Laptop, should I take it or leave it home?

[gail-s]

I'm considering bringing ours on our cruise this summer. I normally do not take my laptop since I spend so many hours working on it, however, we went to Costa Rica last year and I downloaded pictures to the netbook and then uploaded them whenever I could find free wi-fi to share with the families back home (we were chaperoning a school trip) It was great. The parents loved the blog. I liked the fact that I backed up all of my pictures so I wasn't frantic about losing any of them.

 

DH even likes to take naps on cruises, so, I could see where you could relax and work on your albums while they're napping. I say take it with you if it'll make you happy.

[MonaCD]

I've always taken mine and now have a netbook to save on the weight. I like it for downloading pics and videos daily. I also use it to keep in touch with friends and family at home. I can type up my emails at my leisure and just copy and paste when it's time to send, saves on expensive internet time.

 

Hubby & I have different sleep patterns so when he's up late at night and doesn't feel like sitting out on the balcony he can play a game or read a book on the netbook and vice versa when I wake early in the morning. Also handy while waiting for one to have a shower or get ready for dinner.

 

I'd say take it. If you don't use it, no worries but if you find you do want it and don't have it, it will be a pain.

[donaldsc]

I'm always on the computer, I'm working on 5 digital albums right now...do you think I'll have downtime to do some computer work.

A little background. My son wanted to go on a cruise so my husband booked one 2 weeks ago, We are going on this cruise to relax (we have balcony cabin so my husband said he wants to relax there). We are not going to port in FL, we will go to Private Island and might go to Blue Lagoon in Nassau). I know our son will enjoy the pool and the kids activities.

So while we have downtime in our cabin I wanted to do some albums (but my husband said I'll never use it to leave it home). My husband travels alot on business and when my son and I join him my son just loves staying in the hotel pool and usually he gets tried in the afternoon and has a nap (so I usually use the computer) but last time we traveled to Atlanta, Phildephia and DC (I didn't even use the computer)

Do you bring your computer or don't bother?

Thanks for any help

 

I am not sure what all your verbiage has to do with your question but I bring my netbook with me to back up my pictures. I do not use it for internet use on the ship because I am too frugal to pay all that money for lousy internet coverage.

 

DON

[Hikini]

I have taken mine on every cruise, except this last one. I wanted to simplify as much as possible....and I didn't miss my laptop once.

 

I am always saying I never have enough time (in life, in general) to read, so instead of the laptop I took a book. I didn't even have much time for reading, but I would have had zero time for reading if I had taken my laptop.

 

I do like to look at pictures as we take them, but this time it was all at once when we got home from the cruise and then downloaded them onto the computer. It was fun to watch them and relive the cruise.

 

I usually take along 2 or 3 extra memory cards, so I don't have to worry about downloading the pictures to free up space on the card. Otherwise I would be much more tempted to take the laptop.

 

Needless to say, I'm not planning to take the laptop again this time.

 

But to each their own. There is no right or wrong. Enjoy!:)

[CAROLG903]

Bring it, if you don't use it, fine. If you have the opportunity to use it, and you didn't bring it, you'll be irritated. I'm having to bring mine to complete a homework assignment and meet online with my class. Bummer. :-(

[4774Papa]

Leave the lap top home -- go and enjoy the vacation -- make memories --

 

Your lap top could use a vacation too -- it will be there when you get home --

 

It is called a vacation for a reason --

 

I leave mine at home ---

Ditto

[BarbRN]

I download my day's photos onto the netbook each night. In Athens, Greece, I met a lady who had her camera stolen out of her back pack on the last day of her trip. Bet she wishes she had a back up.

[NEW 2 CRUISIN]

This discussion is interesting to me, but in a different way.

 

It appears that the OP's husband would rather have his wife spend time relaxing with HIM on vacation...and NOT with a laptop computer.

 

In a sign of the times, many of the replies read almost little selfish, advising the OP to give little or no concern to the desires of the other members of Her travelling party and do whatever She wants no matter what.

 

(Hmmm. Imagine if every family decision was made like that!)

 

Some could read it that the OP already has her mind made up to take the laptop (against her own husband's recommendation) and is her looking for amunition to justify her choice.

 

Maybe....maybe not... :confused:

 

I say spend some quality time with your family and leave the computer for your free time at home. Your time without it will more clearly define your special vacation time together with one less distraction.

[BarbRN]

This discussion is interesting to me, but in a different way.

 

It appears that the OP's husband would rather have his wife spend time relaxing with HIM on vacation...and NOT with a laptop computer.

