drsmith

I was the original poster who asked the question and I'd like to follow up by saying the app worked great!  It's kind of tricky to set up the text feature.  You have to search for fellow passengers, then scan their QR code to add them to your list of contacts.  Once it's in there, it works great.  You get a notification sound when a message comes in, and they come in within a few seconds of being sent.

We did not purchase an internet package, we just used the free wifi to operate the app on the ship and on the island.  I also enjoyed planning my day by scrolling through the activities and "adding" them to my personal agenda.  The app sent me a reminder notification 30 minutes before each even, just in case I forgot.  I liked that feature as well.

3 hours ago, JAGR said:

We were in Yacht Club, so had free wifi.  However, MSC says the messaging is free on the My MSC app, which works whether or not you have an internet plan.  I should note that you do have to set up people you want to be able to IM, and they have to accept it.  Not hard to set up at all, though.

Thank you for your feedback.  

What type of homemade solutions have you used successfully to minimize fogging in your snorkel mask?  

1 hour ago, GOLDENBONNY said:

yes, you can t4ext and its a great option 

Did you use this feature in the app without purchasing the wifi plan?

4 hours ago, JAGR said:

DW and I used it on Meraviglia in October.  Worked well for texting each other, at least on the ship.  Did not use it at Ocean Cay, but you do have to log out of the ship's wifi and switch to Ocean Cay's while on the island.

And you did this without having to purchase a wifi plan?  Correct?

When can we get off the ship at Ocean Cay when it is docked there from 8am on Tuesday until noon on Wednesday?  And what time do we have to get back on the ship each day?

I would like to snorkel both days if possible.

I'm sailing on the Meraviglia this Sunday, December 11.

I think I read somewhere you can text other passengers using the MSC for Me app.  This is my first MSC cruise, so I have no first hand knowledge of how the app works.  I've read that others use it to view the schedule, etc.  But I haven't seen anybody mention anything about being able to text other passengers using the app WITHOUT having to purchase wifi.  If it does work without having to purchase wifi, does the texting feature also work while on Ocean Cay?

I also saw somebody mention a GPS on the app to help navigate around the ship.  Anybody have first hand knowledge about this?

I'll be cruising with my Mother and we've booked separate rooms.  Keeping up with each other would definitely be easier if we can text using the app.  And finding our way around the ship would be easier if there is a GPS navigation feature.

Thanks in advance for any feedback.

I'm sailing Meraviglia on December 11 out of Port Canaveral and have been assigned a 1pm boarding time.  Does anyone know for sure if I can board earlier?  This is my first cruise on MSC.

I'm sailing Meraviglia on December 11 out of Port Canaveral and have been assigned a 1pm boarding time.  Does anyone know for sure if I can board earlier?  This is my first cruise on MSC.

I'm sailing Meraviglia on December 11 out of Port Canaveral and have been assigned a 1pm boarding time.  Does anyone know for sure if I can board earlier?  This is my first cruise on MSC.

This is my first cruise on MSC, so I looked at a few videos online to get an idea of what a solo studio cabin looks like.  I'm not seeing any regular electrical outlets.  Does anyone have first hand knowledge of what type of outlets are in this type of room?  I wonder where I can plug my hair dryer in.  Also, how many USB outlets are available for charging cameras and phones, etc?

Also, is there a clock in the room?

My Husband isn't thrilled about snorkeling, but I'd like for him to give it a try on our next cruise.   Just in case he doesn't like it very much, I hate to invest in a paid excursion.  So, are there any free places to snorkel in Costa Maya or Cozumel or St. Thomas?  We have our own equipment.  Something close to the port would be my first choice.  Thanks for your help.

7 hours ago, mayleeman said:

The lunches were just available on sea days because those are the only times they serve lunch. Dunno about J Rockets because we ate in Sabor and Giovanni's. Liked Sabor, did not like Giovanni's.  Only rude waiter on our entire B2B, food was not great. Wished we had done JR! Note: if you are still a Gold C&A member, you can EACH get a BOGO milkshske at JR apart from CP perk.

We are Diamond Plus C&A members.  So I guess we'll get a coupon for the BOGO shake!  🙂

Do you remember what the menu options were at each restaurant?

8 hours ago, mayleeman said:

Just got off the Allure from our CP balcony. The free lunch was available from all 3. 

Was it a limited menu?  If so, what were the options?  And was it on special days?

2 hours ago, LeeW said:

Oceanview balcony did have a clock with large digits a few weeks ago.  It was built into what looked like a wave-phone holder but might have supported iPods.  Don't have one so not sure.  That's actually first time I have seen a clock you could actually read.  I normally bring a travel clock, but I have to push the button to light it up.

1 hour ago, starvenger said:

Was on Allure last year. Can confirm that they have clocks with iPhone 4 charging docks. My daughter has my old iPhone 4 and she used the dock to charge it.

