Jim_Iain

I'm feeling comfortable.   There are no Queen's Grill cabins available so will be happy with what we have.   I do have a set of Bose Sleep Buds that work incredibly well in masking noise.   I use them due to a snoring spouse.   I've a very light sleeper.

11 hours ago, wrk2cruise said:

I have the brochure for the Book Now/Later program as I just received my documents for my June sailing.   I looked at the T&C and was very surprised to see that Book Later is restricted to non-refundable.

 

 

Book Now Program reservations can be made at non-refundable or refundable deposit fares; Book Later Program reservations require non-refundable deposit fares.

 

Book Later.pdf 158.97 kB · 8 downloads

Also unless it hasn't changed.   If you don't book something you no longer get a refund of the Future Cruise Certificate.   In the past if not used you were refunded after 1 year.

23 hours ago, hcat said:

i get books uploaded for free  on my Tablet ..using the LIBBY APP...A local library where one has a valid borrower's card can help you install it...and getting the books is easy! 

Much easier than when we borrowed a Kindle for my mil!

I love Libby.   I use it quite frequently.   I never new of all the resources available through our Library System until a member, who was a librarian pointed me to the resources available.

1 hour ago, 1985rz1 said:

Good question, and as a mildly savy computer user, but not an IT pro, I would like answered, too.  The old wives' tale is that O blocks certain ports, but some folks don't buy that.  As for me I don't know, but many posters say the speed is not improved with the upgrade.  We haven't tried it, because we don't need it.  And we are sensitive to the limited band width available on ships and the negative impact that streaming has on others on the ship.  Hopefully, Starlink will solve that problem. Will be very interested in the results of your sniffing.

Technically streaming usually  uses port 80 which is the port used to surf the web.   Secure surfing (https) uses port 443.  Most lines with Starlink throttle the connection to each user -  On celebrity Download on Premium is about 5.5 Mps and upload to 3 MPS.   Regular is more like 3/1.5  which won't even allow loading of Cruise Critics

Bandwidth can definitely be an issue but they usually limit any one user from eating it all up by a metering system that rotate (for use of a better word) packets from each user.    When many users are simultaneously using it causes latency and missed packets.  

I guess the initial thing I will do is run a network tool and see which ports are open and which are closed or restricted.   I would then follow up using a dos command - Traceroute

Defination of traceroute -  ok.. .I'm a nerd....basically a road map with length of time between each hop

traceroute provides a map of how data on the internet travels from its source to its destination. When you connect with a website, the data you get must travel across multiple devices and networks along the way, particularly routers.

To OP --- I've heard from a number of people that had that remote and they just asked their room attendant for the other one with the CC button and Menu button on it.

They received one quickly.

Are any of the buttons on the side "Source".      First of all you need to plug in your device and have it powered up.    If a source button press repeatedly until source you have device plugged into.    If one of them says Menu --- select menu -- then select up and down until you get to source.   You will probably ten press the up and down until you get to your source.

On 4/22/2024 at 1:29 PM, DaKahuna said:

We are going on Millennium and I had no issue getting my device hooked up to the TV in our Sky Suite -- the issue I ran into is there was no power outlet that I could access on the wall where the TV was located.  The TV and the Mini-fridge were plugged into them. 

 

For our upcoming cruise, I am considering using a multi outlet plug to connect my FireTV power adapter and the TV. Just have to see what our room attendant does if I do that. 

 

 

 

Two alternatives....

1.  I always ask for an extension cord.... oops... John.... that's too easy.

2.  I Plug my Firestick or Roku into the USB port.   No problem running these device from the USB. 

9 hours ago, txtechmk said:

Regular entrees include: salmon, chicken breast, and filet.

Also available on all ships in all dining room is the Children's Menu  - 4 ounce Sirloin, Fish sticks,Mac and Cheese and Grill Cheese Sandwich. 

They have a bookshelf in Eden - usually on the ramp near the top.    I think they are books left behind by previous guests.   

One recommendation is to join your Roll Call and see if you can make contact with other readers that would be interested in swapping off books.  

I know on my live post we often have a good discussion of books I'm reading (actually listening to as I'm hooked on e-books).    There are a lot of readers on every cruise who I'm sure we be up for a swap

The original Zenith Number is still active.    I just called it.   

When I ever call it, it is answered quickly but often recognize the agents as Suite Concierges and Engagement Staff, I've spoken with over the years. 

3 hours ago, 1985rz1 said:

Unless the WiFi game has changed recently on Oceania with it's adoption of Starlink, it shouldn't matter. The streaming package has had the same bandwidth as the regular package.  The only difference is that streaming is unblocked with the upgrade.  

OK...I'm just curious.    As a grey headed ex- hacker and computer nerd from Silicon Valley I'm trying to understand how they wold implement that.   The methodology that has often been floated here isn't sound and would not stop me from streaming with a tweak here and there.  

I guess I'll just have to do some sniffing around once on the ship.  

My first cruise with Oceania is on Regatta  so will still have the "OLD" system. 

On 6/2/2024 at 10:03 AM, daydreamer62 said:

Pretty fast 107.39

So it must be viewing the uploading of images as some kind of streaming 

 

That is very good.  Is that regular or streaming. 

