dbeckett

Heard on a UK cruise programme that Princess is now going to start shipping the medallion to UK, Canadian, Australian (and another country that I can't recall) cruisers.

Does anyone i.e. Princess have anymore information on this?   We are sailing from Southamton on 13th October so would like to know it if is going to  be happening before then.

Before anyone says it only takes a couple of extra minutes to pick up at the port - the last time we cruised from Miami it was closer to 30 minutes to get it but I put it down to not being American

Thanks

I'll start with the Princess App.  I've had it on phone for some time and loved the fact it would count down the days to the next cruise but no more.   According to the App (it has been like this for over a week) it will say good evening regardless of the time of day and then show we  have 106 days, 11 hours and 52minutes before the next cruise.   When it got stuck on 111days I thought it must be counting down by weeks but why have it on the App if it is no longer a daily count down.  There were issues with the App last time we were on (failed to order drinkw when we were at the pool) so to see this happen when we aren't on board makes me seriously think of deleting the App.

Now Cruise Critic.  I first started using CC when I was living in Canada.  Now if I want to go to CruiseCritic.com as it says I can and always has done in the past,  it goes to an external page (flightsand packages.com) which is not what I want.  So I am also thinking I will stop using this previously excelllent website.

It appears that the sites think they are improving the experince by doing updates but I have yet to find this the case

Can any recent Elite cruiser comment on the list below that Princess used to say were the upgraded supplies

"Elite passengers should receive the following upgraded supplies onboard:

Embarkation Amenity basket, including...
1 each Lotus Spa Shampoo, 2 oz. bottle
1 each Lotus Spa Conditioner, 2 oz. bottle
1 each Lotus Spa Bath Gel
1 each Lotus Spa Lotion
1 each Lotus Spa Soap
1 each Lotus Spa Emery Board
1 each Lotus Spa Shower Cap
1 each Sizzle Mitt ( a bit like a loofa)
1 each Eye Gel Mask
1 each Lip Balm
1 each Linen Spray
Cotton balls and Q-tips

Bathtub/Basin
1 each Lotus Spa Shampoo, Conditioner, Bath Gel, Soap

If memory serves me right they used to be a white bag called Sleep by Princess.  Are the liquids no longer provided as they were in plastic bottles?  But what about the other products?
 

On 4/5/2023 at 8:44 PM, Thrak said:

 

??????

 

 

Definitely agree with @wowzz regarding getting on and off of the ship. I have no idea why someone would think they needed their phone or the app to do this as it is solely a function of the physical medallion. Very confusing...

True after I posted it I realiased the phone wasn't used but seen as how I now have to close the iPhone to get the App to work (twice yesterday) I guess I was recalling the medallion wouldn't recognise me and now again before I get on the ship the App is as bad as before.

On 4/5/2023 at 12:48 PM, david63 said:

Why UK users? What difference does it make as to which country you are from - it is the same app worldwide.

Been away from computers and only getting a chance to review - reason why I said it was for UK users  is that Princess do not treat UK cruisers like North American cruisers.  When I returned to the UK from Canada and continued cruising with Princess there are obvious differences between the 2.    

For UK users IMO the Medallion App isn't worth having on the phone.  I know they promote it as the best recent innovation but it isn't. 

First time we used it having completed all the required information the crew devices couldn't read it on my phone so everytime I wanted on or off the ship it was basically a check of the photo they had (supplied by me), and not the App, they used.  The idea that you could order a drink to where you were sitting was a nice thought but that's all it was for me a thought as I never got a drink delivered and it only happened 4 times for my brother on a 14 day cruise.  I spent a number of hours in queue for the people who knew how to sort out the App.  When the medallion stopped letting me into the room they said I had to go to guest services and get a new medallion so that was probably a medallion issue rather than the App.

Now waiting for the next cruise to start.  All information is completed so we went from blue to green arrival status until this morning when I was told I was now yellow arrival status.  Checking what that meant it said most waiting time and needed a secondary health check.  I have all the COVID vaccinations available and have declared I am a diabetic so why the secondary health check.  I cannot be the only diabetic on the ship travelling.  Maybe Princess should get new IT people as the App is not worked effectively - I even got a newer iPhone in case that was the issue but it is not the case.  Goes without saying that I am already expecting the next cruise to be like the last one

That's where I tried to send it to on 19th June and got the message saying the email no longer exists but thanks for trying to help

Were the emails sent to the Execs simply their names followed  by princesscruises.com?  

After a disasterous cruise (not due totally to COVID but in part) I wanted to let Princess know what went wrong.  After finding previously used email addresses were no longer accepting emails  I sent copies of the same letter to Southampton and Santa Clarita Customer/Guest Relations.  The Santa Clarita letter has been waiting to be delivered since 26 June! which makes me wonder if they do not accept letters originating from the UK.

I had said in the letter if I got no response to some specific questions posed I would post excerpts on here  and then progress to social media if necessary.  They apparently haven't had the letter but now want to step it up.  We do have another cruise booked with them and a FCC but after this experience we have serious doubts we will sail with Princess again.  I had always said how good Princess were but am now at the stage of telling people not to book with them.

As the result of a recent cruise I would like to send Princess a letter (now that neither appear to have email addresses) with comments about a recent cruise.

If anyone has an address or email for them I would appreciate if either or both can  be posted on line

Thanks

Dorothy

Does anyone, Jonjo, know the email address to ask for the Shareholder credit fot UK cruisers.  Princess is now difficult to get hold off and while we have a little bit long to go till we cruise (34 days) it has just occurred to me that I should get it submitted PDQ.

