college football bowl games on cruise ships

[DrVegas]

Does anyone have experience cruising around New Year's and have an idea about whether ships will be showing the college football bowl games?

 

We're going to be on the Celebrity Constellation, specifically, but any general experiences would be welcomed. Just need to know where to set my expectations....

[kitty9]

I've cruised at that time on Celebrity and a lot depends on what network is showing the the games. If it's on ESPN, you will probably be able to see it via ESPN Deportes (Celebrity doesn't do the regular ESPN). You can always go to the casino and ask them at the casino bar if they'll be showing a game or games, and which one. If the games are on network TV, Celebrity, unlike other cruise lines, don't subscribe to networks such as CBS or ABC so getting those games might be difficult.

[SuiteTraveler]

Use your tablet, phone or computer to watch these games.

http://www.nfltv.net/college-football/

 

Call your provider to make sure you have a good data package (low cost) for international roaming before you do this. Alternatively TiVo or DVR the games you want to watch and watch after you get home from your cruise.

[trish1c]

There is usually ESPN in your cabin. The rest of the games were hit or miss. Sometimes the sports bars "buy" certain big games.

 

I really wanted to watch a particular game some years ago while in port (Tortola if that matters). I asked a crew member who said the only option was the TV in my cabin which wasn't showing that game. Turns out the game I wanted was broadcast in the sports bar but I didn't know that. I missed it. As a woman I didn't feel comfortable wandering into a sports bar in port alone.

 

So my advice: ask more than one crew member; ask the bartender to change the channel & venture into the various bars with TVs on board before you give up.

[Zach1213]

Use your tablet, phone or computer to watch these games.

http://www.nfltv.net/college-football/

 

Call your provider to make sure you have a good data package (low cost) for international roaming before you do this. Alternatively TiVo or DVR the games you want to watch and watch after you get home from your cruise.

 

International roaming is usually very expensive. Plus, one would need a plan that covers cruise ships, since any cellular at sea would run through their network, not a "normal" cell network.

[Cruisin' Chick]

Some cruise lines buy service from a satellite company. My last few cruises have been in late December and included NYE and sometimes getting the bowl games is hit and miss because of the satellite signal (these were Hawaiian cruises and we were between the islands and the west coast). I do remember going to get some food from the poolside grill on the Golden Princess and people were watching the Rose Bowl game on the Movies Under the Stars screen. And it was nicer weather on the pool deck than back home in LA where the game is (Pasadena).

[Keith1010]

Many cruise lines do show the games.

 

Keith

[Krazy Kruizers]

You really won't know until you get on the ship.

So much depends on the satellite and location of ship in the waters AND what channel they will be on.

True -- the majority of the cruise lines only subscribe to ESPN and not to ABC, NBC or CBS.