2and2

38 minutes ago, Rick&Jeannie said:

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!

My guess, and it is only a guess, is that it is an all new developer.  It just makes sense. The current daily fixes are not cost effective. The corrections are not free of charge once you do the acceptance test .  Start fresh with a new  well thought out control philosophy.

     Former CEO, no but I did stay at a Holiday Inn.

On 11/29/2023 at 10:21 AM, luvseaside said:

First time cruising from Galveston (leaving on Regal Princess February 2024).  We have a flight arriving in HOU @ 7:50 a.m. on the morning of the (Sunday) cruise (I know, I know...but it's a 6:15 a.m. first flight out, nonstop with a 99% on-time arrival so we feel confident doing this.  Even if it's delayed, very good chance we'd still make it to ship with time to spare).  Anyhoo, if everything goes to chalk, we're thinking of getting an Uber from HOU to Port, which should put us at cruise terminal @ 9:30-9:45 a.m.  Could we, at that point, get porters to take our larger bags, and then leave terminal with carryon and walk around the Strand for a couple of hours - maybe grab some brunch?  How early do they take luggage?   I hate just standing around and waiting at the terminal if not necessary.  And frankly, with the limited drinks onboard and no beverage pkg available, why would we rush to get on the ship before 1 p.m.?  That way we'd also get to spend some time in Galveston since we're not doing overnight stay.  

As far as disembarkation, I think we've resigned ourselves to doing the Princess transfer back to HOU and spend 6 hours at the airport.  But I did wonder about storing luggage at the Cruise Stop store for a couple of hours and grab an Uber to HOU @ noon since our flight doesn't depart until 4:25 p.m.  Any thoughts/suggestions on that?

 Well , back to your original question.  I personally would take the Princess transfer back to the airport. Nothing worse than having to worry about getting to your gate on time.  And you never know about even the normal traffic jams. That is just me 

22 minutes ago, ssb said:

 

See the Routes on second weekend

 

Have you tried watching the main  parade  between the Seawall and The Strand area.

1 hour ago, ssb said:

 

Which weekend of Mardi Gras are you in Galveston ?

 

Second weekend.

    You are definitely a good source of information about Galveston. I will be there the Saturday night of the main parade. Any tips for watching the parade. We are not interested in paying and watching in the entertainment fenced area (those days are gone). I am hoping to just park somewhere  and sit in lounge chairs along a residential street (25th) on the parade route from the seawall to Strand or something like that. Is that possible and any advice or experience.  What do you think the restaurants will be like that weekend

   Yes the motel prices are up the weekend we are there. The Tremont hotel wants $705.00 per night and the San Luis resort wants $469.00.

   I could not private , so sorry if a may be getting off the original question.

19 hours ago, ssb said:

14th , 33rd and Harborside, the main routes used by  cruising folks are not used by Mardi Gras crowds . Besides those routes are mandatory OPEN for the main emergency vehicular  routes for hospital emergency room care .  And the parades are later than the times , most of you want on ships first .  Don't let Mardi Gras discourage you .  Proceed as usual . 

Thanks for the insight.  

11 hours ago, boeckli said:

 

No need to uninstall etc. 

In 'Settings ' select 'Apps', find the app and click on it to get 'App info'.  Scroll down to 'App details in store'  (below that it shows the version you have on your phone) and click on it.

You should  now be in 'Google Play' and if an update is available there will be a button for it. 

The three dots in the top right corner will reveal an option to enable auto-update. 

 

Hope this helps. 

 

 

Thanks.  I now have the last and latest phone update with no apparent problems. Now hopefully the new app will have very few hiccups and we will be able to use either-or

   Your instructions were easy to follow and right on.  

56 minutes ago, boeckli said:

 

Do you have an Android or an Apple (iPhone)?

Android

You will probably be leaving, when I am boarding.  We are staying the night before and was hoping to tour Galveston but it looks like they block streets including the seawall. Going to have to play it by ear. The Mardi Gras web site says Galveston will have 350,000 people visit for the parades.

2 hours ago, boeckli said:

Note on latest Android update to current app:

 

"This will be the last update to the MedallionClass app which includes some enhancements to OceanReady steps. 

Coming Soon:
- The brand new, and entirely separate Princess Cruises® app will be available for download in early December.
- This MedallionClass app will no longer be available for download in the coming weeks. However, if you already have this version downloaded on your device you may continue using it until early 2024."

Does this mean there is an update right now for the Medallion Class app?  Do we have to uninstall and reinstall to get the update, or is it automatic update when you log in or go online?

