disney princess cruise careers

Welcome To Princess Cruises Careers Site

We offer a variety of opportunities for highly motivated people who seek a challenging and rewarding career.

More than 1.7 million guests enjoy the Princess experience each year as they travel to 300 destinations around the world. Exceptional customer service is the cornerstone of our success thanks to our team members on land and at sea — the cruise industry’s best. We offer a variety of opportunities for highly motivated people who seek a challenging and rewarding career. Get to know us by exploring our career site. You’ll learn about our history, hear first-hand what our employees love about working for Princess Cruises, and discover the passion we have for giving our guests lifetime memories.

Our Culture...Stronger Together

Our highest responsibility, and therefore our top priorities, are always compliance; environmental protection; and the health, safety, and well-being of our guests, the people in places we visit, and our Carnival family, both shoreside, and shipboard. For more information about our values, view our Culture Essentials .

Shipboard Cruise Careers

Join our inclusive and welcoming team!

Set sail on an exciting career course! Princess Cruises is the employer of choice in the cruise industry. We offer exceptional facilities and extensive learning and recreational programs for our crew. Join our inclusive and welcoming team, and you’ll enjoy a truly adventurous career with excellent incentives, unlimited growth, and ports of call that will leave you breathless.

Corporate Cruise Careers

At Princess Cruises you’ll find a world of inspiring cruise-industry career opportunities all within our shoreside offices. We offer a rewarding work environment and are dedicated to our employees’ growth and wellbeing, including enriching travel opportunities. You’ll take pride in supporting shipboard colleagues — the cruise industry’s best!

Alaska-Yukon Careers

Get ready for summer adventure! Join Princess Cruises, the region’s tourism leader, in hosting our Alaska cruise guests at Princess-owned wilderness lodges and transportation services. There they experience breathtaking vistas, fresh local cuisine, and awe-inspiring wildlife. See it all for yourself — and make friends from around the world — while leading tours, serving in hospitality and culinary, or hitting the road in transportation operations.

Join Princess Cruises

We offer a variety of opportunities for highly motivated people who seek a challenging and rewarding career.

Working at Princess Cruises

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Onboard Employment FAQ

Are you interested in joining the thousands of worldwide employees who are proud to be part of the Princess Cruises family? We are committed to being an employer of choice and understand that our Consummate Hosts need to be supported, empowered, and recognized.

We also understand that working at sea can be a challenging new opportunity. Here are answers to some essential questions you might have when considering cruise ship employment.

• What are the requirements to work onboard?

What is a C1/D visa?

How do i get a medical certificate, which ship will i be assigned to, how do i get to and from the ship i am assigned to, do i need travel insurance, how long will i be onboard, can i get off and go home during the contract, will i have my own room, what is the power voltage in my cabin, can i drink alcohol onboard, is there a drug policy, is there a curfew, can i bring a family member or friend onboard, will i have access to guest areas and amenities during my time off, once onboard, how do i stay in touch with my friends and family back home, can i have mail delivered to the ship, is there an atm onboard to use, will i have to pay taxes, can i send money home from onboard, how do i pay for items onboard, how do i do laundry, what if i miss the ship in port, what happens if i get sick while working onboard, can i visit the ports while working onboard, how do i apply to work onboard, what are the requirements for onboard employment.

While specific position requirements depend on the job you are interested in, there are some essential requirements that all crew must meet to work onboard:

• Be 21 years of age or older
• Be able to pass a criminal background check
• Hold a valid passport
• Have a US C1/D visa (if you are not a Canadian or US citizen/resident)
• Have a Princess-specific pre-employment medical exam certificate
• Meet the English fluency requirements relevant to your position

Also known as a seaman's visa, some nationalities need this to work onboard a ship and travel to certain countries. This visa normally lasts between two and five years. You will be required to make an appointment at your nearest US Embassy to gain this visa; all paperwork for the appointment will be supplied by your manning agency.

This extensive examination is at the employee's expense and can be conducted through one of Princess's recommended medical facilities—you'll be advised which one is closest to you. Once this is completed and approved by our corporate Medical department, you are cleared to travel and work onboard.

Shipboard employees are scheduled to vessels based on operational need. This means you could be assigned to any one of our vessels in the fleet depending on where a position is open at the time you are travel-ready. After your first assignment, we will be able to provide details about the next assignment after your leave period.

At the beginning of each contract Princess Cruises will provide flights from your designated airport to your assigned ship. At the completion of your contract, Princess will arrange for your travel back home as well. It is your responsibility to get to the airport from your home, but from there we will provide any necessary accommodations and/or transportation to and from the ship.

While you are covered medically in Los Angeles and onboard the vessel, we suggest you purchase basic travel insurance to cover the cost of lost luggage or injuries that could result from shoreside activities.

Contract lengths vary by position but range between four and ten months. After each contract you will receive approximately 60 days of vacation before your next assignment. Your daily work schedule while onboard will depend on your particular position, but you can expect to work seven days a week and anywhere between 10-13 hours per day.

Time off during the contract is not permitted. In case of family emergencies, Princess Cruises does understand that additional time at home may be needed and does accommodate these requests on a case-by-case basis.

