How Does 3-Tier Internet Work?

[knittinggirl]

On the Veendam, I purchased the top tier Internet.  Didn't seem fast enough to stream, though they said top tier was for streaming.

 

How do the different tiers work?  

 

For example, the lowest level is for Email.  Does that mean other apps/internet browsing are somehow locked out?

[Alberta Quilter]

The middle level is Surf which allows one to check CC and other website.  I don't believe one can do that with the lowest tier package.

[dfish]

I thought the lowest one was Social Media and that you needed the middle one for email.

[ellieanne]

The lowest level is for Social Media sites only and it is limited to the named social media sites. If you try to go to other sites, the system will force you to pay the difference to move you to the next higher level.

 

If you want to check you email, you will need to purchase at least the middle level.

[kazu]

8 hours ago, dfish said:

I thought the lowest one was Social Media and that you needed the middle one for email.

 

5 hours ago, ellieanne said:

The lowest level is for Social Media sites only and it is limited to the named social media sites. If you try to go to other sites, the system will force you to pay the difference to move you to the next higher level.

 

If you want to check you email, you will need to purchase at least the middle level.

 

Absolutely correct.  The bottom level is social media only.

 

Middle package allows emails and internet (ie. CC)

 

The highest package is for streaming.  HOw well it works really depends on where the ship is and satellite location.  

[dfish]

22 minutes ago, kazu said:

 

 

Absolutely correct.  The bottom level is social media only.

 

Middle package allows emails and internet (ie. CC)

 

The highest package is for streaming.  HOw well it works really depends on where the ship is and satellite location.  

Thanks, Jacqui!

[POA1]

If I recall correctly, there are daily bandwidth caps for the level as well. 

[Amolin]

If I want to use skype to make calls to stay in touch with family would I need the middle level or the highest?

[ellieanne]

3 hours ago, Amolin said:

If I want to use skype to make calls to stay in touch with family would I need the middle level or the highest?

 

I'm honestly not sure. Because the pricing was so ridiculous for what we wanted to do and my husband could get international roaming & data for less than half the price of the ship's internet plans, we used his phone as a hot spot for Skype calls when we were in port.

[TAD2005]

I have used the highest level for Skype.  I have never had any bad connections, even in the middle of the Atlantic.  However, these Skype calls were audio calls,  not Skype video calls.   HAL implies that the highest (premium) level is required to use Skype, but I have never tried it with the "Surf" level.   Skype uses specific port numbers for its connections, and Carnival's servers may block the initial port numbers that Skype uses, or it is blocked onboard,  based on the level of plan you purchase.   I also have used a private VPN with the premium level and it worked fine.

[penny49]

Does anyone know which is needed to use Facebook Messenger or FaceTime?

[dfish]

I know Messenger works on the middle tier.  No idea about Face Time.

 

[knittinggirl]

 Does anyone know if we can download to Ipad videos using the middle tier?

[POA1]

2 hours ago, knittinggirl said:

 Does anyone know if we can download to Ipad videos using the middle tier?

 

Someone posted a scan of the packages with the bandwidth caps listed. Here's what someone posted in July from the Eurodam. The bolding is mine.

 

JUST OFF THE EURODAM AND THE INTERNET OFFERING WAS:

 

NEW INTERNET OPTIONS!!!!!

 

 

Three different options for a seven day cruise (assume it to be adjusted accordingly for longer cruises):

 

SOCIAL PLAN: Allows a daily volume of 200MB. Streaming and audio/video calling may be blocked.

$69.99 for 7 Days or

$14.99 for a 24 hour period

 

SURF PLAN: Allows a daily volume of 300MB. Streaming and audio/video calling may be blocked.

$99.99 for 7 Days or

$24.99 for a 24 hour period

 

PREMIUM PLAN: Allows a daily volume of 500MB. Supports audio/video calling and streaming where coverage allows

$139.99 for 7 Days or

$29.99 for a 24 hour period

 

Netflix shows are about 1 GB per hour for SD and 3 GB per hour of HD. I don't know if they throttle you or cut you off when you hit your cap.  Half a gig is a decent amount of data for a mobile phone. It would equate to a 15 GB/month data plan on a cell phone. (Most US Plans have a sweet spot of 5 GB/month now.)

 

Bottom Line: Download your files from home unless you want to eat up all your daily allotment on 30 minutes of SD video.

 

The post with the Eurodam data plans is here:

 

https://boards.cruisecritic.com/topic/2561928-charging-for-internet-usagewhats-your-opinion/?do=findComment&comment=55233558

 

 

[knittinggirl]

Thanks for the information.  I'd sure hate to get it partial downloaded and get capped.

[POA1]

13 minutes ago, knittinggirl said:

Thanks for the information.  I'd sure hate to get it partial downloaded and get capped.

You're welcome. I was interested for myself as we have a trip coming up in December. I know we can download Amazon Prime Video for offline viewing before we leave home, but we're more of a "books people" on vacation. Streaming music uses around 60 MB per hour, so I just take along about 80 hours of premixed music on an mp3 player. Who'd have thought that the iPod would be old-timey technology? 

[travelers07]

Does anyone know if Nieuw Statendam will have these plans?

Thanks!

[POA1]

3 hours ago, travelers07 said:

Does anyone know if Nieuw Statendam will have these plans?

Thanks!

Ships Services said that they'd be fleet wide. 

[travelers07]

Yes- I saw that by the end of the year is the plan.  But someone just posted that they are on the Koningsdam and the old system is still in place.  Hoping for the new pricing on the Nieuw Statendam for the first sailing!

 

[POA1]

The change simply requires an update to the billing software. They shouldn't need to change the equipment. They could, but they would not have to. 

[aa7yy]

OOsterdam just implemented this plan mid way thru a 26 day cruise. Appears to function similarly to their web site.

 

I found a number of places where you could connect at 5GB and a bunch at 2.4. A HAL mystery.