At the giant Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas, Carnival’s CEO announced that his company is deploying for the first time a small, next-generation wearable device that helps passengers have a smoother, more enjoyable cruising experience. Called the Ocean Medallion, the disk is about the size of a quarter and can be worn on the wrist, on a chain around the neck, or simply slipped into a pants pocket.
Here’s how it works:
When you sign up for a cruise and list your likes and dislikes –your vacation profile—you can ask to be mailed your free Ocean Medallion, engraved with your name.
By using the latest Bluetooth and NFC technology, the medallion simplifies your cruise experience: it unlocks your room door when you walk up; it lets you buy whatever you want on the ship and charge it to your account; it keeps track of your previous food choices so that the dining staff can customize your meals without you having to ask; and it makes boarding and disembarking as easy as walking past a sensor. The built-in GPS knows where you are and can help guide your to where you need to go, and lets you share your location with others on the ship to make meeting up much easier.
Best of all, it’s easy to use—no buttons, no screen, nothing for you to worry about. You don’t have to charge it, program it or even turn it on or off. There’s no personal information stored on the medallion, so there’s no hacking vulnerability if it’s stolen or lost (in which case the owner or crew members can deactivate it and replace it immediately).
Lastly, the device synch’s with Carnival’s Ocean Compass smartphone app—you open the app, select your destination, and the app will guide you there.
The seamless integration of “smart wearables” on select Carnival ships could be the future for us all whether on vacation or at home.
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