Thanks

Dorothy

Apparently the Walgreens on 17th Street don't offer the rapid Antigen tests and then others on 17th Street only accept US citizens.  As we are coming from the UK we don't fit  into that category or the ones that say drive through.  Does anyone know of a lab that will do a rapid Antigen test without the need to do a drive though?  We are staying that Embassy Suites on 17th Street

Thanks

22 hours ago, f-mattox said:

All reports here are saying yes, you can check in at the pier; just be sure you have your proof of vaccination card, your proof of a negative COVID test, your Passport, and some are suggesting a print out of your Travel Summary.  I'm traveling with two others and none of us has a smartphone or other device.  Our PVP ordered medallions for us, to be shipped to our homes, but I'm hearing that medallions can be provided at the pier also.  

 

So stop stressing about this . . . we did. 

Being a Brit having started cruising when in Canada, I have always followed the .com version as opposed to the UK version.  I'm glad to  hear that medallions are available at the pier.   Princess is not shipping them to people booked on a Princess cruise who live in the UK, even if the cruise is departing from Southampton.

Sorry as the Sky is a Royal Class ship we won't be replacing this year's cruise with the Sky.

Thanks for the responses I guess it is a case of waiting for Princess but it would be nice to see the next one on there.  I know I need a new passport before I can finish it off but I'm waiting for hairdressers to re-open I look a bit shaggy right now and don't want that look for the next 10 years so maybe they are doing me a favour by not deleting it

So the next question is - thanks to AF-1 for asking the question about cruise personalizer - how do you remove a cancelled cruise (by Princess) from your personalizer and therefore from the MedallionClass.  It is really great to know that under normal circumstances I would have 46 days before leaving here to join the ship, but seeing the 46 days is like rubbing salt into a wound

June is less than a month away so it isn't too long but I'd contact Princess (if possible) and ask if they are going to extend FCCs in light of COVID.  If enough people do it they may well do it, course they may already be doing it just not letting the world know

Does anyone know how to delete a cancelled (by Princess) cruise off MedallionClass so that the next booked cruise can be seen.  I've been trying since the cruise was cancelled  including deleting the app and reinstalling with next cruise details but as the cancelled cruise should be first, it replaces the next one.  Called Princess and left 3 messages as I was on hold for considerable time - no response, emailed my personal cruise rep but got a message back she was off due to family reasons but someone would be reviewing her emails and get back to me (hasn't happened yet).

If anyone has a solution I would love to hear it.  I mistaken thought that as it was cancelled by Princess they would delete it but apparently that is beyond their IT capabilities.

Is there any discount for the BSE if Elite and already getting some WiFi as part of being Elite?

Thanks

Dorothy

Last cruise specialist had been on Princess cruises and he was good, but jumped ship to Hilton so much missed (by me) - having said that I will try again.

Interesting - I was speaking with one of the Princess Cruise Specialists who said can't do it.  Going to send this link to them to see that some people have been able to get without cancelling and rebooking.

Also noted above that someone mentioned the Princess Insurance which is not available in UK.  Used it when I lived in Canada and expected to be able to continue with it over  here but similar response to above - different countries have different rules so no insurance (or BSE) according to the specialists initially spoke to.

I'll try again tomorrow to see if I can get my regular contact (due back tomorrow after Christmas) to see if she can make it happen - she is the one that said you can only apply one reduction when you see a price drop so I am not convinced it will happen.

In the UK don't expect to get it without cancelling and making a new booking, losing any benefits or price reduction already obtained (course the UK can only get one reduction for the cruise unlike N America where you can ask for as many reductions as seen on the web).  When it came out, I tried to apply it to an existing booking saying I had seen it was applicable to the UK on existing bookings and was told that each country had different "rules" and that as such it was cancel (and pay the fee) or not bother to ask.

It would be so easy for Princess to have the same "rules" in every country but apparently that is beyond them.

Many thanks to everyone (though really only 2) for the responses.  I've been ready to organise excursions since booking but brother (who I cruise with) tends to leave everything to the last minute.  Now I've got this issue sorted he has no excuse not to get on with it

I see on the Princess site there is the following message    The port authority in St. Petersburg prohibits independent tour operators from entering the port for 90 minutes after a ship docks in St. Petersburg. Guests booked on Princess Cruises Shore Excursions will not be delayed and will be given priority disembarkation.  how does this affect anyone taking an independant excursion?  Does it mean that non Princess people will be allowed to leave the port and meet independant shore excursion buses or do independant shore excursions make allowance for this?  We want to do the 2 day excursion with the Faberge museum which is not offered as a package by Princess.

Any help wpuld be appreciated before we book and then find it isn't a possibility

Based on the responses I did think it was still available in North America.  I asked as I had lived in Canada for 20+ years and as people had said kept an eye on prices and would asking for a new reduced price - never an issue and always given.

Family health has meant that I had to return to the UK but they do not offer if over here.   The comment was that it was to meet UK requirements but not a legal requirement (as was put to me when I called Princess UK as a result of being able to get a reduction of £500 this used to be close to $1000 but now with Brexit, and the drop in the pound, it's just over $600 each.  As a result the two cruises we have booked will be the last Princess cruises.  Had I not lived in North America I, like most other  Brits, would not have known of it but I do know and rather then cruise with a line that treats some cruisers differently we will change lines.  At least if they do the same not being in Canada any more I won't know.

Thanks to everyone that has confirmed what I thought especially as I hadn't seen anything on CC about it (and I'm sure I would have done if it had changed)

Please advise if, in North America especially, you are still able to request a price reduction if you have seen the cruise you have previously booked now advertised at a lower price than when you booked it?   Are you now required to cancel the original cruise so  losing any deals that were on the original booking?   If you do have to cancel the cruise rather than just get the new price applied as usually happened do you have to pay the cancellation cost (even though you are still going on the cruise).

Comments would be appreciated.  I have seen nothing on CC to say this is the case hence why I am asking