flyertalk on cruises
 

have been on 3 cruises this year. rennaisance, holland america, & crystal. on r & ha, they had an unlimited access plan [except when they couldn't get the satalite] for about $15 / day [had to pay for all cruise days] good deal when compared to the casino for entertainmemt. crystal had a charge of $1.25/minute -minimum 10 mins / sign on for internet access [ $75/hr] for surfing or flyer talk. i was deprived on the ship- limited myself to email & investments...... edit to add... what have you all experienced on other lines?

[This message has been edited by clacko (edited 11-17-2001).]

[QUOTE]Originally posted by clacko:
[B]have been on 3 cruises this year. rennaisance, holland america, & crystal. on r & ha, they had an unlimited access plan [except when they couldn't get the satalite] for about $15 / day [had to pay for all cruise days] good deal when compared to the casino for entertainmemt. crystal had a charge of $1.25/minute -minimum 10 mins / sign on for internet access [ $75/hr] for surfing or flyer talk. i was deprived on the ship- limited myself to email & investments...... edit to add... what have you all experienced on other lines?

Clacko, the unlimited access is great news! It must be a recent improvement. I have been on RCCL and HAL over the last few years. My last cruise was HAL in Europe and Asia last summer. The internet access charges were prohibitive. I would gladly pay the $15 per day unlimited!

I have always thought that internet access should not be a profit center for hotels or cruise lines. I think it should be a break even feature. It sounds like a few of the cruise lines are becoming more customer friendly in this aspect.

The best is Royal Caribbean's newest ships. Explorer of the Seas offers in-room 24-hour access for $100/week!

Has anyone noticed changes concerning internet access? We are on HAL's Rotterdam in June. I understand that the best deal I can get to use the ship's internet service is $100 for 250 minutes. That's 40 cents a minute!

I am thinking we could take our laptop, a cell phone and local access numbers and use that on days in port.

Any advice? I am not too up on any newer technology that may help us. I would appreciate any help!

great http://www.flyertalk.com/travel/fttr...um/biggrin.gif!

perhaps the best deal i had was on the hanseatic to antartic in jan 2002. no internet access , but free email....honor system limit to 15 mins if someone waiting....the time would elapse if i tried to send trip reports to all by entering their addresses, so i sent to daughter who forwarded them...ps it was a great trip....they have cut the stops quite a bit...i'm glad i went when i did.

it was adequate for people w/ business also.. but i missed ft.

ps...it was 180? pax ship w/ 1 terminal.

Actually, the best deal is with Princess for their Platinum members (after your fifth cruise). Internet access if totally free on their ships.

I never go near a PC when I'm on a cruise.

cordelli... how can you not do flyertalk if available? but i have put up w/it a time or 2.

I'm actually fairly good about it, I work full time with computers and when I'm off for a real vacation or a weeksne someplace (I never consider long weekends real vacations, I think that is a warning sign of mileage addiction) I never ever go near a PC. The only time I do is if I'm killing some time before the flights on the way out and back I may use one of the airport terminals, but other then that the e-mail and the rest just piles up.

It does make it nice to come back to though, as Ben Franklin said "When the well is dry you know the worth of water" (or something similiar, it's quoted a buhcn of different ways)

Are you joking?

QL

Instant death, making up something like that here. No joke at all, it's a benefit:

Free Internet Access
We know you like to keep in touch with home, so we are also pleased to reward your repeat business with free internet access while you are onboard. Times and availability are dependent upon the ship.


Go to Princess.com, click on Captains Circle, then the description for Platinum (I'd post the link, but it's a Java open and not a URL, so you have to click it from the opening page)

Far out! And I'm Platunum now!

QL

Any updates?
 

We have not been on a cruise since June of 2003 (the Rotterdam). Does anyone have any updates on computer access? Cost? Is it wireless? Should we bring a laptop and what sort of accessories?

We are sailing to Alaska on the Saphire Princess.

Thanks for any help!

Wireless all Princess ships - 35 cents/ minute. Well, it's free for Plats, but I am guessing that since your last cruise was on HAL two years ago, this might not apply.

I am constantly working on ships, so I obviously have my regular notebook computer. It would be very cost prohibitive for me to access e-mail remotely. That means I would need to stay online to read and respond to all e-mails. I log on, download messages and log off. I then read, respond and log back on to send/receive. I am online 20 minutes the entire cruise.

