Paper Compass harder to come by

[Pattycruise]

Despite numerous sailings this past year I still prefer the paper compass to the app.  During the restart you had to ask at guest services and they’d put in a request to have it delivered to your cabin.   There was one sailing they said absolutely no compass to the cabin so I always visited guest service after midnight to get it.  Later sailings  guest services said you must ask the stateroom attendant and that’s worked out fine.

I’m  on symphony-asked my attendant for a compass and  nothing was delivered. Asked Guest services at midnight  and I’m given the “save the waves”, not giving them out.  So I pressed, and was told “they are only giving them out to select people of a certain age”.  Then I’m told I can scan to get it.  I asked what happens when a grumpy middle aged woman wants a compass? She went and got me one. 
 

BTW, loved the midnight balloon drop! Are those biodegradable “save the waves” balloons?!

[BennyandBo]

1 hour ago, Pattycruise said:

Despite numerous sailings this past year I still prefer the paper compass to the app.  During the restart you had to ask at guest services and they’d put in a request to have it delivered to your cabin.   There was one sailing they said absolutely no compass to the cabin so I always visited guest service after midnight to get it.  Later sailings  guest services said you must ask the stateroom attendant and that’s worked out fine.

I’m  on symphony-asked my attendant for a compass and  nothing was delivered. Asked Guest services at midnight  and I’m given the “save the waves”, not giving them out.  So I pressed, and was told “they are only giving them out to select people of a certain age”.  Then I’m told I can scan to get it.  I asked what happens when a grumpy middle aged woman wants a compass? She went and got me one. 
 

BTW, loved the midnight balloon drop! Are those biodegradable “save the waves” balloons?!

I love it! Soooo would have done the same.

[FionaMG]

@Pattycruise, did you ask them to define "certain age"? Wondering if I will qualify on my upcoming cruise on Anthem or if I will have to send DH to Guest Services instead.

[twangster]

I prefer the daily cruise compass PDF that I can enlarge and look over.  

This URL will only work on a ship connected to guest wifi:

https://minio.rccl.com/compass/cruisecompass.pdf

It is updated daily usually in the morning.  

Much better than the app and saves paper.  Best of both worlds.   

[wordell1]

1 hour ago, twangster said:

I prefer the daily cruise compass PDF that I can enlarge and look over.  

This URL will only work on a ship connected to guest wifi:

https://minio.rccl.com/compass/cruisecompass.pdf

It is updated daily usually in the morning.  

Much better than the app and saves paper.  Best of both worlds.   

Wow, good info. I can confirm it works on Allure.

[Matt]

2 hours ago, twangster said:

Much better than the app and saves paper.  Best of both worlds. 

And easier to save a copy to send to me after the cruise is over!

[FloatyBoaty]

4 hours ago, FionaMG said:

@Pattycruise, did you ask them to define "certain age"? Wondering if I will qualify on my upcoming cruise on Anthem or if I will have to send DH to Guest Services instead.

I’m on Anthem now. I asked my stateroom attendant for a paper copy the first time I met him - he noted it on his list and I have received without fail. That said, I think I’m ready to move to paperless next cruise. 

[WAAAYTOOO]

@twangster I am renewing the #twangsterisabot meme.  That link is AWESOME !  Everyone knows that I am a member of the #theappsucks cult so this link fixes everything !  Thank you !

In other news, Explorer needs new shaft bearings.  Badly.  Good thing she goes to dry dock soon.

 

[twangster]

48 minutes ago, WAAAYTOOO said:

@twangster I am renewing the #twangsterisabot meme.  That link is AWESOME !  Everyone knows that I am a member of the #theappsucks cult so this link fixes everything !  Thank you !

In other news, Explorer needs new shaft bearings.  Badly.  Good thing she goes to dry dock soon.

 

Just be aware that the next days compass is uploaded by a human on a daily basis.  I've seen the next day compass appear just before midnight and I've seen it wait until after 9am the next morning.  Sometimes that link produces an error.  I suspect if they have tweaked the schedule they push a new version of the PDF out and sometimes the link doesn't work until they finish publishing it.  Be patient and try again later if it doesn't work.  

[HeWhoWaits]

@twangster's link is great, but the biggest advantage to the paper compass is having the opportunity to peruse it each evening in preparation for the next day.

[USFFrank]

IMHO there should be the option of getting the paper copy of the Cruise Compass upon request. I get the"save the waves" deal, but they don't have to make 2000 copies every day,  just maybe a bunch on the first day, keep a running count of who requests it and reduce the daily copies produced as the cruise goes along. And besides, isn't it printed on recycled paper? Whatever doesn't get used could be recycled.

[mike2608]

How do you get the cruise compass PDF? Instead of having the cruise compass on my phone, can I place it on my Amazon FIRE HD tablet.

[twangster]

2 hours ago, mike2608 said:

How do you get the cruise compass PDF? Instead of having the cruise compass on my phone, can I place it on my Amazon FIRE HD tablet.

