While it's probably much less money in port, and it's probably much faster in port, I owuld disagree that it's the only way to get online. To me it's like saying you should only drink the free drinks on board, never order a bottle of wine or a soda, because they are cheaper in port.

There are times it makes sense to go online (at least to me) from the ship, and to me it's worth it. Like ordering a beer or a soda, you accept that you are paying more then if you would on shore, but it's worth it.

I don't want to spend my time in port in an internet cafe. I'd rather spend the money and spend the hour or two or whatever on a day at sea online or something. Much as I don't want to drink water at dinner and save the money by having a bottle of wine at lunch time in port.

I don't need a thousand minutes on a ship. If I get a hundred minutes I'm probably fine for a weeks trip for checking mail and printing boarding passes and maybe uploading a few pictures.