Accommodations vary depending on the ship and position. Those in non-management positions generally share a cabin with one to three other roommates whereas those in most management positions are entitled to a single cabin. Cabins include a storage space, TV, and DVD player.

All vessels have 120v US power and some vessels also have 220v European power.

Yes, alcohol is available for purchase during time off. However, Princess Cruises has a strict alcohol limit and at no time can a crew member be intoxicated.

Princess has a zero-tolerance drug policy. All crew are subject to random and reasonable-suspicion drug testing. Violation of these policies will result in termination.

There is no set curfew. However, crew who are out late should be respectful of other crew members and guests nearby.

Crew members who meet specific length-of-service criteria have the option of requesting "relatives travel," a benefit that allows family members to sail onboard for a limited period of time. Some restrictions may apply.

While some officer-level positions do allow restricted access to guest areas, most facilities are for guests only. However, we have a variety of crew-only facilities, such as a crew pool, whirlpool, gym, bar, and  Crew Club, which is a communal room where you can gather to watch movies, play games, sing karaoke, and much more!

Postal mail services are available while onboard. You will also have access to computers in the crew training areas. Wi-fi Internet is also available in the crew areas if you choose to bring your own laptop or tablet. Princess offers discounted rates for phone and Internet cards so you can stay in touch with those at home. But remember that satellite capabilities are sometimes limited while the ship is at sea.

You will be provided with mailing addresses for ports where mail can best be delivered.

There is an ATM in the guest areas; an ATM charge will apply. You can also cash checks in the Crew Office onboard to get cash.

US citizens will have federal taxes automatically deducted and may be required to pay state taxes, if applicable. All other nationalities are responsible for filing their own tax forms upon returning to their home countries (as they are self-employed).

You can wire money via the Crew Purser's office. Details are available onboard and rates may vary.

You will be provided with a bar account number, which is your personal number for the duration of your contract onboard each ship. As the entire vessel is cashless, even for guests, you will provide your account number at the bars, salon, and shops in guest areas. In the Crew Bar you can purchase a CrewCard and add money onto it for purchases. At the end of every month you will be required to settle your account.

There are crew laundry facilities where the washers and dryers are free of charge—you just provide the soap. You can also use the dry cleaning onboard, but there is a nominal cost.

Crew members who miss the ship should contact the ship's Agent who will be at the port (the address and phone number are always in the Princess Patter, a daily newsletter for our guests). The Port Agent will arrange transportation to the ship's next port of call. However, it is the responsibility of crew to pay these transportation costs. Crew may be disciplined for the offense and could be terminated. Depending on the port all crew members are required to be back onboard half an hour to an hour prior to sailing time.

While onboard, all crew are medically covered and can visit the Medical Clinic for health concerns. If you need to be medically disembarked during your contract, Princess will provide transportation to a land-based medical facility and repatriate you back home.

If you are not scheduled to work during the time the ship is in port, you can disembark the ship with your supervisor’s approval. Occasionally, there are crew-specific activities or tours to participate in.

Safety requirements dictate that a certain number of crew members be present on each vessel at all times. As such, there may occasionally be times when, although not scheduled to work, you will be required to remain onboard while the ship is in port.

Princess Cruises recruits globally through authorized hiring partners.  Find a hiring partner located near you.

Once you contact the authorized hiring partner, you can get answers to questions regarding the application process and which positions are currently open in your region.

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Disney Cruise Line’s leadership team in The Bahamas on growth, building careers, and making magic

When guests arrive at Disney Castaway Cay, our island destination in The Bahamas, they enjoy sun, sand and magical moments that only Disney can provide. But none of that would be possible without the amazing leadership team that guides and supports the island crew, from the maintenance bays where everything on the island is kept in tip-top shape to the sandy shores watched over by safety-conscious lifeguards.

Disney Cruise Line leadership team

Our current leadership team is a strong group of experienced managers, and the good news is that we’re looking for more to join them! We’re currently seeking Bahamians to lead our island crews now at Disney Castaway Cay and soon to come at our new island destination, Lookout Cay at Lighthouse Point, in Eleuthera, opening summer 2024.

We spoke with several of our current leaders to ask them about why they chose to work with us, how they grew in their career with Disney, and why others should join them in creating magic in The Bahamas!

Meet The Disney Cruise Line Leadership Team

Earle | Island Operations Director | Disney Cruise Line

Jermain | Island Recreation Manager | Disney Cruise Line

Kendall | Senior Island Maintenance Manager | Disney Cruise Line

For Earle, island operations director, it’s all about the details. “My role is to ensure that the island operations function on all cylinders. I’m responsible for the day-to-day operation at Castaway Cay and bringing the team together to get ready for our guests on a daily basis – and that is a lot of detail work that goes into making sure we put on a good show! My role is to make sure that every guest that leaves the island is happy, and that they enjoyed their stay, and Disney lived up to what it promised.”

And that good show is what drew Earle to Disney in the first place. “I chose to work with Disney Cruise Line because of the experiences I had in the past with Disney at the theme parks in Orlando. And I know that Disney has very high expectations, and I want to meet those when I serve the guests, and also make sure that the crew who work with me are also able to meet those expectations.”

