Ocean Medallion App - Part 3

[rabin1]

Bottom line with this whole mess of a crap of an app is it should have been tested and re-tested before allowing the public to use it. I have seen some stupid things in my life but this app is one of the dumbest. I feel like it was done so we as passengers would do some of Princess's work

I keep a sticky note stuck to my computer and it certainly applies to Princess & the app. It says

People are entitled to be stupid but some people abuse the privilege.................. Princess needs to read that as I think it applies to cruise lines as well............lol

Kathy

[cltnccruisers]

On 9/8/2021 at 11:14 AM, ALWAYS CRUZIN said:

The phone must have ios13 or higher to work with the app. That is why I had to get a new phone. This one has ios14 The old one had ios12 Try updating the phone and see if it then has ios13 or higher.

I had an old iPhone6.  Apple stopped supporting the IOS so it was stuck on 12.  Bought a SE Saturday.  Works fine once the AT&T clerk figured out how to do the transfer.

[beryl patricia]

13 hours ago, rabin1 said:

Bottom line with this whole mess of a crap of an app is it should have been tested and re-tested before allowing the public to use it. I have seen some stupid things in my life but this app is one of the dumbest. I feel like it was done so we as passengers would do some of Princess's work

I keep a sticky note stuck to my computer and it certainly applies to Princess & the app. It says

People are entitled to be stupid but some people abuse the privilege.................. Princess needs to read that as I think it applies to cruise lines as well............lol

Kathy

Ha ha I couldn’t agree with you more - have just got off Sky this morning (3night staycation) before cruising we had endless amount of stress loading the app only to find it had disappeared so had to follow up with endless phone calls !! Then once on ship had to get it reloaded again only to find it went as slow as a snails pace (no offence to snails) that’s if it wasn’t frozen or had crashed and had to be re loaded again !!! The service was slow (not the fault of the staff they were working their socks off hardly stopping for breath) the options limited and information non existent!!  On the plus side - I loved that it unlocked the cabin door ha ha.

 

 Gill 

[cltnccruisers]

Bought a new iphone and loaded the app.  Some things work, some don't.  Some things obviously can't be done until embarkation.  One thing that doesn't work that's a bit annoying is "Choose your Medallion wearable".  Selecting that results in a blank screen.

[cltnccruisers]

27 minutes ago, cltnccruisers said:

Bought a new iphone and loaded the app.  Some things work, some don't.  Some things obviously can't be done until embarkation.  One thing that doesn't work that's a bit annoying is "Choose your Medallion wearable".  Selecting that results in a blank screen.

Been in a chat with Princess for the past 20 minutes or so.  Pretty much useless.  Asked point blank if there was any way to enter the OceanReady data on the normal website and was told that it had to be done with the app.  Totally ridiculous.

[Treasure Hunter]

 

Ok, We used the App on our last cruise on the Regal in February 2020. It did two things well- It let us on and off the ship and it opened our cabin door. THAT's It!  Everything else has been a nightmare. to the point that even though Elite and love Princess since 1990, I'm exhausted. I just got off the phone. I was talking to a lovely young woman in the Princess Revenue department. I was trying to speak to the Casino about our upcoming Sky Princess cruise December 4. We had up graded to a suite from a casino offer of an Ocean view and paid a bundle upfront. I wanted to know when the casino was going to pay their share before we got on a plane. Sher assured me not to worry , that they would pay on time  and then we started to talk about the App. She said the Ocean part was down today and Princess had come to the conclusion that the bulk of their passengers were too elderly to learn how to use the App and they were going to re-instate being able to use the website!!!  Please, we get blamed! And they didn't know the make-up of their passengers. Also she said that they were working ( but it takes a lot of paperwork) to test at the pier like NCL instead of making everyone go crazy trying to find a CVS in Florida if you need to fly to the port. More than one person dropped the ball. I am so disappointed in Princess.

[cltnccruisers]

4 minutes ago, Treasure Hunter said:

 

Ok, We used the App on our last cruise on the Regal in February 2020. It did two things well- It let us on and off the ship and it opened our cabin door. THAT's It!  Everything else has been a nightmare. to the point that even though Elite and love Princess since 1990, I'm exhausted. I just got off the phone. I was talking to a lovely young woman in the Princess Revenue department. I was trying to speak to the Casino about our upcoming Sky Princess cruise December 4. We had up graded to a suite from a casino offer of an Ocean view and paid a bundle upfront. I wanted to know when the casino was going to pay their share before we got on a plane. Sher assured me not to worry , that they would pay on time  and then we started to talk about the App. She said the Ocean part was down today and Princess had come to the conclusion that the bulk of their passengers were too elderly to learn how to use the App and they were going to re-instate being able to use the website!!!  Please, we get blamed! And they didn't know the make-up of their passengers. Also she said that they were working ( but it takes a lot of paperwork) to test at the pier like NCL instead of making everyone go crazy trying to find a CVS in Florida if you need to fly to the port. More than one person dropped the ball. I am so disappointed in Princess.

