wowprincess

Thanks so much for your response, NJ cruise dude. I'm afraid that still doesn't work....a "wi-fi calling" option doesn't pop up. Instead I get four other options under mobile networks.... "Data roaming," Network mode," "Access Point Names," and 'Network operators." I'm wondering if its because we have a Canadian network operator not providing the same options as in the US? :confused:

It looks like Bell Canada offers wi-fi calling, but only on iPhones. So, it might depend on your carrier.

We have a T-mobile Simple Choice plan that allows us free text and $0.20/min calls. Most of the terminals have free wifi hotspots, including the vans of SPB Tours.

 

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Same here. We're doing a Baltic cruise next May and already checked - TMo offers at least 3G data services as part of the plan in every stop as well. No extra fees, just part of the plan. Love TMo.

Every time you cross the boarder from BC to Washington State and being Canadian or othe Non-US citizen you are treated as a criminal. They do not train them to be polite or curtious. A bunch of power abusing and impolite people. No I'm not just talking about my experience but what many many Canadians think and see.

 

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Quite honestly, as a US Citizen I have found the same to be true at the Peace Arch crossing. I seem to always get the rudest American even though they are holding my US Passport and I live 20 minutes from the boarder in Bellingham.

Thanks for all the replies. I think I will need an app to connect to someone at home since they won't be connected to the ship's wifi. People on the ship's wifi would be able to connect to each other direct without using any app since they're on the same wifi ?

We made wifi calls to home (US Cell #) all the way from Hawaii to Sydney last fall. No charges.

We are also Samsung users on Tmobile network.

I need to hear from a doctor who can show me where second hand smoke from outside air can cause this. Because I'm disbelieving.

 

Is your partner very obese? If so, it is more likely the ocean/sea distilled water causing fluid retention in the lungs, not second hand outdoor smoke. Talk to a doctor if he's obese because cruising may not be the best idea due to the water on board being desalinated but not 100% salt free. Even the coffee can cause this issue.

 

I took a large buddy on a cruise and he had similar sissies but no medical emergency. He takes a plethora of drugs to control his health issues related to his obesity and two of the pills say no added salt and his doctor told him no cruises due to desalinated water leading to a risk of fluid retention.

 

Smoking in balconies is wrong. Those cruises were a-holes. But I am doubting they put him in a medical situation.

I assure you, it can happen. I have severe asthma and smoke will set me off. It only takes a few minutes for it to start effecting me. You can believe anything you want, but just because you can't imagine it doesn't mean it doesn't happen.

I think this is great news. I only hope they do it fleet wide regardless of departure country.

We always pre-pay our tips up front with our fare. Who wants to see that daily charge show up on your account while on vacation. It's a cost of cruising to us and we don't mind paying it. We usually tip extra to our room attendant and waiters at dinner as well.

And of course cruise prices are going to go up - like someone up thread says, probably about $13 bucks a day per person.

We are currently emerald on royal and are sailing with celebrity this Monday we have got select level on the cruise. We move to diamond on royal in February will we be able to up our level on celebrity to match for when we do our next celebrity cruise.

I believe the answer to your question is No. That's why we waited to get Diamond on RC before heading to Celebrity. Once they've matched, they don't change it without you earning it.

We are leaving on the Allure on Sunday. There is a change that my husband will have to stay home. If this happens, am I better to just show up without him, or try to cancel his portion? Not sure if he cancels, if my price will go up at the last minute. Thanks for your help!

Having just gone through this in September, I would recommend just showing up with out him.

You'll check in like normal. Don't bother making an excuse at check in as they don't really have any way to deal with it.

I went straight to the Guest Relations desk before I went to my room when I got on board and actually - kinda the same thing. They told me they would know when that person wasn't on board when they set sail. Ok then.

The refund for taxes and such finally came on the credit card.

If you're within a certain amount of days there's no point as the refund is minimal and you'll have to pay that fare anyway.

Sterling silver will tarnish. Sterling silver is only 92.5% silver. The make up of the other 7.5% of the metal will determine how quickly it tarnishes typically. If it's primarily copper, it will tarnish quicker.

The silver reacts to the air and moisture. If you use hand lotion with your ring on that will hasten the process as well.

It can be cleaned. This isn't a defect.

No way would I chance making a free WiFi call if there's a chance that it will get routed over the ship's cell tower (or any out of network tower) instead.

If you have wi-fi calling turned on there is an indicator on your phone to let you know the phone call is going wi-fi instead of cellular. It's actually very simple.

EDIT: Biker, should have kept reading, I see what you were clarifying now.

To clarify, did they indicated the use of dining tickets for MTD?

Yes, that is true. Every day in their cabin is their slip with their MTD time on it. You "skip the line" give them your ticket and can go directly to your table.

Here's is OPs original post from yesterday, not sure why another thread was started.

http://boards.cruisecritic.com/showthread.php?t=2401284

My parents are on Radiance now as well and she has confirmed it's a slight cluster. But not unbearable. By all accounts they did a switch-a-roo on the decks of the dining room on switch over day (Sept 9) and everything is still trying to get worked out.

Unless you want a specific room that's available right now, I'd wait and get the OBC for booking on board.

Am trying to book cruise next year with kids free deal. Well kids really aren't free because you are charged approx. $100 taxes each child.

 

1.How can you tax something that has no value and is free?

 

2. They want $250 deposit for each FREE child.

 

Am I missing anything besides my mind?:eek::eek::eek:

Taxes owed are a state/federal law. Not an RCI thing. You are taxed on freebies.

The only way to avoid roaming charges is to leave your phone in airplane mode.

