D&N

The internet service is not great but there is a routine to follow that helps:- Firstly make sure you are in range of a wi-fi repeater (as pictured). Then check you are logged into MyVoyage. If it looks like you are, don't trust it, refresh the screen and you'll probably find you need to log in again (login settings can be saved, not really security risk as they are only set for your voyage). In MyVoyage select Internet Purchases That should open a screen showing the purchased package with button 'use' press that. It then shows another button 'connect' again press that. You should now be connected to wi-fi and you just have to hope that the ships wi-fi has a good connection to a satellite! It sounds very complex but once in habit of following the process it takes between 10 and 15 seconds to do. I'm not suggesting it's ideal but I managed quite well with it. Sometimes you can get away with going to the last 'Internet' page and pressing 'connect' again.

@techteach They are doing quite well. Parts of France have experienced high temperatures recently. Our S.E. corner is milder due to sea, mountains and hills that surround it. However they have been resting a bit more due to the heat. They tend to eat less when it's hot but they do seem to be getting enough. Mosquito screens cover nearly all windows but the balcony ones have a small space at top, and when the odd insect comes in and gets fried in the ultra violet insect killer it makes a loud crackling noise that scares them. Thankfully doesn't happen often. Hazel cried a few minutes ago as she was directly beneath it when it crackled. It goes off in about half an hour when we close everything up for bedtime. Carmel (our Siamese) kicked the side of her face and eye today while scratching and I needed to bathe her eye earlier. She wasn't the least bit pleased about that, but it appears to be a bit more open than it was about 5 hours ago. If it doesn't respond to basic treatment the vet is only 5 minutes walk away.

There are various points. Working conditions - Similar things sometimes alleged of mainstream and luxury brands. Throwaway fashion - I see that as responsibility of buyer rather than vendor. Copyright violations - Haven't personally seen any. The green jumpsuit initially sold out in days and I spent ages reverse image searching looking for an original alternative without success. Thankfully they re-stocked about 8 weeks later. Carbon footprint, unfair competition to local jobs etc ...... From a constructive point of view, another source we've used in past is the next.co.uk website also known as Next Direct. I checked as I wasn't sure but they appear to supply a wide range of brands worldwide. I'm sure there must be similar US based suppliers. For accessories; Amazon, ebay and Etsy can probably supply most of what we have bought.

Funnily enough the pro photographers had a set on the Grand Lobby Balcony on day 4 in both directions. We of course had designated day 4 as Semi-Gala Evenings for our own purposes! They also appeared on day 5 Eastbound with a cerise background set. And if Masquerade theme is not offered, you can just introduce your own ........ Masks, tiara, necklace, bracelet and I think the cuff links all from the aforementioned supplier!

You may have seen our recent posts from our return crossing. We had most of the dressy outfits already but could quite easily have obtained all we needed from SHEIN. I realise some folk may have qualms about ordering from a Chinese supplier. We've placed many orders, which have taken between 6 and 12 days to be delivered to us in France. Always look for free delivery but pay a small sum for delivery insurance, and always use a discount code giving 20% or often 25% off orders over around €109. Carefully check the sizes given for clothing against your own sizes and that of the mannequin displaying the items and only order below your measurements if there is stretch in the garment. If user review photos are available look through those to see how the garment looks on real people. They do sizes between XS and 4XL depending on the garment. In the photos we posted you'll see; a jump suit, bodies, tops, blouses, shorts, shawls (including red & gold and white), belt, masquerade masks, necklaces, bracelets and tiaras. All came from SHEIN. A red outfit with gold scarf, or black with white scarf (or even white with black scarf) cover both those themes. We've had 2 issues with SHEIN. Early on a garment described as organza was a horrible hard fabric that wouldn't even have been any use as a duster and went straight in the bin (we'd probably have paid more for a decent duster). And more recently a skirt arrived in a package labelled 'L' but in fact contained an 'XS'. A return paid label was promptly supplied and account credited with refund immediately on receipt. We reordered and correct size arrived.

I photographed the wine list on a recent crossing. Unfortunately page 26 containing Central European Reds is blurred and unreadable. Also on page 31 part of the price of 2 Washington State Rieslings has been cut out. You can see the first digit of each and I would guess that these are 2 digit prices. If I'd had scanning facilities I'm sure the pages would have been clearer but I think most of the rest of it is readable. 1528880388_QM2WineListat11June2022.pdf

@Host HattieIf you prefer this in an existing thread please move. I can't compare two levels as I opted for premium. Speedtest.net shows error if I try to run a test. However I have automatically backed up around 1.2Gb of photos and videos to my cloud storage. I have made numerous posts here and on Facebook and WhatsApp, email, banking and browsing are fine. Downloading my daily paper takes a while. I'm using a Dual SIM MotoG 5G plus, running Android 11. I have both SIMs turned off and Flight Mode on. I need to follow a short routine. First check and refresh the wi-fi connection. Then log into MyVoyage, it disconnects really easily. Then wi-fi account page and select 'use' then 'connect'. And it works fine. Sounds like hassle but when you've figured out what needs done it takes about 15 seconds. Public areas are a bit faster than cabin but I still get it working there. We are quite near Pavilion though.

Covid tested at Nice Airport, flight on time, taxi Heathrow to Southampton 30 minutes late, but made our dinner reservation at Max's Brasserie, Oxford Street. Nice meal, lovely Sicilian white wine and back to Room2 Hotel to try out their bar/lounge. Very cosy!