Brother in law refuses to use medallion app

[david63]

I really don't understand all this paranoia about being tracked on a cruise ship. In this day and age there is the ability to track all of us in our everyday lives if somebody wants to - the only way to avoid it is to go and live on a desert island, and even then the "spy in the sky" would be able to find you.

 

If you have nothing to hide then what's the problem?

[CapnCrews]

8 minutes ago, david63 said:

I really don't understand all this paranoia about being tracked on a cruise ship. In this day and age there is the ability to track all of us in our everyday lives if somebody wants to - the only way to avoid it is to go and live on a desert island, and even then the "spy in the sky" would be able to find you.

 

If you have nothing to hide then what's the problem?

Well you could avoid it by getting a flip phone and covering all the camera lenses and microphones on your TVs and computers with black tape.
 

But I agree with your sentiment.

[Paula_MacFan]

Just now, CapnCrews said:

Well you could avoid it by getting a flip phone and covering all the camera lenses and microphones on your TVs and computers with black tape.
 

But I agree with your sentiment.

They are still going to see everyone's movements on CCTV as has been repeatedly stated. It's paranoia over nothing. If it's that uncomfortable for him maybe cruising isn't for him.

[CapnCrews]

3 minutes ago, Paula_MacFan said:

They are still going to see everyone's movements on CCTV as has been repeatedly stated. It's paranoia over nothing. If it's that uncomfortable for him maybe cruising isn't for him.

Well, if that's the case probably best to stay out of all urban areas and just live in the woods.

[beg3yrs]

2 hours ago, CapnCrews said:

Well, if that's the case probably best to stay out of all urban areas and just live in the woods.

And then you have to avoid the trail cameras hunters use to track game ...

[SCX22]

9 hours ago, wowzz said:

If your pocket is big enough to hold a wallet, it is certainly big enough to hold the medallion, which is no more than an inch wide.

Just checked - medallion is slightly over an inch in diameter and 1/4 inch in depth. How is that "too big" ?

 

I'm part of a younger generation, and choose to wear more form fitting pants.  Anything in my pocket digs into my thighs when I sit down and creates some sort of bulge, which kills the look.  I choose to keep the bulk in my pocket to a card case and cell phone every where I go if I can help it. 

[Guest ldtr]

4 hours ago, CapnCrews said:

Well you could avoid it by getting a flip phone and covering all the camera lenses and microphones on your TVs and computers with black tape.
 

But I agree with your sentiment.

Actually not, if the flip phone is turned on and not in airplane mode it will still be pinged by cell phone towers and create a trackable location.  

[BamaVol]

Your Brother-in-law Law is one of the few humans we have not been tracking.  Thank you for the alert.  He appears to be a security risk and we plan to move him off-planet in a few days time. 

[debster11]

15 hours ago, cr8tiv1 said:

Sure, he can do without a medallion.  I'm speculating here.  Never tried it so don't have exact scenario.  With his cabin mate have a medallion and checked in using the Medallion APP?  Will he have a boarding time?  Will he have pre-ordered or pick up at port medallion?

 

• Stand in a line to get to an agent in the terminal.

• Show the agent your passport and other documents that weren't loaded on to the app.

I am not sure they have "ready made cruise cards" at the desk.  They will have his medallion waiting for him if it was not sent to the house.

• Stand in line to have security take his photo.

• Stand in line at the Customer Service Desk to turn his medallion (that got him on the ship) for a cruise card.

 

I hope you aren't checking in with him.  Get on the ship faster, have fun, and enjoy embarkation lunch.  Let him enjoy his desire to go medallion-less.

Lol I am going to do just that!!

 

[marypat01]

Medallions are your cabin keys and your ID to get on and off the ship.  You can leave your medallion in your cabin but you will need to depend upon someone else to let you back into your cabin and to buy anything on board. 

Edited March 13, 2023 by marypat01

[Princessfan20]

6 hours ago, david63 said:

I really don't understand all this paranoia about being tracked on a cruise ship. In this day and age there is the ability to track all of us in our everyday lives if somebody wants to - the only way to avoid it is to go and live on a desert island, and even then the "spy in the sky" would be able to find you.

 

If you have nothing to hide then what's the problem?

 

The balloon knows all - Medallion or no Medallion:

 

 

Edited March 13, 2023 by Princessfan20

[MissP22]

21 hours ago, wowzz said:

As long as you are with your husband, you do not have to have it with you. Obviously if you want to order a drink, open your cabin door etc, and you are on your own, then you need to have your Medallion with you.

You can still get a drink without a medallion or cruise card just by telling the bartender you cabin number & he checks your picture on his screen. 

[roadster08]

I agree that giving corporations our personal data is helpful when they use it correctly. The problem is when we get mis-profiled based on  some one off situation.

 

For example, you search the internet for TVs because you are curious what new features became available recently, but are not really in the market for a new TV. After that, you are  bombarded with TV ads no matter where you go on the internet. 

 

[wowzz]

25 minutes ago, roadster08 said:

For example, you search the internet for TVs because you are curious what new features became available recently, but are not really in the market for a new TV. After that, you are  bombarded with TV ads no matter where you go on the internet. 

