BRANDEE

30 minutes ago, CDaze71 said:

I've ordered these on eBay.

The only problem I see with the keychain type is being able to get it available to be tapped by waiter when ordering and the security officer when getting off and on the ship. The wrist band will be better.  I purchased the Princess clip and put it either on bra/bathing suit strap or collar of shirt so it was very easy to unclip when needed and also at the right height on body to unlock the door.  When worn too low, like pants pocket, it dose not unlock the door as you approach the door unless you take it out and bring to chest level.

21 minutes ago, CDaze71 said:

From my research over at the CC Princess Cruises Category, our free included holder type, that comes with a free lanyard, could be either of these two pics attached.
 

The Medallions now come in the round plastic holder on lanyard (bottom photo).  

12 minutes ago, Aus Traveller said:

We don't carry a phone when we are on board but I understand we can order things from screens around the ship.

The only time we used a screen was in the cabin.  You can order from the tv.  Also instead of the phone, if there was a problem (we had a leak) just go on the tv screen and click for crew call..they called immediately.

You have to ask for a paper Patter to be delivered to room every night. 

I wouldn't carry my phone, but my husband  and brother did. They were like kids looking for each other and ordering stuff.

Also, it was better to order a drink in person, you can not specialize it on the app because they don't have a spot to change brands or ask for unusual drinks.

Check your folio every few days to make sure you are not charged for someone else's drinks.  It is easy when the servers are billing you by reading your medallion.

Good Luck getting a tech to help...patience..lol   If there is anything else I can give a heads up..ask away.  Goodnight for now!!

2 minutes ago, Aus Traveller said:

All of us on the roll call for 26th June have the earliest time for embarkation but probably most of the pax don't know they can select a time. 😉 That will change.

Even though getting the app to work is a pain in the butt. .The medallion itself is much better than carrying a cruise card, especially since I used the clip on.  Put it on the first think in the morning and never have to look for it until you to to bed.

5 minutes ago, Aus Traveller said:

If the Medallion expert contacts me, I will let you know what he/she says, that is if it is helpful. 🤣

 

One of the key things I want to do is choose the embarkation time. If I can only access the Medallion a couple of week before the cruise, there would probably be a limited choice available. We like the earliest boarding time so we can have a leisurely lunch in the dining room.

We could not get the earliest time..it was already gone by time we got the app to work and accept our names.

4 minutes ago, OzKiwiJJ said:

We're in a similar situation with our following cruise in August. If the majority of the info stays on file I'll be happy although I'll have to add passport numbers as it's the Conflict Island cruise.

Adding the passport was one of our big problems..the tech did it over the phone with us.  Maybe you should put it in from the beginning so you don't have to worry.

15 minutes ago, Aus Traveller said:

I am sure that check-in will be faster than the old system, but the Medallion app has caused a lot of frustration.

 

None of us will have our Medallion so the system when we arrive at the terminal will take that into account. We don't have to show COVID test results, just attest that we had a negative test within 24 hours of boarding. We also have to have a certificate that shows we are fully vaccinated (unless the person has claimed exemption).

Trying to get the Medallion app to work was very frustrating and took a few calls and many hours on call waiting.  Even the tech we finally spoke to said it was still a system with many flaws.

I was not a fan of it but after the 20 day cruise..it really wasn't that bad.

I never had my phone on me.. my husband carried his and my SIL did not carry her phone, just my brother. 

We did use it more than I thought we would to order drinks. I always had my paper Patter on me, but my husband used the phone.  We also kept loosing my brother  lol.  We used it to find him.

It did work better the first cruise when less people were on the ship. (when ordering food and drinks) I really think the crew was not ready for the increase of passengers the second cruise..There were many last minute cruisers and not enough crew.

16 minutes ago, Aus Traveller said:

No. We have to pick up at the terminal.

Usually we pick up at terminal due to pre cruise land trip, but this time we were only staying in FLL one night.  It was delivered two weeks ahead.

At terminal, we were directed to a Princess rep who asked if we had our medallions or she would get them for us.  Once you have your medallion, , they tap it on an ipad and check that everything is okay.  We also had to show our negative covid test resiults..then you go to board the ship.  Pretty much like waiting to get your cruise card.  

