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Thanks everyone so much... it's been maybe ten years since I took a number of Princess cruises...things were much simpler then......board, eat, sleep, get spoiled, sleep again .......

Thank you!!!!!!

Have been trying to get answers from Princess for about 2 hours now, keep getting cut off ,or the site crashes, so apologize for posting here, but leaving on Sunday. So far I have dealt with four chat reps and then get timed out and lose them.  I am incredibly frustrated.  1) What time do I board? The reps keep telling me it's in the email....the email says to use the Medallion apo...mine doesn't work at all, the online version crashes, or logs me out about every three minutes, can't find it in time.   2) The email tells me to go to "x"  and get a boarding pass... there is nothing in what I see to even find a boarding pass.... isn't that the whole purpose of the Medallion? (which I now have, though useless apparently), and 3) I have rather limited luggage and would prefer to not use a porter... twice on cruises my luggage didn't turn up until midnight once, not until morning the next day on another.  I was sent to my Cruise Personalizer by one rep.... it flashed on the screen and them crashed...cannot get back in.  I think I have made a huge mistake by taking this cruise if Princess is this hard to deal with. Sorry for the rant, any suggestions?

On 10/16/2023 at 1:16 PM, shiner6 said:

I had to call 3 times before I found someone who was able to help me, then it was easy peasy.

I had sent an email request for help, and was quite surprised to get a call two days ago. A truly helpful rep walked me through it, telling me all the while that the Customer Service reps are incredibly frustrated with the medallion app....she said that is is about 50/50 whether it works or not. She took my requests, but then had to go off to someone else in the dining area as her own system crashed while talking to her. I got an email this morning that they were finally able to get into my account and possibly solve the dining issue. I have two reservations ...but her suggestions was to check with the maitre'd as soon as I board as the system troubles they were having that day may not have allowed my requests to actually go through... Aargh.

13 hours ago, Steelers36 said:

Hmmm... it appears Princess is locking up group people thinking you all do exactly the same thing.  If I were you, I would contact DMW support via phone.  Let them know about the issie and explain not everyone of 200 ppl is going to be doing the same thing all the time. 

 

Also, write CustomerRelations@PrincessCruises.com.

Thanks, I will send an email, the few times I have called Princess in the past few months, I have reached truly incompetent people and just went around in circles. The last guy was of no help except he was trying to push the mailing of the medallion instead of me picking it up at the port. I finally got tied of his constant begging and politely said, OK and said Goodbye. All I had wanted to do in that phone call was change the expiration date of my credit card, and he couldn't help..... when I figured it out on my own, it took seconds.

9 hours ago, donswife said:

Do you have an account with Princess using your captain's circle #?  I only log into the app with my email address and password,  same as the website.  It seems to run into problems when passengers log in to the app using booking number.

Ironic for me is that I cannot use my booking number to log in. It's there when I get into my account, but using it to log in says the booking number doesn't exist... or even from the log in page, I get a message that the booking number is already assigned.

1 hour ago, Steelers36 said:

As for getting something else, you have left this very late to be booking dining and many/most choices could be gone for a Private table for 1/2.  You can be a walk-up on the ship if not finding the time you want.

Got into the Dine My Way pages in the online app. I figured one of the specialty places would be good for a sea day....but again, it tries to book me for the entire cruise in the Grill ( I thought that there was more than one) ,  and doesn't allow individual days..... must be something with the group booking. I understand that one night will cancel me out of the other, but I am not even given that option. I get the available times on the left hand side, (which appear to be all times always available), but not a choice of days.

1 hour ago, Steelers36 said:

Never use the "Link My Booking" option.  We don't even know why it is there.  Your booking will already be linked to the App.  You can login with Name, BD, Booking Number and try that.  The Web version "should" work. 

 

Obviously, you got in or you wouldn't see your group res.  You should delete the group res if you want to do your own thing.  It looks like you are selecting the whole voyage option.  You need to do individual nights and then select the day you are trying to book and then the time.  It should warn you the existing res for that night will be canceled.  IDK if a big group res is different and "locked in".  Never heard of the issue before.  See if you can delete individual nights from night 2 onwards.  You have to do it a day-at-a-time to delete.

