HallOfPromise

I'm glad I found this thread. I'm thinking about getting and trying this specifically to connect a Roku or Chromecast to the state room TV. We already have 2-device Voom purchased for the two of us.

So think of me as a techie noob. I'm not new to attempting things and getting things figured out, but I usually need some research to work off of. So I have a few questions...

As I understand, no computer is needed, correct? All can be done with a smartphone, right?

And with this travel router, it is able to clone a MAC address of my phone while acting as a wifi to wifi hotspot/router? And what is this mode called?

And does this router have the option to hide SSID broadcast?

I may do just that!

Harmony also has them, too.

T-Mobile supports wifi-calling for unlocked phones. Huge plus for me since I'm a huge fan of the Axon 7 phone. Wonderful stereo speakers!

Keep in mind to make sure your phone model supports wifi-calling before even attempting to set it up. Sometimes a later OS version brings support for wifi-calling, so make sure the phone is up to date. If you're unsure if your phone model supports it, Google your model number with "wifi-calling" and see if a spec or features list shows up.

Wifi-calling is a very nice feature but has its limitations. One big one is a WiFi operator has the option to block VoIP services, including wifi-calling. Airlines are known for for this. Also, my fiancee had a Viking Cruise where they blocked it. At least she was able to make video calling over Google Duo, but it had its limitations due to poor wifi service. Luckily, RCCL still allows wifi-calling! Score for us!

Another thing is some phones don't support MMS messages over wifi-calling. SMS messages are good-to-go for the most part, but not MMS messages. So gifs and picture messages won't send or be received for some reason. My previous phone didn't allow them, neither does my fiancee's phone. Oddly, my current phone does. Don't know why, but I'll take it.

If you can't send MMS messages but want to send pics and other fun stuff to your onboard group, use another app such as Facebook Messenger of something similar. Plus, online Messengers don't suffer from size limitations, so your pics and videos won't be cut off or heavily compressed.

Hi, I just got off Anthem today and we did get the bands. For $5, it was well worth it. We had no problems at all with them. At most bars including the Bionic Bar, it was a simple tap. I always ordered from the bar counter itself, not a server, so there was always a reader there and it is on a cord, so they just pick up the reader and scan your wrist. Works in all stores, checking out pool towels and for any reservations you have too. I did not go in the casino, so can’t comment there. It was especially great for our kids...no need to worry about losing the card and they are waterproof. As mentioned, still need sea pass card to get off/on the ship, but you need ID too, so have to carry somethingelse anyways. Getting off/on was only time I carried/used my card. It was easy to open the cabin door as well. I have read some have difficulty with the doors, but for us they worked perfectly.

It just sounds like fun to me. Another reason why I'm just gonna pick up a pair for us. I want to have fun on the cruise and the WOW bands just adds to the experience, just like the Magic Bands at WDW. No real need to have them, but they just add to the fun and make things a bit easier in some cases. I also like the idea of opening the room door with my wrist if my hands are full.

How do you is them at bars? Is there a reader or do we need to take them off?

I believe there's at least one hot tub open 24 hours.

Good news! Not like I'll be out there at 3am, but the option is always there!

I know they are a bit of a gimmick, but I plan on getting some on our next cruise. They are only $5 and are reusable on other cruises that offer them. Plus I plan to take advantage of them while in the gym and at the pool when I may have the Sea Pass in another bag or something. Now I can leave the Sea Pass in the state room during gym and pool time.

There is an area on the machine where you just tap the wristband. Very cool. No chance of forgetting your seapass card.

We will be on the Allure next & hoping they get the wristbands.

Unfortunately, no WOW Bands on Allure. They are available on the Quantum class ships and Harmony of the Seas, and most likely future ships like the Symphony of the Seas.

We might see them on other ships but it might be a pretty large task to switch out all the infrastructure needed to make the RFID technology possible.

How late are they normally open til?

I didn't do much hot tubbing on my last cruise, but I plan to do more this time around!

From my knowledge, guests in JS (maybe it's full suites) and up get WOW Bands for free, while it is a $4.95 option for everyone else. The WOW Band is only available on Quantum class ships as all as Harmony of the Seas, and I assume all future ships.

Thanks Bob! Makes sense. And at the same time, I don't want to be a headache for the server, so if I do crave something off menu I want to make sure the ship offers it in some form at the time of ordering, such as the Philly cheese steak during lunch. My fiancee will probably ask about the Indian food options. And of course an extra tip would be in order for going above and beyond.

We have sailed on HOTS twice both times had MTD never had or were given the choice of deck and had The Grand once and Silk the other time.

Both were good but we had a preference for Silk.

My fiancee would probably like the decor of Silk, and I would like it since it's near the Bionic Bar (nearest bar I could find in deck plans) for pre-dinner drinks. Nonetheless, I would simply like to have the opportunity to dine in both, just to say I have.