Earle is excited to see Disney expand their island destinations in The Bahamas and hopes others will be too. “You’ve got new opportunities there, and you’ll be able to learn more about the Disney operation and organization. And in Eleuthera, you’ll find that it’s on a larger island, so you are able to go and venture about and learn about one of the family islands within The Bahamas at the same time.”

While we look to our future, Jermaine, island recreation manager, remains inspired by our past. “I’ve learned about the history of Disney and how they have always been family-oriented. They always put the crew first, and they believe in you and empower those who work for them. You learn about the history of how it all started, and that the person who started the dream hasn’t been around for decades, but his legacy still lives on because he invested in his people.”

After two years with the company, Jermaine said he doesn’t see himself taking his career anywhere else. “I will work for them as long as I can! I’ve met amazing people. I have a support system. I can pick up the phone and call any one of my bosses, and I am always just one phone call away to help or consult.”

“Disney is a household name,” he said. “Disney is a worldwide name. But they still take the time to invest in their employees and give them the best tools necessary to help them succeed. Or if they want to advance their career further, Disney has opportunities and helps them to develop to get where they need to be to become a better human being.”

Home is where the heart is, so Kendall, senior island maintenance manager, is glad to be able to work in The Bahamas for a name as big as Disney’s.

“For me, it gave me an opportunity to stay in The Bahamas and work for one of the big companies. I mean, I love it here. I’m currently from the island of Grand Bahama, so moving to another island and being able to work while still being in The Bahamas – I love it.”

While being close to home is nice, he also loves that his department is diverse and thinks his team greatly benefits from learning from each other. “We take all of the backgrounds, all of the skills and culture, and we blend it into one, and we make it work. We have local Bahamians, but even they come from a number of different departments and bring their uniqueness to the team. And then we have those who are international, and they come with so much culture, so much background, so much experience, and we just blend it. We listen to each other, and everybody has a voice at the table.”

And what would Kendall say to someone hoping to join the Disney Cruise Line crew in The Bahamas? “Just apply – there isn’t any better place to be! This is the right place to be and the right time to be here.”

Ready to join our team of leaders in The Bahamas? Explore available roles and apply online now !

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4 Expensive Disney Cruise Options That Are Worth the Cost (and One That Isn’t)

T aking a Disney  cruise  lets you be the prince or princess of a Disney story. Everything from your meals to onboard entertainment is taken care of, leaving you free to explore everything the ship offers.

Learn More:  11 Expensive Vacation Destinations That Will Be Cheaper in 2024

Find Out:  How To Get $340 Per Year in Cash Back on Things You Already Buy

Understanding  what’s included  in your package can help you decide where it might be worth splashing out a bit more cash for an even more enchanting experience.

While every Disney cruise comes with its share of pixie dust, some experiences are so spectacular they justify the extra investment. From princess makeovers to adult-only fine dining, prioritizing the right upgrades can elevate your cruise from memorable to once-in-a-lifetime.

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Magical Makeovers at Bibbidi Bobbidi Boutique/Pirate’s League

The  Bibbidi Bobbidi Boutique  offers an opportunity for your children to transform into their favorite characters, whether that’s a prince, princess or pirate. Since you likely chose a Disney cruise for the unique Disney experience or because you or your children are fans of a character or two, it makes sense to take part in this one-of-a-kind makeover option.

Princess makeovers range from $100 to $450, with the basic “Deluxe Carriage Package” including hairstyling, shimmering makeup and face gem, princess sash and cinch sack, nail polish, and t-shirt. Pricier packages also include princess gowns, accessories, tiaras, and more. To give your princess a special experience at a lower cost, you could pack a princess dress rather than paying for the more expensive package that includes one.

For those who would like to become knights or captains, you can select a package that includes a costume, sack or backpack, hairstyling and gel, confetti, and either a sword and shield or a captain’s hat and an autograph book. These packages cost $100 for the knight and $120 for the captain. Pirate makeovers are available on special Pirate Party nights.

Beer Mug or Drink of the Day Savings Package

Although Disney Cruise Line doesn’t offer an all-inclusive alcohol drink package, they do have alternatives that could be a good value if you plan to drink on your cruise. You can purchase a $17 souvenir glass beer mug that allows you to buy 21 oz of draught beer or hard cider for the price of a 16 oz beer or hard cider. This will pay for itself if you have more than around a half-dozen drinks, and you get a nifty keepsake that you can use on future cruises.

There is also an option to purchase a Drink of the Day cocktail souvenir cup that you may refill at a discounted price (and drinks of the day are already discounted). You can use these cups for drink discounts at Disney Castaway Cay as well, so don’t forget to pack your cup when you go ashore. Speaking of going ashore…

Port Adventures

A big part of cruising is going ashore during the port stops along the way. You may want to upgrade your trip by opting for  port adventure packages . These packages can include equipment rentals like bicycles, snorkels, and water tubes. They may also include cultural experiences, sightseeing, or even nature experiences like swimming with dolphins.

Booking your port adventures through Disney also offers the convenience of pre-set pricing, saving you the hassle of haggling or currency exchange. Not all the experiences are super expensive, and even splurging on a mid-range adventure will be a memorable upgrade to your cruise that reduces stress during port days.

