13cheermom

2 hours ago, cruisingram1 said:

Tried this and now it’s worse. Hoping to sort out tomorrow with Princess CS. Weekend staff can’t fix per CS. I went into DMW and selected same time each day for our party of four. Voila! There it was!! Option for Dining for 4 at a private table at 5:40 each day. Read the details 5 times before hitting CONFIRM! (And screenshot the page before hitting confirm!). It moves to next page and shows our table for 4 on First night all together private table. Excellent! Click on second night expecting to see same. 😩😩Second night has us split at different tables. So does third night. Fourth night we have two reservations in same dining room. One private. One shared. Nights 5-7 are split also. So went from 7 nights scattered all over but in private table to this mess. I’m hopeful someone at Princess can make some sense of this. It’s the only way to get reservations and app is screwed up. 

Don't stress too much over this, we also went through all of the above from everything looking great on the app, to few days later nothing showing up, then few days later double reservation entries on the app, and having to delete the incorrect times twice.  When we got onboard thought everything was fine, yet when going into dining room, they repeatedly tried to persuade me to share a table with others.  I felt like it was a waste of time going through the app at all.  We actually ended up cancelling several of our dining times due to menu options, and specialty dining reservations.  Also sometimes the table for 2 was super close to others and not private at all.  

10 hours ago, seeyouinthesun said:

I was on the same cruise and came away with the same impression. It was my first Princess cruise having sailed on Royal Caribbean and Disney. I had expected the food to be noticeably better than Royal Caribbean but I’d say in general it was about the same and a little worse. The overall experience was excellent and I’m booking again. I’d have to assume it is somehow tied to the shutdown and look forward to things improving. 

We agree with your assessment of the food options, as it was our first Princess cruise and I guess we expected a better quality and selection.  There were a lot of strange food pairings on the menu, and the quality of taste just wasn't there.  Also the buffet selection were very repetitive and not that appealing for us.  We were very disappointed with the food however not sure if this is typical or due to supply chain issues.  We also will probably book again as we have a lot of Princess gift cards to use from previously cancelled cruise, hope it will be better the next time.  

Make sure you do check your accounts daily for any errors.  The first day on the ship we were walking through the spa area otw to look at the gym.  Within 30 minutes somehow there was an Elemis spa product order for over $1,300 added to my account. 😱  I went in and cancelled the order and it was removed.  Still don't understand how it was added on the app.?  Not a very good start to a cruise, was very leery of the medallion scanning feature.

9 hours ago, Steelers36 said:

It would be nice to your fellow cruisers to cancel the ones you don't need.  Space is limited on many voyages as they have not loaded up all DR space.  In some cases, it is a mystery to me why space is taken.

I did because I wanted to make sure I got the correct reservations for each night.  However I didn't make a couple of them because I had already written down all days and times originally.  The system added something and also a specialty dining reservation that I never made, lol.

So we just finished our take at home tests.  Used my laptop for both myself and husband.  Had no issues other than audio (they couldn't hear us), however the proctor said let me reconnect something and it was fixed and he could hear me.  When my husband connected same issue, however this proctor didn't know what to do and said it was on my end?  So he had to type his answers in a chat box at the bottom right hand corner.  No problem, just a work around for anyone having this issue.  I use FaceTime all the time on my MacBook Air and have no issues, so I'm assuming it was in the connection itself.  But one proctor did know how to fix it while the other did not.  Also found it interesting how they are all different in their process while observing my husbands session.  But we were both negative!!!  So all is good. Would highly recommend this process to do at home over going to a facility and waiting for those results . . . .  The test averages out to $35/pp and can be reimbursed through HSA or FSA accounts.

So all of my previous dining reservations seem to disappear, so I went in and re-added them back into system.  All seemed fine for the last few days.  Today, 2 days from sailing and I have double reservations for same time in each of the dining rooms everyday.  I tried to alternate dining rooms to try each out and know I didn't book both of these.  I am just going to leave it and hopefully one of them will be available. 😂

1 hour ago, WAvoyager said:

I thought I had seen a post where someone provided a link to some information on how full upcoming sailings are.  Is that info available?

