TouchstoneFeste

3 hours ago, Slugsta said:

It's good to see you again. I remember your reports of cruises with 6 (and wondered how the nickname came about). I wish you a wonderful return to cruising.

The mysterious Number 6?

43 minutes ago, Colin_Cameron said:

Where the rooms are side-by-side the difference in signage is clear. Where they are not together the sign on the 'Gents' is ambiguous.

I've decided I may not want to know what that means.

On 8/31/2024 at 4:23 AM, si_boy said:

Currently on Queen Anne and said to my wife about passengers getting the toilets confused when I overhead ladies saying they had mistakenly gone into the gents only realising when they saw the urinals.

Are the rooms not marked at all, or is the signage just confusing? Pix?

1 minute ago, Host Hattie said:

 

I'm sure someone will be along soon to tell you that Cunarders are ships not people!

 

Perhaps the people should be called Cunardiers, on the model of "boulevardiers". You can pronounce it with a hard "r" if you don't want to sound too French.

13 hours ago, alc13 said:

Like how to fend off a shark attack (punch it in the eye).

No, no. Use the chair. That's what threw you overboard in the first place, right?

17 minutes ago, SEA DOGY said:

Ohh no. We booked  and fully paid with them for our next  month cruise out of Southampton 

 

are  you sure ? TIA 

 

As you'll see in the thread above, others have booked with them since @Crown Vic reported this. Don't know that anyone has actually ridden with them since then, but they've been responsive to my inquiries. Don't sweat it.

4 hours ago, Colin_Cameron said:

It's taken a while to confirm, but no. When the lights don't work the "ping" doesn't work either. Nor does the little indicator on the digital floor display.

 

I've yet to work out if it's the same lifts on each floor or not.

Somehow between the hurdling wheelchair-bound and the "ping!" ... I see Monty Python building a routine out of this.

On 8/14/2024 at 2:25 AM, exlondoner said:

Rather than a cigar lounge? Where is that?

I think the reference was to QM2's Churchill Lounge. Mostly cigars, but pipes are also welcome (hence the identification as a "smoking" rather than "cigar" lounge). I've seen a post here mentioning a sneaky cigarette smoker getting in, but that's not the norm. 7

20 hours ago, muffydawg said:

I read somewhere that a Type L adapter is necessary for Italy

You're right that Italy does have Type L sockets and plugs:

https://www.worldstandards.eu/electricity/plugs-and-sockets/
But it appears the Type L plug/socket is the grounded version of the Type C two prong.  According to one discussion I read: "Both types fit into an Italian socket", so I don't think it's strictly necessary. It's like the three-prong grounded US plugs and sockets. Many, if not most, US wall sockets have spaces for three prongs, but you can plug a two-prong plug into them.

The adapter that @firefly333 got will accept the three prong (Type B) US plug from your device if needed, but has just two prongs to plug into the wall socket. I've used it in Italy (and elsewhere in the EU). I see some reports of problems, but these seem to stem from some devices having slight larger prongs to prevent them from being pluggged into incompatible sockets. Not common and shouldn't apply to firefly's situation.

(I wouldn't mind input from others who know the topic better.)

3 hours ago, FlyerTalker said:

 

Or the presentation of the GE card when the passport is not scanned. (or the camera biometrics)

 

 

I was going to click on "like" for this, but then I just decided you, @CruiserBruce and I should just get a room somewhere.

On 8/31/2023 at 6:40 PM, FlaMariner said:

 even though Global Entry is on my passport

Just for clarity: Your Global Entry info is not actually on your physical passport (more knowledgeable people, feel free to correct me if I'm wrong). When you scan your passport or yourself at the kiosk it uses your passport or biometric info to verify your GE status against a central database. This is why some are reporting the need to show a physical GE card to be shunted to the correct queue before any scanning can take place.

50 minutes ago, Cruisin'allovertheworld said:

No- but I know that when someone recommends me something I say thank you and say the experience (if relevant) was excellent, regardless of the reality.

Really? How ... odd. When friends have recommended a product or service to me that didn't work out, I often let them know the next time the subject comes up. Politely, of course. "I know how highly you think of XYZ, but I had this problem ..."

I'd hate to have them running around looking like fools, recommending a faulty product.

On 8/4/2024 at 6:53 PM, SASSYnLV said:

Blackberry website is still active,  I just checked 

And I just booked with them this morning.

2 hours ago, D&N said:

We fly relatives in from Scotland if we're away for more than 2 or 3 days. Our girls don't need walks, which makes things much easier. They cope with having a neighbour visit twice daily for a day or two, but wouldn't appreciate the lack of company for any longer.

Your poor long-suffering relatives. I can just imagine how the  conversation goes: "Can you pop down to the Cote d'Azur to watch ..." (doorbell rings)

4 hours ago, BigMac1953 said:

If you can tie your shoe laces, you can tie a bow tie. It's exactly the same!

If you normally tie your shoes around your neck.

You should be able to find a half-day tour to Ostia Antica instead of trying to get a few more hours in Rome - although any hour spent in Rome is worth it :) 

We booked one that will carry our luggage and drop us off at our FCO hotel in the late afternoon. Tarquinia is another non-Rome tour option, but it's in the opposite direction. We opted for spending less time in a car - also why we didn't opt for a Rome tour.

We booked with Rome in Limo. We haven't used them before but we saw them recommended in this forum.

43 minutes ago, firefly333 said:

Ok I got this one. I admit I tried to search myself and what I found says is not a power converter. Still confused. So I bought the one in your link. Just to be safe.

 

These dont convert power to says?

 

 

 

Without getting too technical:

A plug adapter (which is what you want and what you got) just changes the shape of the power plugs for you, so your American-shaped plug fits into European sockets. It's like adding an aerator to a faucet. Same amount of water comes out, but it's a different shape.

