Purchase Internet Now or Onboard?

[beachpeach1]

Can you reserve a specific time for the internet? If so, can you do that prior to cruise? We will want to print out our boarding passes for flight 24 hours before flight...saves time at the airport.

[paul929207]

I see lots of posts when the conversation is about internet minutes, and buying them on the first day and getting extra. When we were on the Crown over Christmas, the manager told us that you could not get the extra minutes if you were already a member of the Captains Circle. We bought the 150 minute package that is free for Platinum, but got no extra. This might be a ship by ship decision....

 

Mike

Are you Elite or Platinum? If so, you should not get the bonus minutes unless you buy a package beyond your credit.

 

If you are blue or gold, then you should get the bonus.

[paul929207]

Can you reserve a specific time for the internet? If so, can you do that prior to cruise? We will want to print out our boarding passes for flight 24 hours before flight...saves time at the airport.

I assume you mean something like 10am to 10:15 am on Tuesday? No, you cannot reserve a computer. They are first come first serve

[Colo Cruiser]

Can you reserve a specific time for the internet? If so, can you do that prior to cruise? We will want to print out our boarding passes for flight 24 hours before flight...saves time at the airport.

 

No its first come first served, just log onto the signal if you have your own laptop of use a computer in the Internet Cafe. There is usually some available all the time.

[caribill]

Can you reserve a specific time for the internet? If so, can you do that prior to cruise? We will want to print out our boarding passes for flight 24 hours before flight...saves time at the airport.

 

As others have said, it is first come, first serve. And many passengers have the same goal as you do, get those boarding passes.

 

Bu the way, if you are flying Southwest, no need to print the passes, just check in online to get the assigned spot on the boarding line. You can then get the passes printed at the airport.

[apeller]

Are you Elite or Platinum? If so, you should not get the bonus minutes unless you buy a package beyond your credit.

 

If you are blue or gold, then you should get the bonus.

 

Not necessarily, this definitely depends on the ship and the internet manager. On my last 2 cruises, 1 of them gave the bonus minutes to elite/platinum members on their "free" package, while the other one did not.

[OnePostWonder]

there is no free wireless access onboard the ship?

[apeller]

there is no free wireless access onboard the ship?

 

It is the same cost for either wireless or the internet cafe. (nothing is free). We bring our netbook and use it, but sometimes it is simply easier to go to the internet cafe. When you buy an internet package, it comes out of the same pool of minutes.

[kywildcatfanone]

Are you Elite or Platinum? If so, you should not get the bonus minutes unless you buy a package beyond your credit.

 

If you are blue or gold, then you should get the bonus.

 

Paul, this particular cruise was our first as platinum, and we bought the 150 minute package when was free...

 

 

Mike

[MTJtraveller]

MTJtraveller:

Thanks for starting this thread! None of us regulars knew about it!

 

 

Sultan_sfo:

 

Glad to start a new conversation that gets so many responses! I agree, prepurchasing internet minutes is so deeply buried in the Princess website that it is difficult to find. What got me started searching was looking to renew our vows onboard. Also a friend suggested buying casino credits as a way to send "cash" onto the ship for excursions that need to be paid in US dollars that I might not want to carry around with me before boarding. (Anyone ever do this?)

 

I remember purchasing a package of wines on a cruise I took....not sure if it was Windstar, Royal Caribbean, Costa or Princess. That seemed like a good deal too at the time.

 

I will definately purchase the internet minutes I need. Has anyone had luck checking in for their airflights online the day before and printing off boarding passes from their own wireless computer (recognizing that I use the minutes I purchased)? How easy, specifically is it to print off Princess' printer? Wow...that could be an answer to something I have been worrying about!

 

Thanks again for the answer!

[paul929207]

Sultan_sfo:

 

Glad to start a new conversation that gets so many responses! I agree, prepurchasing internet minutes is so deeply buried in the Princess website that it is difficult to find. What got me started searching was looking to renew our vows onboard. Also a friend suggested buying casino credits as a way to send "cash" onto the ship for excursions that need to be paid in US dollars that I might not want to carry around with me before boarding. (Anyone ever do this?)

 

I remember purchasing a package of wines on a cruise I took....not sure if it was Windstar, Royal Caribbean, Costa or Princess. That seemed like a good deal too at the time.

 

I will definately purchase the internet minutes I need. Has anyone had luck checking in for their airflights online the day before and printing off boarding passes from their own wireless computer (recognizing that I use the minutes I purchased)? How easy, specifically is it to print off Princess' printer? Wow...that could be an answer to something I have been worrying about!

 

Thanks again for the answer!

I was told you could not print from your laptop to the Princess printer in the internet cafe. The only way to print the boarding passes is to go to the internet cafe and use a computer there. I guess you could bring your own printer, too.

