jce2

Aaah...misunderstood. I thought he was asking someone to start one

Why not start the FB group yourself?

Not really sure it "forces" one to drink more. It's really a question of your mindset. I bought the package and already am of the mind that I will probably lose money on the deal. However, I know if I hadn't spent the money now when I can be done with it and have it out of my budget, then on the trip my penny-pinching mindset would have scrutinized every drink I bought. Now I can drink whatever, whenever I want and not think twice about the payment. a weird way to think of it in the long run I know, but it works for me! Same thing with the balcony. It's my first cruise and most of the shows / night clubs just don't sound all that appealing. It is comforting to know that should I find myself not in the mood for "partying" in the evening I always know I have a bottle of wine, a cribbage board, my wife, and a balcony waiting on the 8th deck

The points dont expire for quite a while, hence the 2022 date. However, once you "redeem" them for various cruise rewards (OBC, upgrades etc. ) you must use that redemption within 180 days. So if you convert your points to OBC and then you dont actually cruise and use them within 180 days you lose them

I did some further research and it seems what is important is the number you are calling from, and the number you are calling to, NOT where they are physically located. Here is my understanding after extensive research; As long as the numbers assigned to both numbers are normal U.S. numbers (and a few other countries) and each of the phones is currently on U.S. cell towers, or wi-fi (each phone can be different), it acts and is billed just like a normal phone call. Of course if one of the phones is off-ship at an international location (and not on wi-fi) the call will not be completed as the off-board phone has no coverage. If you call an international number (say the hotel in Germany) you wold still be charged international rates. Note: Let's assume you have you r phone on wi-fi on the ship....meanwhile another member of your party is in Ocho Rios with their cell phone. If they were to get to a spot that had wi-fi they could connect to (hint: Margarittaville), you should be able to call each other with no problem (or extra charges!) Soooooo....You are on wi-fi on ship, and Grandma is in Ohio? Call her! (and she can call you!)

Actually the phone you are calling (or that is calling you) doesn't even have to be on the web for wi-fi calling to work. If you were to use one of the apps then JL is correct yoy would both need the app. But for calls just dial it!

I think what you are missing is when you use wi-fi you are not calling internationally, you are calling thru the web,

Cool! And if I am reading the AT&T page correct, the charges are based on the number you are calling. So since my sons phone and mine are both U.S. numbers there will be no charge even though both phones are on the boat! Same should be true when my in-laws call us from Nebraska (or vice versa). All that seems to matter is the phone number not where it is currently located!

Pretty sure the answer is yes, but when using voom with wi-fi for phone calls, this will allow me to make calls to people back in the states, not just people on the boat right?

A quick FYI: I did get confirmation (in writing!) today that the "note" in my file will NOT prevent my wife from purchasing drinks on the cruise and that it only serves as an explanation fr why the operator was willing to sell me a single package. In other words, i got exactly what I wanted!

I had the same experience this morning except that I actually did make the purchase. Some are saying they will require proof at the port which I find impossible to believe since the operator neither required it nor told me I would have to provide it later. My bigger concern is that since it is a "note" in my records that will prevent her form purchasing individual drinks during the cruise. But as a software developer I doubt it since I suspect it is quite literally a "note" and not a "flag" that could be tripped when a bartender tries to ring up a charge. As long as they don't actually mark her card somehow I think we will be fine. Before we get into the same arguments I have had on FB today I am NOT trying to pull a fast one. It has always been my intent to buy the drink package for just myself and to PAY separately for drinks for my wife which will be limited by her pain killers. That is still my intent. I will not be trying to get her drinks on my package. It simply makes no financial sense to buy her a package given her limited drinks

I was able to call this morning and purchase the drink package for just myself. I explained to the operator that my wife takes prescription pain killers so seldom drinks. she made "note" of it in our records. I did specifically ask if my wife would still be able to buy the occasional glass of wine on the good days and she said she would. Some folks are saying they will require proof of her medical at the port, others are saying our records will prevent her form buying, still others are saying they are being told when thy call they don't need any reason at all as the rule still only applies to Harmony. Bottom line is the experience will vary for everyone as no one seems to have the same experience. If one thing has become clear to me form reading these pages and various FBs....the only thing consistent is inconsistency!

Sure feels like a breach of trust to me! They were supposed to be running the test through November 18th

Actually, at the Gold's Gym we go to they have a "assisted" device for doing pull-ups/chin-ups and besides the normal bars to hang onto they also have the same finger holds you find on the climbing wall, so we always do a few of those.

The problem for me is my wife will drink a glass of wine in the evening but that is about it. Most of the time she is on pain killers. If I get an exception does that mean I CANT buy her the occasional drink?

Crud! You just ruined my day!! Guess I wont be buying a package after all! I just tried and it requires both people in the room to purchase! (ie. It is not just a typo. when you go to actually purchase it, both people will show as checked and you can not uncheck someone.)

I wold but I promised my son zero sodas. Mainly drinking PowerAde Zero. He did agree that an Jack Daniels & Coke is not a soda however!

I am dieting/exercising and while I am not doing it because of the cruise, we (my son and I) are using the Cruise date as a "marker". His original goal was for me to reach 220 by the cruise. I now think that goal is iffy as the rate of decline has slowed. Still I have lost 32 pounds so far (need another 30 to reach 220). We are also working out at the gym and doing pull ups so we can conquer Liberty's climbing wall together. I sure miss my cokes......

Well Crap! "Honey, cancel the order for that sofa!!"

I plan on both a backpack and a small roller. My backpack will have the "normal" day one stuff while the roller will be packed with "ice" for the wife since that is all she drinks

Woodstock? Isnt that a small yellow bird with an affinity for dog houses and a really bizarre flight pattern?

OMG! Writing that I just had a vision.... Could yo imagine being out in the middle of the ocean at night....the captain dims all the non-emergency lights and then blasts the Pink Floyd dark side of the Moon album? Epic!!

I have that as a button! Of course once I had someone spot it and exclaim "Really? You got to see xxxx, yyy, and zzzz?" (three groups I never heard of!). I had to explain what Fleetwood Mac, Moody Blues, Pink Floydd and others were!

My first cruise coming up in January and I got a balcony (deck 8). Cant wait to sit out at night and count stars

I like the way you think sir!