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• P&O Cruises ( UK )

My Holiday App

By smollett , July 4, 2021 in P&O Cruises ( UK )

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It's pretty buggy isn't it? 

Just completed the July 1st Britannia staycation, so I got to try out the new 'My Holiday' App.

Firstly, it's not really an app - it's a web site that can only be seen when on the ship, logged into the ship WiFi (unlike some other lines, which have full app-store type downloadable apps).  

You log in by entering the last 5 digits from your cruise card, name and date of birth. 

Having logged in, the main functionality is booking events, booking restaurants, viewing your calendar and accessing medical help. It's still being developed, and thus far it seems that only the view calendar feature really works properly. We were told that event booking wasn't yet implemented (although the system does hold the events you've pre-booked on the web before embarkation). 

I believe that restaurant booking was supposed to be working, but that wasn't my experience. I tried booking a seat at the Epicurean... (screen presents different times and seat number options) but it didn't seem to complete the booking. I then tried again and was told that I'd already booked and this was a duplicate... but no booking showed on my calendar. I went to reception who confirmed no booking was made and actually made one... this then appeared on the calendar. 

If it's new I can understand there being some remaining bugs. Got to say, I'm less convinced that having it as a web app reliant on ship WiFi is a good choice. You can't access the information in port, or if you're connected to 4G for instance... so I had to keep switching off the phone signal to switch back to ship WiFi.

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Guest Snaxmuppet

I too find the decision to make it a web site instead of an app strange especially as most other cruise lines seem to be developing apps.

molecrochip

I think you will find there is a longer term aim here however the website 'app' was a good stop gap. I'm surprised the booking function wasn't working as I know people who have successfully joined virtual queues for restaurants.

Its very intentional for it currently to only be accessible on board ship. On ship you're accessing a closed communications network which authenticates you by your cruise card details. If it was available on-shore, you'd need extra layers of protection, log-ins etc. This is what my.pocruises.com is for and eventually, advance booking is expected to return. For now, with people possibly cancelling late or being denied boarding, making people make reservations once they are on ship ensures maximum opportunity for all.

As for roaming on your phone, most phones prioritise wifi over data signal. You should therefore be able to leave your phone on but turn roaming off. This should ensure no nasty bills.

I was on the 27 June Britannia staycation and found it a complete nightmare.  Had to keep logging in and out of WiFi and the app just to access it each time and then there wasn't much on it anyway.  Not happy to be told to use it all the time before entry to restaurant/theatre until they obviously realised it wasn't working properly.  Basically it completely mucked up my ideal holiday which is to take off my watch and put the phone in the safe.

I wonder what people will do if they don't have a phone or a smart phone... Probably includes a lot of the normal demographic of cruising

I have uploaded a screenshot of a typical issue with the app. Exactly how do you save the app on an android device? Surely there is some thing missing between no 2 and 3 ? 

In general the instructions on how to used the app need a rewrite. First thing should be

use chrome or safari 

switch off mobile data, Wi-Fi and airplane mode

switch on airplane mode then Wi-Fi

go to chrome and enter myholiday.pocruises.com 

You might then get in!

If you have a Google pixel phone like my DH  you have no chance.

NB  if for example you go to the buffet you will be logged in by the ships system as being in the buffet.However if you then decide you want to use the app to book an event or a specialty restaurant for later on you can't as you are in the buffet. This was a very stressful experience when it happened to me. 

The app is useful for tracking on board spend but as most of the time we were only asked for our name and cabin number when buying drinks it is open to abuse. You are relying on staff getting things right. You are supposed to get a statement on your last night but we didn't so we will chase that in the morning.

Still some way to go this app

10 minutes ago, Snaxmuppet said: I wonder what people will do if they don't have a phone or a smart phone... Probably includes a lot of the normal demographic of cruising

There are pop up desks on board and a phone number you can call from your cabin. This info is hidden in Horizon.  The app info should be given out prior to the cruise or at least at the terminal so pax have time to think about how they can use it beforehand.

2 hours ago, smollett said: It's pretty buggy isn't it?  Just completed the July 1st Britannia staycation, so I got to try out the new 'My Holiday' App.   Firstly, it's not really an app - it's a web site that can only be seen when on the ship, logged into the ship WiFi (unlike some other lines, which have full app-store type downloadable apps).     You log in by entering the last 5 digits from your cruise card, name and date of birth.    Having logged in, the main functionality is booking events, booking restaurants, viewing your calendar and accessing medical help. It's still being developed, and thus far it seems that only the view calendar feature really works properly. We were told that event booking wasn't yet implemented (although the system does hold the events you've pre-booked on the web before embarkation).    I believe that restaurant booking was supposed to be working, but that wasn't my experience. I tried booking a seat at the Epicurean... (screen presents different times and seat number options) but it didn't seem to complete the booking. I then tried again and was told that I'd already booked and this was a duplicate... but no booking showed on my calendar. I went to reception who confirmed no booking was made and actually made one... this then appeared on the calendar.    If it's new I can understand there being some remaining bugs. Got to say, I'm less convinced that having it as a web app reliant on ship WiFi is a good choice. You can't access the information in port, or if you're connected to 4G for instance... so I had to keep switching off the phone signal to switch back to ship WiFi.  

