Cruise line websites . What is the issue ?

[Mary229]

1 hour ago, ecs66 said:

On Princess, we used to snag the cabins we wanted online.  Now they pretty much make assignments.  Not happy about that, and I can't see how that's helpful to them.  Isn't the purpose of having a website to cut down on personnel at the company and make it more autonomous for the traveler?

Prior to the travel lockdowns  the push was for a retail like website and everyone would buy travel with a click and a credit card.  The issues exposed during 2020-2022 are causing a rethink of that goal.  Currently there is a strong push to have consumers go through a travel agent.  The cabin selection issue is a new wrinkle and I think it will be met with fierce consumer opposition unless they quit selling those “problem cabins”🙄

[jsn55]

4 hours ago, ecs66 said:

On Princess, we used to snag the cabins we wanted online.  Now they pretty much make assignments.  Not happy about that, and I can't see how that's helpful to them.  Isn't the purpose of having a website to cut down on personnel at the company and make it more autonomous for the traveler?

Princess IT is a mess.  Has been since I started trying 2 use it a few yrs ago.  I'm grateful to have a great TA cruise specialist w her own direct contacts; but even she has issues trying 2 do the most basic stuff sometimes.  Princess is always a last resort in my plans.

 

[ecs66]

2 hours ago, jsn55 said:

Princess IT is a mess.

And if you think the IT web engineers and designers are a mess, wait 'til you get on board and try to get assistance from the "tech" people there.  Oy!  Occasionally, you will luck out and find a true geek who understands the issue and knows exactly how to make it work.  Bur usually not.

[clo]

19 minutes ago, ecs66 said:

And if you think the IT web engineers and designers are a mess, wait 'til you get on board and try to get assistance from the "tech" people there.  Oy!  Occasionally, you will luck out and find a true geek who understands the issue and knows exactly how to make it work.  Bur usually not.

I don't care enough to be SHOCKED but why would a single cruise ship have a true IT person on board????

[broberts]

33 minutes ago, clo said:

I don't care enough to be SHOCKED but why would a single cruise ship have a true IT person on board????

 

While they may not be outward facing, I would expect a ship to have several highly qualified IT professionals aboard. 

[clo]

32 minutes ago, broberts said:

 

While they may not be outward facing, I would expect a ship to have several highly qualified IT professionals aboard. 

Why? Doesn't everything get controlled by the people in home office? If some piece of equipment fails I'd think they'd have to have 'spares."

[broberts]

34 minutes ago, clo said:

Why? Doesn't everything get controlled by the people in home office? If some piece of equipment fails I'd think they'd have to have 'spares."

 

Aside from the passenger available WiFi, a modern cruise ship will have several internal WiFi and wired networks. Remember, a modern cruise ship is essentially a 5,000 bed hotel with all the administrative and operational systems that entails. Plus it has an electrical generating plant equivalent to a small town, at least one satellite uplink, navigational and radar systems, etc.

[clo]

28 minutes ago, broberts said:

 

Aside from the passenger available WiFi, a modern cruise ship will have several internal WiFi and wired networks. Remember, a modern cruise ship is essentially a 5,000 bed hotel with all the administrative and operational systems that entails. Plus it has an electrical generating plant equivalent to a small town, at least one satellite uplink, navigational and radar systems, etc.

And how does any of that mean that they can 'fix' system/company wide problems? I think people are looking to complain. Who has contacted  Mr. Del Rio? I'm a firm believer of going to the top when my first method doesn't work.

[broberts]

9 minutes ago, clo said:

And how does any of that mean that they can 'fix' system/company wide problems? I think people are looking to complain. Who has contacted  Mr. Del Rio? I'm a firm believer of going to the top when my first method doesn't work.

 

It doesn't. I was responding to a comment see post #29.