RobInMN

Never been on Uni. Have not done Christmas Markets with Ama (parents are fans of Grand Circle). But I can say that AmaMagna is amazing! We loved it (did the Grand Danube on her). We also did a Pre in Prague with them and thought they did a great job, we loved Prague. Info on AmaMagna, the Prague extension, and a couple of the first port stops that are probably the same (just not as Christmas Market) here:

I use ExpressVPN, and have had no issues. Used on Allure, Radiance, Odyssey, Navigator, Jewel, and maybe Freedom (don't remember). You will just have to turn it off to log in initially, and if you ever want to log in/out to switch devices.

That's why we pack a universal remote with our Firestick. Then you have access to a Source button. Also, Odyssey has the newer interactive system (as you show). When we were on Odyssey, our experience was that we had to unplug the network cable and power cycle the TV before we could actually change the source. With the network cable plugged in, it force-launched the custom software as the top priority which usually (or used to?) prevent you from changing the source, effectively disabling all other inputs. I've had to do that in some hotels also. but @GenSteve, my main suggestion would be to get an inexpensive universal remote and take that. I also use a VPN. One other thing I've found is that my Firestick does not have a GPS, so that's all I need. However, if I try to watch some streaming services (like YTTV) from a device with a GPS, they will refuse to launch if the GPS is disabled, and if the GPS is enabled, it ignores the VPN for location and goes by the GPS location, allowing it to Geo-lock the content anyway 😞. I would suspect that a Roku also doesn't have a GPS.

Depending on the issue, it can give hints. Not all engine issues are instantaneous. I'm just saying that what ever the issue, it must have been something pretty instant. It's working fine...crap, it's broke. There were no rumors or gossip (that I heard) of going slower, or operating with 1 azipod instead of 2 or anything like that. In past situations, I think the issue usually happens or develops during a cruise, and there's info/gossip/rumors that make it's way around the ship and it all get posted here. In this case, it's like it happened between cruises. Our cruise was fine, next cruise starting with engine issues. @Beachin2's new info on the timing makes sense. While the next cruise didn't start with issues, it happened pretty much right away. If it was over night, within 12 hours of leaving LA. @Beachin2 Hope it's a quick repair and your cruise is unaffected.

We have not done a TA or a TP yet, but have Allure TA booked for Fall of 2025. The way my wife and I look at it, we'd rather have the long international flight at the start of our vacation, and the short domestic flight at the end. So, to that end, Fall TA from Europe to the US, and someday a Spring TP from Australia to the US. Retirement plan - Fly to Australia, land tours of Australian/New Zealand of things you wont get from a cruise, then B2?/3?B (Australia/New Zealand B2B's), then B2B TP's back to the US (or Vancouver if that's what we have to do)

Just off 14 nights on Radiance, and overall, I think all 4 of our group thought the food was pretty good. Only a couple disappointments. Good enough that I gained 11 pounds. 🙂

Wow! This really sucks for those on board. We just got off from the Panama Canal cruise, and I never heard anything about any hints of possible propulsion issues. 2 of our table mates (who we had a great time with) were staying on board for this leg. I feel especially bad for them.

Discussion from January 2023:

Part of that, like Norway, is environmental. UNESCO and net-zero. A new class will likely solve that by going LNG, like Icon and Utopia. A project name like "Discovery" doesn't imply simply focused on home ports. While Captain Rumen (Radiance) didn't really have too much to say, he did say that part of the design process was deciding where all they want to be able to go in order to figure out the dimensional limitations (like bridge heights). which also implies looking at ports of call and not simply home ports.

Are you using a VPN? I get that if I forget to turn my VPN off.

Silver Ray's Float out:

The Meyer Werft's Papenburg building amazes me. The fact that a ship the size of Odyssey (and CCL's Excellence class, NCL's Breakaway Plus class ships) is actually built indoors is unreal. The building hall is 504m long (482m of interior dock), 125m wide and 75m tall, with an 800 ton crane. Odyssey is 347m long and 49m wide. So the building is well over twice the width, and half again as long as Odyssey. Amazing. By comparison, Silver Ray is 244m long, and 30m wide. Can't find a height, but it's 11 decks compared to Odyssey's 16 The videos of the 22mile (36km) conveyance that ships built here have to do down the Ems to get to open sea are also amazing. The Ems is not that wide in many places, nor is it really all that deep in spots either.