 

just wondering how full our upcoming (April 2nd) sailing will be on the Majestic.  After seeing reports of half filled (or less) ships sailing, we were hoping for a quiet, uncrowned cruise, but have been seeing lots of reports that recently, the ships have been getting much more full.

 

Suggest going to the roll call section of your ship and look at current sailings and ask on there.  That's how I found out my upcoming cruise statistics.  Sometimes people on the boards have connections that they can access that information.  Was glad to hear ours is still at 60% for our 10-day cruise even though it is Spring Break weekend, (actually starts this weekend for our area).  Good Luck!

2 hours ago, srice said:

I was told by a contact at Princess that our 13 Mar 2022 sailing would be at 75% capacity.   

Thanks so much, hope that holds true.  Starting to get excited for this upcoming weekend, fingers crossed all tests are negative!  

23 hours ago, ontheweb said:

Have you tried calling? (Yes, I know wait times have been terrible.) If you can get switched over to the excursion department, they should be able to take care of you. And yes, even if you use a TA, the excursion department will not only talk to you, but will book excursions.

Yes, trying doing this, actually wait times weren't as bad because your using the "I want to book excursions prompt", and they don't want to miss out on that lol.  I had gift cards to be used as well as OBC, and they are able to do whatever you need and book the excursions and actually use OBC for both parties to pay for them.  Good Luck!

Does anyone onboard the ship currently know what expected passenger count is anticipated for next cruise departing on 3/13/22?  It will be a partial transit, wondering if it will be as busy as current Caribbean itinerary is at moment.  Thanks for any information.  According to CDC the Emerald is still in the yellow status as of now.

13 hours ago, Astro Flyer said:

It’s not from a TA but was included as a promotional Princess booking benefit.

 

Have the same issue and hasn't changed since final payment.  Sailing this Sunday, guess will have to wait till we board.  

12 hours ago, Chelly said:

Thanks for your responses.  I downloaded Medallion app to my iPhone.  My cruise isn't until October.  Does cruise need to be paid in full before Medallion app will function?   Appreciate the help provided here.

I actually paid my final payment earlier to get a promotional discount % off my cruise.  So I started earlier than usual, however I haven't had any issues for myself (apple) or my husband (android) on either of our phones.  We are both in the green lane and set to sail this Sunday, fingers crossed.  I also have read all the horror stories on here about all the problems, however I say just go with it and see what happens, you may be one of the lucky ones.  I agree I don't want to be stressed about my upcoming vacation, however with everything else that we all have been going through over the last 2 years, we are just ready for a cruise.  I look at it this way, use the boards to guide you as to when not to look at the app, usually clears up eventually.  But good luck to you!

3 hours ago, JF - retired RRT said:

That champagne is nothing to get excited about...we used it for drain cleaner after we tasted it.

PS: those Emerald deck minis are very nice & the only minis with an overhang. Lots of shade.

Yes, I wasn’t really that excited about the champagne, lol. But I am excited about that cabin location, the shade will be nice  for our Panama Canal cruise. 

19 minutes ago, EDDY0827 said:

And the champagne welcome from your steward is not to be missed.

Oh wow, didn't know about this.  So there is an extra perk for the min-suite after all, 😉.  Seriously booked it because it's the last cabin on the emerald deck and has the extra longer balcony extension on the Emerald Princess.  But to each their own. I think it's kinda unique and can't wait to board next Sunday!

So my husband and I have both downloaded the app to use while onboard the ship, possible to call each other if needed, lol.  But would my daughter also have to download app on her phone to be able to call me or me to call her? Thanks!

1 hour ago, JF - retired RRT said:

It's changed a little since all ships now have the Medallion.

You'll arrive for your boarding time (reports are that boarding times a pretty much ignored - this could change as ships start sailing full). Show your medallion & paperwork (passport, vaccine proof, etc), go through security and proceed to the waiting area. You'll be directed to wait in the main area (suites, elite, platinum have separate sections). Once boarding is started, you basically just walk on the ship.