Adult-Exclusive Dining

Every Disney Cruise ship offers dining options for adults only, so you can have a peaceful date night with your spouse while sailing. These dining options are only available for people 18 and older. The restaurant options include (depending on your ship) Palo, Palo Steakhouse, Remy, and Enchante.

After recent price increases in 2023, brunch and dinner at Palo and Palo Steakhouse will cost $50 per person for a fixed menu. Base dinner prices at Remy and Enchante are $135 per person. A la carte options are available for an 18% charge on top of the price of each item. While these meals are fairly pricey, especially considering other meals in the Dining Room are included in your ticket cost, you can’t put a dollar amount on an amazing adult-only date night.

Skip This Upgrade: Royal Court Royal Tea

One upgrade option you may have heard about is the Royal Court Royal Tea. While it’s a charming idea, especially for fans of Disney princesses, the cost is steep at $220 per child and $69 per adult.

While the description makes the Royal Tea sound charming, attendees have found it an expensive disappointment. Although it’s a popular add-on, popularity isn’t always synonymous with value. Besides, there is a completely free Princess Gathering where you can meet and greet your favorite Disney Princesses.

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This article originally appeared on GOBankingRates.com : 4 Expensive Disney Cruise Options That Are Worth the Cost (and One That Isn’t)

More From Forbes

Meet the company beating theme parks at their own game.

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The concept that was launched with Disney's MagicBand is now being used in a whole new industry ... [+] (Photo by Jeff Gritchen/MediaNews Group/Orange County Register via Getty Images)

Few industries are as offbeat as the theme park sector. It's a world where making artificial mountains and organising mass mobs of dancers dressed in period clothing is commonplace. So it's hard to see how expertise in the field could apply to other sectors but actually this couldn't be further from the truth.

Indeed, when a colossus of one of the oldest industries on earth turned to a veteran of the theme park industry, it made such a splash that it transformed its entire business model.

With origins dating back nearly 60 years, Princess Cruises is the oldest North American cruise line operator. In 1965, Canadian construction equipment distributor Stanley McDonald spotted an opportunity to put Canadian Pacific's Princess Patricia cruise ship to more use. The Princess Pat, as she was fondly known, usually cruised around Alaska but McDonald chartered it on Mexican Riviera cruises from Los Angeles when it would have otherwise been laid up for the winter. Princess Cruises was born and it went full steam ahead from then on.

Princess became so successful that it came onto the radar of Britain's Peninsular & Oriental Steam Navigation Company (P&O). The historic shipping line was founded in 1837 and by 1960 it had become the world's largest shipping company with 320 ocean-going vessels. In 1974 P&O bought Princess and it went from strength to strength. So much so indeed that P&O eventually realized Princess could stand on its own two feet and spun it off in 2000 to form an independent company, P&O Princess Cruises.

Three years later, Princess merged with industry giant Carnival Corporation in a $5.4 billion deal which made the combined business the world's largest cruise operator and kept it on the crest of the wave in the face of increasing competition. Over the following years the market was awash with consolidation and a steady stream of mega cruise liners emerged from from Princess' rivals. In 2014 Princess began to chart a new course and it hasn't looked back since then.

According to CruiseMarketWatch, Princess has $3.5 billion of annual revenue and carries 1.6 million passengers annually. It is thanks to John Padgett, a veteran of Disney's theme park division, who became Carnival's chief experience and innovation officer in 2014 and took the wheel of Princess itself in 2021.

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Princess Cruises' President, John Padgett, has introduced theme park technology to the cruise line ... [+] (Photo by Jesse Grant/Getty Images for Princess Cruises)

A theme park executive might not sound like someone who could give a magic touch to a luxury cruise line but actually Padgett cast perhaps the most powerful spell on the company in its entire history. Padgett is probably the most important technology innovator in the modern era of Disney and over an 18-year career with the Mouse he rose through its ranks until he ultimately landed a role with the suitably imaginative title of head of game changer experience development. There was good reason for this name.

Padgett is one of the most respected and talented innovators in the leisure industry. He invented and implemented many of the most groundbreaking guest engagement developments at Disney's theme parks including the FastPass+ queue-cutting system, the Bibbidi Bobbidi Boutique princess-themed children's makeover outlets and the Be Our Guest restaurant which replicates the ballroom scene from Beauty and the Beast .

He holds 35 patents covering everything from itinerary scheduling to digital experience interaction platforms and, crucially, wearable devices. The reason for the latter is that he developed Disney's wearable wireless MagicBand device which revolutionized the entry, ride access and payment process at its theme parks.

The device debuted at the sprawling Walt Disney World Resort in 2013 and is essentially a rubber bracelet with a removable button in the center. The button contains a chip connected to a small antenna as well as a high frequency radio device. Visitors' ticket, accommodation and payment details can be synced to the MagicBand enabling them to enter the parks and their hotel room by tapping the bracelet to wireless receivers. Likewise, they can pay at shops and restaurants in the same way making impulse buys much easier.

MagicBands can even be used to play interactive games in Disney's fairytale-themed Magic Kingdom theme park with guests going on a treasure hunt following clues which appear when the bracelet is touched to receivers hidden in the scenery.