 

As for getting something else, you have left this very late to be booking dining and many/most choices could be gone for a Private table for 1/2.  You can be a walk-up on the ship if not finding the time you want.

Thanks, the Web version did help some, but the dining thing is quite confusing.  I will have to wait until I see what the seating arrangements are for the group. If it can accommodate a table for two, even four, I can work with that. I didn't see an option on the online app for choosing individual nights...will have to go back in and see if I can find it. I may, or may not, want to always eat with the group at that time.

And yes, the group reservation applied for each night automatically when I got into dining.... which is what threw me as I was thinking a couple of nights of quiet dining might be preferred.

1 hour ago, Jeal said:

Be sure to fill out the special needs form and indicate hearing impaired or go to the restaurant when you get on the ship and tell them your issue. They are usually very accommodating especially if you want to eat early. 

Thanks, the hearing impaired issue is simply that I am deaf in one ear and mass crowds and/or noisy settings are quite difficult.  I get quite confused as to where what sound is coming from, and at the traditional table to 6 or 8, I can usually only hear the person immediately next to me  

Thanks for both replies..... 1) I just downloaded the Princess app today, thinking that I should start to plan, so it shouldn't be a problem being a brand new app for me,

and 2) I do not have the screen that shows up in the second post. All I get is the Ocean Ready Travel Checklist Screen, which is all filled in, and a link to "link my booking" which doesn't recognize the booking number.   The online app did give me the dining option choice, but not much, just the time and the two main dining rooms.... but then I cannot do the dining reservations as I would like to do.

Under the app on my phone with the first screen, I can click on Dining Preferences, but that is simply allergies and such

TO make things a little more complicated, I was able to try the online version of the app,  which crashes every few minutes, so I have to keep logging in and hoping....  but I cannot choose the days for reserving a single table. It keeps locking me in to a single table every night as I prefer, plus the group booking. (I am travelling with a group of about 200, and my dining reservations in the online version show every night at 7:20 with the group.) Having a hearing issue, I prefer to eat alone (though the first night I must for announcements and such). I was hoping to pick and choose dates for a single table... so I may have to wait until I board, and then hope for the best or eat in the buffet, or get room service.   Aargh!

I have read many places about snagging reservations in the restaurants before sailing....but the medallion app on my phone, while recognizing my name, does nothing else. When I try to link it on the second screen. it also says I have the wrong booking number. Does this feature not activate until I am onboard? Apparently, I am being mailed the gizmo before the cruise, but it's November 12th, still waiting.  Is there a flood of attempts to reserve the restaurants on embarkation day?

13 minutes ago, jsn55 said:

OMG, did you "call someone a name"?  I think if someone referred to me by a noun I was unfamiliar with, I'd look it up before being offended.  But then, some people are looking for reasons to be offended I suppose.  Luddite has been around a very long time to refer to someone who's behind the times.  Perhaps it has a shaky origin??

It is truly unfortunate that I came here LEGITIMATELY asking questions only to be shot down and, yes, insulted. I expected more from this board. I THOUGHT I could find answers to real questions....guess not.  I left high school decades ago, it is quite obvious many here did not. 

RE: JSN55 & the reply regarding a phone. Thanks for mentioning that. I have no desire to do anything with a phone on a cruise, and plan on only using the medallion to open my cabin door, so glad to know that it really isn't necessary. I'll just board and do things the easy way and not get stressed out. Considering the confusion surrounding this as seen in multiple posts... wonder if Princess  is going to continue to keep it as it seems to be fraught with issues.

5 minutes ago, Steelers36 said:

If they are using virtually a full DR at 7:15pm (IDK how many can be seated in the DR), then they have to use the 2-tops, the 4-tops, the 6-tops, 8-tops, etc.  So, just let them know you need a two top not in the middle.  It does sound like a good set of hearing aids would help, but IDK your hearing issue or whether it is too late for that.  Good ;luck.  You can certainly dine elsewhere and at a different time than the group and no doubt many members will end up doing so after the first night or so.

The table set-up is troubling, BUT I always have the choice of the regular dining rooms or the buffets. I'll have to  "play it by ear" (bad pun). Hearing aids are of no use as I am deaf in one ear, perfect in the other...so every single noise anywhere funnels into one, and makes noisy situations almost unbearable.