 

In a sign of the times, many of the replies read almost little selfish, advising the OP to give little or no concern to the desires of the other members of Her travelling party and do whatever She wants no matter what.

 

(Hmmm. Imagine if every family decision was made like that!)

 

Some could read it that the OP already has her mind made up to take the laptop (against her own husband's recommendation) and is her looking for amunition to justify her choice.

 

Maybe....maybe not... :confused:

 

I say spend some quality time with your family and leave the computer for your free time at home. Your time without it will more clearly define your special vacation time together with one less distraction.

 

Good post....also, that means that the spouse should not turn on the TV either!

[monicajay]

Would never travel without it! Now I bring a net-book because it is 2.2 lbs and serves the purpose. Never use the cruise line internet but like to check a few e-mails while in port (always find free wifi).

 

I have become to used to finding info when needed to travel without it.

 

I have some mini-portable speakers too that give me all my favorite toons in my cabin. Also use it for saving photos. I have also used Skype in port to chat with kids when they haven't been with us. Amazing sitting at Starbucks in Australia and having a conversation with my kids.

[traveler916]

I am of the opinion that true vacations mean leaving the electronics at home.

 

We have one exception: DH's international crackberry. He is not allowed to check work voice/emails, but we do keep it on so our family can contact us if there is an emergency. We don't carry it around the ship, but do take it with us to ports.

 

My mobile phone is turned off when we board the ship and stays packed away until we disembark. We take no other items with screens, plugs, headphones, etc. None, nope, verboten...:D

 

Even before the kids were grown, walkmans, portable games, etc. were not allowed on vacation.

 

IMHO, lift your eyes to the horizon and live in the moment.:p

 

wow - you guys are good. I still surf the internet A LOT when i cruise...maybe this time i'll leave the computer off a little more

[BarbRN]

Would never travel without it! Now I bring a net-book because it is 2.2 lbs and serves the purpose. Never use the cruise line internet but like to check a few e-mails while in port (always find free wifi).

 

I have become to used to finding info when needed to travel without it.

 

I have some mini-portable speakers too that give me all my favorite toons in my cabin. Also use it for saving photos. I have also used Skype in port to chat with kids when they haven't been with us. Amazing sitting at Starbucks in Australia and having a conversation with my kids.

 

 

How do you find free wi fi in port?

[darrengs]

This discussion is interesting to me, but in a different way.

 

It appears that the OP's husband would rather have his wife spend time relaxing with HIM on vacation...and NOT with a laptop computer.

 

In a sign of the times, many of the replies read almost little selfish, advising the OP to give little or no concern to the desires of the other members of Her travelling party and do whatever She wants no matter what.

 

(Hmmm. Imagine if every family decision was made like that!)

 

Some could read it that the OP already has her mind made up to take the laptop (against her own husband's recommendation) and is her looking for amunition to justify her choice.

 

Maybe....maybe not... :confused:

 

I say spend some quality time with your family and leave the computer for your free time at home. Your time without it will more clearly define your special vacation time together with one less distraction.

 

Interesting take on it, I read the part that the OP wanted to use the computer while her husband was napping and it didn't sound selfish to me at all.:confused:

[Ms belp]

I prefer to take a handwritten journal with me. If we have to use the internet we go to the internet cafe. Your pics can be kept on your digital until you get home. It's heavy and cumbersome and does not fit in the safe. I'd leave it at home.

[flashdog_1]

As far as the leave your electronics at home crowd, I feel that people should bring what makes them happy. For example my family enjoys reading to unwind at the end of the day or perhaps during the afternoon on a sea day. It is much easier for us, and lighter to pack a kindle and iPad full of books then it is packing 8 books to read. Oh yeah those same books can be read on the laptop as well.

 

I'm with you. People on these board are so funny when giving their opinions. Sometimes the opinions come across as criticism of the OP. I've heard people say it's crazy to spend your vacation time watching a movie, so who cares what's on the tv? Well, some people don't go to the casino etc. so like to wind down in the cabin with a movie. It's totally an individual thing.

 

The OP asked our opinions. Here's mine. If you are driving to the port, didn't have to pay excess baggage or $25 for an extra bag on a flight sort of thing, and you can handle it, why not bring it since you like to have it there for the purposes you stated.

 

I book my cruises so early that I didn't know my DD would be in graduate school, and worse, have an exam early in the cruise! Lucky for her, she took an exam on the first sea day and saved the exam to Word so she could complete it without using minutes which are pretty expensive. She did this on our balcony and in our cabin. She did not have to, but could have done so on a ship's computer in the area with a dozen computers. Having her laptop made it possible to do the exam in our cabin.

 

Enjoy your son enjoying the cruise!

