VillainsGin

Just now, JLMoran said:

Xr base price is $599 for 64 GB model, vs. $699 for the 64 GB 11. Upgrades in storage to 128 GB or 256GB will bump the price by $100 or so per tier.

Ideally do you know what would be perfect regarding storage if I use my phone for day to day routine and on top for work.

E.I scanning documents and emailing.

With thousands of pictures and small video snippets of miscellaneous on my current iphone 6s

And I have a lot of apps haha.

14 minutes ago, JLMoran said:

Unless you plan to be a mobile filmmaker or just want the absolute highest spec phone you can get so it lasts another 4 years, the new 11 Pro and Pro Max models will be overkill. The only major differences between the “base” 11 and the Pro models is that the base has 2 cameras (28mm f1.8 wide and 14mm f2.2 ultra-wide) instead of 3 (28mm f1.8 wide, 14mm f2.2 ultra-wide, and 56mm f2.0 tele), and an LCD screen instead of high-end OLED. There are some other differences, like case color options, but they’re small. All have the same A13 processor, vs last year’s A12.

As far as Xr vs “base” 11, consensus is that those who already own a Xr should feel no compulsion to upgrade and that the 11 is an incremental update. The Xr only has one camera (the standard 28mm f1.8 wide-angle lens) and last year’s  A12 processor.

OOO ok so it looks like maybe I'll just stick with the base iphone 11 model rather than getting the pro or pro max.

This information is definitely helpful in my quest to decide on the phone. Since all the kinks is already worked out I'm leaning towards the iphone 11 over the Xr.

Do you know what the starting price is for the iphone 11 base compared to iphone xr base?

5 minutes ago, RazorbackIslandGirl said:

I think I paid $799. I bought a few other things so Im not exactly sure. They also gave me $165 for my old one! The Xr+  is just the bigger version of the Xr. For me it's all I need at the time. Really all I wanted was the camera update. I am like you & never use my big camera anymore. For travel a phone is so much more convenient! I'm not sure I'll ever go back to my big camera.

You were extremely helpful that is exactly what I was looking for.

Just wanted something with an updated camera to take decent pictures and recordings on my cruise.

I'll shop around and see what catches by eye then!

I'm always weary of buying newly release iphone because i've noticed a pattern of them doing major updates or rollbacks because customers all over the world are basically testers and find flaws.

I always like to wait out the new electronics to make sure it is properly updated and released with no hassle.

19 minutes ago, BigCSW said:

This reminds me of the early days of loyalty programs in Vegas.  in the early 80's at the westward ho (long gone) they gave you a punch card and you got a punch for every 20 dollar's of coin you purchased,  I'd buy a 100,  pour them in my coin bucket and 10 minutes later go to the other side of the casino and cashed them in ,  rinse and repeat.    

Only thing im curious about though is if the credit card company find this suspicious or fraudulent?

Or would they not care as long as they get paid back lol

1 minute ago, RazorbackIslandGirl said:

I just went from a 6s+ to the Xr+ & really like it. I find the camera to be MUCH better. I'm still trying to figure out all the bells & whistles. They told me it is waterproof up to 3 ft for 30 min. Not sure I will test that theory. I do have to say I'm really liking it so far.

I'm going to be honest I have no idea what the difference is for all the xr, xs, xs max, pro, etc etc.

But how much was the Xr you bought and was it outdated compared to the new one releasing?

6 minutes ago, JLMoran said:

iPhone 11, along with the 11 Pro and 11 Pro Max, were announced this past Tuesday. Not available in stores yet but will be by end of the month.

They actually dropped the price of the 11 relative to last year's iPhone Xr by $50, it's now $699. If you don't absolutely need the very latest model, you can still get a Xr for $599.

No matter what you get, if you're currently on a 6s (and nothing wrong with that; I'm still rocking my 6s Plus) then upgrading to the Xr or 11 will be huge. The camera upgrades alone are going to be night and day, both still photos and video.

This is perfect thank you!

Doing a bit of comparison and research before I decide on which Iphone series to get!

As long as all the new features and a significant enhancement of picture and video quality are include in the new one I should be peachy!~

3 minutes ago, CGTLH said:

Hush, don't give out secrets for zero loss manufactured spending. Sorry ment, money taken out from the Casino is intended for use within the Casino...

