Medallion APP is the worst

[cindymarye]

Between the mostly non working medallion app, and the confusion about testing, we have now spent in excess of 16 hours on the phone with Princess. This is beyond ridiculous. We started trying to use the app for our cruise in June. At that time, we weren't logging all of the phone hours. We have b2b booked. Wish we had saved our $$. For the time spent with dealing with this debacle using my hourly rate we could have purchased multiple suites on both cruises. We are traveling with  four other guests, and all of us have had app issues. Anyone else?

 

[uspearls]

You could get thousands of answers.  Not trying to discourage you posting but check the multiple threads on this topic. I have some positive glimmers of hope for you though!  We're sailing on the re-launch of the Grand on Sep. 25th out of LA and the app suddenly "came to life" yesterday.  Easy Dine My Way selections for main dining and specialty.  The check in process suddenly worked and allowed selections for boarding groups, registered Green Lane and generated a QR code for check in.

 

One more note (possibly only for Android users as I use a Samsung S21) - the Medallion App is not automatically updated through the Google Play store (at least it wasn't for me), which is very unusual app behavior.  Once I manually uninstalled it and reinstalled the newer version, it worked better.

 

Hang in there and good luck!  The app is a PITA, but once onboard I think its' great.

[aaa77]

I didn’t find out about this stupid Medallion until I paid for my Dec 2023 cruise. I only used my phone for calls because I couldn’t get a regular phone any more. I never liked so call text or dumb apps and I couldn’t see the small text any way. I had hard time to find some one to help me with this crap and Princess customer service never answered my calls.

It was not fair for us senior citizens.

I will not choose Princess again on future cruise because of this stupid Medallion.

[Rick&Jeannie]

@aaa77 welcome to Cruise Critic.  I'm sorry you've had so much trouble with getting help. There are quite a few regular posters here on Cruise Critic that would gladly offer help in that area.

 

Just as a side note...you have responded to a thread that was 2 years old.  The Medallion App has been improved quite a bit in those 2 years...I don't know what type of trouble you were having but just know that *many* people have successfully cruised without using the app at all.  Also, note that there is a difference between the app and the actual Medallion itself. The physical Medallion is just the "new and improved" version of the plastic cruise card that has been in use for decades.

 

[MrSchwump]

I think Ebola is the worst. The Medallion app is not much more than a petty annoyance for the well to do.

[BamaVol]

2 hours ago, aaa77 said:

I didn’t find out about this stupid Medallion until I paid for my Dec 2023 cruise. I only used my phone for calls because I couldn’t get a regular phone any more. I never liked so call text or dumb apps and I couldn’t see the small text any way. I had hard time to find some one to help me with this crap and Princess customer service never answered my calls.

It was not fair for us senior citizens.

I will not choose Princess again on future cruise because of this stupid Medallion.

Quite a few of us on this board are senior citizens. And comfortable with technology. The medallion app in its current form is challenging at times for the best of us. If you post specific questions, you will probably get some help. But playing the senior citizen card won’t get you much. 

[memoak]

1 minute ago, BamaVol said:

Quite a few of us on this board are senior citizens. And comfortable with technology. The medallion app in its current form is challenging at times for the best of us. If you post specific questions, you will probably get some help. But playing the senior citizen card won’t get you much. 

Also your language is not going to go over well with many 

[antsp]

Why even bother with app, it's totally not needed

[Hlitner]

1 hour ago, antsp said:

Why even bother with app, it's totally not needed

The App can make life a lot easier, especially when onboard.  I will normally sit at the International Cafe (with my cappuccino) and look at the evening dining options.  Many times I will change our MDR reservation time, or book one of the alternate restaurants for that same evening.  This is easily done on the App.  As my cup becomes empty, if there is a normal morning queue over at the IC counter, I simply use my App to order another Cappucino (which will appear at my table in a few minutes).  

 

There are some evenings when DW and I might be sitting at one of the bars, and want a snack.  Decent bar snacks have all but disappeared on Princess, but I can simply go on the app, order some french fries from room service, and they will be delivered (by a waiter) to our bar.  At any time I can pull up our onboard account and check on our remaining OBC and any errant charges.    When we are sitting in our deck chairs (usually far from the pool area) and want our morning drinks (Bloody Mary, mimosa, etc) we can simply use the app to order the drinks (which will eventually appear at our seats).  

 

Is any of this "not needed?"  We could certainly live without the app, but it does have some useful functions.

 

Hank

[antsp]

It will.work onboard, it's rubbish when you are not on the ship 

[Rick&Jeannie]

There is a definite "disconnect" pre-cruise vs onboard. 

