It could pass as a piece of jewellery and can be worn as such, but this tiny, decorative piece is actually ground breaking technology that’s going to change the cruising experience.
I’m talking about the tiny round thing wrapped around this woman’s arm like a bracelet…
Yeah, that thing.
Carnival Corporation – the mama brand of Carnival Cruise Line, P&O Cruises, Seabourn, Princess Cruises, Cunard etc. – is taking the popular ‘good things come in small packages’ saying and applying it to the onboard experience by developing the ‘Ocean Medallion’, a small, wearable device that acts as a personal concierge.
The first-of-its-kind technology will debut on Princess Cruises’ Regal Princess in November this year and will be delivered to passengers ahead of their cruise.
Utilising the Internet of Things, the device can help cruisers find their friends and family around the ship – was anyone hoping this worked like a metal detector with the ‘beep’ speeding up as the two people approached each other? It doesn’t.
It will also allow guests to purchase merchandise without a card, transaction or paper, and delivers enhanced dining experiences based on individual food and beverage preferences.
PLUS, it’ll unlock room doors as the person wearing the medallion approaches and streamline the embarkation and disembarkation process by removing lines and check-in.
The ‘Ocean Medallion’ only weighs around 50 grams and measures 2.5cm in diameter, so guests can keep it safe by wearing it as a bracelet (like the woman above), add it to a key chain, clip it to their clothes or even just slip it into their pocket.
Cool right? But we’re not done.
The ‘Ocean Medallion’ pairs with an optional digital concierge called ‘Ocean Compass’, which can be downloaded on smart devices, used at kiosks in home ports, on stateroom TVs or other interactive surfaces around ships.
Then, similar to Captain Planet, once you combine the powers of the ‘Ocean Medallion’ and ‘Ocean Compass’ you form the ‘Experience Innovation Operating System’ aka xiOS™, which is an invisible network of proprietary sensors and computing devices embedded throughout the ship, home ports and destinations.
Literally mind blown because… what?!
Carnival breaks it down in the video below:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K4aLSeZaNqk
Carnival’s Chief Experience and Innovation Officer, John Padgett, said the new tech is designed to help guests get the most out of their holiday.
“The Ocean Medallion creates an elevated level of service that’s made possible by technology but doesn’t feel like technology.”
John Padgett, Carnival Corporation Chief Experience and Innovation Officer
“Whether guests are exploring new experience options, having a drink delivered to their seat at the night’s show or trying their luck gaming while lounging poolside, we will assist our guests wherever they are, while engaging with them in a uniquely personal way.
“Our mission is to help our guests make the most of every moment of their holiday.”
As mentioned earlier, Princess Cruises’ Regal Princess will be the first to have the new tech onboard from November, followed by Royal Princess and Caribbean Princess in 2018.
The new Medallion Class on Princess Cruises will be rolled out over multiple years on the entire Princess Cruises fleet.