colliercruiser Posted September 19, 2015 #1 Share Posted September 19, 2015 I received the following info in a Celebrity "marketing" email today regarding our upcoming Equinox cruise. Any idea what this "temporary" bandwidth increase is all about? "We are happy to let you know that for your cruise, we are temporarily increasing the bandwidth onboard which will result in: - Faster web browsing - Streaming video capability - Faster page loading - Increased VOIP performance" Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
az_tchr Posted September 20, 2015 #2 Share Posted September 20, 2015 (edited) Will believe it when I see it! They need approximately 20 times the existing bandwidth minimum to make it even 2G speed. The problem is some 3000 people dividing up the stectrum. How would they ever get enough? Is it technically possible? I do not know. I do know that other than 4am it seems to make no difference as combined with the ships communications, there are always too any people trying to use the system. Thus very slow. PS - Increased VOIP performance? Currently VOIP is not possible. We will see if their new system actually can deliver especially on TA and TP cruises. Edited September 20, 2015 by az_tchr Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare chemmo Posted September 20, 2015 #3 Share Posted September 20, 2015 We were on the Equinox in April and found wifi so much better than we had on the Solstice only a few months earlier. Perhaps ongoing improvements to enter the 21st century!? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rwb Posted September 20, 2015 #4 Share Posted September 20, 2015 Internet service also depends on what service the cruise ship is using. There are now systems that use non-stationary satellites in much lower orbits, with more sophisticated antennas, which offer both much lower latency and much higher bandwidth. RCCL has put a new system in some ships that actually does have the bandwidth to support voip and skype. Perhaps Equinox is testing the system for Celebrity. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
FireEater Posted September 20, 2015 #5 Share Posted September 20, 2015 I will find out in 60 days or so if the "temporary" system is still in place. I only need 3-5 min. a day anyways to download emails and for my wife to observe our dogs at the kennel. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
colliercruiser Posted September 20, 2015 Author #6 Share Posted September 20, 2015 I will find out in 60 days or so if the "temporary" system is still in place. I only need 3-5 min. a day anyways to download emails and for my wife to observe our dogs at the kennel. Will be giving this faster internet, if it exists, a test on Oct 15 & Oct 27 B2B cruises on Equinox. Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BBsails Posted September 20, 2015 #7 Share Posted September 20, 2015 (edited) Will be giving this faster internet, if it exists, a test on Oct 15 & Oct 27 B2B cruises on Equinox. Me too, colliercruiser. Fingers crossed. Betsy Edited September 20, 2015 by BBsails Typo due to not yet being fully caffeinated Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mango Mike Posted September 20, 2015 #8 Share Posted September 20, 2015 Why "temporary"? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
luv4cruises Posted September 21, 2015 #9 Share Posted September 21, 2015 Hope the Equinox gets "Voom" that was the internet service on the Oasis. It was The best we've had on any ship on any cruise line. Unlimited internet cost 15//day before crown and anchor discounts! We'll be on the Equinox in November and hope that there will be Voom at the great rate of 15/day for unlimited! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
az_tchr Posted September 21, 2015 #10 Share Posted September 21, 2015 Certainly agree. The additional bandwidth is a trial for something like 90-120 days. We will see. On the Constellation a couple years ago I started downloading a page while Select and was Elite before the download finished! LOL. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
colliercruiser Posted September 21, 2015 Author #11 Share Posted September 21, 2015 Hope the Equinox gets "Voom" that was the internet service on the Oasis. It was The best we've had on any ship on any cruise line. Unlimited internet cost 15//day before crown and anchor discounts! We'll be on the Equinox in November and hope that there will be Voom at the great rate of 15/day for unlimited! I think the rates are not changing during this temporary trial. Here's what was included in that email: - Browsing: $59 for 90 minutes - Social: $109 for 240 minutes - Day Pass: $59 per day (one full day of continuous access) - Unlimited: $249 for a 6-9 day voyage; $299 for a 10-14 day voyage - As you go: $.79 per minute (pay by the minute) Only available on board Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
luv4cruises Posted September 21, 2015 #12 Share Posted September 21, 2015 Too bad! C&A discounted $15.00 a day for unlimited speedy internet access was a most welcome Oasis perk! The Equinox will be costly for us as my husband needs access every day. RCI should make internet access equitable throughout all of her ships! Sent from my iPad using Tapatal ""'Looukhhnb. .,>>,hyatt reward Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
colliercruiser Posted September 22, 2015 Author #13 Share Posted September 22, 2015 I received the following info in a Celebrity "marketing" email today regarding our upcoming Equinox cruise. Any idea what this "temporary" bandwidth increase is all about? "We are happy to let you know that for your cruise, we are temporarily increasing the bandwidth onboard which will result in: - Faster web browsing - Streaming video capability - Faster page loading - Increased VOIP performance" Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk Just received another Celebrity email, almost the same as the first one I posted here, but the insert about the temporary increase in bandwidth was not included. Guess we'll find out either way soon. Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Baron Barracuda Posted September 24, 2015 #14 Share Posted September 24, 2015 C&A 30% Elite discount brings the $299 down to $210 which is $15/day on a 14 night sailing. So not so outrageous. Was able to skype while on Quantum back in April. A little jerky, but pretty good. Currently on Infinity which is about the slowest I've ever experienced. Columbus had faster wifi in 1492. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