28 minutes ago, memoak said:

You have to be connected to medallion net. This is only possible when you are on the ship. No need to stress

Thanks!!!

13 hours ago, Steelers36 said:

Hi.  Looks like many questions you had not got answered yet.

 

The physical Medallion is your id to board and disbark the ship.  It unlocks your cabin door.  It identifies you to bar staff or sales personnel in shops, etc, in order to charge purchases to your cabin account.

 

The Medallions can be shipped to you if you have a US address.  It costs $10, unless you are booked with the Plus or Premier cruise fare packages.  Otherwise, you collect at the pier terminal when checking in - just like the old cruise cards.

 

There is also a software app.. the Princess App... which has pre-cruise check-in process and other options, plus a slew of functionality while on board the ship.  Up to you whether to use the App, but it makes whole experience better for most folks, at least while on the cruise.

 

Yes, there is an excursion desk but be forewarned that several excursions may be sold out if you wait until boarding and prices often go up.  You can shop Princess excursions using the Cruise Personalizer.

 

Formal nights are still held and you can read about them on Princess.com.  Sometimes one of those nights has a Dress To Impress moniker and lately they have been doing white & gold theme.  But that one doesn't seem to be very popular.

 

You can dress anything from Smart Casual to black tie on formal night and fine you are.  You will find that in Caribbean sector the dress is more to the casual end of spectrum these days than to the unchanged Princess recommendations (read on Princess.com in the FAQs).

 

You say you are part of a group that has dining arrangements.  Are you sure they included you?  Did someone in the group book dinner res using DineMyWay (DMW) for the entire group?  They would have needed your booking confirmation code for that.  I could answer you better if you can say more about the arrangement. 

 

Something you should know.  Let's say someone booked you all for a table in the same DR each night at 6pm.  This is no guarantee you are at the same table with the same waiters each night.  If that is what your group is looking for, it needs to be requested of DR Mgmt after boarding.  Until you are confirmed on board into the same table each night, you will have to check in with hosts at the door to see where they seat you.

 

I will address your App issue in another post.

 

re: "You say you are part of a group that has dining arrangements.  Are you sure they included you?" Yes, I should be part of maybe 400-500 people, and either a full dining room, or a portion of the dining rooms is dedicated only to those in my group, at 7:15 only. I also have the option, as I have done before, of just showing up at one of the dining rooms and being seated. Honestly, that is more preferable to me as I have a hearing issue, and dining at a table with more than 2 is difficult.... the surrounded noise (voices, music, even clinking of dishes make hearing clearly impossible and frustrating, so I tend to eat alone). Thanks!!!

2 minutes ago, memoak said:

The app is good for a few things on board. We use it to check our folios and see what is on the menu that day. 

Could that be only when you get to the ship? I have nothing that leads me to what you are mentioning.

40 minutes ago, WAvoyager said:

For the Medallion itself, everything seems to work well - it does all the functions it’s supposed to do, unless you end up with one with a dead/dying battery, then there may be issues (Al which a quick visit to guest services will clear up).  Most of the problems (delayed/undelivered food or drinks) are probably less of a medallion issue and more of an operational issue.  Getting into the rooms, using it to access onboard account, calling up info on the ships screens - all works fine.

 

The Medallion App is much more hit or miss, but we’ve been on 3 cruises since the restart, and the app has done everything we needed it to.  A couple of small temporary issues which cleared themselves up in a day or two, pre-boarding.  While on the ship, everything seemed to work okay, with occasional outages where we couldn’t pull up the daily activities.  You don’t use it to get into your room.

" the app has done everything we needed it to."

I think I am going to wait until I get on the ship for help. When I open the phone app, I have no connections to anything at all... it also crashes every time I try to go backwards... to the point that it has twice completely deleted the app from my phone.  Thanks for your reply!

26 minutes ago, jsn55 said:

The big issues with ignoring the whole medallion mess until a month out are sold-out ShoreXs and inability to book a special dinner at the time you want.  But I believe you can do that on the phone ... maybe.  And for the record, lots of pax have no issues with the medallion system and think it's great.  For some of us, it's just too frustrating. 