Before you get on board, you tap your medallion and if the security officer does not like your profile picture, they take another.  He did not like mine..lol

When I would go to my cabin, the picture that popped up was the one I took at home and entered..but when getting off and on the ship, it was the one the security officer took when boarding.

When you order a drink or food with your app and the server comes to find you, it is the one you take at home.  It was hard for some of the servers to find the passengers...most passengers pictures didn't have on sunglass, visors or baseball caps.  We always paid attention to the servers walking around to help out if it was our orders. 

The server who would take your order was not always the one delivering it to you..that is where the confusion caused many to never getting their drinks before the ice melted.

10 minutes ago, Aus Traveller said:

Thanks BRANDEE. When we return from our June/July cruise, maybe the info will be in the system for our next cruise. This one doesn't matter much because we have months before that next cruise, but the one after that is only a few weeks later so I want the info in there.

Can you have your medallion sent to your home?  Princess will not ship to Canada.

26 minutes ago, Aus Traveller said:

After a couple of hours trying, I finally got my live chat and explained that I couldn't find a way to enter info for a second cruise after I had entered it for a cruise in June. The agent told me I had to enter the info for every cruise (doh!!). I responded that when I went to the Personalizer for the second cruise, it flipped back to the info I had entered for the first cruise. Then he told me they don't store the info (double doh). Frustrating. He finally understood and said that he had never encountered this and would have an expert contact me.

When I was getting ready for my cruise last month, I also had to get a tech on the phone to get my name "validated" and my passport entered.. 

Once he got that all fixed, everything else followed pretty fast.  He also told me that once the information was in the app it would stay. 

The day I got off the ship (Mar 30th) the app said "off ship" but all my info stayed on. 

I booked a cruise a week after returning for next March.

Currently, my app has a count down clock and most of my info is still there. Personal info, passenger documents, travel documents, profile photo, security photo, emergency contact all have a green check

I have to enter my charge card or method of payment, travel information, health status, link bookings and choose your Medallion wearable. Closer to the cruise.

So I would have to say that as soon as one cruise is finished the next one pops up with all the info and you just have to add current info.

Regarding a b2b..My cruises had only one booking number ..so one medallion for both legs of trip..but I did get two mini bars.

1 minute ago, arxcards said:

Ruby needs to be put in a port where she is doing shorter cruises. The longer the itineraries, the more asymptomatic borders can spread the bug and have passengers testing positive before disembarking. Shorter cruises has them testing positive after they have returned home.

You are 100% right.  She is currently doing long cruises..Panama Canal and Hawaii.

22 minutes ago, Aus Traveller said:

In the Princess webinar this morning, they said that B2B people must pack up all their luggage to disembark, leaving the room empty for a deep clean. ☹️

I was so nervous that I was going to test positive at the b2b testing (felt great but being on the Ruby two years ago has me paranoid) that I pretty much had everything in order and ready to go into the luggage.  Good thing I am a "cube" packer.

3 minutes ago, OzKiwiJJ said:

Yeah, it's going to be interesting to see who screams loudest about petri dish cruise ships if an outbreak occurs 

The poor Ruby is having a hard time on the west coast of US.  They keep quoting her covid numbers like she is cursed. The poor girl has a reputation that she can't get away from!!

1 minute ago, OzKiwiJJ said:

That sounds like a great idea. Years ago I made "secret pockets" that I could clip on my bra strap and tuck into my bra under my arm for overseas travel. They were great, easy to access but very secure.

BTW it is also waterproof, so no having to take it off if going in pool and wearing it on bathing suit.

1 minute ago, OzKiwiJJ said:

The one thing that really concerns me is that peoole only have to "attest" to testing negative. No proof is required. I may be a bit cynical but I bet some people won't bother doing the test, they'll just tick the box or whatever regardless. And our blasted state governments were the ones to mandate that protocol.🙄🤬

Looking for trouble!  Already there is problems in US sailing due to lax mask requirements and overbooked sailings.

4 minutes ago, Aus Traveller said:

In the Princess webinar this morning, they said that B2B people must pack up all their luggage to disembark, leaving the room empty for a deep clean. ☹️

That stinks!!  A deep cleaning, but not a PCR test.  Go figure!!

