RobInMN

I use Android phones (Samsung Galaxy), not iPhones, but from past threads it's been said that iPhones cannot WiFi Hotspot a WiFi connection, it can only Hotspot a mobile connection, and I don't think you want to be hot spotting a mobile at sea connection 😉 I get a 2 device plan and set up our 2 phones. Then we hotspot our phones to connect the Firestick, laptop, tablet. But again, we use Android.

Never been on Uni. Have not done Christmas Markets with Ama (parents are fans of Grand Circle). But I can say that AmaMagna is amazing! We loved it (did the Grand Danube on her). We also did a Pre in Prague with them and thought they did a great job, we loved Prague. Info on AmaMagna, the Prague extension, and a couple of the first port stops that are probably the same (just not as Christmas Market) here:

I use ExpressVPN, and have had no issues. Used on Allure, Radiance, Odyssey, Navigator, Jewel, and maybe Freedom (don't remember). You will just have to turn it off to log in initially, and if you ever want to log in/out to switch devices.

That's why we pack a universal remote with our Firestick. Then you have access to a Source button. Also, Odyssey has the newer interactive system (as you show). When we were on Odyssey, our experience was that we had to unplug the network cable and power cycle the TV before we could actually change the source. With the network cable plugged in, it force-launched the custom software as the top priority which usually (or used to?) prevent you from changing the source, effectively disabling all other inputs. I've had to do that in some hotels also. but @GenSteve, my main suggestion would be to get an inexpensive universal remote and take that. I also use a VPN. One other thing I've found is that my Firestick does not have a GPS, so that's all I need. However, if I try to watch some streaming services (like YTTV) from a device with a GPS, they will refuse to launch if the GPS is disabled, and if the GPS is enabled, it ignores the VPN for location and goes by the GPS location, allowing it to Geo-lock the content anyway 😞. I would suspect that a Roku also doesn't have a GPS.

Depending on the issue, it can give hints. Not all engine issues are instantaneous. I'm just saying that what ever the issue, it must have been something pretty instant. It's working fine...crap, it's broke. There were no rumors or gossip (that I heard) of going slower, or operating with 1 azipod instead of 2 or anything like that. In past situations, I think the issue usually happens or develops during a cruise, and there's info/gossip/rumors that make it's way around the ship and it all get posted here. In this case, it's like it happened between cruises. Our cruise was fine, next cruise starting with engine issues. @Beachin2's new info on the timing makes sense. While the next cruise didn't start with issues, it happened pretty much right away. If it was over night, within 12 hours of leaving LA. @Beachin2 Hope it's a quick repair and your cruise is unaffected.

We have not done a TA or a TP yet, but have Allure TA booked for Fall of 2025. The way my wife and I look at it, we'd rather have the long international flight at the start of our vacation, and the short domestic flight at the end. So, to that end, Fall TA from Europe to the US, and someday a Spring TP from Australia to the US. Retirement plan - Fly to Australia, land tours of Australian/New Zealand of things you wont get from a cruise, then B2?/3?B (Australia/New Zealand B2B's), then B2B TP's back to the US (or Vancouver if that's what we have to do)

Just off 14 nights on Radiance, and overall, I think all 4 of our group thought the food was pretty good. Only a couple disappointments. Good enough that I gained 11 pounds. 🙂

Wow! This really sucks for those on board. We just got off from the Panama Canal cruise, and I never heard anything about any hints of possible propulsion issues. 2 of our table mates (who we had a great time with) were staying on board for this leg. I feel especially bad for them.

Discussion from January 2023:

Part of that, like Norway, is environmental. UNESCO and net-zero. A new class will likely solve that by going LNG, like Icon and Utopia. A project name like "Discovery" doesn't imply simply focused on home ports. While Captain Rumen (Radiance) didn't really have too much to say, he did say that part of the design process was deciding where all they want to be able to go in order to figure out the dimensional limitations (like bridge heights). which also implies looking at ports of call and not simply home ports.

Are you using a VPN? I get that if I forget to turn my VPN off.

Silver Ray's Float out:

The Meyer Werft's Papenburg building amazes me. The fact that a ship the size of Odyssey (and CCL's Excellence class, NCL's Breakaway Plus class ships) is actually built indoors is unreal. The building hall is 504m long (482m of interior dock), 125m wide and 75m tall, with an 800 ton crane. Odyssey is 347m long and 49m wide. So the building is well over twice the width, and half again as long as Odyssey. Amazing. By comparison, Silver Ray is 244m long, and 30m wide. Can't find a height, but it's 11 decks compared to Odyssey's 16 The videos of the 22mile (36km) conveyance that ships built here have to do down the Ems to get to open sea are also amazing. The Ems is not that wide in many places, nor is it really all that deep in spots either.

We did this (from Rome) in 2018 on Symphony. We had the Orange card and kept it. I heard it was about 2/3 Barcelona, 1/3 Rome. Other than the ship/MDR schedule being the back half of one cruise followed by the front half of the next cruise, with the embarkation party stuff being half way through the cruise, zero differences for us. These last thing don't really matter to us.

If it's because it has not been Amplified yet, then you are going to be disappointed. Yes. Allure is going to be amplified in March of 2025. While the actual details have yet to be released, there is little reason to believe that they have altered plans from the original 2020 Amplification plans, which includes the Ultimate Abyss big purple slide. Hopefully they will make some formal announcement before too long