HleeCruiser

3 hours ago, MissP22 said:

Princess has been casual dress on formal nights for quite a while, especially on Alaskan cruises.

The last three cruises I went on Princess,  formal night was NOT casual.  Most men had on jacket and ties and the ladies had nice dresses or pant suits.  There will always be a sprinkling of guys with slacks and collared polo shirts but definitely in the minority.  And saw men with shorts on turned away.  

2 hours ago, LACruiser88 said:

With the sailing of the Majestic in Alaska, the Maitre d'hotel position has been renamed the Director of Restaurant Operations.  For us, this new name gives the impression that the position is now more of a "Bean Counter" position and not the traditionally hospitality driven responsibilities of the Maitre d'hotel.  In our experience, the Maitre d' has always been very visible, accessible and helpful.  Time will tell how this affects the dining room service and atmosphere...

 

The following is the Wikipedia definition of the position;  "front of the house", of a formal restaurant. The responsibilities of a maître d'hôtel generally include supervising the waiting staff, welcoming guests and assigning tables to them, taking reservations, and ensuring that guests are satisfied.^[

Not a big deal.  Been on over 35 cruises and never felt a need to see or talk to the Maitre d'hotel.  Head waiter absolutely.  They are accessible and are responsive to the diners' needs.  

7 hours ago, MissP22 said:

All talk of reservations will only cause more delays for dining in the evening. They'll now be holding tables for people to arrive just about anytime when they could be used for people standing in line waiting to eat. I can't possible see how they thought this would speed up things.

I totally agree with you.  The Early and Late Traditional plus Anytime Dining has worked for us for the past 6 cruises.  This new system does nothing IMO to improve the situation .  

11 hours ago, Steelers36 said:

Some updates concerning DMW.  Princess and OCEAN team knows this has been a problem area and are "fully engaged" in fixing it.  Acknowledged to me that it is certainly not working as intended.

 

Ship personnel were involved in original design or business spec, but IDK if was a F&B Mgr, or a MD, for example.  I was unable to find out who represented dining, but ought to have been someone(s) very knowledgeable since this is a huge new step for Princess.  Wish I could say, but don't know - and I also have not seen the spec's, so IDK how far off-base OCEAN Team was, or if specs were too simple.  Since I am an IT guy, I'd love to know, but no info (and why should it be shared with a customer/shareholder?). 

 

When DMW was first designed/spec'd it was at a time when Covid-19 was still very much alive and was done under different set of anticipated needs/requirements, including social distancing and splitting people up to dine by cabins.  I'm getting a somewhat sanitized version of things, but I imagine they are in scramble mode to get this area addressed and improved.

 

They do plan to integrate table size into the selection process for making a res, but I was not told any further particulars (I would have needed to be talking to an IT team lead or PM I suspect).  Princess is committed to maintaining the TD concept/experience.  So, this does include choice to dine with others or not (table size).  Includes same location and waiters - but again IDK how they are doing that and got no further insight as yet.  I probed about what the vision was for how DMW data would be passed on to the on-board MD's and how their function/process changes and no answer (at least yet). 

 

I asked about the Pace of Service criteria that is part of our Preference profile in MC App.  Nothing definitive, but intent seems to be to try and group like-minded together who have indicated a preference.  It was noted any desire to speed up, etc, is easily handled now by speaking with waiter(s). 

 

In some of the DMW literature, it mentions selecting table location.  Again, no answer on what that means or how.  Obviously, we have always been able to request something from the MD on board, or walk-ups can make verbal requests that may be filled on available basis.  

 

I also did not get an answer right off on any missing inventory.  And there was no set date when dining can be open to mix strangers at same table.  I don't think they built that into the App originally at all, so we aren't seeing it out in 2022.  IDK if they are going to clear out future res in 2022/2023, say, when DMW can support more robust reservation choices, but that idea has been passed to the team.  (If they don't do that, then how can they combine multiple parties or know who wants to dine with others and who doesn't unless start over again?)

 

I had suggested the DMW function highlight the time-slots that fall into the TD windows for Early and Late and not just be off in a FAQ on Princess.com. 

 

Didn't get any insight on missing DR's from DMW inventory and if the DR's will continue to be divided as before or mix TD and AT all over.  (I don't care personally if a DR is all one or the other or is mixed.  I'd just like to keep same location and waiters each night - assuming they are good ones LOL).

