Princess webinar on 6/22/2021

[caribill]

Princess webinar 6/22/2021

 

https://www.facebook.com/100047179898598/videos/168022388673470

 

Much of the webinar was devoted to already announced information such as the new cruises available this year, dine my way features and the FAQ about returning to cruising on the Princess web site.

 

It was repeated that all cruises this year are limited to fully vaccinated passengers which at this time means no children under age 12. No policy on this has been set for 2022 cruises.

 

No B2B Alaska cruises allowed.

 

The Risk acceptance policy (risk acceptance document to be submitted at least one day before embarkation):

 

  

 

For Dine My Way (DMW), when it says you can “dine where you want,” it does not mean you can order from the dining room menu (that is still only for full suite guests). However, some “selected items” from the dining room menu may be available.

 

90% of Princess guests have a smart phone. It was not stated how many of these guests have smart phones current enough to accept and run the app required for pre-cruise information to be entered.

 

As far as getting arrival times:

Note that physical distancing must be maintained inside the terminal and the boarding process.

 

So far there has been no resolution between Princess requiring proof of vaccination and the state of Florida forbidding it. Since the first Princess cruise from Florida is not until September, there is plenty of time to get this resolved. (Other cruise lines will have to face this problem before Princess.)

 

Staterooms will be cleaned once a day and only when the passengers are not in the room.

 

HVAC systems have been updated:

      

It appears that the Medallion will part of the contact tracing if a passenger is found to have Covid-19, but interviews will be important:

 

  

 

 

And if someone gets Covid-19:

xxx

(This will be at no cost to the passenger.)

 

Buffet may be limited in capacity, but so far reservations are not required.

 

Dining room menus will be available on the cabin TV as well as on smart devices using DMY and on screens around the ship.

 

No mention was made about traditional dining still being an option with times set up to allow for attending the main shows and having the same dining companions at the same table for the entire cruise.

 

And for the casino:

 

Loyalty program is being revised, but no details were given. It is recognized, for example, that the free Internet minutes were a valuable benefit which no longer has meaning for those booking Princess Plus fares.

 

As an example of a new benefit, the ability of elite/platinum passengers to select dining times before final payment is made. Other examples are discounts in the spa and for Princess shore excursions.

(One person posted during the webinar that the only times still available on some days on their cruise start at 8:40 PM.)

Initially there will be no Chef’s Table. When it returns, the part that was in the galley will not be included.

 

Questions posted by webinar viewers but ignored included:

o Will there still be the elite/platinum/suite lounge each evening?

o Will the Elite benefit of boarding priority have any meaning anymore?

o Are ship capacities being limited for 2021 cruises?

o How to obtain your arrival time if you do not have access to a device with the app?

o Although there will be no group Renewal of Vows, will individual ceremonies be possible?

 

 

 

 

 

 

[MileHighAko]

25 minutes ago, caribill said:

Questions posted by webinar viewers but ignored included:

o Will there still be the elite/platinum/suite lounge each evening?

o Will the Elite benefit of boarding priority have any meaning anymore?

o Are ship capacities being limited for 2021 cruises?

o How to obtain your arrival time if you do not have access to a device with the app?

o Although there will be no group Renewal of Vows, will individual ceremonies be possible?

 

I think this question was partially addressed, or at least I don't think it was totally ignored. He seemed to make it sound as if he didn't know the answer then he went on to mention the part about the CC levels and perks being changed. Perhaps he does know the answer is NO and didn't quite know how to explain it.  Seems to me that the elite/suite benefit will become advanced ability to select a boarding group of your choice. Getting early access to that should please some people, but still puts those that can't get the app to work or don't use a smart device at a clear disadvantage.

[Steelers36]

1 hour ago, caribill said:

Princess webinar 6/22/2021

 

https://www.facebook.com/100047179898598/videos/168022388673470

 

Much of the webinar was devoted to already announced information such as the new cruises available this year, dine my way features and the FAQ about returning to cruising on the Princess web site.

 

It was repeated that all cruises this year are limited to fully vaccinated passengers which at this time means no children under age 12. No policy on this has been set for 2022 cruises.

