You may have heard rumblings that during the time the pandemic shut down the cruise industry in 2020 and 2021, many of the cruise lines took the opportunity to refurbish and update their ships.
Princess Cruises accelerated the conversion of their vessels to Ocean Medallion technology.
Even if you’re not a regular Princess client, the upgrades on the Princess ships are an indicator of the future of the industry… so here’s a bit of a peek at the benefits of this new technology.
Ocean Medallion is a wearable technology that connects you with the enhanced Wi-Fi on the ship, with your smartphone, as well as interactive panels (think of this as a giant iPad on every deck in the elevator lobbies).
If you’re like me, you’re probably less interested in the technological marvel, and more interested in how it will enhance your experience. Here goes:
- Check-in. If you’ve ever waited an hour or more to board a cruise ship, you’ll be happy to see this improvement. Before you leave home, you upload a picture, enter your passport and credit card details, and then walk right onto the ship at embarkation.
- Directions – If (like me) you’ve ever wandered around a big ship for a full week before finally feeling confident finding your way around the ship just in time for disembarkation, then you’ll love this feature.
- Faster Wi-Fi – the internet is still painfully slow on most cruise ships. Princess is promising that you can comfortably stream video with this new technology.
- Keyless Stateroom – Once you have proximity to your stateroom, the door will unlock automatically, eliminating the need for inserting a key card. no more searching pockets and bags for the elusive key card.
- Ordering Food or Drinks from your phone.
- Accessing on board services: Make dinner reservations or other ship services from your phone.
- Locate Others. You can volunteer to allow other passengers you’re travelling with know where you are through the Medallion. For example, if Mom & Dad want to know where their teenagers are, they can simply look up their location on the smartphone. This of course assumes that these hypothetical teenagers are actually wearing their medallions and didn’t leave them in their stateroom to frustrate their parents (not that I have any such experience).
- Touchless Payments at onboard shops as well as some shore locations. Princess has enabled independent merchants in some shore locations to allow Princess guests to pay for things on shore simply by scanning their medallion. As an added bonus, these shore purchases are eligible for a percentage back, which shows up as an onboard credit back on the ship!
- Gaming and Casino – you can now do this from anywhere on the ship through your smartphone if you don’t feel like going to the casino.
Of course, some people don’t want digital enhancement, and there is no pressure to do so. If you want to board the ship and manage onboard transactions the way you always have, then you are free to do so.
On the river side of the industry, AMA Waterways has always been a leader in on board technology. Here are some of the things they do:
- iMac in every stateroom. This makes it very easy to leave your laptop computer at home, and it also makes it easy for restaurant or spa reservations, or for booking shore excursions.
- Digital Postcards. The AMA smartphone APP also allows you to send daily emails to those back home who might be interested in following you on your journey. It sends a location image “today Sue is in Cologne!” AND you can add your own images too. This is fun, and even easier than posting on Facebook.
- Daily Cruiser. Your itinerary and a list of daily activities is still delivered in hard copy to room, but it is also available on your smartphone.
- GPS Tracking. If you ever wonder exactly where you are (maybe I travel too much), then the AMA APP will tell you.
- Port information. Again, this is provided in hard copy as well, but there’s an electronic version (along with maps etc.) that is much easier to have on your phone than it is to carry around.
- Check-In. Much like Princess, the boarding process is much quicker because you upload all your information in advance, so it’s not being done at the purser’s desk when the motor coach pulls up.
These technologies ultimately reduce the amount of time you spend waiting in line, and it allows the cruise lines to provide a more personalized experience. These technologies are a bit of a preview of things to come across not only the cruise industry, but also in hotels and resorts.
Today’s Travel Opportunities
Given that we were talking specifically about Princess and AMA Waterways, I thought I’d highlight travel opportunities on those two lines this week.
Princess Cruises Best Sale Ever
If you book by March 2nd, then your fare includes all bar beverages, specialty coffees and juices, gratuities, WiFi, specialty dining and a stateroom location upgrade.
If a Princess cruise is on your radar, this is a great time to book. Here are a few examples:
Grand Western Mediterranean: 11-days between Barcelona and Rome
- Visit Provence, Florence/Pisa, Kotor, Dubrovnik, Corfu, Messina, & Naples
- Depart November 6, 2022:
- Inside: $1939 per person plus tax
- Balcony: $2589
- Suite: $2889
Iceland & Norway: 14-days round-trip from London
- Visit 6 ports on the Norwegian Coast, and Reykjavik, Iceland
- Depart June 25, 2022:
- Inside $2979 per person plus tax
- Balcony $4459
- Suite: $5179
Full Transit Panama Canal: 15-days between Fort Lauderdale and San Francisco (New Locks)
- Visit Cartagena, Panama City, Costa Rica, Cabo San Lucas
- Depart March 19, 2022:
- Window $1899 per person plus tax
- Balcony $2999
- Suite $4199
Book a Mini Suite or higher and we can get you an additional night of Specialty Dining. We can often add extra onboard credits as well (any cabin category).
Tulip Time with AMA Waterways
If seeing the tulips in Holland is on your bucket list, this is the year to do it. Floriade 2022 is a rare horticultural exhibition that only happens every 10 years. While in Almere, right outside of Amsterdam, you will have the opportunity to admire the beauty of the flourishing gardens, explore the innovative sustainable gardening exhibits, and learn what a green future could look like.
Many Ama Waterways departures in April take you to Floriade as an included experience.
Given that mid-to-late April is the ideal time to see the tulips in their prime, here is the departure I would choose:
- Amsterdam round trip starting April 23rd, 2022 (7 nights)
- Prices from $3398 per person for a Standard (window) cabin – Note: the Ama website shows prices starting from $3098 but those lower-priced Category E cabins are sold out.
- Prices from $3898 per person for a French Balcony
- Optional: Add 2 nights pre-cruise in Amsterdam ($750 per person)
- Get $100 onboard credit per stateroom exclusively by booking through Pampered Cruiser (up to $300 per stateroom on other dates/itineraries)
Read more about the Tulip Time itinerary here (note the multiple tabs you can click – itinerary, dates/pricing etc.): https://www.amawaterways.com/agent/pamperedcruiser/destination/europe-river-cruises/2022/tulip-time
Bob and I love cruising with Ama Waterways. Click here to see why: https://www.amawaterways.com/agent/pamperedcruiser/explore/luxury-of-more
Join the conversation on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/PamperedCruiser/posts/3217098325239326
If you’re planning a trip, I’d love to help! Click here or call 800-876-0168 to get in touch today.
I look forward to hearing from you.
Sue Bradley
Sue Bradley