I removed it, I didn't know it was possible shhhhhhh

On 9/10/2019 at 7:49 PM, AshleyDillo said:

Feel free to PM me.  But effectively I added money to the slot machine through the room charge option in the account screen.  Then I would hit collect on the slot machine and it spit out a ticket that I redeemed for cash.  It showed as a casino entertainment charge for the amount I took out with no service charge on my onboard account.  At the end of the cruise I was charged one total amount for my onboard account to my charge.  It registers as a travel category charge so I get the points for that.  

5 minutes ago, carlosalonsor said:

If you are familiar with the use of an iPhone I highly recommend you to upgrade to the new iPhone 11 (not the PRO version). It has 2 great cameras and it's easy to use!

I've seen that all over the news is that the new one? 

Has it been released yet I keep seeing prepurchase/preorder but nowhere that I can check it out or buy.

Is the price worth it or is the Iphone X just as great?

Just wanted to start off by saying I do not follow the latest and greatest electronics when it comes to phones & cameras. My philosophy is "if it isn't broken don't fix it".

BUT im sporting around an iphone 6s and was looking to upgrade to a newer iphone or perhaps buy a new camera to take great pictures and video recordings.

Someone suggested instead of buying an expensive camera since I have no experience/knowledge to use all the neat features/function to just upgrade my iphone. (more user friendly and does the job just fine)

Anyone know of a solid & reliable iphone what would take great pictures and record crystal clear? Preferably waterproof if that exist, if not at least water resistant?

Flexible with my budget and it shouldn't matter what the price is, I figured i'll be keeping it for a while so I don't mind splurging a bit more.

I would like to get a new device so when I'm on my very first cruise in Jan, 2020 I could document my amazing experience and show family and friends!

17 hours ago, karl_nj said:

RCL generally refers to a miami vice as a lava flow, i don't think they actually will make a true lava flow.

Usually a miami vice is half frozen pina colada and half frozen strawberry daiquiri, whereas a lava flow is a pina colada with liquid strawberry swirled in.  

In the end it doesn't really matter, both are tasty and vacation-type drinks.

To be completely honest with you since 90% of the time I would never venture to fruity drinks, I had no idea they were the same thing haha!

I'm more of a IPA kind of guy with the occasional whiskey or bourbon.

That's definitely good to know in case they don't know what that is called I can always resort to the other alternative name then!

I have a similar question as well because I apparently booked a hotel that comes with a free shuttle transfer and I have no idea when and where to meet this person.

They supposedly will pick me up from the airport when I fly in the night before to take me to my hotel then pick me up from the hotel to take me to the ship the next day?

Someone lightly covered it by sayings if its through RCI then all the information will be included on the online check in on your cruise planner?

Also welcome to the blog/board!

Just now, WAAAYTOOO said:

You must use both.  You absolutely want to give them your Seapass card if you are looking to be compensated. If you just play without having them swipe your card you will get no credit.

So if the key is to register and make sure you're recorded wouldn't you want to use card only instead of both?

Just now, AshleyDillo said:

8 nights on a small ship vs 7 nights on one of the Oasis class ships?  

Oh i had no idea I read the information and assumed it would be on Oasis class ship.

If that's the case I'd shoot for the 7 days 100% and be damn sure I made my schedule work with the sail dates no matter what haha.

My first cruise is in Jan. 2020 and we stepped it up and got a ocean view balcony.

What you said was short, simple, and beautiful. I can already imagine it!

On 9/8/2019 at 4:59 PM, Amygs1 said:

Wasn’t planning on it, but splurged on the Unlimited Beverage Package for my Mom and I, so now.....what drinks are your must haves (alcoholic or not).  I love coffees, juices/smoothies, wine (but mostly Sauvignon Blanc which I don’t see much available on the menu) and for cocktails - rum, whiskey/bourbon or gin.  Not a big vodka or tequila fan.  TIA!

I noticed no one mentioned miami vice.

I don't know why but in order to feel like a vacation I would always go for the "vacation-type" drinks to set the mood for me.

There's a lot of drinks mentioned on this thread I definitely added to my list for my cruise in Jan, 2020 now that I know more than miami vice haha.

Usually I drink beer or have most of my harder stuff neat, but for a cruise I like to get tropical or vacation-like vibe.

2 hours ago, WAAAYTOOO said:

Very nice summary....and 100% accurate.

Wouldn't you want to take the longest cruise possible if your schedule allowed for it?

If they're offering up to 8 nights I would not hesitate to make sure my schedule worked for that.

It seems like the biggest bang for your buck if you had a looong dreadful run to earn prime at the casino?

