Travel Maven Blog ...... David Molyneaux posts from TheTravelMavens.com

Cruising and testing the newfangled Ocean Medallion

 Princess Cruises promises simplicity, techy service in the Caribbean

By David G. Molyneaux, editor
TheTravelMavens.com

Thousands of passengers on ships of Princess Cruises are toting around a new toy: An Ocean Medallion that is among the most innovative and potentially exciting new trappings for vacations at sea.

The Ocean Medallion will open your cabin door and connect well to most smartphones on Princess Cruises ships in the Caribbean.

These Medallions, smaller than a poker chip and not much heavier, are powerful enough to eventually change some basic cruise experiences.

They open your cabin door and connect with your smartphone to order a drink from a deck chair, play a trivia game against other passengers you may never meet, and locate a wandering child or errant spouse, whose whereabouts are given away by their own all-knowing medallions.

By fall of 2019, all passengers sailing on the Princess fleet in the Caribbean Sea will be armed with a Medallion. Two ships already have been outfitted to handle a portion of the full power of the Medallion; its capabilities slowly are being introduced to cruisers.

Other Princess ships already have or are scheduled for the Medallion, though some provide or will provide primarily high-speed Internet services called MedallionNet.

A major Ocean Medallion celebration is expected during the debut of Princess Cruises’ newest and most wired ship, Sky Princess, due out in October.

The Ocean Medallion, distributed free to passengers at home (pre-cruise), is carried around the ship in a pocket, clasped to your clothing, or dangled from a lanyard. Princess Cruises is the first brand of Carnival Corporation to roll out the company’s ballyhooed project to equip its ships with a network of innovative wireless communications; computer games; interactive information on food, beverages, and shipboard activities; and amazingly high-speed Internet.

Cruising Alaska, a delightful day in Petersburg

Where else can you watch log rolling, a herring toss and Fools on Spools?

 

Fools and Spools remain upright in Petersburg’s July 4 parade (photo by Fran Golden, TheTravelMavens.com)

Petersburg, Alaska

Fancy free summer travel can be so much fun when you meander as a stranger into one of America’s lively small towns — especially when you encounter a festival or other special event.

In many small towns, holidays and civic celebrations are special, with parades, family gatherings, local entertainment, and contests attracting much of the populous. This was certainly the case with a spirited log rolling competition on the very chilly waters of Petersburg, Alaska.

Starting to plan for next summer's vacation? Most small towns of America are not on the beaten tourist track. In Alaska, big ships get you to some communities in the Inside Passage of Southeast Alaska. Small ships and the ferries of the state-run Alaska Marine Highway can get you to even more.

Bigger waterpark, more outside dining, craft beers on Carnival Vista cruise ship

Slip your cabin card into the slot and pour yourself a beer on Carnival Vista (Photo by David G. Molyneaux, TheTravelMavens.com)

When a major cruise line brings out its first new ship in four years, the design, style and atmosphere onboard speak to how the company currently sees itself: This is who we are, now. 

While some North American cruise companies are moving more upscale or appealing to a more global clientele, Carnival Cruise Line plows familiar North American waters.

The company continues to dance with the kind of ships that have brought success and profits, tweaking new vessels primarily to stay current with vacationers’ expectations.

In other words, says Carnival’s president, Christine Duffy, when you build a new ship, “Do no harm.”

The 3,954-passenger Carnival Vista, which began sailing the Mediterranean in May and arrives at its home port of Miami in November, fully fills its role.

WaterWorks on Carnival Vista (Photo by David G. Molyneaux, TheTravelMavens.com)

 From bow to stern, Vista screams, “I am Carnival.”

Cruise picture of the week from 2012 London Olympics

Sea Cloud in London

 I am flying to Scotland tonight for a quiet Friday in Edinburgh, while most of the world has its eyes on another part of the United Kingdom, the 2012 Summer Olympic Games in London.

Terrific place to be, London, especially if you've got a place to sleep for the night, such as Silversea’s Silver Cloud. This week, Silver Cloud sailed under London’s Tower Bridge where the 2012 Olympic Rings are prominently displayed. The ship tied up alongside the HMS Belfast.

What’s new, what's not on a Carnival Magic cruise

If you cruise on the new Carnival Magic, what you will see is:

Carnival’s first Italian restaurant, first Caribbean pub, first draught beer labeled just for Carnival, first ropes course, a host of family deck games, and three flashy production shows.

New interior designs make the ship brighter and more cheerful than its sister Carnival Dream (2009). There are more outdoor activities than on Carnival ships past.

What you won't see, says Carnival president Gerry Cahill, is a ship that is more luxurious than the vessels Carnival passengers are familiar with.

The best Carnival ship ever built? Yes. Highfalutin? No.

Walking the ropes course on Carnival Magic cruise ship

Carnival Cruise Lines has introduced the first ropes course on a cruise ship. The 230-foot course on the new Carnival Magic, now cruising in the Mediterranean, is so well planned that anyone of moderate athletic ability will be able to get around. Yet, if you want to tackle the course at a different pace and style, you can get a serious workout.

Station by station, I worked my way around the ropes course on the Magic's sports deck in about 15 minutes, stopping to chat with others along the course. It had been a while since I did a ropes course – since my days in the U.S. Army – but this one is not terribly difficult, and no drill sergeant will be yelling at you to pick up the pace.

There are two courses, side by side, each in a circle, one inner and one outer, above Carnival’s new play area that includes such games as ping pong and foosball.