ohmark

Are you sure the comcast home phone is a landline

It's a voip service, which makes absolutely no difference for purposes of this discussion. To be more specific, I might have used the term "home phone" rather than "landline phone." I used the "landline" moniker to differentiate traditional and voip telephone home service from cellular service. For example, in addition to our Comcast home phone service, we have ATT wireless home phone, which is a home phone which is neither landline nor voip--it's a home cellular service.

Somehow, from your posts, you appear to believe I'm lobbying that people switch their telephone service to Comcast. Of course I'm not--I don't care. I simply posted that if you have Comcast home phone, there exists a wonderful app for free calling from overseas, which was invaluable for us when my wife was injured in Europe. There are many arguments for or against traditional ATT-like landline home phone service versus cable and other voip providers. We switched to Comcast a number of years ago and haven't looked back. We've had no problems and have cut our phone bills substantially.

As to customer service, in my experience Comcast does not have great customer service, BUT no better or worse than the customer service I've received from ATT and Verizon. However, when the Voice 2go service was new and I had questions, my posts to Comcast forums resulted in quick and helpful replies from Comcast customer service.

If somebody has used the Comcast Xfinity Connect Phone 2go app on an Oceania ship, please let us know how it went.

Fabulous. Our phones are being switched over Sunday. With this and Viber for texting and for my friends wit Viber I am all set.

You can also text (free) via the Comcast app. And it doesn't matter whether or not your friends have Viber, the Comcast app, or even a smartphone. As long as they have a phone capable of receiving texts. But remember, you need two things to do make phone calls or texts via the Comcast app: You need a Comcast home phone landline and the Comcast app on your smartphone.

Interesting -- as we are just now changing over to Comcast home phone service.

 

Does this work for international calls? Eg someone from US calling me while I am on board ship?

If somebody calls your home phone landline from anywhere in the world, the Comcast app will ring on your smartphone (anywhere in the world), you answer the call, and have your conversation. If you call somebody from the ship (using the app), the person who receives the call will assume it's from your home landline because their caller ID will read out with your home landline number. When we were in rural Provence last year and my wife broke her ankle, we were able to make numerous calls to U.S. doctors and insurance companies and even to make 800 toll free phone numbers in the U.S. without charge (because we had free wifi in our accommodation) and, generally, without problem. And the doctors and insurance companies were able to call us in France just by calling our home landline phone number. T

This will work onboard a cruise ship, unless the cruise line decides to throttle down wifi to prevent usage of such apps. Don't believe this is a "bandwith hog" at all because it is only carrying audio, unlike video Skype (which would be). Also useful in ports anywhere in the world, where you might have access to wifi.

If you have Comcast home phone service and put the free Xfinity Connect app on your smart phone (Apple or Android), then you can call anywhere in the USA just as if you were calling from your home phone. Since most Comcast phone plans include free long distance (U.S.), you can call anywhere in the U.S. without charge (using wifi). AND, if anybody calls you on your home phone number, you will receive the call onboard (on your smartphone via wifi) and without charge to either party. Again, anybody who wants to reach you onboard would simply call your home landline phone number and voila.

http://customer.comcast.com/help-and-support/phone/voice-2go-faqs/

Marina and Riviera each have 124 Penthouse Suites, out of which 34 (all located on Deck 7) have extended verandas which would make an outside table for four possible.

34 penthouse suites with extended verandas or 4 (on each)?

I just assume that the ENTIRE charge must be placed on the card to be able to claim. After all, one wouldn't expect to charge $100 and expect 10K in compensation

Here's what the Chase benefits department rep told me as to the Sapphire Preferred trip cancellation/trip interruption insurance. The entire charge for the trip does not have to be placed on the Sapphire. But the coverage limit will only be for the amount of the payment placed on the Sapphire (not to exceed $10,000 per person).

So, as I understand it: let's say the cruise is $10,000 per person; that a $500 deposit per person was charged to a different card; and that the final payment of $19,000 (for 2 travelers) was put on the Sapphire Preferred. The coverage provided by Chase would have a limit of $19,000.

Of course, trip interruption/cancellation would only be provided for circumstances set forth in the policy and, as explained to me by the Chase benefits rep, the relationship between the cardholder and second traveler must meet their household and/or familial guidelines.

As a new cardholder, I requested a copy of the benefits booklet. The rep says this will explain in detail.

If all of the above was obvious to some or all of you, I apologize for posting. But it wasn't to me.

Very disappointed in the discontinuance of wine bottle packages. Completely uninterested in a beverage package. If management assumes that the wine bottle package purchaser will gravitate to the beverage package, I think they will likely be surprised.

Sorry; a technical problem with this post.

We have done 4 cruises on Oceania, and so far one on Azamara. Based on our experience, I think the OP nailed it!

...Azamara wins on...food...

Lest there be confusion, the OP didn't opine that Az had better food.

FYI: CSA Custom Luxe provides a pre-existing condition waiver if the policy is purchased prior to or within 24 hours of final trip payment.

