Does one HAVE to use the Medallion?

[JF - retired RRT]

 

1 hour ago, wowzz said:

In our experience, the door only unlocks when you are so close that you can physically touch the door handle. Similarly,  the door locks as soon as you move away from it.

Yes, in theory someone could push past you and enter the cabin just before the door locks, but that is not going to happen.

I think that for some reason you are trying to find a problem which does not exist.

simply open it, then close it and go on your way.

[JF - retired RRT]

1 hour ago, wowzz said:

In our experience, the door only unlocks when you are so close that you can physically touch the door handle. Similarly,  the door locks as soon as you move away from it.

Yes, in theory someone could push past you and enter the cabin just before the door locks, but that is not going to happen.

I think that for some reason you are trying to find a problem which does not exist.

Not true. On our April cruise our cabin was at the end of the hall. As an experiment, DH gave me his medallion and stood next to the door as I approached with both medallions. The door unlocked when I was at least 30 steps away from the door. I couldn't even see the door (our cabin was in a small dogleg).

[wowzz]

Just now, JF - retired RRT said:

Not true. On our April cruise our cabin was at the end of the hall. As an experiment, DH gave me his medallion and stood next to the door as I approached with both medallions. The door unlocked when I was at least 30 steps away from the door. I couldn't even see the door (our cabin was in a small dogleg).

In which case,  I bow to your experience. That was not what we found on both our cruises. 

Do you think having both medallions together sent out a stronger signal? 

[JF - retired RRT]

Just now, wowzz said:

In which case,  I bow to your experience. That was not what we found on both our cruises. 

Do you think having both medallions together sent out a stronger signal? 

Who knows? Although, both medallions together was/is the norm for us...we're always together (especially on the ship).

[ontheweb]

3 hours ago, d9704011 said:

I guess I'm helping you out on your 20K quest.

 

Yes, I do believe inadvertently allowing a person access to your cabin is a problem.  My initial suggestion to keep walking away would preclude that but, of course, it doesn't respond to your specific concern.  I'll admit that I don't know the answer; probably best to solicit some experimental information from somebody currently using the Medallion onboard a Princess ship .

Actually, the mention of the 20k club was meant to be sarcastic as I said I was so far away from it; I guess I should have put some emoji in the post.

[ontheweb]

1 hour ago, wowzz said:

In which case,  I bow to your experience. That was not what we found on both our cruises. 

Do you think having both medallions together sent out a stronger signal? 

So, now would you say there could be a problem?

[wowzz]

45 minutes ago, ontheweb said:

So, now would you say there could be a problem?

No, not saying that at all.

[JimmyVWine]

4 hours ago, ontheweb said:

Here's a question. I may have the world's worst sense of direction. Often, I will leave my cabin and turn one way only to realize I have turned in the wrong direction. I then have to double back, obviously walking past my cabin. So, as I walk past will the door automatically unlock? And if so, will someone else who happend to be nearby in the same corridor be able to access our cabin? This would not be a problem if the only way to open the cabin door was with your cruise card.

Under the scenario you present, walking past your own cabin would trigger the system to unlock your door, and someone lurking close by would have a few seconds to slip in and open the door.  But just think about all the variables that would have to occur to allow this to happen.  It really sets up a level of paranoia that doesn't need to be addressed.  A person would have to know that you are likely to roam around like Mr. Magoo, passing your cabin without opening your door with enough frequency such that staking out your cabin would be worthwhile, and would have to lurk in close enough proximity to you while you roam about, and would have to dart in to your doorway within seconds of you passing by, all without you noticing that person.  You are talking about an "Oceans 11" level of synchronization all to gain access to your cabin, and for what?  Does this person suspect that you have a Picasso hidden in your cabin? To think that this is a flaw or glitch in the system that needs to be fixed or addressed is beyond comprehension.  The easier fix would be for the cabin occupant to take two seconds to consult a deck plan to know whether they need to turn left or right when they exit their cabin.  Or perhaps always book cabins as far as possible to the bow or stern such that there is really only one way to go when one exits the cabin.  Those are better fixes than to try to "fix" a multi-million dollar system or eschew the complete use of the Medallion which has many other wonderful functions. 