 

 

No B2B Alaska cruises allowed.

 

The Risk acceptance policy (risk acceptance document to be submitted at least one day before embarkation):

 

 

For Dine My Way (DMW), when it says you can “dine where you want,” it does not mean you can order from the dining room menu (that is still only for full suite guests). However, some “selected items” from the dining room menu may be available.

 

 

 

90% of Princess guests have a smart phone. It was not stated how many of these guests have smart phones current enough to accept and run the app required for pre-cruise information to be entered.

 

 

 

As far as getting arrival times:

 

Note that physical distancing must be maintained inside the terminal and the boarding process.

 

 

 

So far there has been no resolution between Princess requiring proof of vaccination and the state of Florida forbidding it. Since the first Princess cruise from Florida is not until September, there is plenty of time to get this resolved. (Other cruise lines will have to face this problem before Princess.)

 

Staterooms will be cleaned once a day and only when the passengers are not in the room.

 

HVAC systems have been updated:

     

 

It appears that the Medallion will part of the contact tracing if a passenger is found to have Covid-19, but interviews will be important:

And if someone gets Covid-19:

xxx

(This will be at no cost to the passenger.)

 

 

 

Buffet may be limited in capacity, but so far reservations are not required.

 

 

 

Dining room menus will be available on the cabin TV as well as on smart devices using DMY and on screens around the ship.

 

 

 

No mention was made about traditional dining still being an option with times set up to allow for attending the main shows and having the same dining companions at the same table for the entire cruise.

 

 

 

And for the casino:

 

 

 

 

Loyalty program is being revised, but no details were given. It is recognized, for example, that the free Internet minutes were a valuable benefit which no longer has meaning for those booking Princess Plus fares.

 

As an example of a new benefit, the ability of elite/platinum passengers to select dining times before final payment is made. Other examples are discounts in the spa and for Princess shore excursions.

 

(One person posted during the webinar that the only times still available on some days on their cruise start at 8:40 PM.)

 

Initially there will be no Chef’s Table. When it returns, the part that was in the galley will not be included.

 

 

Questions posted by webinar viewers but ignored included:

 

o Will there still be the elite/platinum/suite lounge each evening?

 

o Will the Elite benefit of boarding priority have any meaning anymore?

 

o Are ship capacities being limited for 2021 cruises?

 

o How to obtain your arrival time if you do not have access to a device with the app?

 

o Although there will be no group Renewal of Vows, will individual ceremonies be possible?

 

 

 

Thanks much for posting.  Saves me from watching as looks like nothing new to be learned.

 

I think it is important to consider the announced procedures and policies/restrictions for 2021.  Although he may have stated no policies announced for 2022, I am thinking they will be looking to relax most/all of the "rules" due to Covid-19 hopefully almost eradicated and so many more people fully vaccinated.  (Aside - DMW may be working for 2022 cruises much like 2021 as it may not be that flexible so stay tuned for changes IMO).

 

My Q back at John C....   So, if DMW doesn't mean "dine where you want" as described, then what does it mean?  We certainly cannot select the DR we might prefer.  We can select from regular dining, and specialty restaurants, or the buffet.  But that was always the case.  DMW doesn't include buffets, Alfredos, IC, and other casual dining locations. 

 

 

IDK how they know 90% guests have a smart phone.  I wonder where that comes from.  My wife and I do.  Probably most do as I see it among people we know.  But 90% sounds high.  Whatever.  I do sympathize with the crowd that isn't hip to the latest tech.

 

Never had Stewart try to clean our stateroom when we are in it.  LOL.

 

Since he didn't mention TD aspects, makes me wonder if he knows of the issues and they don't want to talk about it.  100% speculation.

 

I still shake my head over all of the health protocols, but they still allow smoking in a room (Casino) with any guests there. 

 

No Chef's Table.  Fine.  But, I do hope the Winemaker's Dinner returns in 2022.  🍷

 

The Elite/Suite boarding priority was only a true benefit for early arrival check-in and before boarding commenced.  Once the early check-ins are on board, everyone else just goes ahead.  So, it should mean something for the first one or two boarding groups.  But if an Elite is in a later boarding group, then I see no difference than before when an Elite would arrive at noon or later, say.  Priority check-in, but no waiting at all to board the ship.

