Thank you, Princess Cruises, for providing me with the Caribbean Cruise on theCaribbean Princess. All photos and opinions remain -as always- my own.

The Ultimate Guide to Princess Cruises’ MedallionClass Experience

There’s an undeniable magic that comes with cruising – the boundless horizons, the allure of new destinations, and the promise of relaxation. For over two decades, I’ve had the distinct pleasure of traversing the world’s oceans, embarking on five different cruise ships since my honeymoon. While my love for cruising has only grown, I’ve often noted that the fundamental process remained largely unchanged. That is, until now. Princess Cruises has truly revolutionized the experience with its groundbreaking MedallionClass, ushering in an era of effortless and personalized travel.

For those new to the world of cruising, a quick step back might be helpful. Historically, your journey revolved around a key card, much like a hotel key. This card served multiple purposes: unlocking your stateroom, acting as your identification when disembarking and re-boarding at port, and facilitating all onboard purchases. In the early days, a photo of the cardholder was often printed directly on it. More recently, digital photos linked to your file would appear whenever your card was scanned by crew members, adding a layer of security.

Unveiling the Ocean Medallion: Your Digital Key to a Seamless Cruise

Enter the Ocean Medallion – a quarter-sized, wearable device that has completely transformed the traditional cruise experience. This innovative piece of smart technology replaces the old key card, performing all its functions and so much more, all while adding a touch of personalized style and unprecedented convenience. The Medallion is designed to be worn in various ways to suit your preference: it can come with a complimentary lanyard, be styled as a chic pendant on a necklace, or securely fitted into a sports band or bracelet, making it a versatile accessory that adapts to your onboard activities and personal style.

Stay Connected at Sea: Experience MedallionNet™

One of the most remarkable innovations accompanying the Ocean Medallion is MedallionNet™, hailed as the fastest Wi-Fi at sea. For anyone who has ever attempted to connect to the internet on a traditional cruise ship, the phrase “Wi-Fi at sea” often conjures images of agonizingly slow connections, frequently interrupted by weather conditions or distance from shore. MedallionNet™ shatters these expectations, providing a robust and reliable connection that truly changes the game.

This lightning-fast internet service is currently available on a growing fleet of Princess Cruises ships, including Caribbean Princess®, Regal Princess®, Ruby Princess®, and Royal Princess®, with plans for rapid expansion to many more vessels. With MedallionNet™, buffering and dropped calls are a thing of the past. It’s fast enough for seamless video streaming, making it possible to enjoy your favorite shows or keep up with news from home. More importantly, it facilitates crystal-clear video calls, bridging distances with ease. I can personally attest to this; I was able to video chat with my son while he was in a hospital overseas, a connection that brought immense comfort during a challenging time. My girlfriends and I also enjoyed virtual gatherings, video chatting with a friend who couldn’t join our trip, making her feel as though she was “with us” on board. This level of connectivity transforms the cruising experience, allowing guests to stay connected on their own terms, whether for personal reasons, sharing their journey, or even managing remote work, all from the comfort of their floating resort.

Beyond its incredible connectivity, the Ocean Medallion introduces a suite of intelligent applications designed to elevate every aspect of your cruise vacation. Imagine simplifying embarkation, navigating a vast ship with ease, or even having your favorite cocktail delivered directly to your lounge chair. This future-forward approach begins even before you step foot on the ship. The Ocean Medallion can be shipped to your home address prior to your departure date, and when combined with the innovative OceanReady® app, it makes the embarkation process incredibly streamlined and virtually contactless. Get ready to see just how much the cruising experience has evolved!

Empowering Your Journey: The Essential Ocean Medallion Apps

A comprehensive suite of complimentary apps, available for both Apple and Android devices, perfectly complements the Ocean Medallion, making life at sea easier and more enjoyable. From pre-boarding preparations to on-demand drink service and even locating your travel companions, these apps cover every need. Here are some of my favorite Ocean Apps that truly enhance the Princess MedallionClass experience:

OceanReady™: Smooth Sailing from Shore to Ship

OceanReady™ transforms embarkation into an absolute breeze. This invaluable app allows you to upload a scan of your passport and a passport-style photo from your phone directly to your profile at home. This pre-verification process means that your identification and travel documents are checked and recorded long before you even arrive at the port, significantly reducing check-in times. While you’ll still need to bring your physical passport, the app dramatically speeds up your journey from the terminal to your stateroom. Since your Ocean Medallion serves as your key, there’s no waiting in lines for a physical card to be generated, allowing you to begin your vacation almost instantly.

Download via iTunes Store or Google Play

OceanCompass™: Navigate with Ease and Connect with Shipmates

The OceanCompass™ app is your ultimate guide at sea. It provides an intuitive, interactive map of the entire ship, allowing you to effortlessly pinpoint your current location relative to where you want to go. This is incredibly helpful on large cruise ships where it’s easy to get a little turned around. Beyond navigation, OceanCompass™ offers a fantastic “find shipmates” function. By registering the friends or family you’re sailing with, you can easily locate them anywhere on the ship, whether they’re by the pool, at a restaurant, or enjoying an activity. No more wandering around or sending multiple texts; just a quick glance at the app and you’ll be reunited.