 

Having a few spare minutes in her package, we were able to print our boarding passes for our return flight with no additional charge, so we felt smart. ha

[pilotmanjoe79]

I tell my SO that I am looking forward to our "iPhone free vacation" But since we will be on POA, I think data and cellular coverage will be widely available and therefore I will be losing this battle. Oh well, it's his vacation too, at least I'll enjoy the sights!:)

[NEW 2 CRUISIN]

Interesting take on it, I read the part that the OP wanted to use the computer while her husband was napping and it didn't sound selfish to me at all.:confused:

 

HAHA!

 

Funny how everyone can read the same message and see different things! :D

 

I believe the OP said her SON is the one who takes an afternoon nap after swimming all morning. I'm just thinking that would be some great quality time for husband and wife to spend together on the balcony.

 

Now you know why I find this thread so interesting! HAHA!

[stoof]

People take vacations for different reasons. Some to get away from work, some to get a way from family.

Some people lay on a beach all vacation. Some do the touristy thing and visit historic or ancient sites.

Just because you bring your laptop with you, away from home, doesn't mean you are not relaxing or enjoying your time.

Do what you feel best.

[che5904]

People take vacations for different reasons. Some to get away from work, some to get a way from family.

Some people lay on a beach all vacation. Some do the touristy thing and visit historic or ancient sites.

Just because you bring your laptop with you, away from home, doesn't mean you are not relaxing or enjoying your time.

Do what you feel best.

 

Totally agree

 

I find it interesting though how some posters equate bringing a laptop will somehow cut into their relaxing time or spending quality time with their partners, but some of those same people will bring a book. Personally if and when I get into a book, nothing else gets done until it's finished ;). So that would definately cut into my time with DH. I can be uploading pictures or doing whatever on my laptop and still have a conversation with my husband. I do use the internet to keep in contact with family, I'm not one of those cruisers who vacation to get away from my family. And my 4 year old grandson loves to be kept up to date with pictures of where we are or have been. And makes us seem to him like we are not too far away.

[darrengs]

HAHA!

 

Funny how everyone can read the same message and see different things! :D

 

I believe the OP said her SON is the one who takes an afternoon nap after swimming all morning. I'm just thinking that would be some great quality time for husband and wife to spend together on the balcony.

 

Now you know why I find this thread so interesting! HAHA!

 

 

Yep I just read it again, and you are correct that is what it says.:D

 

That actually makes even more sense then. If my son was napping I would prefer using that time for one of us to take in some activities instead of both my wife and I sitting quietly in the room so that we are together at all times on our vacation.

[taymiss2]

We used the lap top for a bunch of different reasons and I was glad to have access to it. It never entered my mind that people would be looking at us as if we were freaks to be using a computor on vacation, lol.

 

We:

1. double checked our reservations/directions/cruise critic recomendations for what we were going to do in port the next day.

2. saved photos to hard drive as we have lost a camera on vacation in the past

3. high school homework is nearly all available on line these days. so instead of lugging 60 pounds of school books (and paying the airline for the privilage), daughter was able to get work done online. She had a paper due while we were gone too and was able to complete and email to her teacher. Even though she had to do homework while we were gone, she was in Hawaii so didn't have any complaints.

5. girls uploaded photos to Facebook in real time to make all of their friends jealous, lol

4. husband was able to keep up with email so didn't return to 1000+ messages when he returned back to work. He really disliked taking vacations in the days where he didn't have access to his email. It was too overwelming to try to catch up when he returned home. This way he can spend 30 minutes or so clearing stuff out. I was probably still asleep while he was doing it anyway so didnt bother me one bit. If other people don't agree he should spend his vacation doing that, well too bad, lol.

 

Next trip is without husband, I all ready know I am going to miss having his laptop there. It was just so handy to be able to look everything up with out worrying about the high cost of internet.

[SilentHill]

I think I brought mine but I never used it.

[Pooh&OurHunny]

wow, thanks for everyone post and time.

When our son naps so does my husband (my husband enjoys naps during vacation...he says its a treat and relaxation).

Last night he actually said for me to bring my laptop b/c he wants to work on or download the videos he would be taking that day.

 

So thank you everyone, I'm bringing my laptop to download (if I have downtime to editted and sort pictures wonderful ad if not at least I would not say I should have). I was just trying to lighten our stuff (my husband said I really don't need all the outfits I have and I don't need to match shoes with each outfits...I always overpack...we went to Disney for 8 days and I had 5 luggages for 3 people). I'm trying to have 3 for the cruise b/c of space from what I'm reading.

 

Thanks everyone I really appreciate all the positive replys.:)