Dislike the changes to the Princess website

[Eagle Eye]

Have I mentioned recently how much I HATE the new cruise finder on the Princess website? Totally useless unless you have a specific destination in mind. I'm having to use a TA site to search for a cruise in order to see the options. Arrrggghhh! ::: scream :::

 

Is that a site that the rest of us could use?

[SeaTheWorldBySea]

Have I mentioned recently how much I HATE the new cruise finder on the Princess website? Totally useless unless you have a specific destination in mind. I'm having to use a TA site to search for a cruise in order to see the options. Arrrggghhh! ::: scream :::

 

:mad:ME TOO! DITTO! HATE IT! TOTALLY DUMB TO REQUIRE A DESTINATION TO SEARCH! AND YES, I KNOW I AM YELLING HERE!

[Near PDX]

On the Princess web page there is a tab on the right for "feedback". Well, I gave them feedback on what I thought of the changes to future cruise searches. Rather than relying on Princess reading CC I think we all need to give them feedback via the tab directly on their web page. Just my two cents.

[Pam in CA]

Is that a site that the rest of us could use?

Can't mention TAs on CC but actually, I use an iPhone app. Just search for "Cruise Finder" in the app store.

 

On the Princess web page there is a tab on the right for "feedback". Well, I gave them feedback on what I thought of the changes to future cruise searches. Rather than relying on Princess reading CC I think we all need to give them feedback via the tab directly on their web page. Just my two cents.

I just posted on their FB page for everyone to see. :) They're usually pretty good at responding, even if it's "corp-speak."

[SeaTheWorldBySea]

On the Princess web page there is a tab on the right for "feedback". Well, I gave them feedback on what I thought of the changes to future cruise searches. Rather than relying on Princess reading CC I think we all need to give them feedback via the tab directly on their web page. Just my two cents.

 

Go to the HELP tab, select "Contact us". At the bottom of the right hand column is the feedback form.

[Host Jazzbeau]

Yes it's a step back. But it's still not nearly as bad as Celebrity's website.

[CRUZER2012]

I would think that a deficiency such as requiring a Destination would get speedy correction. Even before that, it would seem that it would be identified during design of the website.

 

Am I wrong? Isn't the website a tool for generating more sales?

 

[caribill]

Am I wrong? Isn't the website a tool for generating more sales?

 

 

Just to specific destinations.

[Pam in CA]

Just to specific destinations.

Right. You used to be able to search by ship, or embarkation port, cruise length, etc. so it's a step backwards. It's very limiting.

[Pam in CA]

Standard "corpspeak" reply on FB but people are sounding off so maybe the message is getting received.

 

"Hi Pam, we sincerely apologize for your frustration and appreciate your feedback regarding the website. We will be sure to pass along your comments to the appropriate department."

[CRUZER2012]

Just to specific destinations.

Then I wonder, which destinations are NOT on the Destination List of Values that Princess travels?

[bdjam]

I am not a computer nerd, but if I can come up with an idea, then those highpriced IT specialists surly could come up with something.

Or did they hire the same IT firm that Obama did?

 

As an IT Professional - as opposed to computer nerd - I can only comment that depending on the objective of the website, a user's idea of what works isn't always something that can be achieved. Logic can be a tricky thing.

 

That being said, both Princess and the US Government contract their IT operations out (BTW President Obama more than likely had nothing to do with the IT organization choice for the Affordable Care Act). Whether or not they clearly communicate their requirements to the contractor and whether or not the contractor clearly understands their requirements makes a difference as to the end results. And all those corporations offshoring their IT work in order to minimize the cost of their infrastructure take a major risk by doing so.

 

The best bet - besides being sarcastic - is to give Princess feedback so that they can incorporate changes in their next software release.

[Pam in CA]

As an IT Professional - as opposed to computer nerd - I can only comment that depending on the objective of the website, a user's idea of what works isn't always something that can be achieved. Logic can be a tricky thing.

 

That being said, both Princess and the US Government contract their IT operations out (BTW President Obama more than likely had nothing to do with the IT organization choice for the Affordable Care Act). Whether or not they clearly communicate their requirements to the contractor and whether or not the contractor clearly understands their requirements makes a difference as to the end results. And all those corporations offshoring their IT work in order to minimize the cost of their infrastructure take a major risk by doing so.

 

The best bet - besides being sarcastic - is to give Princess feedback so that they can incorporate changes in their next software release.