 

 

 

[caribill]

22 minutes ago, Steelers36 said:

 

 

 

The Elite/Suite boarding priority was only a true benefit for early arrival check-in and before boarding commenced.  Once the early check-ins are on board, everyone else just goes ahead.  So, it should mean something for the first one or two boarding groups.  But if an Elite is in a later boarding group, then I see no difference than before when an Elite would arrive at noon or later, say.  Priority check-in, but no waiting at all to board the ship.

 

 

 

 

Agree. But priority check-in means little if the non-priority line is shorter.

 

 

[Thrak]

I can't imagine that none of the participating travel advisors have clients who are unable to get the app to function. Surely someone must have submitted questions regarding the issue but I'm "assuming" they just decided to ignore those questions. Chernesky seems to feel that the app works wonderfully and the only thing they still need to improve is the dining portion.

 

I have reasonably a high-end phone - Samsung S10e running Android 11. The app doesn't function for me. I can't get into any of the required stuff - I just get the "not working now" and "all hands on tech" message. If I try to go into the Medallion selection section I get a "loading" message and then a blank white screen that never goes away. I have to force exit to get out of the white screen. I've deleted the app, waited a few days, and then re-installed it from the Play Store. It simply doesn't work for me. Why aren't they addressing these issues?  I've submitted feedback, gotten a reply asking for all my cruise info, phone info, etc., replied with the requested info, and then nothing. It's been a while now - I submitted the requested info on June 12th. Today is June 22nd. Crickets. I'll "nudge" them again but don't have a great deal of hope.

[Astro Flyer]

Most of the questions were from their online Cruise Health FAQs so not much new information for me.

 

He really danced around the question about Elite priority boarding & seemed to think it wasn’t a big issue because now everyone will be able to select their arrival time. He wouldn’t state that Elites would be allowed to select their arrival times first. I like the early priority boarding benefit & will be very disappointed if it’s removed.

 

His statements that with Princess Plus the Elite free Internet minutes are less important is also concerning. Princess Plus isn’t cost effective for us & we don’t want our free Internet minutes to be eliminated.

[Steelers36]

21 minutes ago, Astro Flyer said:

His statements that with Princess Plus the Elite free Internet minutes are less important is also concerning.

Wonder if they are going to pretty much force the PLUS going forward?  Not a great cost-justified item for us, but certainly don't want to lose the internet discount for packages.

[Astro Flyer]

56 minutes ago, Steelers36 said:

Wonder if they are going to pretty much force the PLUS going forward?  Not a great cost-justified item for us, but certainly don't want to lose the internet discount for packages.

That’s the impression I got…why have free minutes when some Elites get Princess Plus.

 

P+ definitely isn’t cost effective for us because the minibar (10-beers; 10-Diet Cokes) & free minutes (or exchanging for a discounted unlimited package) are usually sufficient for us.

[Steelers36]

26 minutes ago, Astro Flyer said:

That’s the impression I got…why have free minutes when some Elites get Princess Plus.

 

P+ definitely isn’t cost effective for us because the minibar (10-beers; 10-Diet Cokes) & free minutes (or exchanging for a discounted unlimited package) are usually sufficient for us.

Agreed on mini-bar... we do beer amd Perrier.  I usually bring my own wine, but would never survive on free minutes.  LOL

[snoozecrooze]

Princess is still trying to find a way to better compete against Celebrity and squeeze as much of a margin as possible, doing everything just shy of becoming the "all-inclusive" model Celebrity has adopted. But reality is so far from the ideals it pursues so I won't be holding my breath to see the changes happen.

 

Also re: staterooms being cleaned/not being cleaned (link is to Princess's CruiseHealth FAQ)

There will be reduced interaction between guests and housekeeping staff. A reduced verbal introduction will be delivered from outside your stateroom upon arrival, and we encourage you to call your steward or, better yet, use OceanNow in the MedallionClass app to request any needed services remotely.

Staterooms will be cleaned once per day (unless you request turndown or opt not to have any cleaning service during your cruise), and the set-up, cleaning and disinfection will need to be completed when you’re out of your stateroom.