 

If boarding has started when you arrive you don't go to the waiting area, just walk on after security/paperwork, etc.

 

PS: if they don't like your security photo, it will be retaken.

So since we are new to Princess and have no status (lol), and only booked a mini-suite (which doesn't count for anything) I'm wondering if we will just arrive early to sit and wait for all the others to actually board the ship who do have status or higher cabin categories.  I know that with Carnival we board earlier because of our status with them regardless of arrival times.  Is it basically the same with Princess?

So new to Princess, and was allowed to choose arrival group and selected Group A (11:00-11:30), is this a good time?  Not sure how Princess boarding procedures actually work.  Anyone have any insight to a newbie?  Each cruise line seems to have their own procedures and just wondering how Princess works.  Thanks!

18 minutes ago, cltnccruisers said:

There was no mention of a recording when we did the test in November.  But the process could have evolved, of course.  I'll find out tonight.

If you don't mind and you have time can you come back and post your experience?  Thanks!

5 hours ago, cltnccruisers said:

We used my laptop.  I simply turned it so the proctor could see the card and that was enough.  The proctors disconnected for the 15 minute period and having the card in view all that time wasn't needed.  At the end of that time another proctor came on to verify results.  I recall the first proctor saying we didn't have to sit there during the 15 minutes - just make sure we were back when the clock hit zero.

 

BTW, make sure you have your drivers license or some other form of picture ID so they can confirm that you are you.

So I agree I would just use a laptop, can easily adjust it up or down to get the entire view of test card while waiting the 15 minutes.  Someone did mention in a video that while you physically don't have to sit there the entire 15 minutes yourself, that to leave the test card in viewing for the entire time.  I assumed they were recording it, maybe?  

12 hours ago, Mike45LC said:

This is what I was told, but not having an appointment makes me feel insecure!

Trust me, my daughter just used this test for re-entry to the USA after honeymoon in Maldives.  If she could do it there with no problems, I feel safe to try it here at home prior to my cruise.  Good Luck!

We live on the east coast, and ours appeared to have made the same route (Jamaica, NY to California then to North Carolina).  However the timing doesn't add up, not sure they ever went all the way to CA and came back across the country to NC.  We still received them 15 days prior to sailing so all is good 🙂.

11 minutes ago, CruisingAwayTheBucketList said:

Has anyone used the NAVICA app to test for Covid?  Do you need set up an appointment or just sign in with the link and someone just comes on the iPad screen?  Is there a wait time after signing in for the proctor to join?

I'm also using this for next Friday, and have watched several YouTube videos of the actual process, it helps a lot.  My daughter and son-in-law just used it also before leaving the Maldives after their honeymoon, and she said it only took 20 minutes total time (15 minutes is waiting for the actual test results).  I figured if they could do it correctly half way around the world, my husband and I should be able to manage, 🤣.  Good Luck!

So I couldn't access going through the excursions tab under my booking, however when I went through the itinerary tab, under each port, I could access the excursions I already had booked and go in the back way.  Not sure if it allows you to book or not, I'm not trying to upset any bookings at this point, lol.  But give it a try and see if it works for you.

This has also happened to us, flight times have changed about 4 times since last November, flying in 10 days.  First time booked NS flights both ways and of course they were dropped, now have connecting times which are kinda tight IMO.  Some of the changes were just changed flight #'s with same times listed.  Of course spring break is all over the country in March, so I figure that factors into it also.  Just hoping our flights stay as is right now, dreading looking at emails everyday and hoping NOT to see one from Delta.  And yes, Delta can also change things up as well as AA, lol.  Good Luck!

I had that also happen to us right after our original flight times got changed and cancelled.  When I first went in to book the prices were way off (best times were the least expensive and vice versa).  I went ahead and rebooked my flights on cruise personalizer and got the lower price.  Probably within an hour or so when Princess updated the system, same flights were like $200 or so more pp.  Was glad I went ahead and re-booked when I did, sometimes it's just the timing of things, lol.