BDRebel

There is nothing wrong with starting one, though!

The main reason for the cruise line to try to push it is to track the passengers better and find out how many are where, and when. In this way, they can further refine the ship layout as well as their vending areas.

It is not meant to track an individual passenger (although it can be used to locate an individual).

I seriously doubt that CCL would spend that much money to invade anyone's assumed privacy on board - there would be no reason to do so.

As far as the ship's internet, have you googled the marine internet lately? The carriers are quite expensive (the receiver for a personal yacht is 5-50 thousand dollars, the plans average 100+ per month, plus 5 dollars per Mb. Multiply that by the thousands on board -- I fully understand the pricing schedule.  Until you can figure out how to string a network cable from the ship to a land-based fiber-optic fed receiver, you cannot compare shipboard wifi packages to land-based ones.

As I have explained above, the "green card" provides no benefit in a foreign country. If your friend decides to sail, I wish him the best of luck.

Just remember, the person at the other end of the phone at the cruise line is not an experienced immigration agent.

8 hours ago, jlp20 said:

Unless you know what ship crew uses and you can piggyback on their repeater system

This would not be a good idea, and would probably result in your being thrown off the ship.

I agree with the above - would a bluetooth speaker or earbuds not serve just as well? Remember that your neighbors may not share your taste in music.

The medallion is a replacement for the sail and sign card.

I think that eventually it will be on all Carnival owned ships, but is being rolled out on the Princess fleet.

It is a small, quarter-sized disk that provides location information to the crew, as well as hands-free unlocking of your cabin door, purchase, and clearance through ship security checkpoints (boarding and debarking). With the app, you can order food from your Lido lounge chair, then go to the theater -- the waiter will find you and deliver it (not yet operational).

If you search for "Ocean Medallion" on google, you can find the press releases that explain it much better than I.

Anything on the ship, including restaurant cover charges, merchandise, drinks, spa treatments, gambling in the casino, photos, required "gratuity" charges, ship sponsored excursions, etc.

The "green card" only shows authorization to enter/live in the US. It does not provide any travel privileges to other countries.

If he is questioned in a foreign country (such as Mexico or most Caribbean islands) he could be considered an illegal alien, and subject to criminal and/or administrative hearings prior to being deported.

I would highly suggest that he get his passport renewed.

Wait until about 75 days prior to your cruise, when the boarding pass and luggage tags are posted.

I think the app is reading incomplete because the passes are not posted (they do not post until your check-in process is complete. Therefore the app sees that the passes are not posted, therefore there is something missing in your check-in).

Theoritically, Princess downloads the data from the app into their computers.

The chip inside the medallion itself only contains a record number. The on-board computers receive the record number and display the info that is in the corresponding on-board database.

2 hours ago, gma rae said:

I already posted this on another thread. Why spend all that time on the app when you get the medallion already prepared with your info at check in? What is the advantage?  If it saves you 5-10 minutes at check in but takes many hours at home I don't see the benefit. Maybe I am missing something.

If it is taking many hours at home, then you are doing something wrong. It took me about 10 minutes to fully register myself and my wife.

Just got off the phone. After a hand-off from one person to another, they think the problem may be that the cruise docs are not yet posted. 

Thanks, Ep, for your assistance.

53 minutes ago, Ep010835 said:

 

 😃

 

There are four segments around your photo/avatar. Each turns from red to green as you complete the associated task. When you are finished, all of the four segments will be green. 

Which one on yours is still red?

I think I may have the same problem. I have completed all steps, however it is telling me I need to go to the Princess Cruise Personalizer. I have done that, and that page shows me as complete, but the Ocean App won't show it as complete.

The boarding pass and luggage tags have not yet been posted to the Princess site (not until 75 days prior to cruise, which is about 90 days out). Is this what is causing the failure to complete? 

18 minutes ago, ontheweb said:

We need to renew our passports; will a shutdown affect that?

Normally, I try to renew mine when there is a year left on it - thus allowing plenty of time to account for glitches.

My advice would be to take care of it today and hope for the best. Be sure you retain a copy of your birth certificate and drivers license as a back-up.

My guess would be that the passport office would be furloughed, but that is only a guess on my part.

As far as cruising to Mexico, there should be no problems with the cruise (security is contracted, not Government) or with the Mexican, or any other non-US ports.

Seeing as how anything out of Galveston will be doing a Western Caribbean itinerary, the port calls would be very similar.

Your decision would mainly be the ship, which SuiteTraveller pretty well reviews.