Any wifi enabled device that can handle PDF files can connect to the ship wifi with or without a paid voom plan and use this URL:

https://minio.rccl.com/compass/cruisecompass.pdf

 

[Cactus527]

12 hours ago, Pattycruise said:

 I asked what happens when a grumpy middle aged woman wants a compass? She went and got me one. 

This made me laugh so hard. Good on you!!!!!! 

[Pattycruise]

9 hours ago, FionaMG said:

@Pattycruise, did you ask them to define "certain age"? Wondering if I will qualify on my upcoming cruise on Anthem or if I will have to send DH to Guest Services instead.

I did indeed ask and she did not answer.  That’s when I threw out the line “what about grumpy middle aged women” .  It’s presumptuous to say a “certain age”. They don’t know, or ask, the reason behind asking for a paper copy, if they would, I’d be more than happy to give them a few. 

[ScottD]

52 minutes ago, twangster said:

Any wifi enabled device that can handle PDF files can connect to the ship wifi with or without a paid voom plan and use this URL:

https://minio.rccl.com/compass/cruisecompass.pdf

 

this is a great help... I just got a chromebook laptop and was excited to download the app on there to make it easier to see....but the chromebook doesn't support it. BUT with this info, I can go to this URL and it should work just fine to see the compass, which was the main reason I wanted the app downloaded anyway! 

Thanks! 

[mac66]

I don't do cell phones very much and certainly not when I'm on a cruise. I lock it in the safe when I get on board, unlock it when I leave the ship at the end of the cruise.  I ask the room attendant for a paper copy and if I misplace or ruin the one  i have (go swimming with it) I stop by the desk and get another one.

[BD1157]

I thought I was supposed to disconnect and relax on vacation. Seems like Royal is making me stay connected. To reserve shows, see the menus, see the cruise compass etc.

[Ampurp85]

On Grandeur they automatically gave paper copies. I personally think Royal waste a lot of paper and it would be better served if they asked who wanted paper and who wanted digital info. Every sailing I get two C&A letters, casino letter, Voom, etc. I have stacks of paper and no way to recycle them.

[Lexster]

I too prefer the paper copies. There's just something to be said about the tangible nature of holding it. I prefer that over reading it on my phone screen which is not as big as the paper version. Give people the option like how many companies do with their bills. They ask if you want paperless or not. RC should do this as well, in my opinion.

[FionaMG]

13 minutes ago, Lexster said:

I too prefer the paper copies. There's just something to be said about the tangible nature of holding it. I prefer that over reading it on my phone screen which is not as big as the paper version. Give people the option like how many companies do with their bills. They ask if you want paperless or not. RC should do this as well, in my opinion.

I agree.

My take is they should automatically put a paper one in every stateroom on boarding day, along with a note highly recommending the use of the app but saying that if you want to keep receiving it in paper format to tell your stateroom attendant. I reckon that with people being more and more turned on to tech, only those (me included) who really really really want a paper compass will bother to ask for it.

[Xaa]

Make a TV Chanel with it.

[Ampurp85]

33 minutes ago, Xaa said:

Make a TV Chanel with it.

It is already on a tv channel.

[barjpoe]

Just the times of the evnets.

I like to read what's on the first 2 pages.

[Ampurp85]

25 minutes ago, barjpoe said:

Just the times of the evnets.

I like to read what's on the first 2 pages.

Ah, you like the descriptions and info areas. 

[Austin]

Our stateroom attendant brought one every night on our Rhapsody cruise last week. 

[Gory33]

On 1/22/2023 at 6:47 AM, twangster said:

...https://minio.rccl.com/compass/cruisecompass.pdf

It is updated daily usually in the morning.  ...

Thanks!  That's amazing!  I guess that settles it.  I'm bringing my tablet.  Now if only they had cruisecompass.pdf   and  nextcruisecompass.pdf  or cruisecompass1.pdf, cruisecompass2.pdf, etc.  set up so you could look at and plan the next day(s) like @HeWhoWaits.  

Also too bad the cruise compass archives don't get updates very often.  It should be pretty easy now.  I asked the forum about a cruise compass from a recent 7n Oasis Western Caribbean sailing, but no luck.  The most recent one is from the fall 2022.

[deButler]

Just off Radiance and our attendant also provided them every night without being requested. My wife saves all cruise compasses or other docs to go into her scrapbook at the end of each trip. Evidently there is not a hard & fast rule for distributing/not distributing paper copies to each stateroom. 

[twangster]

6 hours ago, Gory33 said:

Also too bad the cruise compass archives don't get updates very often.  It should be pretty easy now.  I asked the forum about a cruise compass from a recent 7n Oasis Western Caribbean sailing, but no luck.  The most recent one is from the fall 2022.

It all depends on individual cruisers to collect and submit them.  

I used to bring them home, scan them in and email them to Matt but now it's much easier.  Just download them daily from the link and combine them using copy/paste into one PDF and then email it to Matt.

If you find it helpful please pay it forward and send yours in after the cruise.  

[Joe01]

Didn't get any in the cabin on Oasis over New Years and there were also none at Guest Services either. I can understand not putting them for everyone in the cabin but none at guest services is inexcusable IMO. To get the compass though the app, you basically have to pay for their WiFi service which is insanely expensive, that part pissed me off. Unless you're in port of course but sea days are where the compass is most useful.