 

Housekeeping and maintenance staff will wait to enter a stateroom for cleaning and maintenance for at least 15 minutes after guests have left it, unless services are required immediately.

[Steelers36]

56 minutes ago, snoozecrooze said:

Princess is still trying to find a way to better compete against Celebrity and squeeze as much of a margin as possible, doing everything just shy of becoming the "all-inclusive" model Celebrity has adopted. But reality is so far from the ideals it pursues so I won't be holding my breath to see the changes happen.

 

Also re: staterooms being cleaned/not being cleaned (link is to Princess's CruiseHealth FAQ)

There will be reduced interaction between guests and housekeeping staff. A reduced verbal introduction will be delivered from outside your stateroom upon arrival, and we encourage you to call your steward or, better yet, use OceanNow in the MedallionClass app to request any needed services remotely.

Staterooms will be cleaned once per day (unless you request turndown or opt not to have any cleaning service during your cruise), and the set-up, cleaning and disinfection will need to be completed when you’re out of your stateroom.

 

Housekeeping and maintenance staff will wait to enter a stateroom for cleaning and maintenance for at least 15 minutes after guests have left it, unless services are required immediately.

This is something else I wonder if only for 2021 and will change again in 2022 as Covid-19 goes away (or reduces to something negligible).

[kitty2264]

12 hours ago, Thrak said:

I can't imagine that none of the participating travel advisors have clients who are unable to get the app to function. Surely someone must have submitted questions regarding the issue but I'm "assuming" they just decided to ignore those questions. Chernesky seems to feel that the app works wonderfully and the only thing they still need to improve is the dining portion.

 

I have reasonably a high-end phone - Samsung S10e running Android 11. The app doesn't function for me. I can't get into any of the required stuff - I just get the "not working now" and "all hands on tech" message. If I try to go into the Medallion selection section I get a "loading" message and then a blank white screen that never goes away. I have to force exit to get out of the white screen. I've deleted the app, waited a few days, and then re-installed it from the Play Store. It simply doesn't work for me. Why aren't they addressing these issues?  I've submitted feedback, gotten a reply asking for all my cruise info, phone info, etc., replied with the requested info, and then nothing. It's been a while now - I submitted the requested info on June 12th. Today is June 22nd. Crickets. I'll "nudge" them again but don't have a great deal of hope.

I'm having some of the same problems. I also have Samsung 10e/ Android 11.  I reloaded the app several times to no avail and then it finally it worked.  I believe I had cleared the cache before the last reload but not sure.  Some things still do not work for me, though.  I had to log on from my IPad in order to change my emergency contact info.  The phone app gave me the "not available at this time" response.

[NAJ313]

Was there any update mention to the mask protocols? On the website the expectation was last updated in March I believe, so I am curious what the expectation will be. We are thrilled to be able to sail again, and counting the days. I understand that things will be different. I am just so excited for the calm and tranquility I feel at sea. My soul has missed it terribly.  Thanks all for this post.

[JF - retired RRT]

15 hours ago, snoozecrooze said:

 

Staterooms will be cleaned once per day (unless you request turndown or opt not to have any cleaning service during your cruise),

Wait!! What!! No chocolates magically appearing on my bed?

This insanity must STOP!!

[pms4104]

6 minutes ago, JF - retired RRT said:

Wait!! What!! No chocolates magically appearing on my bed?

This insanity must STOP!!

It isn't like we were getting Godiva or Journey-type chocolates.

[Steelers36]

1 hour ago, pms4104 said:

It isn't like we were getting Godiva or Journey-type chocolates.

Yes, they were not that great quality compared to what we usually buy.  We just tell Stewart "No thanks".

[Ombud]

18 hours ago, Astro Flyer said:

That’s the impression I got…why have free minutes when some Elites get Princess Plus.

 

P+ definitely isn’t cost effective for us because the minibar (10-beers; 10-Diet Cokes) & free minutes (or exchanging for a discounted unlimited package) are usually sufficient for us.

