Disney Leadership is Impacting Carnival

[kiford]

I believe Disney's stance is that in many ports of call they need to see the cruise ship cards before they let people on to the cruise ship docks.

I can see that possibly for Carnival it would not be too much of an issue for them to install some kind of system in their main ports of call (assuming they'd be allowed) given the number of ships that they have. I can't see it as very cost effective for Disney to do with 4-6 ships and a relatively changeable set of intineraries. There were several ports both in Europe and even in the Caribbean where we were asked by port officials to show our card just to get into the port, never mind getting to the ship so I don't know how they would handle such things. I can't imagine those officials carrying around specialized equipment and asking everyone who comes in if they have a card or if they can swipe using their machine. It will be interesting to see how Carnival handles this.

EDIT: I think that we had to show our cards to get into the port/shop area at Falmouth. I know that I had to show my card in the duty free before they would complete my purchases. I don't know if this is because Disney doesn't take deliveries from duty free shops like some other cruise lines do but they definitely didn't just look at it to confirm that I was sailing on DCL - they actually looked at it (checking the dates?). Are there ships that dock there that aren't eligible for duty free??? Either way, I can't imagine Falmouth putting in equipment to read a non-imprinted device for DCL at least given how infrequently they go there.

Muster station, dining rotation, name, etc would not be available on the magic bands.

This, to me, is useful information to be able to have on a card. I can't tell you the number of times DH, our friends or I had to check our cards on our last cruise to remember where we were eating that night (although it wouldn't be an issue for Carnival since they don't do a rotation). And in the event of an emergency, I'd like to be able to quickly check my card to remember where I'm supposed to go; I'm sure my brain would be scrambled if the alarms actually went off. Wasn't there something in the article though about inscribing the puck or something? I suppose they could do something of the sort.

I don't think the advantages that MB's bring to the table at the parks are needed nearly as much on the cruise.

Have to agree there. It makes it easier in the park to pay with an MB without thinking about the cost. You don't have to carry nearly as much stuff as you might normally so you're more likely to wander through a shop, and you don't have to hold up lines digging for a card. None of that is relevant to a ship - you're not paying with any "real money" anyway, you don't carry much normally and many people have their card in a lanyard, in a pocket (since they're not carrying much) or easily accessible and the lines aren't as long. Why pay a ton of money to put in a system that doesn't generate any more revenue?

I think that the key for me for why Carnival wants to do it is the "new shipwide gambling platform". Makes it much easier for people to gamble. I wouldn't be surprised to see it eventually be able to be used on an interactive TV, for example, or all over the ship, not just the casino.

I do find the whole "we know who is watching live TV" idea thing creepy. It's one thing to have a computer say "Hi" to me by name in WDW when I'm in a line, but something completely different when I'm in my stateroom watching TV and having a stranger acknowledge it. Ick. I'm also not keen on having people actively know where I am on the ship at all times. It's one thing to be able to mine data on where people spend their time, what shops are most busy, etc., for statistical purposes but another one completely to have someone actively monitoring me personally. My guess is that they'll end up removing some of that once people express creeped-out feelings just like they did with MB which were supposed to allow much more individual interactivity and personal information transmission.

 

[Shanti]

I wouldn't want to wear a Magic Band on a cruise. It doesn't go with elegant clothing, and can be an annoyance on the wrist.

 

[Steelers0854]

From my understanding of postings here and elsewhere, the Magicband implementation onboard the DCL ships would require a serious and significant infrastructure refurbishment in order to incorporate the stations and location to utilize them efficiently, they would be necessary at each passenger ingress/egress location, all the locations that would need to scan the KTTW cards now would have to be rewired to accommodate the bands as well, there would need to be stations erected all over the ship where the bands/KTTW cards would be scanned. Just not practical and cost effective to try to update the ships to using them now. In addition the current info on the KTTW cards ie. Muster station, dining rotation, name, etc would not be available on the magic bands.

Correct me if I'm wrong, as we leave in 9 days for our first DCL cruise, but I think the major expense is already done in that the cabins all use an RFID type system where you touch the card to a sensor to open the door correct? This would mean all the cabin doors are ready to go and would represent the majority of the expense. Most of the other places, boarding locations, dining rooms etc, would use handheld wireless units.

