serialcruiser48

April fools day.

I was on the Liberty 14 weeks in 2016 and can say it's a great ship, except for the wifi. The wifi is high orbit garbage unlike the Oasis, Allure and Harmony. After spending 3 weeks on the Harmony, I can say it's wifi is great! Ping rates seems to be 30 ms less than the Allure and Oasis.

I was on the Harmony for 3 weeks and missed the Diamond Club on deck 11 as it is on the Oasis and Allure. I hope the Diamond Club on the Symphony will have windows and not be on deck 4 like the Harmony.

I was on the Harmony for 3 weeks and loved how Diamond drink orders were accepted in the MDR.

What other ships allow this?

How do they compare size wise

 

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When you combine Jazz which is next door, the Harmony can accommodate more people. If you arrive 15 minutes early, you will find seating.

Of the three ships the Diamond Club on the Harmony is my least favorite. On the Allure and Oasis the Diamond Club is on deck 11 in the back of the ship and you have a big window overlooking Central Park and out toward the back of the ship.

On the Harmony the Diamond Club is on deck 4 next to Jazz and obviously there are no windows. Also, there is no bar and you have to wait for service after you find your seat (arrive early). I do like the fact they open Jazz for the Diamond event and that really helps with overcrowding.

I prefer having windows to view out and the seating is more comfortable on both the Allure and Oasis.

On the plus side, the wifi is great. As good or better than the other two ships.

You will need the following.

Linux OS w/wifi with an Ethernet I/O port and cross-over cable. Configure port forwarding. Connect wifi to ships wifi and packets should be forwarded to your Chromecast stick.

HDMI Monitor.

I've tried using my phones IR blaster with universal remote app and have only managed to turn it off and then on. I was not able to switch to HDMI input.

And this will only work on ships with O3b service or what I call "real Voom". Search for thread "Voom roll call".

Paying for streaming is a waste of money unless you are on a ship with O3b service (i.e. Allure, Oasis and a few other). For example, I've been on the Independance for two weeks and I'm not able to stream "Fox News". The Indy uses high orbit garbage provided by Harris Caprock. Passengers and crew on this great ship suffer with this inferior service.

To your question, Surf and Surf and Streaming was available on this ship. I always pay for Surf and Streaming since I get the D+ discount.

I always get great service and have no problems giving 10's. The only exception is wifi on non O3b ships. It upsets me I pay for streaming and it doesn't work so the wifi question gets a 2.

This is not good news! Later this month I'll be on the Harmony for 3 weeks. I'm currently on the Indy and my only complaint is the wifi. The Indy has a great Diamond Lounge and D+ can still enjoy the Concierge Club.

I just spoke to the Diamond Concierge host and she the Independence has always had Harris Caprock. Whoever reported this ship had O3b worked for the cruise line.

Harris has the contract with RCI to supply internet to all of its ships, including the ones with O3B.

I knew it! It's a conspiracy to switch over to high orbit garbage since they knew I was coming for two weeks. Guess I'll have to vent and rant until the 19th.

Testing shows "Harris Caprock Comm Inc" which is always high orbit garbage. I'm on the ship for two weeks so testing will continue. High orbit garbage has 1/4 the bandwidth of O3b.

I owned an Internet business in the 90's so I know how to test and report performance.

Here are the test result for the Indy 1/6/17

https://**********/a/gPyP3

I'm not able to post the link or upload a photo, but it would show 1.33 Mbps down 2.08 Mbps up and 879 ms ping rate. And this is Surf and stream service on the second day of the cruise. It will get much worse toward the end of the cruise.

It means VOOM is not very voomy.;)

Indeed! True Voom is ping rates <300 ms as I experienced on the Allure and Oasis. It was falsely reported true Voom on the Indy and I booked two weeks on this ship and three weeks in Apr thinking I was going to get O3b (true Voom) only to find high orbit garbage (i.e. Ping rates >650 ms).

I owned an Internet business in '95 and know about the Internet. I know how to test it and report my findings.

Remove Independance of the Seas with 03b true Voom. Currently on the Indy and test show high orbit garbage with ping rate >650 ms.

This really sucks for me! I booked this cruise thinking I was going to get O3b Voom!😩

I thought Voom on the Indy was 03b (true Voom) , but testing shows high orbit garbage with HARRIS CAPROCK. Major disappointment !

Just purchased the surf and stream and ping test show >600 ms.

I'm really upset. I endured a flight to FL and now I get stuck with high orbit garbage.

Do a search for "Voom roll call" and get the list of ships which have O3b. I'm on the Liberty and Voom is high orbit garbage. Sail an O3b ship and work away.

Would someone on the Majesty type in the following address.

http://www.iplocation.net

and look at the ISP. If it says Harris Caprock then you have high orbit garbage and Gloom service. If it says O3b, then you actually have VOOM.

I'm currently on the Liberty with Harris Caprock garbage and though I'm paying for streaming, I can't stream anything. Ping rates >1000 ms. Really sucks!

This is my 12th sailing on the Liberty so far this year and can tell you it has high orbit garbage. The first two days when few people are on it doesn't suck, the rest of the time it pretty much does. The lowest ping rates are 620 ms, later in the cruise its 1000-1200 ms. Streaming? You've got to be kidding. I try to stream Fox News and it may work for a few minutes early in the cruise, but after 30 min it shuts down. Sometimes I get video without voice. Later in the cruise, forget streaming anything. Today is day 7 and I attempted to do a Speed Test and it fails Latency and shuts down.

I love everything about this ship except the wifi. The wifi is a true blight on this otherwise great ship.

Currently on the Liberty so I asked the Concierge Host to contact the IT manager on the Indy to confirm they have O3b service and they do indeed have it.

So, add the Independance on the list of ships that have the "REAL VOOM" and not just high orbit garbage the Liberty and most ships are stuck with.

Initially I thought so, but based on the ping rates reported, I don't think so.

I'll be on the Indy in Jan and again on the Apr TA to SOU and the wifi will be tested throughly. I'll report then, but as it is now I've seen tests that suggest it does have the 03b service.

RCL is probably tired from all the complaints on overcrowding and may consider D+ only in the D Club. My advice, STOP COMPLAINING when the D Club is full and be thankful you still have D Club access.

Champagne is probably a good choice. It's always Brute meaning it's low in sugar. I can drink Champagne all night long and not feel anything so it has very little alcahol. If you are Diamond or above, it's served free from 430-8pm in the Liberty's Diamond Club.

Yes, but country rock.

Funny, loud, party, and did I mention LOUD. And he does an interactive thing with the audience.

We enjoyed it as a "show" even though country music not my thing. We did see some elderly people walking out as I don't think it was what they expected from an "Osmond".

Probably the same folks who would walk out of shows not set in the 40's. Cruise ships are updating their shows and I think it's about time. Got tired of the same old, same old.