1 hour ago, WAAAYTOOO said:

This is really a great question....and one I'm afraid I cannot answer with any certainty.  I will give you my opinion....but that's all it's worth.

After many years of trying to work the program to my advantage, trust me when I say that I have tried it all !!

1.  I do not believe that cashing in and re-buying chips will help you.  Honestly, to my knowledge, the only thing that they track with the "card swipe' at the tables, is how long you play and how much you win or loose.  The table swipe, IMO does NOT have anything to do with the rate at which you acquire points.

2.  Points acquisition has waaay more to do with the amount of your wager than it does with how much money you bring to (or take away from) the table.  That's why the table players are at such a disadvantage as compared to the slots players.  With slots, every single wager you make is recorded.  With table games, they come by periodically and make "notes" on an iPad about what your wagers are but if you vary your wagers (I do not....Dan does) and they happen to only pass by when you are making lower wagers, then that is what they are recording.  Conversely, if they happen to pass by when your wager is up, you will get credit for more and your multiplier will be higher.

3.  Frankly, the best thing you can do to be noticed is play at the high stakes tables.  Dan always makes a point of playing at least 1 full night at the $25-$50 per hand blackjack table.  Since the minimums at those tables are higher to start with, your time at those tables will net you more points all the way around.  Dan never EVER plays as many [total] minutes as I do but he almost always ends up with more points at the end of the cruise than I do b/c he spends time at the high stakes tables and I go nowhere near them !

Again.....this is all conjecture.  They keep their ratings secrets SECRET so I really have nothing to go on but LOTS of experience.

One last thing.  Don't listen to the people who tell you that they do not give you "credit" for losing money.  This is one thing I DO know for sure.  If you have lost a lot of money over the course of the cruise, they DO consider that in determining what kind of certificate you will get (but NOT with the number of points you are awarded).  Winning will not penalize you but losing DOES count in your favor.  I once had a certificate re-issued from a small $$$ off certificate to a free balcony certificate based solely on the amount of money that I had lost (nothing to brag about, for sure !).  On that cruise, both Dan and I earned free balcony certificates (the only time that has ever happened !).  Many would say that we just 'prepaid" our cruises, which is a fair analysis !

So Ideally you would be better off using your seapass card rather than cash so they can track it better?

2 minutes ago, MotleyCruiser said:

I always wondered if cashing in my winnings on roulette or craps and re buying chips at the tables increases my points.?!

That is a question I would like to know as well!

I keep thinking of the most efficient way to pad or recycle my bets for points without putting too much out of pocket.

I have no idea what type of tables and the limits there are as well since I heard they change the games once in a while.

2 minutes ago, Lori Rawlins said:

Wow your first cruise?? You are going to LOVE it!! Which Ship?

Symphony of the Seas, 7 nights!!!!

What about you!?

1 minute ago, brycemo said:

No it’s not, it’s in order of classes as per release date. I do however have another spreadsheet listing the ships and their sizes (length, beam, capacity) if you would like to see it?

You are amazing! I would love to see that as well if it isn't too much trouble from you!

These spreadsheets are very well made and thought out.

I appreciate you!

11 minutes ago, ThyriC said:

Quest is an adults only crazy participation event.  If you're the kind of crazy adult not afraid of having some wild participation with other guests, participate in Quest.  If you want to watch the crazyness and dont get offended by much, take a look see, its definitely something to be experienced.

 

I feel like I'm more of a watcher haha. I get stage fright if too much attention is on me regardless.

Where is quest and is it available on Symphony OTS, do you win prizes if so then i MAY reconsider watching lol.

2 minutes ago, Lori Rawlins said:

Good point! Thanks

I usually get a bit paranoid and super cautious when I do things for the first time.

I'm sailing on my first cruise this Jan, 2020 and I have been planning for ridiculous things ahah.

I am not missing the boat or complicating my vacation by not being prepared.

"better safe than sorry" overused by still so relevant!

Its weird because I'm bringing my old phone which is used as an alarm now on top of my current phone as an alarm so I make sure to wake up on time from the Hotel to the ship lol.

Made a huge list of things to buy before I get on the ship and triple checking all my documents, flight bookings, hotel bookings, excursions on/off board, and cruise bookings!

6 minutes ago, Lori Rawlins said:

Do you have to print your set sail pass or can they just scan it off your RC app?

I'm playing it safe by printing it out and having my app. You never know what may happen to your phone or papers!

On 9/7/2019 at 12:30 PM, Yo2slick said:

Quest is absolutely nuts!  Great time!

What is Quest!?