4 minutes ago, Aus Traveller said:

What about a Faraday cage?🙂

After we took our covid test on board, I asked the medic when will we be notified of results (it was done on day before b2b turnaround)  She said..no news is good news.  And then she pointed to my medallion and said we find you. So I decided to read up on sun deck and about an hour after the test an officer, with mask on and walkie talkie is coming my way.  He stopped next to me and picked up my empty coffee cup, said have a good day and kept walking.  Not funny!!

7 minutes ago, rkmw said:

Not sure if this has been posted but anyone doing a b2b must disembark and take their luggage off the ship and leave their luggage in the terminal so they can do a deep clean

 

its been mentioned on Facebook about the b2b if their in the same cabin to pack their things and hide the suitcases in the wardrobe and under the bed but to tee it with the steward and saves them taking the luggage ashore 

On b2b in the same room..only you leave for quick shore recount.

12 minutes ago, Aus Traveller said:

Is the 'clip on' an optional extra?

yep..It was $8USD...I still had mine from our Australian Ruby 2020 cruise.  I was not a fan of the medallion but have to admit it really came in handy at times.  Of course, there were glitches, but not too many.  I did not carry my phone, but my husband did.  He kept ordering drinks. He was determined to reach his 15 alcoholic limit per day  lol  never made it past 5/6

On 4/26/2022 at 4:20 AM, OzKiwiJJ said:

I hope they will provide more details about what is allowed at port stops well before our cruise starts. We have family who live near Cairns so would like to be able to catch up with them on one or both of the cruises we have booked but, of course, won't be able to do that if it's ship excursions only. It would be nice to have enough notice of what to expect so we can make arrangements ahead of time. 

On our recent cruise we were given a list of port "rules" on day two.  Two ports required ship or government approved excursions only..no wandering around outside of port shops.

I really suggest  getting the medallion clip to use while on board.  I clipped it on blouse by neckline (or bra strap) and hubby on shirt neckline.  Unlike previous cruises, the medallion is used quite a bit and using the clip ons were quick access,  Wearing it at neck/chest level also unlocked your cabin door with ease, especially when you have two drinks in hand.

2 hours ago, losfp said:

I think so. But they've not clarified HOW they are going to do that. Like, if they are going to distribute RATs to cabins, or if you need to line up to get them etc.

On our recent cruise we were given a time and place to go for testing.  You checked in with medallion and if positive they found you with your medallion.   (Ours was 10am in unused dining room)

I vote for...No smoking in casinos on Princess ships from the US and Europe not just Australia.  March sailing on Enchanted was brutal in the casino.. Had to leave every night (early) and then go out on deck to air out my clothes.  Wore my mask for smoke inhalation, more than covid.  Ventilation was nil..I enjoy gambling and came ready to deposit..thank you Princess for all the money I saved on my 20 day cruise.

1 hour ago, MMDown Under said:

I hope not!

Looks like Princess will accept your word that your covid test was negative.  Not here in the US.  We have to have a proctored home test or a clinically administered test..  Good Luck with that!

3 hours ago, Blackduck59 said:

 

Unfortunately not NYC BRANDEE. We may try to work it in before the cruise. The embarkation port is Boston with the terminus in Quebec City or Montreal. There are stops in New Brunswick and Newfoundland which are often missed on the east coast Canada cruises. 

We did our East Coast/Canada cruise many years ago on Carnival and had a great time with all the ports.  I think there is now a Canada/East Coast/Iceland cruise available.  Sounds interesting!

Hope your experience on this cruise does not sour you to try a Viking riverboat cruise in Europe.  We found that experience to be worth the high price.

4 hours ago, Blackduck59 said:

I'm sure lots of people enjoyed this cruise and are or will be Viking loyalists. For us this voyage has not lived up to the premium price we paid. 

Our next cruise will likely be on Holland America. They have an East Coast Canada and New England cruise that has an itinerary we like, it starts on my birthdaynext year. The prices are much more reasonable than Viking. Unfortunately the itinerary that Celebrity does not suit us as well as the Holland America one.

Hope the Bay of Fundy, New Brunswick is one of the ports.  A hydrofoil ride in the St. John's River Rapids is a must. Does the itinerary include NY?