Deploying the MagicBand cost a reported $1 billion but it soon started to make the money back. Disney's chief executive "Bob Iger had amazing foresight and when he saw the original prototype of the MagicBand, he said 'this thing's going to be very special' and he was right," says Padgett.

Not only were customers prepared to pay more for their stays due to the convenience of the MagicBand but it also boosted guest spending and triggered a new collecting craze as fans clamored for the different designs of wristbands that Disney put on sale. Like all of the best technological advancements, necessity was the mother of this invention.

"I used to go into the Magic Kingdom and I would think, people are paying a tremendous amount of money for this experience which makes more money the more people you put into it. But the experience degrades the more you put people into it," says Padgett.

"So to me that set up a broader dilemma in all of travel and it is the same story with cruise ships. They started small and the cruise experience was personalized. It was individualized, and this was before any technology existed on ships. But as ships grew so did the volume of people experiencing their amenities, attractions, restaurants, retail, casinos and the experience actually degrades.

"I wanted to be the person who creates experiences like something an elite person has on a very limited volume but I wanted to do it at scale because scale gives choice, scale gives options. So that's where I started with the MagicBand."

His eureka moment came on a flight from Hollywood Burbank Airport, just a few miles from Disney's headquarters. Padgett opened the Sky Mall magazine and turned to the golf section where he saw the Trion:Z magnetic therapy bracelet which is designed to help players with their swing.

Padgett says it occurred to him that "if someone wore something like this and it seamlessly interacted with everything that you have on a vacation experience, we could eliminate hotel key cards, credit cards, meal vouchers, Fastpass tickets, transportation vouchers and credit cards." That was just step one as he adds that this could also enable guests to "be recognized as an individual so you could have scale but you could also have a personalized interaction." It sounds like a no-brainer but getting it to market was far from child's play.

"The biggest challenge was telling an organization renowned for being the best of the best on delivering experience, that it was not doing it good enough, and that we could do it better. And if you believe in this little thing, and you believe in this theory of eliminating friction, everything improves. At Disney, the business model was built on growing by building attractions but this was saying, 'no, all your content is great. It's improving access to your content that will increase consumption'. So it was a different mindset.

"There was also a lot of challenge around would people wear a device because wearable devices didn’t exist yet. So you had to believe in the philosophy that if you improve the experience, the guests will do it. So you're not telling them to wear this wearable, you're saying, 'if you do it, we will deliver a greater experience with this MagicBand'. And it was universally adopted. Whether you were three years old or 93 years old, it was instant adoption."

Padget introduced the MagicBand to Disney's theme parks (Photo by Jeff Gritchen/MediaNews ... [+] Group/Orange County Register via Getty Images)

Within just two years, more than 10 million MagicBands had been distributed and although it ushered in a whole new world for Disney, Padgett had even grander plans in mind.

"The reality is it only accomplished half of the equation that I had envisioned," he says. "It took friction out of the overall experience. The math behind it was if you eliminate friction, you increase consumption. And so that was the principle behind the MagicBand.

"The other 50% of it was if I can individually recognize you, I can give you a personalized experience and a personalized experience is more valuable than a commodity experience so it's worth more." Not just for guests but for Disney too. "If I can increase volume by reducing friction, and I can increase value by increasing personalization, those things multiply. You create value for the guest and you create value for the enterprise."

However, he adds "the reality is that the personalization element was before its time. The MagicBand was no doubt the leader in eliminating friction from an entire experience spanning a complete city or destination but what it did not do was deliver personalization at scale. My passion was to finish that job."

The MagicBand was a wearable before the category even existed and although it broke new ground, its potential has yet to be fully realized. Many guests only use the device for entering the parks and paying for tickets, merchandise, food and drink but, other than that, the experience is largely the same as before the tech was introduced. Padgett explains why.

"A fundamental element to achieving personalization at scale is individual recognition and identification. And doing that spanning an entire experience. Well, the Disney model eliminated the transactional friction but it wasn't based on a horizontal platform that spanned every element of the experience to interact uniquely in real time."

In short, as the MagicBand's popularity hadn't been proven when it was introduced, it wasn't integrated into the parks and Disney's MyMagic+ digital platform as widely as it could have been. Having seen the success of the MagicBand at Disney World, a year after Padgett joined Carnival he spearheaded the development of a new form of technology which would be integrated across all aspects of the on-board experience and would finally achieve his aim of true guest personalization.

The gold standard in cruising has long been the ratio between the number of guests and staff with the holy grail being 1:1 as it means that travelers should never be kept waiting. Padgett realised that wireless wearable tech could be used to reach this objective without needing to increase staff numbers and thereby costs.

"My vision was that the concept of personalization at scale would change the game in the travel business," he says. It was shared by Carnival's then-CEO Arnold Donald. "Everyone in the cruise industry knows that the ships were getting bigger and bigger and with that, there were more and more guests to handle," adds Padgett. "But also everyone in the cruise industry knows that yacht-class, small-ship sailing has personalization. So to me, the cruise ship was the perfect platform, a complete city-like environment where I could set out to accomplish this vision of personalization at scale."