[wowzz]

12 minutes ago, JimmyVWine said:

Under the scenario you present, walking past your own cabin would trigger the system to unlock your door, and someone lurking close by would have a few seconds to slip in and open the door.  But just think about all the variables that would have to occur to allow this to happen.  It really sets up a level of paranoia that doesn't need to be addressed.  A person would have to know that you are likely to roam around like Mr. Magoo, passing your cabin without opening your door with enough frequency such that staking out your cabin would be worthwhile, and would have to lurk in close enough proximity to you while you roam about, and would have to dart in to your doorway within seconds of you passing by, all without you noticing that person.  You are talking about an "Oceans 11" level of synchronization all to gain access to your cabin, and for what?  Does this person suspect that you have a Picasso hidden in your cabin? To think that this is a flaw or glitch in the system that needs to be fixed or addressed is beyond comprehension.  The easier fix would be for the cabin occupant to take two seconds to consult a deck plan to know whether they need to turn left or right when they exit their cabin.  Or perhaps always book cabins as far as possible to the bow or stern such that there is really only one way to go when one exits the cabin.  Those are better fixes than to try to "fix" a multi-million dollar system or eschew the complete use of the Medallion which has many other wonderful functions. 

What an excellent response. I did feel there was a certain level of paranoia in worrying about a possible criminal scenario.  Hopefully you have put that fear to bed. 

[Lady Meer]

On 7/7/2022 at 3:50 PM, Zoey said:

Thanks everyone! And it's not that I'm worried about figuring out how to use the Medallion, it's really just the cell phone app I don't want to use so I can, like I said, lock it in the safe. I don't have a problem using it for my drinks or opening the door as long as I don't also have to carry my phone around. I guess for now I'll leave Princess on the list. It's Sky Princess I'm looking at. 

As others have said, you can book dinner reservations on the TV. When we tried this on Sky recently, the only times we were offered were either too early or too late on a couple of days so we went to the restaurant where we were offered days and times we liked!

[wowzz]

58 minutes ago, Lady Meer said:

As others have said, you can book dinner reservations on the TV. When we tried this on Sky recently, the only times we were offered were either too early or too late on a couple of days so we went to the restaurant where we were offered days and times we liked!

Or of course,  just turn up with no reservation at all !

[voljeep]

1 hour ago, JimmyVWine said:

Under the scenario you present, walking past your own cabin would trigger the system to unlock your door,

EXCELLENT !!  an extra entry into obtaining all the wonderful 'prizes' in the new Premier package 🤑

[mtnesterz]

4 hours ago, wowzz said:

...Do you think having both medallions together sent out a stronger signal? 

That's not the way they work. Each Medallion emits a signal similar to a license plate on a car. Either will open your cabin door, but they are two separate signals.  Which your cabin door makes a distinction.  We noticed that as we were almost always together, one Medallion would unlock the door further down the hall from the other.

For the poster concerned about proximity opening, keep the Medallion in a metal mesh, foil or RFID pouch. That way, the Medallion will only unlock the door if you hold the device up to the panel.

 

 

[beg3yrs]

Why carry the Medallion and be tracked? Real situation where it would have been absolutely useful: Several years ago off the coast of New Zealand on the Dawn Princess (yes, several years ago) smoke in the theater during a production show. Not theatrical smoke but from a fire in a nearby battery locker. Suddenly the show stops, the performers run off the stage and all passengers are instructed to return to their cabins. Soon the captain decides we all are to muster, i.e. go to the muster stations with their necessary items, check in and wait. During a real muster, which this was, all passengers and crew have to be accounted for. Even though the fire had been contained hours earlier, we were all waiting for the last passenger to be located. Finally found him in the casino muster location. Oblivious to his surroundings he never checked in and ignored all calls with his name. If he had a Medallion, the whole process would have been over quickly.