All you need to do is browse using the incognito function. That way you avoid the later spam.

[tipofthehook]

Your BIL will have a fantastic voyage. Yes, check-in will require extra time, patience, a security photo and a medallion will be waiting (to be exchanged for a cruise card if he desires) but he will not be made to feel uncomfortable by any comments or actions from staff or fellow passengers if he chooses not to use the app. No one will argue with him to his face and he will be respected onboard - we are his cruising family. People only say non-complimentary statements about him, behind his back, here. 

[Stosh68]

On 3/12/2023 at 3:12 PM, debster11 said:

Is it mandatory to use the medallion. My brother-in-law is one of those who thinks everyone is watching. He refuses to allow access to his photos and camera. Does he somehow bypass this? I apologize if this has already been asked.

 

How does he rationalize the fact that he's being tracked by the cell phone companies via the cell towers?

 

Also, unless you encrypt all your email, google is seeing everything.  It's nearly impossible for an email to be sent without it being routed through one of google's mail servers.

 

And I'm sure it's already been mentioned, that ship's are no different that a Las Vegas casino.  Assume there is a camera in every public space with people in a room watching the cameras 24/7.

[wowzz]

5 hours ago, tipofthehook said:

No one will argue with him to his face and he will be respected onboard -

Not sure why you say that.  

99.9% of passengers use the Medallion, so he will stand out like a sore thumb !

[brisalta]

11 hours ago, roadster08 said:

I agree that giving corporations our personal data is helpful when they use it correctly. The problem is when we get mis-profiled based on  some one off situation.

 

For example, you search the internet for TVs because you are curious what new features became available recently, but are not really in the market for a new TV. After that, you are  bombarded with TV ads no matter where you go on the internet. 

 

 

You must be doing something strange for that to happen.

[BamaVol]

1 hour ago, brisalta said:

 

You must be doing something strange for that to happen.

I think that’s typical.  I eliminate a lot of that with an ad blocker.  I also think Alexa listens to conversations and sends me content based on them.

Edited March 15, 2023 by BamaVol

[brisalta]

1 hour ago, BamaVol said:

I think that’s typical.  I eliminate a lot of that with an ad blocker.  I also think Alexa listens to conversations and sends me content based on them.

 

It is your problem that you have chosen to use spyware that is posing as a web browser plus using Alexa.

[jagoffee]

If someone does not want to load the Princess AP, use it, turn on their smart phone, or even own a smart phone  that is perfectly fine.

 

The medallion is a separate feature and Princess will allow you to acquire and use the historical plastic card if you wish.

 

For me, the combination of the AP and the medallion provided convenience for my traveling group and me. .  I could use the AP to look up menus, and the schedules of activities. I purchased a watch band and had my medallion on my non watch wrist at all times when not sleeping. I loved that I could use it to do anything the historical card used to do for me.  Additional I could locate my travel party when necessary, and find where something was located (including bathrooms) with a map on the best  way to get there.

 

I did not find the AP as useful  for ordering drinks and having them delivered.  Perhaps if I was just order a beer it would have been convenient. 
 

Botton line is that your BIL can do whatever he wants.  I would  guess his issue is more with the medallion than the AP itself.  He can switch his medallion for a card and just throw the Medallion in the trash.  I ran into one man who had the same feeling on our last cruise.

 

Some people do not like  to do anything on line and still write  hand checks.  They will probably only change when that approach comes with a surcharge.

 

 

 

 

[Guest ldtr]

Even if he carried no devices, wore a mask Princess would still have all of the information that they would collect on an individual that is critical to their business.  Primarily his purchases.  They know what room he booked, any excursions he buys, and purchases from the bar, etc.

 

The most important info they would want is his profile and his cruise account.

 

Princess might also use the system to check the number of people in any given venue at a particular time to see how popular a given activity is, but that is just to look at numbers of people, not really any need for a persons ID.  They used to have people manually count some activities in the past, not they can do it automatically.

 

With him having the card instead on medallion they would under count the room.  But not a big thing for them.

[cr8tiv1]

1 hour ago, jagoffee said:

He can switch his medallion for a card and just throw the Medallion in the trash.

 

One added step.  But yes, he could ask for a card.  Customer Service would ask him for his medallion.  He could refuse to give up his magnet.  He would have one that was active and the other not.  Then he could chose to through it in the trash.

 

When my medallion died on a back to back, I asked to keep my old one.  No problem.  

[caribill]

5 hours ago, brisalta said:

 

You must be doing something strange for that to happen.

 

Nope. That happens to me also.

 

To switch for getting ads for something you are more interested in, after looking at TVs, look for cruises. Then all the new unwanted ads will be for cruises.

[brisalta]

13 minutes ago, caribill said:

 

Nope. That happens to me also.

 

To switch for getting ads for something you are more interested in, after looking at TVs, look for cruises. Then all the new unwanted ads will be for cruises.

 

Never happens to me. I suspect you are using spyware that is posing as a browser.