Wireless technology was moving so fast that by 2015, when Padgett began exploring the use of it on Princess' ships, he was able to develop a completely new cutting-edge platform for the cruise operator. It now operates on every Princess ship and, as Padgett says, it "orchestrates every single guest interaction, every single crew interaction with every single aspect of the entire experience end-to-end with no exceptions. That means every guest is recognized as an individual with their needs, wants and desires in real time.

"It allows Princess crew members to interact digitally or physically and deliver service to that guest in a personalized way and do it on some of the largest cruise ships in the world. We have accomplished the mission of eliminating friction across the entire experience while delivering a personalized experience in real time to anyone in the world on any ship, any time." It is no exaggeration.

At the heart of the system is a Quarter-sized waterproof, heatproof and sand-proof button-like wearable wireless transmitter called the Ocean Medallion. Inside it are two microscopic antennas – one for Near Field Communication (NFC) and the other utilizing Bluetooth Low Energy. The Medallion is given free to every guest and communicates with receivers scattered all over the ship. In technical jargon, it turns the ship into what is known as an Internet of Things (IoT) - a network of interconnected systems which are embedded with sensors, software, network connectivity and electronics to enable them to collect and exchange data.

Princess's Ocean Medallion brings a new level of personalisation to cruising

In practical terms, it gives guests the kind of freedom and flexibility that could previously only be dreamed of on a cruise. That starts on embarkation as filling in seemingly endless forms is a thing of the past. The Medallions are sent to guests in advance and come with a lanyard or they can be clipped to your shirt. All it takes to get onboard is tapping the Medallion on a receiver and showing your ID to staff. Then the device really comes into its own.

Anyone who has been on a cruise knows how similar the floors and corridors can look. It's usually easy to get lost but not with the Medallion as it can connect to an app on your phone to pinpoint your precise position and even the location of others in your group.

Guests store their name and personal preferences on the app so staff at bars and restaurants know who you are and what you usually order before you get to the front of the queue. Like the MagicBand, it can also be used for payment but that's just the start.

If a guest places an order at the bar and then rushes out to the deck to see a school of dolphins in the sea, the server can use the system to locate them and bring their drink over. The same goes if guests head up to one of the restaurants only to find that it's fully booked. The staff can find them if there's a cancelation before they get a table elsewhere. On other cruise liners guests would have to be contacted by cell phone which can come at quite a cost using satellite connections in the middle of an ocean.

The Medallion even opens the door to their room as they walk up without needing to touch the handle. It even helps guests to get more shut eye as they don't have to be up when housekeeping come round. Thanks to the Medallion locator, housekeeping know when guests have left the room so they can come over to clean it then.

As Padgett says, it is "by far the most advanced experiential IoT that exists on the planet and it is operational at any scale." He explains that two advancements were crucial to its creation. The first was advancements in radio technology and the other was the development of the bespoke Princess OceanPlatform that is installed on hardware throughout the ship to interact with the Medallions.

Padgett says that it is different to the MagicBand tech in almost every way but what really makes the difference is the function of the sensors and receivers scattered around the ship. "We have an embedded sensor network on all the ships that is pervasive versus being at transactional points. The pervasiveness of the sensor network facilitates individual recognition in real time everywhere. Whereas within the theme park model, and I won't say just Disney, I'll say the theme park model, the technology is fundamental to transaction points. On a Princess ship, it's the whole. Generally speaking, the mindset is real time identification and delivery of service any time anywhere. It's dynamic."

Without the OceanPlatform pulling the different sets of data together, the system wouldn't be give guests anywhere near as much flexibility. Padgett adds that Disney lacks this because “it was before its time. When the magic band was created we were still using Blackberries. So the concept of an iOS that would span a physical infrastructure was not conceived. What happened is the MagicBand took you to a level where you could see more potential but you could also see the next hurdle and that was the creation of a platform that spanned all legacy systems."

He says that the OceanPlatform "extends across every single vertical, and when I say that, I'm talking hospitality, restaurants, bars, casinos, recreation." It even operates in the shops at some of the ports Princess' ships stop at "so there's never a break that you have to pull out your credit card.

"It's one thing to say you operate within a theme park, or you operate within a cruise ship, but can you extend that umbrella out to include assets and experiences that you don't physically control, own or operate? The answer is yes and I think more than 12 countries and over 200 different outlets participate in our ecosystem." He says that more are on the way and there's a very basic reason for this.

"The most simple interaction – recognition of your name, your needs, wants, desires and relationships in real time – blows people away so it takes hospitality back to its core. It's weird that we have the most technologically advanced IoT on the planet, enabling a fully connected mobile smart city in real time but the value comes from the most organic service interaction. There is an irony there." It took more than the wave of a magic wand to pull it off.

"The challenge was taking 15 cruise ships that never stop, that are always full and only go into dry dock once every three years for 13 days, and installing a complete IoT infrastructure without altering the economics of the assets, which is to keep them running.

"We did that and I would say that the biggest challenge was figuring out how to do it, which was a tremendous amount of planning. We ended up with a method by which we could do it and not change the overall economics of our dry docking. Then Covid hit and it was very hard to access ships but we were actually able to complete 10 ship transformations during the Covid pause. When everyone else was going home, we went to the ships and finished our job."