 

So, in general, a detailed letter I sent to several exec's at PCL was well-received and shared around, including to OCEAN Team.  At least I am told this and I believe it.  What among the DMW issues raised here on CC and in my letter get attention sooner or later - and in what manner - remains to be seen.

 

Some of the discussion I had today needs follow up and I expect to hear back more next week.  I really do think they got a good understanding of the design/feature issues and want to fix it.  I wish I would have been told they have decided to do this and this and this.  Details were scant and can only hope they do take the issues/shortcomings to heart and work to resolve them.  

 

I didn't get any particular insight as to when voyages for which DMW is not working will start working.  I'd say, of you have a near-term voyage and cannot make a booking, then call the OCEAN support team.

In the meantime, of course attention is on the first voyages and getting guests sorted out there, including data fixes and such.

 

While I did get some warm and fuzzies as in they are going to right the DMW ship, I wish I heard more concrete specifics.

Hope this is of value to some of you, even though it is short on more specificity.

 

 

 

Thanks,  Happy to hear that your impression is they will maintain Early and Late Traditional Dining and make it a choice in the app.  As long time cruisers we want to eat at the same time nightly in the same dining room with the same waitstaff.  Frankly I do not see what was wrong with the way it was with Traditionalist choosing early or late and Anytime Diners going whenever they feel like it.  Provide as much flexibility as needed to satisfy their customers!!

Finally able to make dinner res. after updating the app.  However there was no option to book Traditional Late dining in the Amalfi dining room with a table of 8.  The only option available was a table for 2 in the Santorini Dining room.  We did however have several time slots available.  

Sure hope by Dec 30 there will be Traditional Late dining available with other guests.  That is one of the things we love about cruising.

Anyone else have a different experience when booking their res for dinner?

How will we print our baggage tags?   I have an almost new Android phone that the MC app works on but not sure how to print from this app if this is indeed the portal for printing bag tags.  Hopefully this function will be available from the Personalizer on my desktop.

PS Dine my Way function on my phone does not work.  All other functions appear to be ok since I got green check marks on all the other requirements.

Thanks,

I remain underwhelmed by Princess handling of the Dining My Way part of the app.  I have tried several times over the past couple of weeks to reinstate the Late Traditional dining time that was booked and confirmed when I made the reservation.  They just dumped it with no explanation and Princess Res. does not have a clue what is going on with our dinner reservations.  Our cruise is 30 Dec. 2021.  

On another note, no one at Princess can tell me what our internet will cost.  We are Elite loyalty level and have enjoyed the free minutes in the past.  Really not happy with Princess's "improvement" of the loyalty benefits.  

3 hours ago, Tedferg said:

There is a link titled 'Well the Good News Is' The poster said after discussing problems with a support person that, as Steelers36 suggested, the problems are with the way data is presented and there would be a clean up and new release August 31. In the mean time they were fixing problems one at a time with early cruise dates.

 

It is typical of a naïve IT person to run tests against a good sample data base and overlook the fact that real data, possibly transferred from another system, will act very differently.

Thank you.  I will just wait patiently until August 31.

26 minutes ago, voljeep said:

app will "Come Back New" - 8/31/21 ...

I have not heard this bit of news.  What is your source for the "Come Back New"  news that the app is coming back in August?  Thank you.

18 hours ago, ehogan said:

I booked for a June 2, 2022 cruise several months ago and asked for traditional dining, table for four, early seating on the personalizer.  This was transferred to our Medallian account correctly except the dining room assigned was Michelangelo.  Thought this was curious since usually Bottecelli is assigned for traditional.

 

However since so far I have had no problems with Medallion either on my ipad or android phone I am certainly not complaining.  We had been on a previous Medallion cruise and all of our data (passports, photos, etc) were transferred as well.  Not sure if this is why all went smoothly.

 

I did try to change dining one day when we will be late back to the ship and it said I had to wait.

We are cruising in Dec 2021 and our Late Traditional Confirmed dining disappeared from our booking and has not shown up in the app.  I attempted to enter my own reservation and got the message "Try Back Later".  Well I have been trying and get the same message every day!!  

18 hours ago, AF-1 said:

I gotta say for all those people on this forum who are having issues with the app or on hold with Princess for hours.  With me;   not gonna happen.  Nothing is worth me being on hold for anything.  I will figure out the app on my own and if not.  I will get my medallion when I get to the port.  It seems a lot of people are frustrated with this app.  So sad that over 15 months with no one using the app;  the company would not have perfected the app with lots of trial runs.  I started thinking about Medallion Monday videos.  How many takes did they shoot before everything worked for the video.  

