Thank you, Princess Cruises, for providing me with the Caribbean Cruise on the Caribbean Princess. All photos and opinions are my own.
I’m at my happiest when I’m traveling, and cruising is one of my favorite ways to see the world. From my honeymoon more than twenty years ago to my most recent cruise in April last year, I’ve sailed on five different ships and loved each trip.
Over those two decades cruising hasn’t felt dramatically different—until now, with Princess Cruises and their Ocean Medallion.
For readers unfamiliar with cruising: for many years cruise lines issued key cards similar to hotel cards. They served as your stateroom key, identified you when entering and leaving the ship in port, and were used for onboard purchases. Early cards even had a photo printed on them; later, a photo would appear when the card was scanned.
What is the Ocean Medallion?
The Ocean Medallion changes that model. This quarter-sized wearable—worn on a complimentary lanyard, as a pendant, in a sports band or bracelet—replaces the traditional cruise card and brings many added conveniences in a sleek form.
MedallionNet™
The Ocean Medallion pairs with MedallionNet, Princess Cruises’ high-speed Wi‑Fi at sea. Currently available on Caribbean Princess®, Regal Princess®, Ruby Princess® and Royal Princess®, MedallionNet is being rolled out to more ships.
Unlike older ship Wi‑Fi that was slow and unreliable, MedallionNet is fast enough for streaming and video calls. Onboard I was able to video chat with my son while he was overseas in a hospital, and my friends joined a video chat from the ship with someone who couldn’t sail with us—small but meaningful ways this technology helps us stay connected.
Beyond speed, the Ocean Medallion simplifies embarkation when paired with the OceanReady® app. The medallion can be shipped to you before your cruise, and OceanReady allows you to upload passport scans and a passport-style photo from home so most paperwork is handled before you arrive. You still need to bring your passport, but check-in becomes much faster.
What apps work with the Ocean Medallion?
Princess offers a suite of complimentary apps for Apple and Android that streamline ship life—from pre-boarding to ordering drinks and locating friends. Here are my top four:
– OceanReady: Upload passport scans and a photo ahead of time to speed embarkation. The Ocean Medallion acts as your key, so there’s no waiting for a card to be printed.
– OceanCompass™: An interactive ship map that helps you navigate and includes a “find shipmates” feature to locate friends or family on board.
– OceanNow™: My favorite convenience. Using OceanNow and your Medallion you can order drinks, snacks, or other items to wherever you are on the ship. The crew sees your location and delivers directly—perfect for poolside relaxing, watching Movies Under the Stars, or grabbing a bite without missing a minute.
On one cruise I used OceanNow for mineral water during an outdoor movie, aloe for friends with sunburns, cocktails with burgers, and yes—extra pillows.
– OceanConcierge™: The central hub for onboard planning. Check daily activities, browse restaurant menus, view the ship’s itinerary and manage your onboard account. It’s a convenient way to reserve special experiences, review menus, and see what’s happening each day.
Additional apps include PlayOcean™ for scavenger hunts and games, OceanView™ for free original travel shows, and OceanCasino™ so you can play from anywhere on the ship. My friends and I tried the PlayOcean scavenger hunt and had a blast discovering parts of the ship we might otherwise have missed.
Ocean Medallion
Practical design is one of the Medallion’s best features. I wear mine on a clip that slides onto a hem or pocket or on a sport band, similar to an Apple Watch. That means it won’t fall out during a workout or slip from my pocket while I’m rushing around.
On past cruises I frequently left my card behind in the gym or elsewhere; the Medallion’s wearable options remove that worry. I also felt comfortable keeping it clipped to my clothes while exploring in San Juan, Puerto Rico, instead of carrying a loose card that could be lost in port.
For a dressier look you can place the Medallion in a pendant or bracelet accessory, which creates an elegant jewelry-style option that still provides all the functionality.
Ocean Medallion pendant necklace Good Spirits, Caribbean Princess
Which ships have Ocean Medallion?
MedallionClass™ is currently available on Caribbean Princess®, Regal Princess® and Royal Princess®. Princess Cruises is expanding the experience to more ships over the next two years, with a phased rollout planned across their fleet.
In short, the Ocean Medallion and its companion apps have already improved my cruise experience—making embarkation easier, connectivity reliable, and onboard services more convenient. I’m eager to cruise again and use the Medallion on future trips.
The only complaint? I can’t yet use the Medallion and apps to order a cocktail, pizza or burger from my couch at home—so I’ll be booking my next cruise sooner rather than later.