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 !

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

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.