We have 2 other cruises booked with Princess - a family Eastern Caribbean in March, 2022, and a TA in November, 2023.  I've been in IT for 42 years and find this to be totally unacceptable.  The family cruise is in its 5th iteration.  We've worked with a wonderful Princess consultant on all 3 of our bookings through the virus era.  She's been great but if this current problem isn't resolved to my satisfaction by the end of the week I'll cancel them all in a heartbeat.

[jwattle]

33 minutes ago, cltnccruisers said:

We have 2 other cruises booked with Princess - a family Eastern Caribbean in March, 2022, and a TA in November, 2023.  I've been in IT for 42 years and find this to be totally unacceptable.  The family cruise is in its 5th iteration.  We've worked with a wonderful Princess consultant on all 3 of our bookings through the virus era.  She's been great but if this current problem isn't resolved to my satisfaction by the end of the week I'll cancel them all in a heartbeat.

You would cancel cruises over an app? Yikes!

Not to jinx it, but we haven't had any issues with the app, knock on wood.

[cltnccruisers]

4 minutes ago, jwattle said:

You would cancel cruises over an app? Yikes!

Not to jinx it, but we haven't had any issues with the app, knock on wood.

If Princess can't resolve this to my satisfaction, yes I would cancel.  Especially given that their rep stated today that the data must be entered using the app.

[Thrak]

15 minutes ago, cltnccruisers said:

If Princess can't resolve this to my satisfaction, yes I would cancel.  Especially given that their rep stated today that the data must be entered using the app.

 

That is no longer the case no matter what they told you. You can show up at the pier and take care of it there.

[cltnccruisers]

6 minutes ago, Thrak said:

 

That is no longer the case no matter what they told you. You can show up at the pier and take care of it there.

I expect so and that's what we'll likely end up doing.  It's not really my decision, after all.  🙂  But Princess needs to keep their support staff up to speed.  Frontline helpdesk folks are not generally rocket scientists but this was a pretty basic question.

Edited September 13, 2021 by cltnccruisers

[GeorgesGal]

44 minutes ago, Thrak said:

 

That is no longer the case no matter what they told you. You can show up at the pier and take care of it there.

Thanks for this, Thrak!  You just answered my unwritten question!!  That is what we shall do.  I just want a card to get into my room, get me on and off the ship, and pay my on-board charges (if any, which I doubt).  I tried entering my passport by scanning as directed by the app, as well as taking my photo four times for each task.  Neither were entered and I was asked to scan/photo again, and again, and again, each time with the same result -- NOTHING.

 

SO we will arrive at the pier without completing the app, and hopefully they will just clear us for boarding with the little plastic card we are used to.  I don't need to order drinks to be delivered to a lounge chair, I know how to go to the specialty restaurants and make a reservation, and also don't need dining times since we are in a suite.  SO THERE, PRINCESS, IF YOU REVIEW POSTINGS ON CC!

Donna

[Thrak]

15 minutes ago, GeorgesGal said:

SO we will arrive at the pier without completing the app, and hopefully they will just clear us for boarding with the little plastic card we are used to.

 

Nope. They will hand you a Medallion. It works the same as the old card did except it also unlocks your stateroom door. No need to use the app at all if you don't want to do so.

[flintg]

2 hours ago, Treasure Hunter said:

 

and then we started to talk about the App. She said the Ocean part was down today and Princess had come to the conclusion that the bulk of their passengers were too elderly to learn how to use the App and they were going to re-instate being able to use the website!!!  Please, we get blamed! And they didn't know the make-up of their passengers. Also she said that they were working ( but it takes a lot of paperwork) to test at the pier like NCL instead of making everyone go crazy trying to find a CVS in Florida if you need to fly to the port. More than one person dropped the ball. I am so disappointed in Princess.

When IT people can't make the App work, don't blame us old folks!  The web site worked wonderfully

well and any one can use a card to open their doors.  Princess should never have release this mess until is was 100% ready!  I have 2 cabins booked for a Panama cruise, have sailed many times and have paid for 6 cruises for others but I am now buying an expensive new phone to install a useless App.

 

I sincerely hope Princess comes to their senses and returns to the tried and true web site!

[Thrak]

8 minutes ago, flintg said:

I am now buying an expensive new phone to install a useless App.