We did this (from Rome) in 2018 on Symphony. We had the Orange card and kept it. I heard it was about 2/3 Barcelona, 1/3 Rome. Other than the ship/MDR schedule being the back half of one cruise followed by the front half of the next cruise, with the embarkation party stuff being half way through the cruise, zero differences for us. These last thing don't really matter to us.

If it's because it has not been Amplified yet, then you are going to be disappointed. Yes. Allure is going to be amplified in March of 2025. While the actual details have yet to be released, there is little reason to believe that they have altered plans from the original 2020 Amplification plans, which includes the Ultimate Abyss big purple slide. Hopefully they will make some formal announcement before too long

Just saw your live thread post. Glad to hear other captains giving out info also.

Forgot 1 other item worth mentioning. Captain Rumen said that their are 3 levels of command. Con, Navigational Command, and Full (Bridge?) Command. Full command is never given up, but the Panama Canal is the only place where the pilots take Navigational Command. This means that if anything happens, they take responsibility. Anywhere else, while the pilot has input, the Captain maintains responsibility. Navigational Command has Navigational override.

At the Captain's Q&A on Radiance, I asked what the status of Project Discovery was. Captain Rumen said that Project Discovery is still in design phase, and looking like 2029/2030 (not sure if that's a build start or complete).

At the Captain's Q&A on Radiance, I asked what the status of Project Discovery was. Captain Rumen said that Project Discovery is still in design phase, and looking like 2029/2030 (not sure if that's a build start or complete).

Wrong thread

From Guest Services: 2014 passengers Captain's Q&A (and hotel director): Only 29 kids. Didn't give numbers or percentage, but said that the Noro counts were "not severe" Project Discovery is still in design phase, and looking like 2029/2030 (not sure if that's a build start or complete). Delay on entering first lock was multiple pilot delays followed by a worker shortage for the locomotives(mules). Went slower than normal in the lake so that when we reached the Pedro Miguel locks, we could go right in without waiting again.

I'm not sure there's too far. If you've got your flights and hotel, try reaching out. I think I contacted them 5 or 6 months out?

Some ship pics: The Puerto Vallarta port is pretty compact for fitting 3 ships:

"Outbreak" may be a stretch, but enough cases that they did make an announcement and have implemented precautionary protocols. Reminders to wash hands. Pushing the sanitizer. Serving things for you in WJ, as well as MDR (rolls/butter, salt/pepper). No actual numbers. I've heard of a couple people that had it. They both said it ran it's course in about 24 hours. We have 2014 passengers. Not sure of crew. 3% of 2014 is 60.42

So.. After posting that, the BBC in the MDR changed. Tonight I asked the bar server if he would ask if the change was intentional or a different bartender or what, but the last 2 I had were definitely different than the many I had previously. Now they tasted just like what I get at Schooner or other bars. He came back and said it was entirely due to a change in the banana liqueur. They ran out of the previous brand. He said they did not put real banana in it the previous nights. I'm not sure I believe that. I don't think a change in liqueur brand alone would account for the change in texture. Not only was it a drastic change in the level of banana flavor, and I swear it tasted like real banana (not fake banana flavor), but it was more smoothly like, which also would have come from using a real banana, and not explained just by a change in liqueur brand. Also, the MDR one tasted different than any other bar I've gotten a BBC at in many cruises. Why would the MDR galley bar have a differ liqueur than any other bar on the ship (and many other ships). I've heard that if you can find a banana and take it to a bar, they will use it in a BBC, but I've never done it. I don't know what to believe. 😞 and don't want to steer anyone wrong. I don't know. 2 nights left. Not sure if I'll try again.

This thread says either 2-3 weeks or no more than 2 weeks