Download via iTunes Storeor Google Play

OceanNow™: Personalized Service at Your Fingertips

OceanNow™, paired with your Ocean Medallion, redefines convenience by allowing you to order drinks, snacks, and even certain retail items directly to your exact location, wherever you are on the ship. The Medallion’s discreet technology enables crew members to find you, ensuring your order arrives promptly, whether you’re lounging by the pool, enjoying a show, or relaxing in your stateroom. This truly optimizes your relaxation, removing the need to interrupt your activities. I absolutely loved the luxury of OceanNow™! I ordered refreshing mineral water while watching “Movies Under the Stars,” soothing aloe for friends with sunburns, delicious drinks to accompany my burgers, and yes, a truly ridiculous number of extra pillows because, well, I adore pillows. It’s truly a testament to the personalized and attentive service that MedallionClass offers.

Download via iTunes Store or Google Play

OceanConcierge™: Your Personal Onboard Planner

OceanConcierge™ quickly became my go-to for planning every aspect of my onboard experience. This comprehensive app acts as your personal digital assistant, providing a single, convenient hub to browse available activities and entertainment schedules, review menus for all of the ship’s exquisite restaurants, track the ship’s itinerary, and even keep tabs on your onboard account. It’s an excellent tool for discovering unique dining experiences like the Chef’s Table (and finding that amazing grapefruit sorbet I adored!), or simply locating where to grab a mouth-watering Bacon Cheeseburger. With OceanConcierge™, you’re always informed and in control of your personalized cruise adventure.

Download via iTunes Store or Google Play

Explore, Play, and Win: More Engaging Ocean Apps

The suite of apps extends even further, offering unique entertainment options. PlayOcean™ brings interactive onboard scavenger hunts and engaging games to your fingertips, while OceanView™ provides access to free, original travel shows, offering inspiration and entertainment. For those who enjoy a bit of thrill, OceanCasino™ allows for convenient gambling anywhere on the ship. My friends and I enthusiastically took on a PlayOcean scavenger hunt and had an absolute blast! We completed it in just over an hour, collaborating to solve puzzles and explore hidden corners of the ship. I highly recommend trying these scavenger hunts; they are a fantastic way to discover parts of the vessel you might otherwise overlook, adding an extra layer of fun and adventure to your cruise.

Download PlayOcean via iTunes Store or Google Play. Download OceanView via iTunes Store or Google Play.

Beyond the Tech: Why the Ocean Medallion Elevates Your Cruise

While the technological prowess of the Ocean Medallion and its accompanying apps is impressive, for me, the most significant benefit lies in its sheer practicality and peace of mind. The ability to wear my Ocean Medallion on a clip that slides onto any hem or pocket, or as a secure sports band similar to my Apple Watch, is a game-changer. This means no more worrying about losing my crucial key card while working out on the elliptical machine, or having it accidentally slip out of my pocket when rushing up stairs or absentmindedly grabbing my phone. If I were to count the number of times I’d left my card behind in the gym on previous cruises, I’d be quite embarrassed! This feature alone was enough reason to fall in love with the Medallion, even without its numerous other benefits.

Furthermore, the convenience extended to our time ashore. I could keep my Medallion securely clipped to my clothing as we explored the vibrant streets of San Juan, Puerto Rico. I’ve always had a lingering fear of misplacing my cruise card while in port, but with the Medallion, that worry simply vanished, making our excursions much more enjoyable and stress-free. It’s a simple detail, but one that significantly enhances the overall sense of security and freedom.

For moments requiring a more refined aesthetic, the Ocean Medallion easily transitions into an elegant pendant on a necklace accessory or a sophisticated bracelet that dangles gracefully on the wrist. These options provide a lovely, jewelry-like look that is both stylish and discreet, proving that cutting-edge technology can also be fashionable. The Medallion truly adapts to every facet of your cruise experience, from active adventures to sophisticated evenings.

Discover MedallionClass Ships: Current and Future Rollout

The journey towards fully immersive MedallionClass experiences began with a select group of ships, and the fleet is steadily expanding. Currently, the pioneering vessels offering the full MedallionClass™ advantage include Caribbean Princess®, Regal Princess®, and Royal Princess®. However, Princess Cruises is committed to rolling out this enhanced experience across many more of its ships in the coming years, bringing the future of cruising to an ever-wider audience. Keep an eye on this exciting schedule for future MedallionClass ships:

• Crown Princess® (7/24/19)
• Sky Princess® (10/12/19)
• Ruby Princess® (1/27/20)
• Grand Princess® (3/29/20)
• Enchanted Princess® (6/15/20)
• Emerald Princess® (8/16/20)
• Coral Princess® (10/16/20)
• Island Princess® (12/20/20)

In summary, the Ocean Medallion and its innovative suite of apps represent a true paradigm shift in the world of cruising. The enhanced personalization, seamless convenience, and constant connectivity it offers make every aspect of your journey more enjoyable and stress-free. I genuinely cannot wait for my next MedallionClass cruise, knowing that even more options and experiences are on the horizon!

To learn more about their revolutionary MedallionClass experiences and explore all their incredible cruise itineraries, you can connect with Princess Cruises on Facebook, Instagram, Pinterest, YouTube, and Twitter.

My only lament about the Ocean Medallion and its impressive suite of apps is that I can’t use them to order a cocktail or a delicious pizza from the comfort of my own couch. Alas, it seems I’ll just have to book another Princess cruise sooner than planned!