Internet...will there ever be packages

[pamrose228]

So accustomed to social, email full cruise internet packages. Waiting for the Z to do same. On CCL TA 13 nights of mid level was $99. Unlimited. Spotty at times but well worth it. Will HAL ever do this?

 

 

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[Scrapnana]

They have in the past on certain ships and certain sailings. I, too, hope they will someday do this fleetwide (the sooner the better as far as I am concerned;)).

[freestyling]

HAL does offer packages by the minutes but have not seen anything like 13 days for $99. But as a wise person once said..."never say never"!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

4$

[frankc98376]

Westerdam has had the packages for quite a while- I believe a couple of years. Packages were very reasonable. Not understanding why only on one ship.

[TAD2005]

I think it is left up to the hotel director how to price the internet on each ship. Of course, thinking from a revenue point of view, if passengers have unlimited internet, they will spend more time with their noses buried into a phone or tablet, and not ordering drinks, contributing money to the casino, getting a spa treatment, or going on shore excursions. Could that possibly be the deciding factor ?

[arzz]

I assumed that internet packages were priced by the internet provider which is not HAL - they are a subcontractor.

 

What packages are offered on board may be a function of the ship's capacity to provide this service. If the band width is not there offering an unlimited package that seldom works due to lack of capacity could be more of a problem for the ship than an attractive option. Since HAL certainly gets a cut of the revenues if they could offer it I would assume they would.

 

As to why there is not a greater band width available - the answer to that one must come from better informed folks than I.

 

I must, however, note that the thought of sitting in the MDR, or even the Lido or one of the lounges and listening to ringing phones and one half of two way conversations does not sit well with my vision of a relaxing cruise vacation. Nor does sitting at a table with someone whose face is in their phone rather than with their table mates seem particularly attractive.

[kira5]

I enquired at a social gathering how many would stay in a hotel without free wifi -- no one. People expect it nowadays and even the smallest B & B or vacation rental seems to provide it. We discussed the cruise situation. People don't want to be that disconnected it seems and quite a few would want to be able to contact members of their party while on board to meet up or make arrangements.

 

Does the wifi cost the cruise lines the amount they bill their passengers (minus a modest profit). or is this a question of charge what you can? Kind of like cell phone bills in Canada.

[navybankerteacher]

Every HAL ship I've sailed had packages. Not cheap, but certainly packages..

 

Because they want to maximize revenue, and I am not so badly addicted, I would prefer they keep it as an add-on; if it were included in the fare, the fare would be significantly higher.

 

We simply discipline ourselves to minimize usage (not a bad idea in any case), and only log on when there is a reason - and not for time-burning recreation.

[jtl513]

Westerdam has had the packages for quite a while- I believe a couple of years. Packages were very reasonable. Not understanding why only on one ship.

It wasn't just Westerdam. I know Zuiderdam had unlimited-time packages for a while. Apparently it didn't work as well financially for HAL or the concessionaire as the block time options, and was scrapped.

 

I enquired at a social gathering how many would stay in a hotel without free wifi -- no one. People expect it nowadays and even the smallest B & B or vacation rental seems to provide it.

High speed connections on a land line can be provided at considerably less cost than on a satellite connection. Edited July 14, 2017 by jtl513

[pamrose228]

I assumed that internet packages were priced by the internet provider which is not HAL - they are a subcontractor.

 

What packages are offered on board may be a function of the ship's capacity to provide this service. If the band width is not there offering an unlimited package that seldom works due to lack of capacity could be more of a problem for the ship than an attractive option. Since HAL certainly gets a cut of the revenues if they could offer it I would assume they would.

 

As to why there is not a greater band width available - the answer to that one must come from better informed folks than I.

 

I must, however, note that the thought of sitting in the MDR, or even the Lido or one of the lounges and listening to ringing phones and one half of two way conversations does not sit well with my vision of a relaxing cruise vacation. Nor does sitting at a table with someone whose face is in their phone rather than with their table mates seem particularly attractive.

 

 

 

No phones or text messages only social media. Facebook, twitter, intagram and u can upgrade to add email and some other apps. This is all wifi based not service provided. No one was on their phone in the MDR.

 

I used it basically to stay in touch with my family.

 

As for profit.we are three adults who would buy three packages which would cost more than the 1000 minutes. I don't get the hesitation

 

 

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[Wehwalt]

If the other lines can do it (RCCI, Norwegian), so could HAL. Period. And yes, they need to. It is ridiculous to have numbers of minutes and slamming down logout keys at a high price when other lines do better. It is second rate when it should be first class.

[NCTribeFan]

Carnival had to do major improvements to all their ships before they were able to offer the packages across the fleet. They had to implement this a ship-at-a-time.

 

But, yeah, they're great. I tried the mid-level plan once (their Value plan) mostly so I could check in for my return fight home. Didn't use it for web browsing at all any other time, so it was a waste of money.

 

Now, I buy the social plan. I can contact my DD using the FB messenger. I can upload photos to rub it in to my coworkers that I'm on a cruise and they're at their desks working. ;p

 

Currently, Carnival is even offering a discount if you purchase prior to cruising. Not much of a discount for the social plan ($4/day rather than $5) but every little bit helps!

 

I would love to be able to post pictures on FB on my upcoming K'dam cruise without having to buy internet minutes for a slow connection. I'll just wait and find somewhere in the ports with wi-fi.

[gkny]

That's the one bad thing about HAL is their internet packages. I mainly sail on RCCL which has great internet packages at around $15-20 daily and the speed is very fast even to stream movies, etc. I need to stay in touch with family since the parents are getting older. When I spoke to them it was in the cabin only. For this coming Jan cruise I'll wait until we get to the port and use the wifi then.

[Cruiser Bruiser]

And what's maddening is that sister brand P&O UK only offers packages. Social, browse or full access, including streaming. Pay by the day or for the whole cruise. Very convenient and at reasonable prices.

 

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[Gracie115]

What about the newest ship Koningsdam....how is the internet on that ship? Do they offer packages....I tried to find info on the HAL site but couldn't find anything about internet.....we will be on a TA next year and wondering how much we will need to spend on internet...

[Gail & Marty sailing away]

I am sure over the years the cost will come down.

[jtl513]

What about the newest ship Koningsdam....how is the internet on that ship? Do they offer packages ...

Performance-wise it's like other HAL ships, and the time is sold in the same tiers that have been standard for years: 100 min for $55, 250 min for $100, 500 min for $175, 1000 min for $250, or $0.75 PAYG

[Gracie115]

Performance-wise it's like other HAL ships, and the time is sold in the same tiers that have been standard for years: 100 min for $55, 250 min for $100, 500 min for $175, 1000 min for $250, or $0.75 PAYG

 

 

Thanks.....we will be on a TA from Rome and have been used to the free minutes we get as Elite Plus on Celebrity so will have to spend some $$ this time....

[boze9999]

Sailed HAL for years and it HAS NOT come down! HAL needs to enter the real world!!

I am sure over the years the cost will come down.

[Pernilla]

We've learned to follow the crew -- they always know where to find free internet in port. Naturally, we don't stay on for long -- don't want to waste our port time. But it allows us to pay the bills, check on the house, and let people know we haven't fallen overboard.

[gkny]

I agree with you Boze 100% that HAL needs to change their internet pricing.