Also, as raised above, are you covered for full amount paid (for trip cancellation), if you put entire amount of $25,000 trip (for 2) on SP, and then buy comprehensive with $5,000 trip cancellation? (Tried to add this to my post immediately above, but too late to edit.)

Still need to know whether covered if deposit was paid on a different card and the balance on the Sapphire Preferred. What if entire cruise (for 2) paid on Sapphire preferred, but (non Oceania) airfare paid on a different card (like one of the airline cards)?

Details of trip interruption coverage, and the above-discussed changes, as set out by "The Points Guy." http://thepointsguy.com/2014/07/chase-sapphire-preferred-ups-auto-coverage-nixes-dividend/

I meant to say "trip cancellation/interruption coverage."

Details of trip interruption coverage, and the above-discussed changes, as set out by "The Points Guy." http://thepointsguy.com/2014/07/chase-sapphire-preferred-ups-auto-coverage-nixes-dividend/

Although, I'll wait until my guide arrive in the mail to see that in written.

It would be helpful if you could take the time to quote info from the guide (when you receive it) which answers questions posed in this thread. Hopefully, what you were told was accurate.

I strongly suggest that anyone who has questions about coverage with the cards call the benefits dept at chase

They are very helpful

Sent from my iPad using Forums mobile app

Great advice. I'd add that I wouldn't rely on verbal assurances, but would request an email confirming the advice given or reference to a link that confirms the info. Having enjoyed the substantial benefits of a successful trip insurance claim last year, I would not want to be left high and dry.

No - I did not call Chase and specifically asked about this. However, I do not see how or why it would not work. The 2 cards are in separate names/accounts and thus each one is an individual card - i.e it is not a second user on the same card. As long as the charges are posted on that card, it will(should) cover the person on that card and the co-traveler.

Their definition of pre-existing condition is a different story.

Don't have Sapphire Preferred (thinking about getting it), but I'd be concerned about this without explicit verifiable confirmation from Chase. Several internet sites discussing the card state that the charge for the entire trip must be placed on the card upon which the claim is made. I'm not sure I'd want to get into disputes/arguments with Chase in the event I had to make a claim.

Yes you charge your cruise to Chase..I take an Allianz yearly health insurance policy for the simple reason when my husband had a heart attack getting off the South America cruise in Florida in 2005 and was in a coma 2 months and the cost was $3million dollars plus a private hospital plane from Miami to LA ..They covered everything above my insurance plus they flew us with 2 pilots, 2 doctors and a nurse and had ambulances at both ends..I never spoke to them my daughter and the nurses made all the arrangements..I was so grateful, I will never change companies..

I do understand HTH may be less expensive but I personally know nothing about them..

Jancruz1

I looked at the Allianztravelinsurance.com website, and it describes an annual "Med Evac" plan, but it says it has a $1,000,000 limit. Is that the policy you mention? Thanks.

Pretty simple: wonderful veranda vs less cabin space, more vibration, and higher fares (than other PH aft cabins). Personal preference.

Yes, that's exactly what he said:

i.e. you started in Spain and you never left the EU

"He" said "starts and ends in Spain."

Apparently nobody here has information to indicate that connect@sea traffic is given any sort of wifi bandwith priority over other uses. Assuming that no priority is given, there appears to be absolutely no reason to pay $.99 per minute to use connect@sea, as opposed to paying $.00 per minute to use a number of other voip phone apps. (Per minute charges beyond whatever, if anything, one pays for onboard wifi.) Anybody disagree?

Some of the most spectacular views in London (and the world) are from Thames/Parliament/Big Ben view rooms at the London Marriott County Hall. As a platinum or gold, you would almost certainly be upgraded to one, even if you booked a less expensive room. Tube is a short walk across the Thames. Also lots of good reviews for JW Marriott Grosvenor House and St. Pancras Renaissance. If you like the young and ultra-hip crowd, there's the new London Edition. All under the Marriott umbrella.

As to Marriott status, if you make a reservation other than through the Marriott system, it's important to contact the hotel in advance to add your Marriott Rewards number to the reservation. Adding the MR number to the reservation in advance allows the hotel to see elite status, and take into account when assigning rooms prior to arrival.

Personally I'd rather see a good movie than a mediocre show! Or spend my time lingering over a good dinner.

And, of course, there are those of us who would rather see a good show than a mediocre movie. Movies I can watch at home by walking to the tv and lifting up my remote. Shows, with singers and dancers, not so easily.

No doubt you get a lot for your money on HAL, especially the size of the Neptune Suite. But, having sailed on Zuiderdam in a Neptune Suite and Riviera in a PH, Oceania provides a clearly superior product (as it should based on the relative prices charged). BUT, if you are used to sailing in a Neptune Suite, it may be difficult to adjust to any O accommodation smaller than a PH (which, itself, is considerably smaller that a Neptune). This is not to say that HAL doesn't provide a significant cruise value compared to O. But as to overall quality of the experience, including dining, O stands out.