I agree.  After over a year and the app is bug ridden is not acceptable.  Princess had the same issues with the roll out two years ago!  Need new leadership in the software development dept!  Or at the top.  Jan has provided poor leadership in this area.

2 hours ago, PaperSniper4 said:

We are booked on a February 2022 cruise. I thought I would be able to schedule our meal times for this cruise, as others seem to have done so for cruises later in 2022. I have the Medallion Class app on my phone. I have been trying to get something scheduled for the Dine My Way section in vain. Depending on how I get to that section, I get one of the two error messages below:

 

 

Any ideas? Being able to schedule anything before our final payment is made seems illogical to me, but as I said, others have reported success scheduling prior to the final payment.

 

Doug

I am getting the same messages and have been for the past few days.  Our cruise is in Dec. 2021.

Uninstalled and reinstalled the app.  and now has the "Dine my Way" option but it isn't working.  I can open the portal and select evening and get the message "We have no reservations at this time".  Check back later.

The icon with clock, plate and a knife does not show up in my app.  

On 7/2/2021 at 12:13 PM, Gettingwarmer said:

You seem to be in “My Preferences”. You need to go to “Dine my way” it is further down. 

There is no "Dine My Way" on the list.  

We were originally confirmed for late traditional dining.  Recently requested a confirmation and it had no dining information.  No confirmed time.  I went to the Medallion App and sought out the dining reservation portal.  The only choices are "How do you prefer to dine"  and the options were "Slow", "Relaxed" or "Fast".  The  next choice was " Do you want to dine in same DR. each day?"  There was no place to select a Dining Room or Time.   This does not meet the advertised Dine My Way promises!  BTW our cruise is still 6 months away.  Surely all the availability of dining times aren't taken.  

Has anyone been able to select your dining reservations on the Medallion App?

Thank you.

On 5/19/2021 at 5:58 PM, mellon1 said:

My husband just asked if anyone on CC mentioned about the laundry services onboard with all the covid regulations.  I said I hadn't seen anything.  How would that work?  Lots of elites onboard with free laundry.  Self-service would  be an issue also I would think as other people's clothes washed prior to your load going in.  I know soap is supposed to kill covid; however, with all the CDC requirements, I wonder what they are doing about this issue.

 

What is everyone's thoughts on this?  

 

Thanks...Mary

You are only inviting speculation.  There is enough of this going on already.  In time you will get your answer from Princess.

On 4/27/2021 at 9:31 PM, Astro Flyer said:

I updated last night to the improved MedallionClass app for my iPad however my iPhone version in the App Store isn’t available yet...anyone had any luck with an iPhone? I have the latest iOS on both devices.

 

No problems ordering the Medallion for October but it appears the previous lanyard & rectangular plastic holder is no longer included. We didn’t use them & didn’t see a lot of passengers using it either. We bought aftermarket clips through Amazon which worked well for us.

 

 

I just placed an order for the medallion and lanyard/plastic holder.  They are available for no charge.  Options to customize are available.  We are on the Enchantment on Dec 30, 2021.

On 10/15/2020 at 7:54 AM, The Mommy said:

Would anyone advise staying in a hotel in Ravenna for the one night pre cruise please?

I am assuming that we will not sail from Venice

 

Thank you

Which cruise line are you on and when do you sail?   We are on Celebrity for Sept 2021 and there have been no itinerary changes so far and we are scheduled to sail from Venice.  Thanks 

44 minutes ago, HleeCruiser said:

What soft drinks are included in the Classic Package.

 

Thanks.

Thank you.  Happy it is not Pepsi.  

What soft drinks are included in the Classic Package.

Thanks.

All great information.  Thank you so much.

Henry

Thanks everybody.  That is good news!

Henry

We are at the Elite level with Celebrity.  If we choose to cruise on RCCL are we eligible to participate in any of the perks Royal offers  and if so what level would it be?

Thank you,

Henry

On 5/27/2020 at 10:43 PM, alcpa1 said:

And, you can ask your steward to empty the cooler if you want to use it for your own drinks and snacks. It's not very large but probably comparable to any other cruise line's frig,

The safe is in the closet and will hold papers, an i pad, lots of $$$$$$$$, your passport and a few other trinkets. Before you disembark be sure to pull up the liner and feel around the corners and front. We almost always find loose change.

Have a great cruise.

Thank you very much.

Henry