 

Take that one step further: a passenger in an isolated area on the way to a muster station has a medical emergency and is unable to ask for help. The passenger can be found quickly and assistance rendered in a timely manner.

 

There's a good reason to be tracked.

[JimmyVWine]

11 minutes ago, beg3yrs said:

There's a good reason to be tracked.

And even if one strains to find a "good" reason to be tracked, there is never a "bad" reason.  I don't think that Princess has any hitmen on the payroll who are coming for you.  In what circumstance could you fill in the blank in the following sentence such that there would be any negative ramifications, assuming that what you are doing is not legally, ethically or morally wrong: "OMG.  I can't believe that I am being tracked and the Security Team knows that I am in ___________!!!"

Edited July 8, 2022 by JimmyVWine

[ontheweb]

3 hours ago, JimmyVWine said:

Under the scenario you present, walking past your own cabin would trigger the system to unlock your door, and someone lurking close by would have a few seconds to slip in and open the door.  But just think about all the variables that would have to occur to allow this to happen.  It really sets up a level of paranoia that doesn't need to be addressed.  A person would have to know that you are likely to roam around like Mr. Magoo, passing your cabin without opening your door with enough frequency such that staking out your cabin would be worthwhile, and would have to lurk in close enough proximity to you while you roam about, and would have to dart in to your doorway within seconds of you passing by, all without you noticing that person.  You are talking about an "Oceans 11" level of synchronization all to gain access to your cabin, and for what?  Does this person suspect that you have a Picasso hidden in your cabin? To think that this is a flaw or glitch in the system that needs to be fixed or addressed is beyond comprehension.  The easier fix would be for the cabin occupant to take two seconds to consult a deck plan to know whether they need to turn left or right when they exit their cabin.  Or perhaps always book cabins as far as possible to the bow or stern such that there is really only one way to go when one exits the cabin.  Those are better fixes than to try to "fix" a multi-million dollar system or eschew the complete use of the Medallion which has many other wonderful functions. 

First, we have been on several cruises including Princess pre-medallion. Neither of us has ever had a problem opening our cabin's door. Seems like a fix to a problem that never existed.

 

Second, you mentioned "many other wonderful functions" . Yet, there are numerous posts saying you do not need the medallion for all these other functions like making dinner reservations, ordring a drink, or even registering your information now that they reinstated the personalizer function.

 

Third, why are there so many posts reflecting frustration with using the medallion if it is such a great invention? 

[JimmyVWine]

24 minutes ago, ontheweb said:

Third, why are there so many posts reflecting frustration with using the medallion if it is such a great invention? 

Late adopters.  Yes, there are workarounds that allow one to avoid using the Medallion.  But you don't see anyone posting that the card does things better.  Sometimes they say the card is "just as good". Sometimes they say that it is "not as good, but it is what I am used to."  But no one says the card is "better."   There appear to be people who don't like the tracking aspect of the system.  But unless one lives completely off the grid, it is impossible to avoid being tracked.  

[ontheweb]

1 hour ago, JimmyVWine said:

Late adopters.  Yes, there are workarounds that allow one to avoid using the Medallion.  But you don't see anyone posting that the card does things better.  Sometimes they say the card is "just as good". Sometimes they say that it is "not as good, but it is what I am used to."  But no one says the card is "better."   There appear to be people who don't like the tracking aspect of the system.  But unless one lives completely off the grid, it is impossible to avoid being tracked.  

See post #52, the cabin door was opened when they were around the corner. Someone could have just entered their cabin without their permission.

 

Also, I remember reading a post (I don't remember whether it was in this thread or not) in which someone did an experiment. He ordered a drink the old fashioned way (pun not intended) with his card while his friend used the medallion to order a drink. The drink ordered with the card came immediately. The drink ordered with the medallion came 20 minutes late, and it was the wrong drink.