First time sailing on RCCL this Sept on Harmony and have been reading up a lot and doing plenty of pre-planning. Of course, I'm mostly interested in the food offerings and choices, and it looks like Harmony has plenty to offer. I've also read of on many of your tips and tricks, such as customizing the MDR orders, such as ordering different sides with entrees or ordering multiples of entrees and apps.

My question is about ordering off menu items in the MDR. Is this allowed to an extent or frowned upon? Have some of you tried it? I saw a Philly cheese steak on the room service menu and wondered if I could order it off menu during lunch in the MDR. I was also wondering if I could order a burger during dinner while my fiancee orders her normal fare. Don't judge, I love my burgers!

Sailing on HOTS later in Sept 2018 with My Time Dining and noticed Deck 4 (The Grand) and Deck 5 (Silk) of the Main Dining Room we're reserved for My Time Dining. Are we assigned a deck for the whole cruise or get to choose the night of? Or is it just assigned to is the night of depending on capacity? Can we also reserve a deck earlier that day? Thanks!

My fiancee and I got one of those vouchers for free lunch when we had our Allure CP reservation. Well, we cancelled due to Hurricane Irma, but we still have the voucher. Can we still use it on a future cruise or is it no good?

I'm thinking it's no good but felt like asking anyway if anyone knew.

Dang, they have a Philly cheese steak? Is this offered anywhere else onboard Royal ships?

I think I found a menu just a few months old using the power of the GOOGLE!

For Harmony of the seas:

Teppan Classics $45

Yaki udon (Chicken, beef or tofu)

Tori - Chicken breast

Gyu - Beef tenderloin

Ebi - Tiger shrimp

Teppan Premier Combo $49

Samurai - Tenderloin beef and tiger shrimp

Origami - Chicken breast and tiger shrimp

Geisha - NY steak and chicken breast

Izumi - Sea scallops and lobster

I might as well pay the small upcharge for two proteins. Getting excited!

Before you tell your mom... ask her if she wants to bet on it... Just sayin.

Gratuity is now being added to specialty restaurant prices.

Thanks Bob! Now I know what to expect.

OP, if you are going to do it book it now, as it last limited seating. There are three tables of 8 and they have three seatings a night.

My thoughts exactly. I saw a few trip reviews mentioning making a reservation first day of the cruise, only to be notified it was all booked up, and in some cases booked for weeks or months out. I want to book now, but my only hesitation is the entertainment isn't listed yet and I don't want a conflict. I'm thinking of doing it the last sea day (Day 7) at 5:00pm so we have time to make it to some shows.

Thanks for the help, everyone! This sounds like fun and I think we'll get it. We've never done hibachi before and thought doing it on the ship would be pretty cool.

By chance, does anyone know the upcharge for two proteins? And is gratuity included or added after?

Did not know the HooToo routers are so popular. Might need to change the default password on mine now. I take my HooToo on all trips land and sea. Connect a hard drive full of videos to it and all is good. My videos come from the TV shows I download from my TiVo and then to a PC which then gets offloaded to a hard drive.

 

No need to bring a heavy laptop onboard or worrying about connecting a Roku device to the cabin TV. Stream videos onto our tablets from the small HooToo router and the external hard drive connected to it.

 

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We already have Voom purchased for 2 devices, so we can just stream to our tablets and devices. I'm somewhat of a nerdy kind of guy, so I wanted to have something on the TV for our down time enjoyment, mostly an episode of The Twilight Zone before bed.

Nevertheless, thanks for the advice!

If the HooToo and Roku thing doesn't work, then I will just bring my laptop and stream my content to the TV that way. I thought the HooToo would be easier than bringing my laptop, but at least my laptop can log into the sign-in page.

It's too bad Roku's can't log into such networks. It would make hotel stays a lot more enjoyable and vacations even more fun, especially during those down times in the rooms. I know they want us to purchase their PPV movies and content, but I never do anyway.

My fiancee and I are booked for a September sailing on Harmony this year and I was wondering about the Hibachi dinner experience in Izumi. It looks fantastic and all but was confused about the price and offerings. I was doing some research and it looks like there was a base price for one protein and an additional price for two, or something like that.

But I'm confused because in my Cruise Planner there is only one price of $45.00, and it states "starting at" at price. When trying to reserve a time it doesn't give me an option to upgrade to more offerings. It's just offering the $45 price. It also doesn't say what is included in the price. Has something changed? Or can someone tell me what is included and if there is an up-charge for more items? Do we pay $45 now and have the option to pay more for more while onboard (which I am fine with)?

Doing a search for trying to get my Roku to work on Harmony with the help of HooToo has led me to this thread.

So it seems HooToo routers are (or were) working at some point. But has anyone been able to get it to work with a Roku, or Chromecast for that matter? We plan on bringing a universal remote to change the input and would really love to be able to use our Roku before going to bed.