallion before to enter the cabin, but it's sounding more & more like non-cell-phone users might  not really be welcome. 

 

I've thought about maybe getting a burn phone just for the cruise, but I'm not really savvy about how to use it, anyway. I hope I'll be OK.

You will be perfectly fine without a phone. You do not need the OM app for boarding or, for that matter, anything else onboard the ship.

We always travel with our iphones but have never felt the urge to download the apps for any of the cruise lines on which we have sailed. We do not use our phones on the ship (except river cruises wherein WIFI is provided free of charge) - we use our phones only when off the ship.