Wrist Bands?

[upstatecruisers]

Does Holland America have the wrist bands instead of carrying around the room key?  We had it on Royal Caribbean and they worked wonderfully.  We'll be on the Konigsdam in May to Alaska.

[woodworker&knitter]

Hope they never do

[CruiserBruce]

Nope.

[Shmoo here]

1 hour ago, woodworker&knitter said:

Hope they never do

ditto

[Crew News]

The room cards have a notch at the top so that you can attach a wrist strap or lanyard.

[RocketMan275]

Actually, I think something akin to the Princess Medallions would be an improvement.

[Gigi1977]

I just put my card on a wrist card holder.   Others do lanyards.  There was a punch hole in my card on NS in December.  No smart bands on HAL. 

[TiogaCruiser]

6 minutes ago, RocketMan275 said:

Actually, I think something akin to the Princess Medallions would be an improvement.

Aren’t those the ones that track where you go?

[RocketMan275]

1 hour ago, TiogaCruiser said:

Aren’t those the ones that track where you go?

You're on a ship, they know where you are.

[TAD2005]

2 hours ago, TiogaCruiser said:

Aren’t those the ones that track where you go?

Yes they are.  They know what you are drinking, where you go, and it is used as a marketing tool.

 

[RuthC]

6 minutes ago, TAD2005 said:

Yes they are.  They know what you are drinking, where you go, and it is used as a marketing tool.

 

No thanks, then. I hope HAL doesn't introduce them as long as I am cruising.
I get more than enough marketing on my laptop, and am fine with carrying my cabin card.

[Peckishpixie]

5 hours ago, RocketMan275 said:

Actually, I think something akin to the Princess Medallions would be an improvement.

I agree. I loved just putting on my bracelet and not having to think about it. It's the one thing about Princess I wish Holland would do.

[Peckishpixie]

3 hours ago, TAD2005 said:

Yes they are.  They know what you are drinking, where you go, and it is used as a marketing tool.

 

Have you actually used one? It is no different then using your room key. Holland uses your purchases and casino activity to market to you too. There isnt someone sitting in a desk watching every move 2100 people make. The medallion does tell staff where you are but only if you order something or play one of the games. Otherwise it's pretty much just a much easier to carry card. We love it.

[leerathje]

Not for me...I don't even have location turned on for my cellphone, and I certainly don't want HAL to be able to know when I go to the bathroom.  Does the transponder activate off the vessel while in port?  How do you order drinks?  Does each wait staff have a scanner or do you actually have to go to a bar?

 

L.

 

[Essiesmom]

Don't knock it until you've tried it.  I got a wristband on MSC Seaside because you had to leave your card in a slot by the door to activate the lights.  Since I was usually the first one in the cabin, my card went into the slot.  Card in the slot also indicated to steward that someone is in the cabin.  But I was also the first one out in the morning, so I would have to locate my sister's card and replace mine in the slot.  Getting the bracelet allowed me to leave my card there.  It did everything but ding you on and off the ship.  They also have the tracker bracelets that let you find your children or lost seniors onboard.  EM

[kevingastreich]

3 minutes ago, Essiesmom said:

Don't knock it until you've tried it.  I got a wristband on MSC Seaside because you had to leave your card in a slot by the door to activate the lights.  

Usually, any card will work. It doesn't have to be your cabin card.

[dogs4fun]

17 hours ago, upstatecruisers said:

Does Holland America have the wrist bands instead of carrying around the room key?  We had it on Royal Caribbean and they worked wonderfully.  We'll be on the Konigsdam in May to Alaska.

Nope - you can easily attach your room key to a lanyard though.

[summer slope]

No thank you.  I can't wear a watch or bracelet so this would not work for me.

[Randyk47]

I’m on a cruise not at an amusement park.  No wrist band for me!

[dchip]

Princess has spent several years and untold $$ trying to get the Medallion up and running on all its ships. 3 years since the great debut, it is still only a

on a few ships and not completely working. Now the Medallion Net for WiFi is fabulous but it isn't on all the ships yet either. I don’t think you need to worry about HAL going down this path. 
 

Cheers, Denise

[DeeniEncinitas]

Not for me!!!

Denise😊

[Seasick Sailor]

The wrist band would drive me crazy. I'd clip it to a lanyard! 😁

Although my sweet husband should have one.. he loses his card all the time.

[RuthC]

1 hour ago, summer slope said:

No thank you.  I can't wear a watch or bracelet so this would not work for me.

And if the color doesn't coordinate with what I am wearing, it isn't going to happen. 

[cruisinteach2]

No wrist band for me either! Prefer lanyard that I can slip inside shirt when off ship yet still have with me.

As for needing card for light slot - we just throw old HAL cabin card in suitcase and use it - as long as it has magnetized strip it will work. Also works for cabin safe if safe is not one that you input a code to open.

[RocketMan275]

The argument over medallions highlights one of the major problems with cruise critic:  we are creatures of habit who prefer the old 'tried and true' approach and are closed minded about potential improvements.  

Edited January 3, 2020 by RocketMan275