[mmcipdn]

Thanks for all the info..just ordered the internet pre package..I never knew either.. I feel like the lady for the insurance co on tv, when the guy takes her remote that says " that's ok, I love this channel" You all are so helpful.

Another question.. We are on the Star on The carribe deck..how far do we need to go to get a wireless connection? Will we have to go to deck 5 to the internet cafe?

[mrsshebu]

Thanks for all the info..just ordered the internet pre package..I never knew either.. I feel like the lady for the insurance co on tv, when the guy takes her remote that says " that's ok, I love this channel" You all are so helpful.

Another question.. We are on the Star on The carribe deck..how far do we need to go to get a wireless connection? Will we have to go to deck 5 to the internet cafe?

 

this is a fantastic thread!! We always buy minutes and to get it out of the way is nice. Did you call Princess or did you fill out the form and fax it in?? Do they give you an access code right then or do we wait until we get on the boat??

Thanks!

[MTJtraveller]

this is a fantastic thread!! We always buy minutes and to get it out of the way is nice. Did you call Princess or did you fill out the form and fax it in?? Do they give you an access code right then or do we wait until we get on the boat??

Thanks!

 

Gee...I always hesitate starting a new thread 'cause I inevitably get the "this has been discussed before" comment....so glad that I could start a thread that gives useful info even to those with thousands of posts! :D

**Patting myself on the back**

[apeller]

One thought I had about purchasing the minutes in advance is that if you are elite or platinum they do not charge you the $3.95 sign on fee, and that is automatically included in the pre purchase price. On one hand, the extra minutes are worth more than $3.95, but on the other hand I don't usually need any more minutes.

 

Thanks for starting this thread because I didn'r know about being able to pre-purchase internet either.

[rhsjr]

The forum ask for voyage No. Where does one find that?

[billet]

Does anyone know if you can use whatever is left on the second leg of a B2B? I would purchase a larger time if I could use both directions, but not sure.

 

Gosh I never knew about prepurchasing internet - this board is so good for keeping information up to date!

 

The MTN computer is programmed to wipe all credits at the end of each cruise and you start again with a zero balance. Fortunately like all good software it does not seem to always do this and so on a B2B you could end up with rolling over your balance. You need to talk to the Internet Manager to see what they recommend. On the Star in December the Manager actually said the balance would be wiped but the software glitched and we (all 1200 who stayed on board for the B2B) ended up with the balance rolling over

[billet]

The forum ask for voyage No. Where does one find that?

 

Go to princess.com sign in and click on View Travel Summary. the voyage no. shows under Summary of This Booking

[rhsjr]

Thanks, same as ITINERARY number.

[coach_anne]

If you don't buy an internet package, what's the per-minute charge for internet use?

 

Also, how much is the "account activation fee", which I assume is a one-time charge added to your first minute of usage, right?

 

Wondering what the breakeven point is for non-elite, non-suite, low a la carte usage vs. a package.

[ClassyShots]

It is funny, I sent a gift for an employee last year who was cruising, but never realized I could "gift" myself. Think the 120 minute package sounds just about right for us. 2 hours spread over 7 days. And we know about downloading to our laptop, composing responses, then logging back in to send.

 

That way if they don't carry over, we don't loose much. Wonder if we can "gift" ourselves for the Southbound leg on our last day Northbound if we need it?

 

Anne, love your beagles. Ours was 15 last year when he left.

[paul929207]

If you don't buy an internet package, what's the per-minute charge for internet use?

 

Also, how much is the "account activation fee", which I assume is a one-time charge added to your first minute of usage, right?

 

Wondering what the breakeven point is for non-elite, non-suite, low a la carte usage vs. a package.

Charge is 75 cents per minute. Account activation fee is $3.95.

[coach_anne]

Anne, love your beagles. Ours was 15 last year when he left.

Thanks, Mike. They were both rescued from the local Humane Society shelter. We're really gonna miss them while at sea. Wish the place we're boarding them had a webcam... I'd buy LOTS of minutes if they did. :D

 

Sorry to hear you lost your beagle... 15 is a good age, no? Outliving them has to be the toughest part of being owned by furbabies. :(

[coach_anne]

Charge is 75 cents per minute. Account activation fee is $3.95.

 

Thanks, Paul!

 

One more question: If you do buy a package, and use more minutes than in the package, are the extra minutes billed @ 75 cents, or does that also vary by package?

[apeller]

Thanks, Paul!

 

One more question: If you do buy a package, and use more minutes than in the package, are the extra minutes billed @ 75 cents, or does that also vary by package?

 

They will start charging you by the minute when your package runs out (they say they do not want to cut you off abruptly - aren't they so kind). Not sure whether or not there is any warning - (probably not). I know I keep track of my minutes to avoid this from happening.