It's most likely possible as it used to be that you could select any one or all of the criteria in your search. This last update, they reduced the functionality of the search. :( Who knows why? Maybe the same people who decided on no central staircase on the Royal. (I'm being facetious.) Edited December 3, 2013 by Pam in CA

[Host Jazzbeau]

It's most likely possible as it used to be that you could select any one or all of the criteria in your search. This last update, they reduced the functionality of the search. :( Who knows why? Maybe the same people who decided on no central staircase on the Royal. (I'm being facetious.)

 

Not necessary to apologize, because you may be more right than you think. I call this "Steve Jobs syndrome" [and I'm the biggest Apple fanboy there is]. Steve thought he knew better than any of his customers what they wanted. Steve was usually right. But Steve was unique. [Either his ideas really were better than we what we thought we wanted before he showed them, or his famous "reality distortion field" made us drink the KoolAid anyway.] Now every Tom Dick and Harry thinks he knows better than the customers what they want, but they aren't Steve Jobs and we don't buy it any more.

[Pam in CA]

Not necessary to apologize, because you may be more right than you think. I call this "Steve Jobs syndrome" [and I'm the biggest Apple fanboy there is]. Steve thought he knew better than any of his customers what they wanted. Steve was usually right. But Steve was unique.

Steve had a few misses, though, but IMHO, they were so unique, they were before their time. Remember the Newton PDA and the Lisa? Interestingly, when tech sites have an article about the history of PDAs, they don't even mention the Newton which was an amazing device. But I digress.

[calbabe]

[quote name=

Or did they hire the same IT firm that Obama did?[/quote]

 

Haha! I thought that...but was biting my tongue!!! :D

[greenie082756]

Feedback is what is required to get the message across. This is what they want then this is what we should give. Whether you are ecstatic or not about the changes to the website (and I agree is limiting), this is their way of saying, "please leave a message and we will get back to you as soon as we are able". So be it.:D

[ExploringTheGlobe]

I'm glad I'm not alone in disliking the new search offering. I was trying to find a cruise over a holiday weekend but the destination didn't matter as much as the dates of the cruise. Now it isn't so easy to look up my options.

[bdjam]

It's most likely possible as it used to be that you could select any one or all of the criteria in your search. This last update, they reduced the functionality of the search. :( Who knows why? Maybe the same people who decided on no central staircase on the Royal. (I'm being facetious.)

 

But you'd think that since Princess is in the business of building ships, they'd know where they needed stair cases. They aren't in the business of desigining functional, user friendly websites. That's why feedback is so important...they probably didn't even think to make the destination criteria non-required.

[caribill]

they probably didn't even think to make the destination criteria non-required.

 

It was not required for years.

 

Somebody had to think of the bright idea to make it required.

[Pam in CA]

It was not required for years.

 

Somebody had to think of the bright idea to make it required.

Right.

 

Just like Princess ships were built with central staircases until someone bright thought: "The passengers don't need a central staircase" and voila! No central passenger staircase on the Royal.

 

Both were conscious decisions to go backwards, probably without knowing or reviewing previous experience and feedback.

[bdjam]

It was not required for years.

 

Somebody had to think of the bright idea to make it required.

 

Both were conscious decisions to go backwards, probably without knowing or reviewing previous experience and feedback.

 

Wrong - if it's not been required for years, why tell a website developer to keep it that way? There is probably an expectation that the same functionality would result with the redesign. But if the developer wasn't told that specifically then he or she can't be expected to deliver that.

 

I've been in the information technology business for 20 years...this kind of thing happens all the time. Aligning business and user requirements with technical design isn't as easy as many would like to think.

 

Your mileage with staircases may vary.

Edited December 3, 2013 by bdjam

[caribill]

Wrong - if it's not been required for years, why tell a website developer to keep it that way? There is probably an expectation that the same functionality would result with the redesign. But if the developer wasn't told that specifically then he or she can't be expected to deliver that.

 

I've been in the information technology business for 20 years...this kind of thing happens all the time. Aligning business and user requirements with technical design isn't as easy as many would like to think.

 

 

Someone speculated that the IT function is outsourced. My experience in the past with outsourcing is that the outside company used really has no feel for your business, its requirements, or how changes will affect the user experience.

[Near PDX]

Just went to the Princess site to plan a cruise and the destination was not marked as "required", however, the site was down as far as going any further in for trip planning. Looks like they may have listened to all the complaining?

[Pam in CA]

Yes, "Destination" is no longer required! Yay! I've thanked Princess on FB. :)