Carnival Corp. has unveiled three
sea creatures that will serve as avatars for passengers using the Ocean
Medallion electronic system, which debuts on Princess Cruises in November.
The creatures are meant to be
whimsical tools that let passengers play games and provide a light and fun
extra dimension to the cruise.
Guests can choose to be a sea
turtle, seahorse or butterfly fish, depending on which reflects their "alter
ego," Carnival said. They can then customize the image by body shape,
color, pattern, and marks such as tattoos.
Carnival has dubbed the avatars "tagalongs"
because they can move with the passenger from electronic screen to electronic
screen as they travel about the ship.
When guests create a profile in
the Ocean Compass feature of the system, they can also create the tagalong. It
isn't required.
Once created, the animated
tagalongs will appear online within a guest's profile and in interactive
PlayOcean games that can be played online, as well as interacting within
electronic portals around the ship. Tagalongs evolve throughout the cruise,
reflecting the personality and interactions of the guest and collecting "charms"
that show off their achievements.
"The Ocean Tagalong is a
great way for guests to express themselves and gives us the opportunity to
engage them in unique experiences that amplify fun and stoke their competitive
spirits," said John Padgett, chief experience and innovation officer for
Carnival Corp,
After the cruise, tagalongs can be
stored for use on future cruises.