Each upgrade involved the installation of 72 miles of cable, 4,000 sensors, 650 readers, 500 edge computing devices and more than 4,000 interactive portals.

Despite getting an unexpected boost from the pandemic, the entire Medallion development process from inception to completion of installation still took seven years from 2015 to 2021.

Padgett explains that at sea "everything is harder than on land. One giant reason is the ship is made of 19 decks of steel. One of the most challenging aspects to deal with is connectivity. Another challenging element is working through satellites versus terrestrial communications. And then the others are all about weight, heat all of those engineering factors are taken to the next level in a maritime environment because of the extreme focus on safety. And the whole thing is moving all the time, even when a ship is in port"

The IoT devices, software, firmware and digital interaction layers for guests and crew were all developed for Princess. It came at quite a cost. "You're talking hundreds of millions. That's complete. That’s development, hardware, software, implementation at scale across a whole fleet of ships."

Like the MagicBands, different bracelets can be bought for the Medallions and Padgett says that the look of the device itself can be "personalized to you based on you as an individual, whether you're in a military branch, your favorite pet, your favorite color, or all of those things."

The Medallion can be personalised in a variety of ways

However, he adds that the system isn't designed to be a revenue generator and is instead "inherent in our overall business model. Apple doesn't look at their iOS segmented from their mobile device or apps. The enterprise value of Apple increased with the advent of iOS but they don't sell iOS itself.

"The overall revenue driver is the personalized experience that it enables you to deliver. So you make money on the whole, not the thing. The value comes from making sure you remember that the thing itself doesn't deliver any value. The experience becomes personalized and hassle free and that is the value to the consumer.

“Value comes from benefiting the consumer holistically across the experience so that they pay more overall both on their initial visit and their repeat visits. That is where you really create value. Differentiation and loyalty are the two key points.

"This is completely unique to Princess and it has become so synonymous with the Princess point of differentiation. Every cruise brand picks a point of differentiation with which to compete and Princess has become synonymous with personalised service at scale."

Indeed, the system is so transformational that Princess created a new name, called MedallionClass, for the category of service which can only be found on its ships. It isn't marketing mumbo-jumbo as the Medallion has won more than 10 major awards and been nominated for a prestigious innovation prize at the Consumer Electronics Show.

Importantly, Padgett says that after it was introduced "we saw double-digit improvements in our experiential levels." It also led to a sea change in the approach towards the lifespan of the ships themselves.

"Before the advent of this, and this happens in theme parks too, the belief was that as your assets get older, your experience goes down. Once we moved to a platform based service delivery, we actually proved that the service level can be ubiquitous, regardless of the age of your physical platform. It was a mindset shift that if an old ship has a universal service delivery that's consistent with your new ships, you can score experiential levels just as high.

"When you put that in the context of a cruise ship roughly costing a billion dollars, spending a few hundred million that can raise the productivity of your entire fleet is a very efficient investment."

It enabled Princess to maximise the use from its assets which increased their return on investment and contributed to Padgett being promoted to president of the brand in 2021. There is more to come from his invention as he says "let's just say that at this point, there's a lot of capabilities that we haven't manifested yet and so we still have a lot in our tank."

Ironically, although Disney pioneered the MagicBand in its parks before any of its rivals more than a decade ago, it only launched it on its cruise ships last summer. Padgett won't comment on why he thinks it has taken the Mouse so long to bring its wearable tech to sea but there is no doubt that with Princess firmly docked in this space it will be tough for Disney to make waves.

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Disney Cast Life

Tips for Beginning a Disney Career

by Ashley Jones , Communications Manager, Walt Disney World Resort

With the May 3 deadline for applying to work at Walt Disney World through the  Fall 2024 Disney College Program  quickly approaching, we thought it’d be a perfect time to share a few secrets of success from seven of the thousands of Disney executives and leaders who have their dream careers after starting as interns.

Disney Programs like the Disney College Program have led cast members to career opportunities throughout all areas of Disney, from theme parks to entertainment to sports and beyond, and it could be the start of your dream career, too!

Debbie Hart,  Vice President, Food & Beverage and Merchandise Lines of Business, Walt Disney World

Years at Disney:  33

First role:  Merchandise Hostess in Fantasyland at Magic Kingdom Park

Favorite part of her internship: “I have so many favorites, including:

• Meeting people and making friends from all over the world – literally!
• Learning guest service and  delivering hospitality that is above and beyond .
• Embracing the power of our Disney brand and ensuring we deliver magical and memorable experiences.
• Having FUN and discovering that work can be joyful  when you are able to do what you LOVE!”

Why she loves working at Disney:  “It really is the Disney Difference. There are so many benefits to being a cast member, including career opportunities, cast discounts, wellness offerings and of course the lifelong friendships we make along the way.”

Advice to future interns:  “Enjoy every moment. Adventure is in front of you and Disney is full of opportunity,  you are the author of your Disney story  – your story can be more than you ever dreamed. Dream BIG!”