[MacMadame]

8 hours ago, aaa77 said:

I didn’t find out about this stupid Medallion until I paid for my Dec 2023 cruise. I only used my phone for calls because I couldn’t get a regular phone any more. I never liked so call text or dumb apps and I couldn’t see the small text any way. I had hard time to find some one to help me with this crap and Princess customer service never answered my calls.

It was not fair for us senior citizens.

I will not choose Princess again on future cruise because of this stupid Medallion.

All smartphones have the ability to enlarge the text. Which is helpful even if all you do is use your phones for actual phone calls.

[satxdiver]

We just deboarded the Emerald.  My android would not work with the ap so I went to the internet cafe to get some help.  What the dude told me was it was written for iphones and sort of worked on androids.  So unless you have an iphone, it may or may not work aboard!  He told me exxentially "too bad".  My android works well on RCCL and CCL as I sailed both this year.  Maybe PCL should hire the tech people from sister CCL to write an ap that works on all cell phones. 

[memoak]

2 hours ago, Hlitner said:

The App can make life a lot easier, especially when onboard.  I will normally sit at the International Cafe (with my cappuccino) and look at the evening dining options.  Many times I will change our MDR reservation time, or book one of the alternate restaurants for that same evening.  This is easily done on the App.  As my cup becomes empty, if there is a normal morning queue over at the IC counter, I simply use my App to order another Cappucino (which will appear at my table in a few minutes).  

 

There are some evenings when DW and I might be sitting at one of the bars, and want a snack.  Decent bar snacks have all but disappeared on Princess, but I can simply go on the app, order some french fries from room service, and they will be delivered (by a waiter) to our bar.  At any time I can pull up our onboard account and check on our remaining OBC and any errant charges.    When we are sitting in our deck chairs (usually far from the pool area) and want our morning drinks (Bloody Mary, mimosa, etc) we can simply use the app to order the drinks (which will eventually appear at our seats).  

 

Is any of this "not needed?"  We could certainly live without the app, but it does have some useful functions.

 

Hank

The key word here is that you will get your order eventually. I find it much easier to just walk typo a bar and get our drinks. Also if you are on a package and order for 2 of you on one account they will both be charged against the 15 for one person. Some nights you will go to get a drink late night and find you ate over your limit

[Hlitner]

1 minute ago, memoak said:

The key word here is that you will get your order eventually. I find it much easier to just walk typo a bar and get our drinks. Also if you are on a package and order for 2 of you on one account they will both be charged against the 15 for one person. Some nights you will go to get a drink late night and find you ate over your limit

On far more than 100 cruises we have never had an issue with a 15 drink limit :).  At my age, 15 drinks (even water) would likely put me in my grave.  

[memoak]

Just now, Hlitner said:

On far more than 100 cruises we have never had an issue with a 15 drink limit :).  At my age, 15 drinks (even water) would likely put me in my grave.  

Goodness I am in my 70’s and usually have around 8-10 drinks a day on board. If you put my wife’s drinks on mine I would go over every day. We also make sure that when we order 2 drinks that one goes on rach tab. That way we are fine late night in the casino

[Moondogy]

Wonder if this next app coming out next month will get as great reviews as the last 2 or 3 have 🤣

[Roberto256]

On 11/24/2023 at 7:19 PM, Moondogy said:

Wonder if this next app coming out next month will get as great reviews as the last 2 or 3 have 🤣

It's good to have goals.

I learned that in rehab.

/Captain Ron

 

[satxdiver]

On 11/24/2023 at 6:19 PM, Moondogy said:

Wonder if this next app coming out next month will get as great reviews as the last 2 or 3 have 🤣

I just left the Emerald a little over a week ago.  I never could get the "wonderful" ap to work on my android (galaxy S9+).  Early in the cruise I went to the internet cafe to get help.  The male crewman told me the ap was written for the iphone and did not work on all androids.  So looks like I need to go get an iphone (over my dead body!) or do without.  It was kind of nice not carrying that brick around with me.  I use the internet connection for my laptop (windows 11 thank you) and access the needed daily documents/reports that I need.  So I just walked around seeing what was happening reading the very abbreviated patter each day.  I have little to no confidence in a new ap. 

 

I also cruised on RCL and CCL earlier this year and their ap worked fine on my android which just points out how inept the PCL designers are.  They should hire the ap writers from sister cruise line Carnival to write an ap that works.

[jwattle]

5 minutes ago, satxdiver said:

I just left the Emerald a little over a week ago.  I never could get the "wonderful" ap to work on my android (galaxy S9+).  Early in the cruise I went to the internet cafe to get help.  The male crewman told me the ap was written for the iphone and did not work on all androids.  So looks like I need to go get an iphone (over my dead body!) or do without.  It was kind of nice not carrying that brick around with me.  I use the internet connection for my laptop (windows 11 thank you) and access the needed daily documents/reports that I need.  So I just walked around seeing what was happening reading the very abbreviated patter each day.  I have little to no confidence in a new ap. 