 

[squirk]

Correct me if I'm wrong, as we leave in 9 days for our first DCL cruise, but I think the major expense is already done in that the cabins all use an RFID type system where you touch the card to a sensor to open the door correct? This would mean all the cabin doors are ready to go and would represent the majority of the expense. Most of the other places, boarding locations, dining rooms etc, would use handheld wireless units.

I think the hardware costs would be (relatively) minimal. But even at a low cost, I have trouble seeing any ROI that would make this worth DCL's while.

Again, what value would MBs bring to the table on a cruise ship? What heretofore unmet need, for either the guest or for DCL, would be fulfilled?

 

[tinkerone]

I'm pretty sure RCCL already has this on their new ships. At least on the Anthem if I'm not mistaken. I also think they have a choice of band or card, its my understanding you need to pay a small fee for the band. This is just something I have read while searching for alternative cruise lines so not sure how exact my information is, but I don't think Carnival will be a first.

 

[mcd2745]

I wouldn't want to wear a Magic Band on a cruise. It doesn't go with elegant clothing, and can be an annoyance on the wrist.

Just one more reason to do away with (even optional) formal nights!!!!

 

[wcw57]

Just one more reason to do away with (even optional) formal nights!!!!

uh oh!

 

[RedSox68]

These just look so easy to lose if you remove them from the band and carry them solo!

 

[Steelers0854]

I think the hardware costs would be (relatively) minimal. But even at a low cost, I have trouble seeing any ROI that would make this worth DCL's while.

Again, what value would MBs bring to the table on a cruise ship? What heretofore unmet need, for either the guest or for DCL, would be fulfilled?

It helps in a variety of ways. You unify the brand, my magic band would (in theory) work at WDW, DCL, Disneyland etc. I would keep it, customize it by buying accessories and thus generating revenue, and use it no matter what property I went to.

Plus it has tracking capabilities, yes we can get into the big brother debate but let's put that aside for a minute. Think about before you go to a show, in your room or via your phone, you pre-order your drink and when you sit down in the theater someone brings it to you immediately. That level of customization would certainly increase revenues.

Just a few thoughts that come to mind.

 

[PrincessTrisha]

I wouldn't want to wear a Magic Band on a cruise. It doesn't go with elegant clothing, and can be an annoyance on the wrist.

Have you seen the Carnival Corp (not Carnival Cruise line BTW - but the corporation - these will actually be tested on Princess Cruise Lines which is owned by the Carnival Corporation) version? They are a nice looking medallion which can be accessorized in a watch band, necklace, lanyard, or just put in your pocket.

http://phx.corporate-ir.net/phoenix.zhtml?c=200767&p=irol-newsArticle&ID=2233686

 

[Shanti]

Have you seen the Carnival Corp (not Carnival Cruise line BTW - but the corporation - these will actually be tested on Princess Cruise Lines which is owned by the Carnival Corporation) version? They are a nice looking medallion which can be accessorized in a watch band, necklace, lanyard, or just put in your pocket.

http://phx.corporate-ir.net/phoenix.zhtml?c=200767&p=irol-newsArticle&ID=2233686

No, I haven't. That does look nicer than a Magic Band.

 

[PoopDeckPappy]

I personally don't have much use for it on a cruise. But as a parent it would be great to be able to locate kids, especially at the parks if they were separated from a parent. They may be too large (expense-wise) for that type of technology but Disney could tell me exactly what room my kids were in within the club so it should be possible to do at the parks. I agree with an early post, this will be on the phone at some point. I just don't know how long that would be (I'd guess 10 years out).

 

[Steelers0854]

I personally don't have much use for it on a cruise. But as a parent it would be great to be able to locate kids, especially at the parks if they were separated from a parent. They may be too large (expense-wise) for that type of technology but Disney could tell me exactly what room my kids were in within the club so it should be possible to do at the parks. I agree with an early post, this will be on the phone at some point. I just don't know how long that would be (I'd guess 10 years out).

It's already possible in some form or another.

http://entertainment.time.com/2014/01/02/disney-nsa-style-magic-bands-theme-park/