 

So, I guess if you want to wait 20 minutes for the wrong drink to appear, you just cannot beat the medallion technology.

[wowzz]

2 minutes ago, ontheweb said:

See post #52, the cabin door was opened when they were around the corner. Someone could have just entered their cabin without their permission.

 

Also, I remember reading a post (I don't remember whether it was in this thread or not) in which someone did an experiment. He ordered a drink the old fashioned way (pun not intended) with his card while his friend used the medallion to order a drink. The drink ordered with the card came immediately. The drink ordered with the medallion came 20 minutes late, and it was the wrong drink.

 

So, I guess if you want to wait 20 minutes for the wrong drink to appear, you just cannot beat the medallion technology.

I just think you should accept that technology moves on.

Personally,  we love the Medallion. 

I am sure that if you do enough digging, you will find a few issues , which pale into insignificance compared to the hundreds of thousands  of  pax who have had no problem.

[JimmyVWine]

49 minutes ago, ontheweb said:

See post #52, the cabin door was opened when they were around the corner. Someone could have just entered their cabin without their permission.

People who want to find clouds invariably can.

[wowzz]

1 hour ago, ontheweb said:

See post #52, the cabin door was opened when they were around the corner. Someone could have just entered their cabin without their permission.

So, someone could be loitering by your door, for two or three hours, on the off chance that you will pass by, ready to dash in and out with all your belongings in less than 10 seconds !

You are really trying so hard to find a problem that does not exist.  

[broker1217]

We had our Medallions prior to boarding and had absolutely no issues. The scanned the first time we boarded and every time after that. Easy to show your Medallion when ordering drinks.

There is the convenience of not having to scan (or find) your card to enter your cabin. We found it a huge convenience in the morning when returning from IC with coffees and a muffin--easier to enter with your hands full.

The likelihood of someone lurking and entering your room ahead of you is pretty silly. Do you not know that there are security cameras everywhere?!?!?

 

[broker1217]

2 hours ago, ontheweb said:

See post #52, the cabin door was opened when they were around the corner. Someone could have just entered their cabin without their permission.

 

Also, I remember reading a post (I don't remember whether it was in this thread or not) in which someone did an experiment. He ordered a drink the old fashioned way (pun not intended) with his card while his friend used the medallion to order a drink. The drink ordered with the card came immediately. The drink ordered with the medallion came 20 minutes late, and it was the wrong drink.

 

So, I guess if you want to wait 20 minutes for the wrong drink to appear, you just cannot beat the medallion technology.

You can't order a drink using the Medallion. You can order a drink and use your Medallion to show the you have the drink package. Or--you can use the Medallion app on your phone to order a drink.

How do you order a drink with a card?

[ontheweb]

13 hours ago, wowzz said:

I just think you should accept that technology moves on.

Personally,  we love the Medallion. 

I am sure that if you do enough digging, you will find a few issues , which pale into insignificance compared to the hundreds of thousands  of  pax who have had no problem.

Has any cardioligist ever advised a patient with a pacemaker not to carry a cruise card?

[MissP22]

On 7/7/2022 at 3:46 PM, wowzz said:

Are you sure ?

Not possible to get a card on the last cruises I have been on.

I asked at customer services out of interest. I can't see any possible benefit of a card over the Medallion.

Although I didn't inquire on my last cruise in April they have always advertised that you could request a cruise card as a replacement. We've always enjoyed the Medallion functions and have no reason to be incognito.  

On 7/7/2022 at 11:07 PM, ROXIETHEHORSE said:

I find it creepy to be “tracked”. 

Actually you're tracked less on a Princess cruise ship with a Medallion then you would be at home, even without a cell phone in your pocket. Your car license plate is being scanned no matter where you go as well as cameras in every store parking lot and as you drive down the street. 

On 7/8/2022 at 1:48 AM, caribill said:

 

Then you had better not have a cell phone when on land.

Can't live without one any more. I'm addicted.