 

I also cruised on RCL and CCL earlier this year and their ap worked fine on my android which just points out how inept the PCL designers are.  They should hire the ap writers from sister cruise line Carnival to write an ap that works.

App works great on Android Galaxy Z Fold5 and Android Z Flip5 this past 3 weeks on Majestic, like a champ!

[LACruiser88]

1 hour ago, jwattle said:

App works great on Android Galaxy Z Fold5 and Android Z Flip5 this past 3 weeks on Majestic, like a champ!

It is working great on my Samsung Galaxy S21 currently on the Enchanted Princess!

[Rick&Jeannie]

8 hours ago, satxdiver said:

  I never could get the "wonderful" ap to work on my android (galaxy S9+).

Hence the root of your problem finally arises.  The S9 series is rather lacking in the horsepower needed for many of today's generation of apps. Don't get me wrong...I am not defending the app here at all. It has been several years since I've had an S9 (I started with rhe S3!) So I have seen the evolution of the Samsung Galaxy phones. I'm currently on the S22.

 

The Medallion App "works" just fine on the (newer) Android phones.  It is still a very poorly designed app...anybody who has been sailing with Princess for about 5 years can attest to that but also will likely say that it has come a long way during that time. The problem with every release since the beginning is that each version has required more and more operating memory. The earlier phones *generally* were lower capacity ram, causing the problems. 

 

Newer generation phones typically come with *at least* 256 gb of ram...some much more. A 128gb phone simply can't run the app. Sadly, most of today's programming graduates are not taught how to optimize their code such that it will run in more limited capacity phones. They are basically taught that "ram is cheap, therefore view it as being unlimited" which simply is not true. 

 

When you were told that the app was not written for Android phones,  I suspect that there may have been a bit of language "disconnect" and what they *meant* to say was that it was not written for an Android as old or as ram-limited.

 

As I stated earlier,  I use an S22. I just got off the Sky Princess for a transatlantic cruise. I had no issues just like others before me have stated. 

 

I know phones are crazy expensive these days...but you would be very impressed with the speed and picture quality of the newest generation of phones available. 

[Hlitner]

4 hours ago, Rick&Jeannie said:

Hence the root of your problem finally arises.  The S9 series is rather lacking in the horsepower needed for many of today's generation of apps. Don't get me wrong...I am not defending the app here at all. It has been several years since I've had an S9 (I started with rhe S3!) So I have seen the evolution of the Samsung Galaxy phones. I'm currently on the S22.

 

The Medallion App "works" just fine on the (newer) Android phones.  It is still a very poorly designed app...anybody who has been sailing with Princess for about 5 years can attest to that but also will likely say that it has come a long way during that time. The problem with every release since the beginning is that each version has required more and more operating memory. The earlier phones *generally* were lower capacity ram, causing the problems. 

 

Newer generation phones typically come with *at least* 256 gb of ram...some much more. A 128gb phone simply can't run the app. Sadly, most of today's programming graduates are not taught how to optimize their code such that it will run in more limited capacity phones. They are basically taught that "ram is cheap, therefore view it as being unlimited" which simply is not true. 

 

When you were told that the app was not written for Android phones,  I suspect that there may have been a bit of language "disconnect" and what they *meant* to say was that it was not written for an Android as old or as ram-limited.

 

As I stated earlier,  I use an S22. I just got off the Sky Princess for a transatlantic cruise. I had no issues just like others before me have stated. 

 

I know phones are crazy expensive these days...but you would be very impressed with the speed and picture quality of the newest generation of phones available. 

Don't confuse RAM with storage.  For example, the latest iPhone 15 only has 6megs of RAM.  My iPhone SE (2nd Edition) only has 3 Megs of Ram and can easily handle nearly any app including the Princess stuff.

[GonzoWCS]

It does what is required.  I never had high expectations....

 

Cheers

[Stosh68]

On 11/24/2023 at 8:04 AM, aaa77 said:

I didn’t find out about this stupid Medallion until I paid for my Dec 2023 cruise. I only used my phone for calls because I couldn’t get a regular phone any more. I never liked so call text or dumb apps and I couldn’t see the small text any way. I had hard time to find some one to help me with this crap and Princess customer service never answered my calls.

It was not fair for us senior citizens.

I will not choose Princess again on future cruise because of this stupid Medallion.

 

I agree, Princess should remove all the technology from it's ships.  Return cruising back to what it originally was, with hundreds of men paddling with oars and hardtack for food.  If you pay for Princess Plus you can get one orange per day as specialty dining to keep the scurvy away.