Coming to Alaska in 2018: Ocean Medallion cruising

The wearable device powered by interactive technology promises a new level of personalization and enhanced service.

Princess Cruises is the first brand in Carnival Corp. & plc to offer the Ocean Medallion, which was unveiled by company president and ceo Arnold Donald last month.

Island Princess joins three other ships scheduled for Medallion Class cruising—Regal Princess starting Nov. 13, followed by Royal Princess and Caribbean Princess in early 2018. Ocean Medallion will be operable May 16 next year for Island Princess on its 'Voyage of the Glaciers' seven-day cruise between Vancouver and Whittier.

The Ocean Medallion has no discernible technology—no on-off switch, no charging, no menu to navigate—and can be worn as a pendant, on a wristband, in a clip or placed in a pocket to enable enhanced services and personalized experiences without having to push a button or take any action. The pre-cruise engagement will allow passengers to provide preferences so their shipboard experience can be personalized.

Pairing with the Ocean Medallion is the Ocean Compass, a digital concierge accessible by all passengers via interactive displays throughout the ship, on stateroom televisions, via travelers' own smart devices or through a crew member.

Passengers can find their way to venues around the ship; make reservations at the Lotus Spa, specialty dining restaurants and shore excursions; arrange celebrations, view photographs and learn about the destinations and activities at each port.

Before the cruise, they can become 'Ocean Ready' at home by providing details to their guests profile to expedite embarkation. The Ocean Medallion locks and unlock stateroom doors, replacing a keycard. Passengers can order food and beverages delivered to specific locations immediately or in the future. They also can know the whereabouts of family members and communicate with each other through a seamless messaging service.

Add Seatrade Cruise News to your Google News feed.