Audrey Hauser,  Controls Software Development Principal, Walt Disney Imagineering

Years at Disney:  7

First role:  Fairy Godmother in Training at Bibbidi Bobbidi Boutique

Favorite part of her internships:  “I learned how our frontline operations work, which helps me now when I’m developing software for new attractions. I also had access to intern programs that broadened my network and introduced me to areas of engineering within Disney that I never would’ve known about.”

Why she loves working at Disney:  “I’ve always been interested in technology and engineering as well as art, and  at Disney I can do both . Mickey & Minnie’s Runaway Railway was the first big new attraction that I worked on; I’d always dreamed of working with our Audio-Animatronics figures, and helping bring Mickey’s first ride to life was a dream come true.”

Advice to future interns:  “Once you have your foot in the door, you’ll have so many opportunities to network and learn about other roles.  Reach out to people, because nine times out of ten, they’re going to be willing to talk to you .”

Ketan Sardeshmukh,  Director, Transportation Operations, Walt Disney World

Years at Disney:  18

First role:  Industrial Engineering Intern

Favorite part of his internship:  “I spent so much time getting to know others and learning how important this company is to so many people. Living in the program housing felt a lot like dorm life, too, which I loved.”

Why he loves working at Disney:  “I love being on teams and working together to figure out how we can solve problems — we get to do that all the time and that’s why I’ve stayed here for over 20 years.”

Advice to future interns:  “Understand what a good job is and try your best to do it.  If I had just gone through the motions instead of fully embracing the thing I was being asked to do and everything around me, I don’t think I would’ve learned the things that I was supposed to learn.”

Ronke Olatunji, Senior Manager, Groups Events and Services, Disney Cruise Line

Years at Disney:  20

First role:  Front Desk Hostess at Disney’s Wilderness Lodge

Favorite part of her internship:  “I love the College Program! It gave me a career I didn’t even know was possible and experiences I didn’t know I could have. I’ve had a lot of only-at-Disney moments. I even took classes and earned my ‘ducktorate’.”

Why she loves working at Disney:  “I get to show up in a space with people that want to be around me and each other.  Disney has allowed me to just be my true self, and I’m appreciated for it.”

Advice to future interns:  “I learned very quickly to not put any limitations on yourself, because you don’t know what you don’t know. The great thing about our organization is  if you are inquisitive and you ask questions, people will help you. ”

Punam Dayabhai-Jairambhai,  Director, Premium Services, Walt Disney World

Years with Disney:  25

First role:  Merchandise and Outdoor Vending Hostess in the United Kingdom Pavilion at EPCOT

Favorite part of her internship:  “Living and working together with people from all over the world! I can honestly say those connections will last you a lifetime. You create deep-rooted friendships. And on your days off,  you get to experience the theme parks yourself , and then you get to tell people about that. You’re learning about the product and having fun at the same time.”

Why she loves working at Disney:  “I’ve been able to raise my hand for things. This is an amazing company where you can learn to do different things and not be boxed into one specific type of role. You just have to  put in the effort and show the curiosity and courage to say ‘I want to learn and do more.’ ”

Advice to future interns:  “Learn as much as you can. Grow. Embrace every experience and build those great relationships. The brand you start creating for yourself now will follow you wherever you go, whether you stay with this company or go elsewhere.”

Sarah Riles,  Vice President, Magic Kingdom Park

Years at Disney:  25

Favorite part of her internship:  “When I came to Disney to do my internship, I didn’t know anyone, I had never been to Orlando and I had never been to Disney, so I felt completely overwhelmed. Thankfully, I quickly realized what an incredible opportunity I had and loved it so much I made the decision to extend my internship. I met so many people who I’m still friends with today and best of all, I realized I could do what I love for a company that I love.”

Why she loves working at Disney:  “Disney is a big company with endless opportunities. It’s a company with  a welcoming culture that allows you to find your passion, gain new experiences and meet inspiring people along the way .”

Advice for future interns:  “You all bring a fresh perspective, excitement for learning and a passion for our brand. No matter what role you are in,  you’ll learn how to serve others, solve problems, be a leader amongst your peers and provide the best guest service . Work hard, have fun, and make memories and connections. No matter whether you continue to work here or go on to do other things, the lessons you learn will influence you far beyond today.”

John Dent,  Director, Worldwide Auditing Publications and Projects, Worldwide Safety Assurance

Years with Disney:  34

First role:  Attractions Host in Tomorrowland at Magic Kingdom Park

Favorite part of his internship:  “I still say that my Disney internship was probably one of the best jobs I’ve ever had. It may seem simple, but it involved teamwork, managing success and failure, problem solving and learning the business.  One of the big rewards for me was exposure to our senior leadership and the lessons they took time to share.  They were approachable and genuine and understood the business … and now I’m proud to be the one that passes on those lessons to future leaders.”

Why he loves working at Disney:  “The people I meet and the passion we all have are the differentiator. The connections you make through the College Program and within Disney can lead to a lot of other places. The company has grown so much over the past 34 years, and  there are hundreds of paths you can take advantage of. ”

Advice to future interns:  “The Disney College Program is a great catalyst to figure out what you really want. Don’t hold back. Take full advantage of the time you’re given and realize that the company is equally — if not more — interested in seeing you succeed.”

Topics: Disney Cast Life

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