4 hours ago, cruisegal415 said:

Having considered all your helpful suggestions, I think we will just stay on the ship in Civitavecchia overnight and take a train in to St. Peter's that morning.  The train only takes an hour, which would give us plenty of time to get there and find the meeting point for the tour.  

 

Another question, about the train, do we have to/should we book it in advance, or can we just buy the ticket at the station? Hard to decide in June what time we would want to return in August. 

 I need for advance booking. Just buy ticket.  
 

one warning.   The train requires walking down and up stairs.   Elevator is limited 

Looking forward to following along.   Good luck on your long flight.  

5 hours ago, Pushpit said:

You don't need to worry about that any more. Pre Starlink yes it was a big factor since the system really did not reach that well into staterooms. Suites tended not to be so bad, but some had either no signal, or signal only near the door. But now, with Starlink, all the not-spots have gone, quite a remarkable change.

Thanks... Starlink has been a game changer for sure.   

21 minutes ago, mygreyhound66 said:

Greetings, this past October we stayed at the Hilton.  I choose it (we live in NJ) because we had a really early flight out and the shuttle was 24 hrs, some of the hotels are 'on demand' - read, limited!  Also, this hotels' shuttle is independently ran/operated and we asked the driver if he would drop us off at the terminal instead of at the airport tram stop. (which he was very happy to do so) Please be very sure that you would be picked up at your terminal - it may be worthwhile to actually call the hotel to inquire - it is a real pain to have to go to the airport tram stop at that hour.  As you know, it can be a total nightmare there!  Additionally, even though reviews are varied, and the hotel is not new, it was clean and pleasant for an airport hotel!  Surprisingly the bar served a very nice burger (it was a sunday evening) - not sure that would help you since you have such a late arrival.  

I called each of your short list hotels to inquire the shuttle services - not all answers were clear!  you need to be very specific with your questions.  Please let me know if I can help further!

Thanks.... At least it won't be too bad for us as we will be on West Coast time.  I'll give Hilton a call.

4 minutes ago, njhorseman said:

Any hotel shuttle that picks you up at one of the airline terminals rather than at the P4 AirTrain station is violating airport rules so don't expect to find a hotel that will do that.

You had me excited until I read the last line.

We had a difficult time getting an Uber -   after trying for 10 minutes saw a cab and grabbed it.   It was metered and really not that more expensive than an Uber.    At the time Uber prices were surging but no Ubers accepting.   Maybe hoping for a stronger surge price.

Wonder if you could run a speed test https://www.speedtest.net/  and report the speeds you are seeing. 

21 hours ago, exlondoner said:

Do you really mean customs, or was it immigration?

It is immigration.      Since the ship will be stopping in the U.S. they do U.S. immigration at Canadian Sea and Airports prior to departure.

Customs  occurs when you exit the terminal with bags in hand. 

Thanks for all the responses.   I'm feeling much better.   I'm hoping I'm not the person people complain about.   I sometimes have nightmares and start screaming "Call the Police".... Iain has to wake me.    I of course never remember. 

hmmm.. maybe I need to stop reading all those mystery novels. 

17 hours ago, tigerfan75 said:

I also have a connecting room, 9023, on the QM2.  I, too, am very interested in others' experiences in a QM2 connecting room.  I have always sought to avoid connecting rooms, but this is a "sold out" cruise...  Thanks.

I hadn't thought about the connecting door until I watched a YT Video someone had brought up in a different post.   They were in "4th Class" (their term not mine) and they were complaining about the noise as well as everything else.  So I took it with a grain of salt.

It did prompt me to check my room and found out I have a connecting room on our first cruise.   I had chosen it using the location map of the Wifi Access points being adjacent to the cabin.     Our cruise is also kinda sold out (but they are offering wait list).

Thank you for taking the time to write a review.    We will be taking our first QM2 cruise in October and hoping things improve with staffing and service by then.

There are so few reviews here leaving us wanting to hear more about current conditions - especially in Queens Grill.

Hoping we will not be disappointed as we have 2 crossings booked.

On 6/1/2024 at 5:33 AM, billc23 said:

Jim - Did you book Door to Door without air?? Or Port to Port??? I don't think I saw your answer in a prior thread. If the old Port to Port your deposit is not refundable. If Door to Door, you could cancel and then rebook a different sailing, but you cannot book the same sailing. The issue often is that Silversea has many unique sailings rather than repeating the same itinerary months at a time.  You will love the laundry benefit - much nicer treatment of your items than Celebrity.

 

I know that with the discounts accrued from sailing - not from status match - do apply to already booked sailings. 

Thanks...

If you cancel do you get a refund or a credit?   Just curious.   Was checking my fare and the current fare is $500 more and the deposit has gone up by $2,000 (that doesn't bother me).  I think I will call my agent and see what he can do.

On 6/1/2024 at 6:20 AM, ging466 said:

Jim, don't cancel just book another one🤣.

 

How about the Panama Canal in May next year? Silver Shadow.  33 days, LA to NYC.

 

We have to catch up again somewhere!

 

Cheers

Jennifer

 

Jennifer -   We are booked on Silver Shadow -  5/9/2025 from LA to NYC.  

Wanna join us ---  You could spend sometime with us in Northern California and we will give you a tour of SF.   Love doing tours of the City.