Wireless internet on Inspiration, anyone know?

[SUSANITA]

We're sailing on Inspiration, 5/19, and we're wondering if we can use our wireless laptop? On Miracle, we purchased the package for $100, and it worked well for us, trying to find out if that's offered on Inspiration as well. Thanks!

[Randy & Carmen]

I think so ....Sue.......but then I've not been on Inspiration......maybe this will bring it back up top for someone to help.;)

[Cavscout]

They do have wireless but I don't know the range. I only noticed one person using it and he was seated right outside the internet lounge.

[destinydog]

where can you sue wireless on the miracle?

[SUSANITA]

If I remember correctly, on the Miracle my husband used wireless on every "other" deck?? Also, in the card room, we saw an employee come in with a laptop and plug in, so you might want to check that out too. I didn't see a sign that said "employee use only" and it's quiet in there with nice tables to work at.

 

I think I'll call Carnival to make sure, no sense bringing the laptop if we can't use it. This time, we aren't taking the kids, so this will be our main way to keep in touch with them. Thanks.

[Bookbug53]

From Carnival's web site:

 

Can I access the internet while on board?

 

For those guests who want the option of staying connected to the everyday world, we have implemented Internet Cafes fleetwide.

 

The Cafe is open 24-hours a day and features private workstations with the latest flat panel computer terminals. Guests will have the ability to send and receive e-mail and access Internet sites. Guests can access their home account through AOL, Hotmail, Juno or Yahoo or have the option of setting up their very own temporary account on board with our CruiseE-mail.

 

The computers are equipped with WordPad.

 

The Internet is accessed via satellite through a satellite modem and guests are able to surf the internet as if they were at home. Files can be downloaded as "read only" but cannot be saved, since a floppy disk cannot be inserted into the PC's.

 

The Internet connection speed is able to connect with bursts of 2.5 megs and 128 kbps upstream.

 

If Palm Pilots are wireless than guests can take advantage of our wireless access.

 

Guests may bring their own personal Laptop for use on board by using our Wireless Internet Service.

 

If the laptop is not equipped with a Wireless Internet Card, guests will need to rent one from the Internet Cafe.

 

If the laptop is running on Windows 2000, Windows ME, Windows 98 or Windows 95, software will be installed in order to run the Wireless System. This will take approximately five minutes.

 

If the laptop is running on Windows XP, the above software is not needed. The Wireless Internet Service is compatible with a Wireless 802.11b card, which is the industry standard.

 

Even with the wireless service, guest's personal Laptop must be used in close proximity of the Internet Cafe. It cannot be used in guest’s staterooms.

 

Internet Cafe Price List

 

Charges for the following services will be billed directly to guest's Sail and Sign Account as follows:

A one time activation fee is $3.95.

To obtain a temporary account while on board, the set-up charge is $3.95.

To print information, the charge is $.50-per page.

 

To utilize the service of the Internet Cafe, whether using a private workstation, renting a laptop or using the guest's personal laptop, the charge is:

$.75-per minute.

Block of Minutes (no refund for unused minutes):

 

 

3, 4 or 5 Day Cruise

30 minutes for $16.50 (.55 per minute).

60 minutes for $24.00 (.40 per minute).

 

 

7 Day Cruise or Longer

100 minutes for $55.00 (.55 per minute).

250 minutes for $100.00 (.40 per minute).

 

To rent a Wireless Internet Card for a guest's personal laptop, the rate is $10.00 per day. To rent a Laptop, the charge is $35.00 per day; optional insurance is $10.00 per day.

[misika]

We were on the Inspiration last week. My Mom tried to use her laptop but was unable to get connected sitting right in the internet cafe. (And she has a degree in computer science, so its not that she didnt know what she was doing LOL) Dimitri, the internet manager, told us the range was limited. My Mom ended up giving up and just using their computers instead rather than wasting any more time trouble shooting it.

 

 

The thing I noticed was that if you bought a $25 package for wireless versus a $25 package for using THEIR computers, the wireless was twice as expensive per minute (something like 40 cents vs 75 cents per minute). I pointed this out to Dimitri and he tried to tell me that no, you could get wireless for 40 cents a minute too, BUT you have to buy the $100 package to get it that cheap.

[SUSANITA]

Yep, I found out that you can buy the $100 package, what stinks is that this is just a 4 night cruise, and we just paid $100 on a 7 night cruise so I feel like they are taking advantage of that. My husbands company will actually pay for it, but STILL. Not sure what we're going to do, I just know that I need to email our kids a couple of times per day.