I'm not sure about that app. I use TMobile and get data/texting in foreign countries at no additional charge. I leave my phone in airplane mode on the boat and when in port turn my service back on.

You should be able to use wifi to communicate though regardless of service.

Had a Starbucks sign on it. A full neon sign. But yes it was just a counter and what looked like one coffee machine. I didn't get anything from there so I have no idea what kind of drinks they were serving but they had specialty coffees, yes (probably espresso and lattes, nothing like a frappucino). As for the selection, probably nowhere near what an actual Starbucks offers. And yes, people on the ultimate package were getting drinks there.

They actually will do frap drinks as well.

The Hampton near the airport is nice and very reasonably priced (around $150 CAN).

You don't have to take a cab to the Port. Call the hotel and ask about the transpo to Canada Place and they'll connect you with a shuttle that will pick you up either shortly after 9am or shortly after 11am and take you directly there. No traffic, no fuss, no muss. It's $15 a person.

Just for future reference, traditional text messaging is called Short Message Service (SMS) and is cellular provider only. As was mentioned already, your text messages were going through the international roaming provider on the ship and I guess on the islands as well, and that's why you were getting charged.

 

Now, if your cellular provider offers "Wi-Fi Calling", it may be possible to send SMS messages over Wi-Fi. Verizon Wireless, for example, allows this. When I'm connected to the ship's Wi-Fi, it is sometimes (depending on the quality of the internet connection onboard) possible for me not only to send and receive text messages over the Wi-Fi connection (and not be hit with international roaming charges), but also make telephone calls to loved ones at home.

 

Other providers offer different levels of Wi-Fi Calling services. If I remember correctly, Sprint provides such functionality for calling, but text messages still go over cellular. (It's been a while since I looked into Sprint's Wi-Fi capabilities, so this may have since changed.)

TMobile has offered this service for years as well. If you are connected to Wi-Fi you get free calling and text messages that don't hit your phone plans/data. That said, with TMo that doesn't even matter as you get free 3G speed data and texting in foreign countries now as well. Phone calls over cell coverage is 20 cents a minute or something like that. No need to buy a package, just included. It's great.

Don't know the particulars or the agreement you have with your friend, but at 54 days your friend can still get a 50% refund. I know that puts the entire cost of the "single" cruise on you. But it might need to be considered.

We don't want to cancel her out because we still hope she'll be able to go. So at this point, she'll go, or be a no-show.

I would not cancel because if your BFF is not able to travel, you can always change the name on the reservation. Hope they soon get her meds figured out. I know how hard that can be as it took a week or two to get my husband's dose right. She just needs to remember that she must get up and move around every two hours to help with the issue. Good luck to your friend and enjoy your cruise.

I'm actually going with a group of people (including BFF), so if she isn't able to travel, I will still go and just have the room to myself.

Yes, we are expecting a week or two for them to get the treatment set right for her situation.

Ironically, she had already upgraded her flight home to be in the seats that have more leg room. So we're really hoping that as long as she gets up every hour and moves, etc, that the DR will OK her travel (everything else be OK of course).

Thanks everyone.

Yes, I would be going by myself if she isn't able to go. I should have clarified that.

I thought the best option was to just leave things be, but wanted to make sure I was on the right track!

She's going to be fine, but it might take awhile for them to get her meds on the right track, and a 14 hr flight home from our final destination may be against doctors orders at this time (clotting issues). Thank you for the thoughts!

Hi everyone!

I read a lot here and KNOW I've read this before but it never pertained to me so didn't pay much attention to it. Of course, now it does. I tried searching, but didn't seem to find the right combination of words to find what I need. I even looked back through 10 pages of threads. Any advice would be welcome.

We leave in 54 days. My BFF (roomie) is going through some unexpected health issues and may not be able to travel at that time. We won't know for awhile to be honest.

I'm thinking that the best option is to just leave it be, and if she no-shows, no big deal. We'll get the port fees/taxes and grats refunded.

We're booked in an AFT D1 balcony. It doesn't appear to have a minimum occupancy.

Is this the best option? Yes, I know I can call and ask, but really don't want to put this on the radar if I don't have to.

And before someone asks, no, there is no insurance.

Thanks for any advice and thoughts!

I would say allowing it on the balconies, but not the casino would be a fair trade. I don't smoke and have never been bothered by it on balcony when it was allowed. I thought it was just millennial's who are over-sensitive, but I guess not.

 

 

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I'm not sure I call someone with asthma being over sensitive. It doesn't take very long before I get severe headaches and have breathing issues when around smoke. So while you might not mind it on your balcony, I would.

The reason I feel that it needed to be said is because people in general FAR TOO OFTEN use the excuse of an allergy when in fact they DO NOT actually have one!!

 

If you do not like something or can not be around it then don't be. But don't use the excuse that you "Have an Allergy" when in fact you simply don't want to be around smoke!

 

People who have actual Life Threatening Allergies will thank you for correcting your choice of words.

I actually have pages full of allergies thank you very much and someone saying they are allergic smoke actually doesn't register AT ALL.

Again, I don't see the necessity for correcting this on a CRUISE message board. I'm sure if someone wanted medical information they'd go to their DR or another website.

I will continue to say I'm allergic to smoke. Have a great day!

I'm Sorry to hear that you can't enjoy Casino Time while Cruising. However I can say that you are NOT allergic to smoke as it is not an allergen. You may have a sensitivity to smoke as it is an irritant, but definitely not an allergy.

I'm not sure why this reply is necessary. What you're saying is a technicality really. I have asthma - smoke causes my asthma to flare. It's much easier to tell people that I'm allergic to smoke, because they understand that.

I'm not sure why people feel the need to correct someone when they say they are "allergic to smoke".