Its not cost effective for me either. Never ran out of free minutes, trading mini bar for 2 coffee programs (deplete this on cruises over 14 days), and SHB covers crew incentive + carryon 2 bottles. But for the 1st time I'm booking Princess excursions (mostly shuttles + Juneau Tramway at 45% savings over off-ship price). 

[Thrak]

We would miss the turn down chocolates but... On all of the cruises we have booked at the moment we got the Godiva Chocolate deal for Valentine's Day.  That's a 19 piece selection of Godiva Chocolate. If the January cruises (Australia/New Zealand/Tasmania) actually sail that's a 26 day B2B2B with a box of 19 chocolates for each leg. That would cover a piece of chocolate for each of us each day for the duration of the cruises.

 

I doubt those will sail but we also have the chocolate promo for our Alaska cruise in May. That one I expect to sail. If we don't get the turn down service with Princess chocolates the 19 pieces of Godiva won't be enough for one each for the 12 night cruise. OMG!!!  I "guess" we could suffer though without a full chocolate ration but it might be difficult.

Edited June 23, 2021 by Thrak

[Astro Flyer]

6 hours ago, NAJ313 said:

Was there any update mention to the mask protocols? On the website the expectation was last updated in March I believe, so I am curious what the expectation will be. We are thrilled to be able to sail again, and counting the days. I understand that things will be different. I am just so excited for the calm and tranquility I feel at sea. My soul has missed it terribly.  Thanks all for this post.

From their 6/17/21 Cruise Health FAQs webpage which was used for replies to questions submitted prior to the webinar. When referring to “one of these cruises” that’s for cruises that are sailing in 2021…unknown thereafter.

 

“If you're sailing on one of these cruises, guests who are fully vaccinated can enjoy taking in a show, sharing a world-class meal, and other onboard experiences without wearing a mask or physical distancing. Ports will clean and disinfect frequently touched surfaces often and provide hand-sanitizing stations. They may also require mask wearing and physical distancing throughout the terminal. For your own protection, we may recommend wearing masks in crowded indoor spaces or while accessing select services. Unvaccinated guests will be required to wear a face mask at all times while indoors, in accordance with health authority requirements”.

 

https://www.princess.com/plan/cruise-with-confidence/cruise-health/frequently-asked-questions/

[srpilo]

 

With life returning to almost a 100% of pre-pandemic here in California in almost all aspects inside & outside life  for vaccinated residents , I'm starting to ask myself if some of the multitude of new dinning requirements and loyalty changes, and all the new onboard protocols, and  mostly  the seemingly unabashed diminished concern for customers reaction to them, seem to me  to be a bit self serving rather then health protocol related, the dark time are past for most of us, and I don't want a cruise that reminds me of last December 2020, and not Now in summer 2021 - Two completely different times in America, the scariest of all is the stunningly anti-customer demand to use the app or don't sail demand.

After 15 months during which Princess held thousands of dollars of my money, basically it was my effort to help out a company that I previously loved, and who by extension promised me a similar product when I came to redeemed those credits, is now telling me in order to use my own money which they hold, I now have to jump through their hoops, except the new questionable onboard experience, except a unbelievable bad IT experience on their web-site and app - OR - hit the highway -slash "take or leave it "

I don't want or need any more webinar's to explain what's changed to seemingly only help out Princess, or to tell what not available anymore, and things I now need to do to to except it all

 

Princess, and all cruise lines suffered in the past 15 months, but so did we customers, we all had our own tough times over this period, but we all helped out where we could,  excepted the roller coaster ride of sticking with Princess with our loyalty, and our future bookings , but IMO it's time to drop the "poor me Princess attitude", and give customers the promise of the Princess experience we'd come to expect, we were promised, and in fact for many of us have "paid in advance" for.

 

Come on Princess you can do better

[DiRonT]

On 6/22/2021 at 5:26 PM, Thrak said:

I can't imagine that none of the participating travel advisors have clients who are unable to get the app to function. Surely someone must have submitted questions regarding the issue but I'm "assuming" they just decided to ignore those questions. Chernesky seems to feel that the app works wonderfully and the only thing they still need to improve is the dining portion.

