Rick&Jeannie

Ah! OK...but just so you know, Princess *does* offer this service I spoke of...

On Christmas morning everyone runs down the staircase in the Piazza dressed in their PJs and rushes the Christmas tree to find their presents. Then they go to the fireplace mantel next to International Cafe where there is a real log fire burning to get their stockings. Oh wait...maybe not.

I think that's a bit of a toss-up...but I guess I lean toward the app being updated by the original dev team. I would hope that Princess would not want to start from square one with a brand new team...unless that team has delivered a similar app for another line. IDK!

There will be an info sheet delivered to your cabin a couple of days before disembarking. It is only certain airlines that offer the service. I know Delta is one...don't know about others. It is picked up outside your cabin and checked all the way through to your home airport. Regardless as to whether you get "free bags" via the airline, you will pay a fee per bag for the service. I *think* $25 a beg, but don't hold me to that. (I've never done this...but I read those sheets every time to see if anything has changed.) Part of the service is they get your boarding pass for you. I do not know exactly how that portion works...but obviously you're going to have to supply all of your flight info.

I think the question was in regards to if you book the *single* sailing as 1 cruise as opposed to booking it B2B. There's more of a question there as opposed to two separate cruises.

Here are a few shots from The Catch on Sky Princess 2 weeks ago. We ate there twice on a TA from Southampton.

And there are some advantages if you have booked the Plus or Premier cruise fares in regards to ordering. We just got off the Sky about a week ago...I never saw where you could order on the TV like you used to be able to do. Side note: if you like to order breakfast via the "door hanger" menu, just note that they have reduced what is printed on that menu as being available...BUT you can write in other items. I always liked to go with a very light breakfast consisting of a couple of toasted English muffins. They used to be offered on the printed menu. I simply wrote it on the side of the menu several times that cruise (a TA) and we always got them.

Ah...you're booking via the app...! I have never done that; I always book dining reservations via the "web version" in the cruise personalizer. That way, I can see much more of the day schedules due to the large amount of screen real estate on my desktop PC. I cannot speak to the process via the app. I've learned long ago that it is just so much easier when you can see much more than what the app shows on a phone.

Yes...but still a lot better than 0%!

Yes, I am using IMAP as well...have been for years. I recently switched from Outlook as a client (which had the same problem) to Blue Mail. Both have issues, for me anyway. I retired from IT...fully aware of the possible snags one can run into with email. I'd be curious as to what email client you are using.

Perhaps so...but if they *already* have their transfer booked and paid for all they need to do is show up at the airport baggage area (at the proper time) where the Princess rep meets everyone and they will be shown to the bus. They cannot say "No room for independent bookings" because they are already booked.

To the best of my knowledge, *most* ships have a max table size of 8 persons. (I'm sure someone will chime in and say "Oh no...we've sat at a larger table before"!) Maybe so...but the reservation system CANNOT handle tables/parties larger than 8. The only *sure* way to settle this is to see the people at the restaurant as soon as you get on board. It's possible that they might not be able to accommodate you on the first night...but maybe.

I use an Android, and as such was never able to trade texts with the rest of my traveling party (all of whom us iPhones) until I switched to Google Messages (away from the default Samsung messaging.) Once I did that I was able to send/receive texts. I had *always* been able to use WhatsApp (voice calls/texts) with my son who is pretty much the only person that I need to communicate with while on a cruise (except for email...) Pretty much *all* newer phones are capable of WiFi Calling now...make sure it is enabled in your Settings (iPhone *or* Android) BEFORE you leave home. You could even test it at home...turn on airplane mode and turn WiFi back on (airplane mode will generally turn it off automatically.) One quirk that I have onboard using Medallion Net (with my Android) that has persisted since the very beginning of Medallion Net and spanning *several* different Android phones...Comcast email is impossible to use with a standard email client. I can usually get to my email using the Xfinity email web portal...but getting into it is always CRAZY slow.

Yes...Very glad to hear a positive story.

Just make sure you have the hardcopy printout with both the GC number AND the PIN. Don't depend on your phone.

I don't think it would make any difference if you did it all on the same day...JMO.

Yes, but I'm afraid that we would all be in the *same* suite!

My DW was supplied with a robe on day two. It was not the "standard" terrycloth style robe...but one that had apparently come from the spa. Very silky feeling and plush. This was on the Sky 3 weeks ago.

On an itinerary such as this, you should *seriously* consider staying overnight so that you can enjoy the complete stress-free feeling of NOT having to worry about rushing to catch a flight. Nothing can ruin a trip like the worry of being on such a tight schedule that you cannot enjoy the moment! How many times do you get to experience Rome?

And sadly...that situation is not likely to change anytime soon.

Ah! I thought you were having issues with the current app. As of right now, *nobody* can really advise you in regards to what the new app is going to offer us. By all reasonable logic...I assume (I know...) that it should be a better app. Surely the dev team has learned along the way from the many rants posted here and email feedback what is liked vs not liked about the current app. Personally...if I had a cruise in February I *think* that I would go ahead and "take the plunge" to learn the new app. I believe I heard that the old app would be retired in February (date unknown...and I may be wrong on that anyway) so you would be that much further along the learning curve. There's not much point in "fighting" with the old app since we know its days are numbered... Your call.

The couple of times that we had a guarantee cabin we found out just a few days prior to sailing.

The "time selector" for dining reservations is one of the most UN-intuitive user controls that I have ever seen. Now, it may very well be that you discovered how that control worked and 7:40 was in fact the best time you could get. The first time I tried to make a reservation I thought that the initial time that popped up there was my only choice. I don't remember how I stumbled across how to change the time. Of course, that could very well all change in a couple of days with the new app!

Please forgive my curiosity regarding this...it sounds as if you have actually *seen* the new app, or have some type of inside info. Specs? Care to share the source of your info?

Welcome to Cruise Critic! There are a number of regulars here that I'm sure would be happy to try and help...just give us some details about what you're running into. Let's not tie up this thread with support...just start a new thread with your details and we'll see what we can do!