I also have a February cruise on the Regal.  Remember the first two weekends are Mardi Gras in Galveston . I have no idea how that effects cruise port traffic. But I think even on Sundays there are some parades in the Strand area and roads closed. The Princess ride back to the airport might be a good idea if it is a Mardi Gras day, as the Ubers will be very busy. If anyone has cruised in Galveston during Mardi Gras, please chime in.

Why do you strongly say to avoid the Lobster. Is it not a Maine lobster ? What is wrong with it? Thanks for your advice. I think it even is an up charge.

1 hour ago, Rick&Jeannie said:

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!

 

 

Just trying to figure out whether to use the old or new app for my February cruise . This is the only thread about the new app. It is very early in the game. I hope I don't even need to post questions.

2 hours ago, Rick&Jeannie said:

Your data is NOT stored in the app.  All passenger/booking data is stored in a central database (wherever Princess has their IT datacenter) that is "consulted" by programs that are written to do so...such as the cruise personalizer at Princess.com and/or the Medallion app.  Uninstalling the app does not touch your data...it lives on in that central database.  The "new app" will simply be "another way" to view that data.  I personally use the cruise personalizer almost exclusively in my dealings with Princess.  I book directly because "I prefer to make my own mistakes!"  The only time I use the "web version" (which is simply a ported version of the smartphone app) is when forced to do so in making dining reservations.  I *hope* that they do not force us to use an app to do so in the future...they've got a long way to go before they win my confidence back in their IT programming team (I retired from IT...I *know* what it takes to produce a well written app for the masses...and they don't seem to have it.)

 

I'm probably a dinosaur...I prefer to do all of my computer work on a desktop PC.  I just prefer the larger screen.  There's just so little screen real estate available on ANY smartphone.

Thanks for your insight. The populating of that data or lack of, is what worries me.

     My desktop would not let me reserve either.  It is a long story.

11 hours ago, phabric said:

Wonder if any information on the old MedallionClass app will be lost when the new app comes in effect?

  I have a mid February cruise. I just finally went green ocean ready. Things were confusing and I was not able to book/reserve my specialty dinning on the app, or book/reserve my excursion on the app. I had to call in three times and had the language communication problem that I seem to often get. But I did manage to make the reservations and they actually showed up on the current app. I like that I was able to get good times and dates for our specialty dinning, and we did not get shut out of our excursion of choice. I do not really want to go through that again.

     I am computer literate and have the newest phones out.  But I am worried now that if I uninstall the current app, and install the new, that these reservations will disappear. I know they say your profile will be migrated over, but I think that could be one of the scenarios the programers miss.  I know they say the old app is up and running until the end of February, but I definitely would like the newest app. Decisions, decisions.

Go to a specialty dinning for your lobster. Every lobster I ever had in a ships main dinning room has been a warm water spinny lobster. I have had a Maine lobster at specialty dinning. Huge difference in my opinion.

  The best crab legs I ever had was in Ketchikan Alaska at the Alaskan Fish House. Not fancy but good.  

Here is my take as a retired blue collar factory worker. I have worked 56 hours work weeks for the past 40 years. I go on a cruise about once every two years. If I want to get a top shelf drink or have a top quality fillet mignon at a fine dinning restaurant while on vacation, I do not even want it to cross my mind if I can afford it or not. I am going to get it. I do not want to even worry or think about my final total cruise cost. I know doing the math after the fact, I probably don't come out on top, but darn it, I earned that gelato that we had to walk by during all those years of hard work.

          My answer is a big 401k withdrawal YES.

3 hours ago, Funroe208 said:

I've got a reservation at Express Parking for Sunday. Will let you know after that.

That would be nice if you.

9 hours ago, memoak said:

This cruiser did not sail in a full suite they were in a mini suite so no specialty dinner on first night. We have never had a problem getting our included first night in a specialty. They never book all the tables on that night ahead of time even if the app does not show availability 

   Not sure if you can answer this question. When booking the cruise, we were told that we would get a complimentary additional specialty dinning on the first night of the cruise to go along with our two specialty dinning with the premier package.  We were able to reserve nights for the two specialty dinning with the package using the app. But the complimentary first night is no where to be found on the app, or any document and when we try to reserve the restaurant and time we want on the app for the first night,  it charges full price, so I do not finish purchase. I have searched, and some say they select the restaurant and time and inform you at your room some way. Do you or anyone else have any experience or tips about how the complimentary first night specialty dinning works.

I hope the venue is big enough so many do not get shut out like my last cruise on Norwegian. The small venue fad had me standing in line for a half hour before the doors even opened just to get a seat.

What has been everyone's experience with Express parking lot. It seems too good to be true. Do they over book there. It seems that it a very small parking area.