Thanks for the info.  🙂

19 hours ago, death_star said:

I feel like I've seen videos where the iPod dock has a clock. 

I was thinking the same thing, but wanted to know for sure.  I really disliked not having a clock on Mariner three weeks ago!  And if there's not a clock in the room on Allure, I'm bringing one from home.  Hope somebody can answer for sure.  Thanks for your response.

2 minutes ago, Ourusualbeach said:

BW balcony includes meal for up to 4 at Johnny Rockets.  Shakes not included.

 

CP balcony is Sabor or Giovanis (Limited menu) and possibly Johnny Rockets.

 

2 x 24 hour continuous periods of free internet per D+ member. 

Any idea what is on the limited menu at either restaurant?

We're doing a B2B on Allure Dec 1 and Dec 8.  We haven't sailed Allure in three years and I can't remember if they have clocks in the rooms.  We'll be in a Boardwalk balcony the first week and a Central Park balcony the second week.  Do these rooms have clocks?

The dining perk for the Boardwalk balcony is Johnny Rockets, right?  Is it a limited menu?  If so, what is it?  Does it include a shake or just food? 

The dining perk for the Central Park balcony for either Sabor Taqueria or Giovanni's Table, right?  I seem to remember Giovanni's being a limited menu for the free meal and wondered if it's the same.  If it is a limited menu at both of these restaurants, what are the menu options?

How much free internet for each 7-night cruise for Diamond Plus? 

Thank you for your input.  🙂

8 hours ago, Biker19 said:

17 hours ago, squaremimi said:

Glad to know wifi is free at Coco Cay, so my friends without the internet package can browse the internet there.

There's a bit of a misunderstanding, VOOM is free on CocoCay as an extension of your on board account, it is not free if you don't already have it on the ship.

I was able to connect at Coco Cay for free, without logging in to my Voom account.  Also, other people told me before I got there it was free at Coco Cay.  My experience a couple of weeks ago matches up with that.  Maybe it was a fluke, but that was my experience.

We were on Mariner a couple of weeks ago and used our Diamond Plus perks for internet.  It was a four night cruise.  I used my perks for two nights, and my husband's for two nights.  So we had free internet the whole time.  Since we didn't need to be connected all the time, we took turns using the internet for one device (even though we had two separate phones).  The internet guy told us it was okay to share access if we didn't both need it at the same time.  So when I wanted to look on Facebook, I'd log in, browse for a while then sign out.  When my husband wanted to check his email, he'd log in for a while then sign out.  It worked great for us.  I was glad he suggested it.   

Another thing to keep in mind, you can use the Royal Caribbean app onboard without purchasing internet.  Also, wifi is free at Coco Cay.

4 minutes ago, Biker19 said:

Never been on Allure, but all the reporting here seems to indicate 11 AM. Also, you can't go by what happened on any previous sailing, every boarding is unique, all it takes is one straggler and the whole timing could be off.

Thank you for your feedback.  Looking forward to hearing from others who have been through this process first hand.  🙂

5 minutes ago, Biker19 said:

I thought the default was 11AM.

What time did you actually board Allure, and what date was it?

Thanks.

My Husband and I haven't sailed on Allure since 2016 and I know each ship and each port has it's own way of doing things.  We cruised Mariner of the Seas last week and we boarded the ship at 10:25am.  Actually boarded the ship at that time, having already gone through security and check-in.  

My question is:  What is the earliest we can board Allure of the Seas?  I know the official answer is noon, but when do they really start boarding for Diamond Plus?  We're doing a B2B on December 1 and December 8 sailings.  Also, what is their procedure for ending one cruise and starting another one?  We will be switching from a Boardwalk Balcony on the first cruise to a Central Park Balcony on the second cruise.  Do we get to stay on the ship?  Maybe just ding out and ding right back in?

We really enjoyed the facial recognition equipment at Port Canaveral last week.  Those who had passports just stood on the foot prints and poof, done with customs.  Do they have that in Ft Lauderdale?

Thanks.

My Husband and I have walked from the ship to the Atlantis many times.  There's a pedestrian lane on the bridge, so it's very safe.  I think it's about 2.5 miles.  We enjoy the opportunity to stop on the bridge and look down into the water and to look back at the ships.  We also enjoyed looking at the yachts in the marina on the way.

I've been reading comments from several different sources with conflicting information and would appreciation some clarification from someone who has been to Coco Cay in the last two months.

If I have my own snorkel mask, can I snorkel on my own in the designated snorkel area without a vest?  I read somewhere that they recently started allowing this, but you have to sign a waiver if you don't wear a vest.  But I've seen other comments that say otherwise.

Also, if snorkeling in the main snorkel area without a vest is not permitted on my own, is there another place at Coco Cay where this IS permitted?  And what will I see?  I like the main snorkel area and have been there several times, but not in the past four years.

And...what's the condition of the water/fish/jellyfish/etc since the storms?  I assume it's settled by now and the seaweed has been cleared from the beaches?