Rick&Jeannie

Your data is NOT stored in the app. All passenger/booking data is stored in a central database (wherever Princess has their IT datacenter) that is "consulted" by programs that are written to do so...such as the cruise personalizer at Princess.com and/or the Medallion app. Uninstalling the app does not touch your data...it lives on in that central database. The "new app" will simply be "another way" to view that data. I personally use the cruise personalizer almost exclusively in my dealings with Princess. I book directly because "I prefer to make my own mistakes!" The only time I use the "web version" (which is simply a ported version of the smartphone app) is when forced to do so in making dining reservations. I *hope* that they do not force us to use an app to do so in the future...they've got a long way to go before they win my confidence back in their IT programming team (I retired from IT...I *know* what it takes to produce a well written app for the masses...and they don't seem to have it.) I'm probably a dinosaur...I prefer to do all of my computer work on a desktop PC. I just prefer the larger screen. There's just so little screen real estate available on ANY smartphone.

Here's a funny twist...our outside door panel was not displaying properly for a couple of days. We had the Premier package so every time you approach the cabin door it unlocks (obviously) and *usually* flashes up "Better Luck Next Time" regarding the fact that you didn't win anything via "Princess Prizes". This was near the beginning of the cruise. I used crew call chat to inform them about the panel. A few days later I checked our account folio (as everybody should be doing...) and found an entry "Princess Prizes - Non Refundable Credit" for $25. It appears that while our display was out...we actually won that $25! First time we've ever won anything via Princess Prizes.

As has been stated several times above..."It all comes out in the wash!" While you may not be able to *directly* say that you want some of your OBC to go towards grats (assuming you are not booked with a package that includes them automatically) *EVERYTHING* gets applied to your onboard folio...so yes...your OBC will go towards grats along with anything else that you purchase/order/whatever.

Almost *all* cabins will accept magnetic hooks...

We just got off the Sky last Saturday. At one of our MDR meals the waiter (when taking our order) said "I see from your profile that you have an allergy to shellfish...". Hmmm, no, I've never had any food allergies and I certainly never entered that into my online profile...but they obviously *do* seem to pay attention to what you enter, even if it's wrong!

Do we have plenty of popcorn on hand....?

You cannot book cruises through the app, only "administer" existing cruises. Now, that may all change with the new app that is due out Dec. 1st...nobody really knows what this new app is going to deliver yet. So, to answer your question, you will still book via the web (should you desire to book directly with Princess) as you have always been able to do. And...unless they drastically change the dining reservations (they certainly could) you can use the "web version" in your cruise personalizer to make your dining reservations.

Agreed!

Maybe I've missed something in this thread....but has anybody given thought to the *possibility* that this new app has been developed by another firm? Maybe...just maybe Princess has "seen the light" with the current dev team and has decided to go with someone that has a bit more software prowess? We can only hope...

Hmmmm...I dunno. I never even liked the *name* scurvy...

Hence the root of your problem finally arises. The S9 series is rather lacking in the horsepower needed for many of today's generation of apps. Don't get me wrong...I am not defending the app here at all. It has been several years since I've had an S9 (I started with rhe S3!) So I have seen the evolution of the Samsung Galaxy phones. I'm currently on the S22. The Medallion App "works" just fine on the (newer) Android phones. It is still a very poorly designed app...anybody who has been sailing with Princess for about 5 years can attest to that but also will likely say that it has come a long way during that time. The problem with every release since the beginning is that each version has required more and more operating memory. The earlier phones *generally* were lower capacity ram, causing the problems. Newer generation phones typically come with *at least* 256 gb of ram...some much more. A 128gb phone simply can't run the app. Sadly, most of today's programming graduates are not taught how to optimize their code such that it will run in more limited capacity phones. They are basically taught that "ram is cheap, therefore view it as being unlimited" which simply is not true. When you were told that the app was not written for Android phones, I suspect that there may have been a bit of language "disconnect" and what they *meant* to say was that it was not written for an Android as old or as ram-limited. As I stated earlier, I use an S22. I just got off the Sky Princess for a transatlantic cruise. I had no issues just like others before me have stated. I know phones are crazy expensive these days...but you would be very impressed with the speed and picture quality of the newest generation of phones available.

No limit from the Princess side...but you are limited to 5 cards purchased per month by AARP. I have paid 1 cruise in full with gift cards and probably a half on 2 others.

Methinks perhaps that you are confusing the chat function from Princess.com (which is what we're discussing in this thread) with "crew call chat" in the Medallion app.

We did this cruise in May of this year. We had some challenges that I shared in this thread: https://boards.cruisecritic.com/topic/2939159-sky-princess-iceland-missed-ports/&ved=2ahUKEwjzmpyd4uGCAxU_ke4BHUuMA1kQFnoECBQQAQ&usg=AOvVaw1e4OXwDjssMQtxaL26yusV We enjoyed the cruise...we just didn't quite get the cruise we signed up for.

I have seen it reported here on CC that it is $1500...but I do not have firsthand knowledge.

8% discount

I fully understand that it is expensive, time consuming and a real hassle for most to get a passport (unless you live in a city that has an actual passport office)...but if you have committed to travel why would you not make it as easy as possible and just get a passport?

What does it say in your travel documents?

Several years ago (probably soon after the medallions were introduced) they were shipped by FedEx. Haven't seen that for a while...

I have purchased *many* gift cards via AARP, but always with the intent of paying off the cruise fare. And...only because of the discount involved. I don't see the point of "pre-purchasing" OBC when it's just a difference of when it actually hits your credit card. (Maybe it's just me...)

All OBC *should* be used before anything ever hits your credit card.

There is a definite "disconnect" pre-cruise vs onboard.

But are they discounted as with AARP?

@aaa77 welcome to Cruise Critic. I'm sorry you've had so much trouble with getting help. There are quite a few regular posters here on Cruise Critic that would gladly offer help in that area. Just as a side note...you have responded to a thread that was 2 years old. The Medallion App has been improved quite a bit in those 2 years...I don't know what type of trouble you were having but just know that *many* people have successfully cruised without using the app at all. Also, note that there is a difference between the app and the actual Medallion itself. The physical Medallion is just the "new and improved" version of the plastic cruise card that has been in use for decades.

I was going to say noon, but after reflection I agree with 11:00am. It all depends on how "risk averse" you are.