 

I have reasonably a high-end phone - Samsung S10e running Android 11. The app doesn't function for me. I can't get into any of the required stuff - I just get the "not working now" and "all hands on tech" message. If I try to go into the Medallion selection section I get a "loading" message and then a blank white screen that never goes away. I have to force exit to get out of the white screen. I've deleted the app, waited a few days, and then re-installed it from the Play Store. It simply doesn't work for me. Why aren't they addressing these issues?  I've submitted feedback, gotten a reply asking for all my cruise info, phone info, etc., replied with the requested info, and then nothing. It's been a while now - I submitted the requested info on June 12th. Today is June 22nd. Crickets. I'll "nudge" them again but don't have a great deal of hope.

Thrak, sems to be very much hit and miss and not necessarily dependent on equipment.  I also have Samsung s10e and (hoping not to jinx myself) have not had any issues for the last month.  DH has iPhone8 and has lots of issues.  I am still using app from 3 months ago - and so is he.  It is just so glitchy on a global scale that it scares me to input passports and cc info - but "what are ya gonna do"?

[Thrak]

1 hour ago, DiRonT said:

Thrak, sems to be very much hit and miss and not necessarily dependent on equipment.  I also have Samsung s10e and (hoping not to jinx myself) have not had any issues for the last month.  DH has iPhone8 and has lots of issues.  I am still using app from 3 months ago - and so is he.  It is just so glitchy on a global scale that it scares me to input passports and cc info - but "what are ya gonna do"?

 

Does your passport scan show up in the app?  I don't think it worked for me. It asked me to manually enter all the passport info and I have a green check mark but when I check it again it says "unable to retrieve documents at this time".  I never got a confirmation that the scan worked.

Edited June 24, 2021 by Thrak

[GonzoWCS]

Thanks for posting this Caribill

[Steelers36]

20 hours ago, srpilo said:

 

With life returning to almost a 100% of pre-pandemic here in California in almost all aspects inside & outside life  for vaccinated residents , I'm starting to ask myself if some of the multitude of new dinning requirements and loyalty changes, and all the new onboard protocols, and  mostly  the seemingly unabashed diminished concern for customers reaction to them, seem to me  to be a bit self serving rather then health protocol related, the dark time are past for most of us, and I don't want a cruise that reminds me of last December 2020, and not Now in summer 2021 - Two completely different times in America, the scariest of all is the stunningly anti-customer demand to use the app or don't sail demand.

After 15 months during which Princess held thousands of dollars of my money, basically it was my effort to help out a company that I previously loved, and who by extension promised me a similar product when I came to redeemed those credits, is now telling me in order to use my own money which they hold, I now have to jump through their hoops, except the new questionable onboard experience, except a unbelievable bad IT experience on their web-site and app - OR - hit the highway -slash "take or leave it "

I don't want or need any more webinar's to explain what's changed to seemingly only help out Princess, or to tell what not available anymore, and things I now need to do to to except it all

 

Princess, and all cruise lines suffered in the past 15 months, but so did we customers, we all had our own tough times over this period, but we all helped out where we could,  excepted the roller coaster ride of sticking with Princess with our loyalty, and our future bookings , but IMO it's time to drop the "poor me Princess attitude", and give customers the promise of the Princess experience we'd come to expect, we were promised, and in fact for many of us have "paid in advance" for.

 

Come on Princess you can do better

WOW.  That is one of the most perfect posts I have ever read on CC.  This post should be on the desk of every Princess exec.

 

[PescadoAmarillo]

On 6/22/2021 at 8:08 PM, Astro Flyer said:

That’s the impression I got…why have free minutes when some Elites get Princess Plus.

 

P+ definitely isn’t cost effective for us because the minibar (10-beers; 10-Diet Cokes) & free minutes (or exchanging for a discounted unlimited package) are usually sufficient for us.

We booked Princess Plus for the first time on our Majestic Princess Alaska cruise, just as a kind of celebration that we’re finally traveling again. But for our short Caribbean cruises this fall we didn’t. We’ll already have a surplus of minibar items (on 3, 4 and 5-night cruises). I really don’t/shouldn’t drink and, even if I did, that much alcohol on an extended basis is contraindicated for everyone. .