A power converter (which you didn't get and don't want) changes the amount of power that flows through it - like those green thingies inside modern faucets that reduce the amount of water that comes through the faucet. This is related to the "120/240 volts" issue we were talking about. Your devices are almost certainly dual voltage unless they're from the previous milennium, so you don't need or want power conversion.

Hope this made it clearer, not muddier.

All you should need to do when overseas is 1) move one of the sliders so that the two round prongs stick out, 2) plug that into the wall, then 3) plug your phone and tablet cables into the block and ...  you're charging. You can test #3 at home. No harm will come to your devices. If you have an additional item, like that clock, you can plug it into the top of the adapter as well (you'll have to look closely to find the right slots for an American plug).

19 minutes ago, firefly333 said:

The one pictured does not have surge protection. As I posted it was a simple extension clrd NOT a surge protection cord. The one they took was NOT a surge protector. It's the exact same kind as in the picture. Those are not surge protectors. I had it plugged into a electric lighted clock I liked on my dresser with a short cord. They unplugged from my clock. 

As I said ... them's the rules. The line I usually take spells it out clearly on their What Not To Bring page: no extension cords of any kind.

3 hours ago, firefly333 said:

My phone and tablet chargers plugged into the end of a extension cord is all I've ever done. Minus the extension cord onboard a ship. I do see they come apart.

You have secretly been using USB charging the whole time!

Just disengage the cable from the plug that goes into the wall socket (extension cord, in your photo), and you can plug the cable directly into the adapter @VMax1700 recommended. The version he showed will only take one device at a time, but you should be able to find an adapter that will take two or more.

The good news: all USB power is the same, worldwide, and both of your devices ought to be dual voltage unless they're incredibly ancient. (Some adapters won't deliver the full power you'd need for fast charging, but the devices will still charge, just not as quickly.)

For reference: the larger, rectangular end of the cable is called USB Type A, and nearly all adapters (like the one shown in post #11) will provide the female end of this connection.

If you just use your own cables, you won't need to worry about this, but: The roundish connector at the other end of the cable that VMax1700 shows in posts #13 is a USB Type C, which is what your Samsung devices probably use. There's also a connector, USB Type B, which looks like a small, squashed rectangle; this is slowly being replaced by the USB-C.

I saw this brand, EPICKA, recommended by that knowledgeable person

https://www.amazon.com/EPICKA-Universal-Travel-Adapter-Power/dp/B078S3M2NX/ref=sr_1_1?sr=8-1

and it has served me well for a few years. The sliders make it adaptable to any socket; the slots in the top accept any plugs; and there are four USB-A sockets. I'm not certain if this model's USB sockets are fast-charging. You might consider this if your travel plans go beyond mainland "two-prong" Europe in the future. $20.

However, the recommendations you see in the posts above should be perfectly serviceable for your immediate needs.

4 hours ago, firefly333 said:

Royal has been a pita on anything with cords. I've had a simple small extension cord with several places to plug into confiscated. I need to bring something royal wouldnt take,

 

Cruise lines don't allow you to use extensions that have surge suppression (they interfere in some magical way with the ship's electronics) and for simplicity's sake they find it simpler to disallow any type, even without surge suppression. I've been assured by knowledgeable people that onboard electricity is conditioned in some way that makes surge suppression unnecessary. Knowing next to nothing about electronics, I find this sketchy, but them's the rules.

I hope they gave it back to you at the end of the trip.

9 hours ago, firefly333 said:

Lol I guess then I'll have to find one on amazon before I go lol. Thank you. It would have been a mess if I coukdnt charge my tablet or phone.

I would encourage you to spend a bit more and get a name brand one (such as Belkin orf Anker); a cheap one may ruin your day/vacation. There are many that can be adapted to multiple world standards, as referenced above. Also look at the labels on your devices to be sure they can handle European current (they'll be marked "120/240") or something similar.

3 hours ago, e&mcruise said:

Let alone an "eraser/rubber/condom" confusion........ 😉

To add another language to the mix:

Akron, Ohio, was dubbed "Rubber City" for its association with the tire (tyre?) industry, and the shorthand adopted by local American Sign Language users was the same nickname (so they don't have to sign A-K-R-O-N every time they mention it).

Imagine the growing consternation of a visiting deaf clergyman as he was repeatedly welcomed to the city at a testimonial dinner .... until the coin dropped.

(Related to me by an attendee at the event; she swears it's true.)

(By the way, there is no longer any natural rubber in the thing used for removing pencil marks, nor in the thing used to evade paternity suits.)

15 hours ago, Jack E Dawson said:

Elephant1151,

We are on the Istanbul, Greek Isles QV cruise next May. Did your recent 21-day cruise stop in Santorini and, if so, do you have any recommendations (pro or con) on any specific excursions? Sorry Babe, I apologize for asking an off topic question.

Jack

Jack, I've been pondering whether or not I should reply. I can't comment on any specific shore excursions, but you may want to "cruise" through the Greece Ports forum

https://boards.cruisecritic.com/forum/463-greece-ports/

where the topic of touring Santorini is discussed to exhaustion. It may give you some tips on what to look out for in excursion descriptions.

It's a delightful, beautiful location - I would go back in a second - but be warned that nearly all the discussion on Greece Ports is about how there are too many tourists (so you can't enjoy the beauty) and getting around can be difficult (so you may wait literally for hours to take the cable car down from the top). @rog747's suggestion gets around the latter problem, at least.

17 hours ago, Victoria2 said:

I know we're Cunard but come on, a fight...and in black tie too!!

Channel your inner James Bond.