 

Why?  There are a zillion posts here on CC stating that Princess is allowing folks to just show up at the pier and they help them get everything entered the "old fashioned" way. No need to buy a new phone if you don't want one. Additionally, Princess has said there will be a web-based method of entering the info introduced very soon.

[cltnccruisers]

1 minute ago, Thrak said:

 

Why?  There are a zillion posts here on CC stating that Princess is allowing folks to just show up at the pier and they help them get everything entered the "old fashioned" way. No need to buy a new phone if you don't want one. Additionally, Princess has said there will be a web-based method of entering the info introduced very soon.

I needed a new phone anyway and it turned out not to be all that expensive.  But this will only be our second cruise on Princess so we didn't have much reason to review the Princess threads before.  Given how long they seem to have been working on the app, though, I'm not holding my breath for a web-based solution before embarkation on 11/27.  The website, btw, definitely pushes you to the app with no indication of any other option. 

[Steelers36]

3 hours ago, Treasure Hunter said:

She said the Ocean part was down today and Princess had come to the conclusion that the bulk of their passengers were too elderly to learn how to use the App and they were going to re-instate being able to use the website!!!

That seems to me to be shifting the blame for a poorly conceived and executed project.  Having the same functionality via a website will take just as much learning.  The issue was the limitation on compatible devices plus all the bugs.

 

[Steelers36]

32 minutes ago, Thrak said:

Princess has said there will be a web-based method of entering the info introduced very soon

I first heard by end of OCT and then end of NOV.  Depends on your definition of "very soon".  At least it is coming before end of year.

 

[cltnccruisers]

In the wee hours this morning the dog woke me up to go out.  I took the opportunity to see if the app had been shaken awake as well.  It actually worked this time!  I was able to complete our documents, set up our MDR reservations and order our medallions.  So we are green lane now though it looks like I'll get extra lanyards.  I'd try to edit that order but I'm afraid it might vanish into the ether altogether.

 

There was some indication here that the app was down yesterday.  My experience supports that theory.  So if that's the case then display a message to that effect.  Princess took a reputational hit with their obfuscation yesterday.  Honesty would have produced a better result.

[skynight]

19 hours ago, beryl patricia said:

 On the plus side - I loved that it unlocked the cabin door ha ha.

 

 Gill 

No app required to unlock the cabin door. This tech. not connected to the app. 

[Lady Meer]

Sorry if this has been asked before - we can book specialty dining on the app but how can we pay with our OBC?

 

Thanks.

[cltnccruisers]

16 minutes ago, Lady Meer said:

Sorry if this has been asked before - we can book specialty dining on the app but how can we pay with our OBC?

 

Thanks.

We just found out yesterday that we also have specialty dining OBC.  Our guess is that it will be automatically applied against whatever dining venue is used.  That said, we will use ours early in the cruise then check our account to ensure it is applied.  If not then off to Customer Service we go.

[Steelers36]

44 minutes ago, Lady Meer said:

Sorry if this has been asked before - we can book specialty dining on the app but how can we pay with our OBC?

 

Thanks.

No, you cannot pay for SD booking made pre-cruise with OBC.  See below.

 

22 minutes ago, cltnccruisers said:

We just found out yesterday that we also have specialty dining OBC.  Our guess is that it will be automatically applied against whatever dining venue is used.  That said, we will use ours early in the cruise then check our account to ensure it is applied.  If not then off to Customer Service we go.

I am pretty sure this was not the question.  If you have a free SD promotion, then you can use that to cover a reservation made pre-cruise.  The MC App knows about your promo and will offer to automatically apply it against the charge.  (A SD promo is not technically OBC - or cash).

 

Once on board, you can also use the promotional SD credit and, since a SD booking is charged to the stateroom account, any available OBC can cover the cost.

 

[cltnccruisers]

5 minutes ago, Steelers36 said:

No, you cannot pay for SD booking made pre-cruise with OBC.  See below.

 

I am pretty sure this was not the question.  If you have a free SD promotion, then you can use that to cover a reservation made pre-cruise.  The MC App knows about your promo and will offer to automatically apply it against the charge.  (A SD promo is not technically OBC - or cash).

 

Once on board, you can also use the promotional SD credit and, since a SD booking is charged to the stateroom account, any available OBC can cover the cost.

 

Got it.  Not being a big Princess cruiser I had mistaken the promotional SD credit for OBC.

[Lady Meer]

31 minutes ago, Steelers36 said:

No, you cannot pay for SD booking made pre-cruise with OBC.  

 

Thanks for that. We’ll stop trying to do it and wait until we’re onboard - like we did ‘in the good old days’ 😉.