Odyssey at least had compasses but they also wouldn't allow you onto the North Star on sea days without booking it on the app, which is so easy to do when in the middle of the sea between Greece & Italy.

I think this over-reliance on the app is going to be my new bête noire of cruising.

[KJones]

@Joe01You don't have to buy an internet package to use the app. You need to connect to the ship wifi, but using the RC app on wifi is free. We had no problem using the app on Radiance and we didn't buy internet. To do anything else with wifi is when you need to purchase an internet package.

[Linda R]

On 1/21/2023 at 11:01 PM, Pattycruise said:

Despite numerous sailings this past year I still prefer the paper compass to the app.  During the restart you had to ask at guest services and they’d put in a request to have it delivered to your cabin.   There was one sailing they said absolutely no compass to the cabin so I always visited guest service after midnight to get it.  Later sailings  guest services said you must ask the stateroom attendant and that’s worked out fine.

I’m  on symphony-asked my attendant for a compass and  nothing was delivered. Asked Guest services at midnight  and I’m given the “save the waves”, not giving them out.  So I pressed, and was told “they are only giving them out to select people of a certain age”.  Then I’m told I can scan to get it.  I asked what happens when a grumpy middle aged woman wants a compass? She went and got me one. 
 

BTW, loved the midnight balloon drop! Are those biodegradable “save the waves” balloons?!

I always get the paper Cruise Compass.  Either I ask at front desk or our cabin attendant.  But then I am over 65!  haha   I will be on Symphony this Sat

[ScottD]

13 hours ago, Joe01 said:

Didn't get any in the cabin on Oasis over New Years and there were also none at Guest Services either. I can understand not putting them for everyone in the cabin but none at guest services is inexcusable IMO. To get the compass though the app, you basically have to pay for their WiFi service which is insanely expensive, that part pissed me off. Unless you're in port of course but sea days are where the compass is most useful.

Odyssey at least had compasses but they also wouldn't allow you onto the North Star on sea days without booking it on the app, which is so easy to do when in the middle of the sea between Greece & Italy.

I think this over-reliance on the app is going to be my new bête noire of cruising.

@Joe01The app is accessible without internet...you just have to link up with the free wifi, which gives you access to the app and the free messenger application. 

[Blur]

On 1/22/2023 at 6:47 AM, twangster said:

I prefer the daily cruise compass PDF that I can enlarge and look over.  

This URL will only work on a ship connected to guest wifi:

https://minio.rccl.com/compass/cruisecompass.pdf

It is updated daily usually in the morning.  

Much better than the app and saves paper.  Best of both worlds.   

Just wish it was on the app as a button instead of having to scan that qr code (most people don't know how to do this) or bookmark the URL you shared.  You'd think it would be easy to add a simple web link to download the pdf... Shrug

[twangster]

4 hours ago, Blur said:

Just wish it was on the app as a button instead of having to scan that qr code (most people don't know how to do this) or bookmark the URL you shared.  You'd think it would be easy to add a simple web link to download the pdf... Shrug

Most likely coming.  I'm not sure every ship has the server on board where the PDF is published to so they may be waiting to put in the app until every ship has it working.  

[DunwoodyDad]

Agree that the ideal approach here is a button in the app that launches the pdf so you can easily access it.  Also needs to be available at least early evening the night before for those of us (certainly me) that like to read through the CC as a wind-down activity each night to plan the next day. It seems like this is where they are headed but need to tweak the process of each ship uploading the pdf and making it available in the app (which is honestly the easy part).

[WannaCruise]

On 1/22/2023 at 6:47 AM, twangster said:

I prefer the daily cruise compass PDF that I can enlarge and look over.  

This URL will only work on a ship connected to guest wifi:

https://minio.rccl.com/compass/cruisecompass.pdf

It is updated daily usually in the morning.  

Much better than the app and saves paper.  Best of both worlds.   

This is great.  Thank you for sharing.  I'm one who prefers paper compass as you can see everything together without having to scroll. Last March on Anthem, our attendant left us a compass each night (and didn't have to ask) but our kids in a connecting room had a different attendant and they didn't get one.  In December on Liberty there were none.  When we boarded they were handing out a few near guest services (and by a few, I mean just a few), but never saw any after that.  Will definitely keep this link for our cruise in March.  We don't get internet but if it works on ship wifi, then we are good.

[WAAAYTOOO]

We are currently on Explorer and we have received a paper Compass every day.  We never had to ask.  Soooo much better than that useless app. We are I a JS but I don’t think that has anything to do with receiving the Compass.

[Mike.s]

https://cruiseindustrynews.com/cruise-news/2023/02/carnival-cruise-line-brings-back-the-paper-daily-program/

Are you listening Royal, many people prefer the paper version.

[ScottD]

The QR code was very helpful, it was on the tv channel, and usually a little past dinner it was updated for the next day. There were also a few places around the ship with the code hanging up, so if I forgot to do it the night before, I could scan it on the wall near café promenade when I went to grab a morning snack. I also asked for a paper copy and he brought me one every day except one.