That happened to us too.  Sometimes things we booked appeared in the my bookings tab and sometimes in the my diary tab. Not sure why you need both. 

43 minutes ago, Cathygh said: The app is useful for tracking on board spend but as most of the time we were only asked for our name and cabin number when buying drinks it is open to abuse. You are relying on staff getting things right.

I noticed for the first couple of days staff were asking for room number to bill and I also thought that was poor. 

However on Saturday/Sunday, more were using these clip boards with built in cruise card readers. Hopefully this is something they're working on and it'll end up being the preferred way of paying.

2 hours ago, molecrochip said: I think you will find there is a longer term aim here however the website 'app' was a good stop gap. I'm surprised the booking function wasn't working as I know people who have successfully joined virtual queues for restaurants.   Its very intentional for it currently to only be accessible on board ship. On ship you're accessing a closed communications network which authenticates you by your cruise card details. If it was available on-shore, you'd need extra layers of protection, log-ins etc. This is what my.pocruises.com is for and eventually, advance booking is expected to return. For now, with people possibly cancelling late or being denied boarding, making people make reservations once they are on ship ensures maximum opportunity for all.   As for roaming on your phone, most phones prioritise wifi over data signal. You should therefore be able to leave your phone on but turn roaming off. This should ensure no nasty bills.

Moley- you are a fount of information,  but for once I  think you are trying to defend the indefensible.  Princess are having similar problems with their medallion system.

terrierjohn

9 hours ago, wowzz said: Moley- you are a fount of information,  but for once I  think you are trying to defend the indefensible.  Princess are having similar problems with their medallion system.  

Do RCI have problems with their app? We certainly found no issues when we used it.

10 hours ago, wowzz said: Moley- you are a fount of information,  but for once I  think you are trying to defend the indefensible.  Princess are having similar problems with their medallion system.  

We had a week in a haven caravan recently. Everything booked or cancelled on the app. All drinks in the  bar on the app. No problems at all. It can work if done properly.

2 hours ago, zap99 said: We had a week in a haven caravan recently. Everything booked or cancelled on the app. All drinks in the  bar on the app. No problems at all. It can work if done properly.

Yes you are right. We went to Turkey last August and had to book everything  with the TUI app  or the hotel app. Both worked very well. 

3 hours ago, Cathygh said: Yes you are right. We went to Turkey last August and had to book everything  with the TUI app  or the hotel app. Both worked very well. 

We are off to Menorca with TUI in September. You do wonder with P&O, we just got back from town and I looked at my emails. 3 from P&O. 1 cabin allocation, 2 vaccinated definition is 14 days after 2nt jab. 3, definition of vaccinated is seven days after second jab. 🤣

P&O having IT problems 🤔 Surely not... 😂 😂 😂

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Posted by Phil Davies on Jun 25th, 2021 at 11:53

P&O Cruises introduces My Holiday app and video guide

Users will be able to pre-book dining and entertainment when sailings resume on June 27

A ‘My Holiday’ app and a pre-holiday video guide has been created by P&O Cruises to help passengers pre-book dining and entertainment when the line resumes sailing on Sunday.

A series of UK sailings start on June 27 with Britannia followed by ship Iona sailing from August 7.

The app, available to use free of charge, enables passengers to make on board bookings from their mobile phone or tablet.

They will be able to queue virtually for dining, needing only to arrive at their chosen restaurant at the exact time of their requested booking.

All restaurants on Britannia and Iona will feature table service and passengers will just need to pre-book or join a My Holiday app virtual queue.

A new video presented by the line’s celebrity wine expert Olly Smith has also been released.

Ahead of Britannia’s return to service, in line with Chamber of Shipping guidance, the ship has achieved external validation of its health and wellbeing protocols from Bureau Veritas (BV), a world leader in testing, inspection, and certification. Iona’s inspection will be undertaken shortly.

Bureau Veritas president marine and offshore Matthieu de Tugny said: “Our passenger ship experts have been supporting P&O Cruises with the verification of health and wellbeing standards to enable a return to service in line with the UK Chamber of Shipping’s guidance and Bureau Veritas guidelines.

“The ship was exceptionally well prepared and we give full credit to the entire ship’s crew and management. It will be good to see Britannia back in operation.”

New well-being measures to protect guests and crew will also be in place for P&O Cruises’ UK coastal cruises, limited UK resident Covid-19 vaccinated passengers only.

Covid-19 testing will be carried out upon arrival at the cruise terminal with boarding subject to achieving a negative test result.

P&O Cruises president Paul Ludlow said: “We cannot wait to welcome guests back on board from the end of June and we are committed to providing peace of mind and reassurance at every stage of a holiday with us.

“We want guests to enjoy every moment of these highly anticipated sailings so Olly Smith’s video on our website helpfully guides guests through what to expect this summer. Then while on board, the My Holiday app is the tool for guests to plan their activities from anywhere on the ship.

“Precious and longed-for time on board can therefore be spent getting the very most out of the P&O Cruises holiday experience.”

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