Booking dining before cruise -- not possible?

[659fcs]

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?

[Lady Arwen]

You should be able to book dining reservations now.  Have you tried deleting the app and starting over?  You can also go to the Princess website and there is a link to use an online version of the app.  We have had no problems with the app, both booking MDR reservations and specialty restaurants.  The app is wonky for sure.  Works great for some and not so much for others.  
 

Booking onboard is hit and miss.  You may be able to get the times you want, but maybe not.  Specialty restaurants tend to book up very fast and some may have very little availability when you board,  you just never know.  I would try to get the app working.  It may take a few tries.  Good luck.

[LACruiser88]

Are you seeing the below window on the app?  The "Dine My Way" tab is where you can make your dining reservation.

 

 

 

 

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[659fcs]

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!

[Steelers36]

1 hour ago, 659fcs said:

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!

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.

[Jeal]

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. 

[659fcs]

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  

[659fcs]

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.

[659fcs]

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.

[Steelers36]

44 minutes ago, 659fcs said:

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.

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.

[Arizona Wildcat]

I simply called Princess.  The app is awful.  Better if I use the web version, but frequently crashes.

I note that on board the first night the whole reservation system crashed.  So nobody had any reservations.

Last, if you got a group fare the system assumes you will all eat together. Thus, back to the top - call Princess and let them know what you need.

[donswife]

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.

[659fcs]

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.

 

[659fcs]

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.

[Steelers36]

1 hour ago, 659fcs said:

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.

SMH.

[shiner6]

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

[659fcs]

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.

[mtnesterz]

11 hours ago, 659fcs said:

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.

The dine line on the ship gets things done when all else fails. It's OK to wait until on the ship to reserve.  Last two cruises, few are eating in the Specialty or Casual venues. Prices are too high.

But first, forget the App. Use the web based version. Now, where you log in, don't use the top part, it will not link you to your booking number. As Steelers36 mentioned, they should just get rid of that. Scroll to the bottom, log in with your booking number.

Dining reservations, meaning daily, not specialty, is time consuming but you'll figure it out and get through it..

Edited October 27, 2023 by mtnesterz