Most cruise lines have computers for guests to use.

Internet cafe on Saphire is located on Promenade Deck (according to Princess - One of largest Internet cafes at sea with 29 computer stations):

http://www.princess.com/ships/sa/dec...ade_index.html

I see a lot of people downloading their pictures and some getting online. Celebrity Constellation actually has computer classes that cover a broad range of programs, and I know many others do the same.

I have built in wireless, so I don't need accessories. Whatever you need is of course available onboard, but I am certain it wouldn't hurt to buy before you go.

My advice without knowing your situation. If you must stay in contact, do so in the manner I discussed. Otherwise, take a vacation from the computer. Regardless, enjoy Alaska.

Sam

With a normal inside passage cruise (most likely on the Sapphire Princess) you will be in port almost every day. There are internet cafes very close to the docks in Juneau, Ketchikan, Sitka, and Skagway. Price is reasonable-last August $6.00 per hour. Broadband connection.

I REFUSE to use the ship's SLOW, way overpriced computer's. Besides that, I am on VACATION. If my office REALLY needs to get in touch, they can call me. :D

Princess is actually a big ripoff for non-platinum passengers. $21/hr!!!

You buy time on prepaid cards. Fortunately, our group had coupons for 50% off and I was the only one using them.

If you plan to the use the internet, then taking your own notebook is a necessity. You can download your email and any webpages you want to read, then log off of the pricey internet and read them at your leisure.

Internet was also available only in the atrium area, not in the rooms.

One of the nicest things about a cruise is being off of the internet and looking forward to that "news summary" which is generally slipped under your door in the early AM. Another nice thing is that it is a great way to wean yourself from the internet. You will hear about the important news. I shudder to think that there are those who would consider a ship or itinerary based on internet access

There are people that have work obligations that require them to stay abreast of what’s happening at their companies even when they are on holiday. The internet actually facilitates people being able to get away for 12-14 days that might not have had the opportunity otherwise.

While it would be great if we could all just drop everything and disappear for two weeks, a lot of us need to have open lines of communication if the situation necessitates.

Sam

What he said.

Speaking for me too, thanks.

internet access - Princess
 

Found service very slow. Quoted $0.35 per minute closer to $1.00 per minute when adjusted for slow speed.

Holland America (Westerdam) as of 4 August:

$3.95 to activate an account

250 minutes = $100 (40 cents)
100 minutes = $55 (55 cents)
pay-as-you-go = 75 cents

They obviously have specials - 10 free minutes here and there, but this is a good estimate.

Yes, it is very slow as reported by mshaikun.

Sam

Czrnival Prices
 

Hi,
Carnival Triumph NYC-Saint Johns NB and Halifax NS and return Internet Cafe pricing:

Wired using their computers which are locked up so you cannot connect a USB drive or card reader fo photo SD/CF etc.
Time Plan 1 $.40 pe rminute
60 minutes for $24
Time Plan 2 $.55 per minute
30 minutes for $16.50
Pay as you go $ .75 per minute

Wireless which only works in and around the Internet Cafe:
Time Plan 1
$.40 per minute
250 minutes for $100
Time Plan 2
$.55 per minute
100 minutes for $55
TIme Plan 3
$.75 per minute
33 minutes for $25

all plans have a $3.95 setup fee

frequent specials for double minutes in internet cafe if you buy them at a certain time of day or on first day of cruise. None of the specials apply to the wireless. Their sattilite is somehow affiliated with El Salvador such that your google searhcs come out in spanish unless you do something such as use google.ca or set preferences.

Plenty of open acess points while departing NYC and in port in Saint John.

The wireless connection on Princess was a lot faster than their internet cafe.

Even with a fast connection $.35 per minute is ridiculous.

It may be expensive but
 

I will be reading you all from the Grand Princess in the Med in just two weeks. It is nice to meet someone with Elite priviledges and they can let you use the internet for free. We also got a coupon book from our TA that gave use 50% off internet price.

No hope for the FT addicted.

Speed is even worse
 

Even worse than the cost (which I can pass on to my employer if business related) is the speed. Shipboard computer speen in the computer lounge on every line I have cruised is awful - makes dialup look like broadband. The service in the staterooms, even where ethernet ports are available, is virtually unusable.

I generally connect by cellular in port and forget about using it aboard ship. Let's not even talk about availability (last cruise was down 3 days out of 11).