 

There are two camps when it comes to technology.  For example, I was asking something on another thread about my phone not operating outside the US ... someone responded that I could rent a phone that would work in Europe.  Sure thing, but it would take me most of the cruise to learn how to use the rented phone.  Kinda exemplifies the difference between those of us who get it and those of us who don't  That's the basic difference with using medallion ... some of us take forever to figure out how to do things.  Others just jump right in and start paddling.  The paddlers can't seem to comprehend the problem.  

That's about what I was thinking... it's a 50/50 split and really not worth me wasting my time. What I am seeing on both the phone app and the web app have nothing that indicate I can do anything at all with it...just the  "fill in your personal info stuff" I also have no intention of trying to use my phone at all on the ship unless I am using WIFI. I did a couple of the special dining rooms on my last Princess cruses years ago and was not really enthralled, plus I have done the Caribbean enough to probably just stay on the ship and relax.

9 hours ago, Steelers36 said:

It's not your fault for trying, but never use the Link My Booking option.  It doesn't do anything.

 

Your booking shows up in the App within a day or so after making it and putting down a deposit.

 

You should see it when logging in with email id and pswd ... same as you use on Princess.com website.  If that is not working, the App has an alternate sign-in process where you use Name, Birthdate, Confirmation Code.  If that doesn't work and the booking is not brand new, then there  could be a data corruption issue between the main reservation system (POLAR) and the Princess App (formerly Medallion Class App).

 

There is a Web version of the Princess App.  Login to Princess.com and access the Cruise Personalizer.  On the main page, the App is advertised along with links to the Play Store.  In the small print is a link to the URL for the App web version.

 

Login again and you should get access to your booking.

 

If not, call in to Princess and, using the phone tree options, choose help getting Ocean Ready.

Thanks, the web version is equally as elusive. All I get on that is a single page, no links, no buttons, no way to connect to anything. (like supposedly I am able to book excursions, dinners, etc ) All it has is about 5 lines of my personal info....that's it. As my cruise isn't until November, I'll try again at some point (it was booked and deposited last Thursday) but otherwise, I will just ignore it, and pick on up at the port. From the multiple posts, it appears that few use it except to get into their rooms, and it is fraught with problems.

9 hours ago, jsn55 said:

 

Thank you so much, an invaluable post!!!  Last time I sailed was with the credit card key, so basically Princess decided to ditch that, confuse the daylights out of people, and use this electronic device that always doesn't work LOL

1 hour ago, Thrak said:

Don't mess with your booking number. Sign into the app and your cruise should be there - unless you just booked it.

Thanks, that is also an issue.... I can sign into the app, but all I get is the  "Ocean Ready" page asking for my personal info, there are no other links or button, or tabs to do anything else. That page then asks me to link my booking (thus the booking  #) and it simply says, "this booking number has already been claimed'.... so am I supposed to sign in on my laptop instead? I do get a "preferences" option, but that is for room configuration, food issues, etc. 

I have just booked a cruise in November, Caribbean Princess, that has the medallion button.

I see this is going to be an exercise in true frustration after having sifted through about a year of posts. Can't find what I am looking for, or see conflicting answers .... so a bunch of questions ...

Do I need to do anything at all with it? It looks like it is simply to open my cabin door and pick up drinks at the bar? (I have no interest in the fancy dining, nor shore excursions other than the beach days). Do I just pick it up when I board? Some say they ordered it online... from where? Do I have to lug my phone with me around the ship? Do I just carry it in my pocket? I have no interest in even a lanyard around my neck like Paddington.

I downloaded the app, but it doesn't recognize my booking number. I tried using the Chat for Customer Service,  that didn't work, then tried a phone and had a 45 minute wait. Neither a good sign.

I am with a group with their own dining arrangements, so as I remember from a few cruises 10+ years ago, you just walk up to the host to get seated, we have a set dining time. Is that correct?

Do they still have the excursion desk to make this a LOT easier?

Are formal nights pretty much the thing of the past other than nice clothes? My last three  never required jackets for men, just long sleeve shirts & a tie. With luggage sizes, I have no plans on taking a jacket, plus it's the Caribbean and hot, so rather uncomfortable to be decked out in formal stuff.

Appreciate any of the above to be cleared up!  This is MUCH different than when I last cruised. Not sure if this is worth it,,,,but too late. 

Thanks!!

For shore excursions