The only real difference in itineraries is some go to Belize and Honduras, others go to Jamaica and Grand Cayman. All go to Cozumel.

I have worked through every shutdown since 1992. In all but one case I was paid fully, on time.

In one case (in the 90s) I was paid 3/4 on time, the rest shortly afterwards.

Still not correct. I have never seen directions on a cup of coffee, which one can OD on.

Same with most energy drinks or diet supplements.

2 hours ago, Viscus said:

 

Does Celebrity give OBC for X amount of their parent company's shares? If I'm remembering my ownership trees correctly, RCCL owns Celebrity, correct?

I believe they do, however it would be exclusive. You cannot take the stock OBC as well as any other sales promotion. It is just one or the other.

Princess will allow you to reach Carnival's equivalent of Platinum after 5 cruises (or 59 days, whichever comes first). They will also allow the CCL Stock OBC unconditionally, stackable with other OBC (Celebrity and other RCCL lines only allow one or the other). Princess also offers veterans an OBC of up to $250 regardless of room category (15 days or more cruise, $100 for a 7 day cruise).

Princess and Celebrity are more alike than different, but I prefer Princess because it is more traditional (rather like comparing traditional art to modern art - it is all in the eye of the beholder).

P and C are both catering to more mature cruisers (roughly 35+ years old, professional backgrounds) and both offer programs for families. Rather than a pure party atmosphere of Carnival, it is more organized entertainment and better shows.

Celebrity will match status with other RCCL lines, but not with Carnival. Princess does not match status with anyone anymore (they used to match with P&O, but they stopped doing that).

Hope this helps.

One should always give the extra "wiggle room" when dealing with the Government.

I do not believe the impending shutdown will effect travel times, but the holiday season definitely will.

1 hour ago, beerman2 said:

Ok Bird and BR

It IS still possible they will/can operate with LESS TSA and  Customs agents.

What they are saying MAY not necessarily be what actually happens.

 

What I’m saying is better to be prepared.

Point is WE DON’T know exactly.

Anything is possible.

It is possible for pigs to sprout wings and fly, but it is extremely unlikely.

Certain jobs within the government are considered essential, and therefore those doing those jobs will be ordered to report for work. This includes law enforcement, including Customs and TSA, as well as Coast Guard, Military and Post Office. (front-line workers only. The support.administrative staffs will likely be furloughed). Travel will likely not be affected, unless you were going to a National Park (these will likely be closed).

As was previously stated, all government enforcement personnel will be on duty as if on a normal basis.

The only difference will be that the administrative staff will be at home rather than at work.

Port operations will not be changed. If you are applying for benefits (such as TSA PreCheck, Global Entry, etc) then there may be a delay.

In the past, the workers got paid, and pretty much on time.

They sound like interesting devices, but I am not sure how practical they would be for a family size group.

First, you have to set up the network, or repeater system. That would entail leaving these devices at various locations around the ship. Then you must hope that nobody finds them and removes them due to 1) theft, 2) curiosity or 3) security concerns.

Once you have everthing set up, then you can text your friends.

Or you can use the free ship's app to do the same thing, saving hundreds of dollars.

Surely I am missing something?

I understand those concerns, but with a good peer support network, you are talking to friends/co-workers. There is no stigma associated with it - basically just people to talk with you about your troubles.

On the other extreme, the Officers should receive training to spot suicidal tendencies and be able to take appropriate action (ie put them off the ship if no proper care is available).

32 minutes ago, sloopsailor said:

And of course that ambulance chasing lawyer Jim Walker and his witch hunting Cruise Law News spouts his accusatory opinion on the subject. Anything to take another pot shot at the cruise industry. He mentions that in a 3 year period, 12 crew members committed suicide on Royal Caribbean and Celebrity ships. He makes no mention that a greater number of passengers ended up missing in that same amount of time.

 

As in every facet of life, and no matter what kind of work people do, there will be some who cannot handle difficult issues they are dealing with. It's a sad reality of life. 

Normally, I would agree with you about Mr Walker, however I think he has a point. It would probably be a good thing to have some type of psychological support on board -- if not a psychologist, then at least some type of peer support network.

23 minutes ago, DaCruiseBug said:

 There's also been an emphasis on creating smoke-free environments such as restaurants, hotels etc as someone else has said.

There is a big difference between a smoke free restaurant, hotel, etc and a cruise ship.

It is extremely difficult to jump off a cruise ship for a smoke like you can exit a restaurant, hotel or shop on land.

Most smokers are able to do without a cigarette for a couple of hours. I do not know many that are willing to go several days/weeks without one.