J18ktleo Posted September 26, 2015 #15 Share Posted September 26, 2015 We really enjoyed unlimited internet on Quantum in May....our Ipad were on the entire trip! Boarding Equinox next week, hoping for something similar!;) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
colliercruiser Posted September 27, 2015 Author #16 Share Posted September 27, 2015 Just received another Celebrity email, almost the same as the first one I posted here, but the insert about the temporary increase in bandwidth was not included. Guess we'll find out either way soon. Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk Have a theory why that second email I received didn't say anything about a temporary increase in bandwidth. It was probably prompted by our second cruise (of our B2B), and due to limited satellite coverage in the Atlantic, the available bandwidth is less. Just a theory. Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rcixfan5 Posted September 28, 2015 #17 Share Posted September 28, 2015 Have a theory why that second email I received didn't say anything about a temporary increase in bandwidth. It was probably prompted by our second cruise (of our B2B), and due to limited satellite coverage in the Atlantic, the available bandwidth is less. Just a theory. Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk Had the same thing happen to us with multiple emails about internet, one mentioning the faster one. We have three booked so I don't know which ones they refer to. I generally love the marketing emails that don't specify which cruise they are talking about. Sent from my iPad using Forums mobile app Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Canuck-Ottawa Posted September 29, 2015 #18 Share Posted September 29, 2015 Something's going on with the Equinox because a "Zenith 70% off Unlimited Internet" package is offered for my Nov.30 sailing, at CAD$119.30 (US$100). I booked it immediately this morning, and it is confirmed on my reservation. I am Select level in a Concierge cabin! Folks should check their Cruise Planner to see if it's offered on other cruises. It did say this was a "limited time offer". Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
colliercruiser Posted September 29, 2015 Author #19 Share Posted September 29, 2015 Something's going on with the Equinox because a "Zenith 70% off Unlimited Internet" package is offered for my Nov.30 sailing, at CAD$119.30 (US$100). I booked it immediately this morning, and it is confirmed on my reservation. I am Select level in a Concierge cabin! Folks should check their Cruise Planner to see if it's offered on other cruises. It did say this was a "limited time offer". I posted some info in another recent thread. The offer is an error but will be honored until they fix it (very soon). So hurry if interested. Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
colliercruiser Posted October 16, 2015 Author #20 Share Posted October 16, 2015 I received the following info in a Celebrity "marketing" email today regarding our upcoming Equinox cruise. Any idea what this "temporary" bandwidth increase is all about? "We are happy to let you know that for your cruise, we are temporarily increasing the bandwidth onboard which will result in: - Faster web browsing - Streaming video capability - Faster page loading - Increased VOIP performance" Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk Now on Equinox's last (Oct 15) Mediterranean sailing for the season, and received an update from the staff at the CC meet & greet today. The temporary faster internet has been a test for this and the prior two sailings, but will end after that for now. It won't be available for the next sailing which is the Oct 27 TA to Fort Lauderdale (bummer since we're on that too). So far, I'm impressed with this temporary increase. Seems very responsive, and I was even able to do a FaceTime video call with my son back in FL yesterday as we sailed out of Barcelona. I didn't get a chance to find out any more information, such as when this upgrade will be more widely deployed. Hope to hear that later in the cruise. Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
J18ktleo Posted October 16, 2015 #21 Share Posted October 16, 2015 Just off rt Barcelona and had the unlimited for two weeks....was amazingly responsive most times. We did notice right after boarding at ports it was a little slow but even the final day, with everyone in the I lounge to do their air check ins it was pretty quick! Thinking it might be harder during the TA since land is so far but that shouldn't be an issue since I thought they used satellites? This was a huge improvement over what we've had the past few years and if this continues along with the unlimited packages it'll be a whole new world cruising!:rolleyes: Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
margsipie Posted October 16, 2015 #22 Share Posted October 16, 2015 Does anyone have any recent experience with internet speeds on the Solstice? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare Tom-n-Cheryl Posted October 16, 2015 #23 Share Posted October 16, 2015 Does anyone have any recent experience with internet speeds on the Solstice? It was pretty slow on our Alaska sailing this year. I think the max speed I recorded was just about 1Mbps, but that was the exception. Most of the time it was less than 100kbps (think of the "old" 56k modems)! I recall my first dial-up connection: I had to take my phone and place it into an "acoustic coupler modem" - achieving breakneck speeds of something like 4,800 bps :eek: I hope they've got the faster internet fully in place for our March sailing next year on the Equinox, as unlimited internet is a perk for our cabin, and it would be nice to have a bit more horsepower !! Tom Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
krb1000 Posted October 16, 2015 #24 Share Posted October 16, 2015 Now on Equinox's last (Oct 15) Mediterranean sailing for the season, and received an update from the staff at the CC meet & greet today. The temporary faster internet has been a test for this and the prior two sailings, but will end after that for now. It won't be available for the next sailing which is the Oct 27 TA to Fort Lauderdale (bummer since we're on that too). So far, I'm impressed with this temporary increase. Seems very responsive, and I was even able to do a FaceTime video call with my son back in FL yesterday as we sailed out of Barcelona. I didn't get a chance to find out any more information, such as when this upgrade will be more widely deployed. Hope to hear that later in the cruise. Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk Thanks for the update...sorry to hear we won't have this service on the TA :-( Kathie Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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