Internet Access = $30 an hour or $1000 for Cruise - Stealing?

[spongerob]

Oh btw, I never put the "go figure :rolleyes: " after that sentence now did I spongerob?...

Sorry, I used an ellipsis to indicate that it was a longer quote that didn't need to be repeated in its entirety. Changing the meaning was not my intent. All I'm saying is that an officer who works in the IT function probably is a more reliable source of information than even a well-informed passenger. Since his integrity was being questioned, and for other reasons I won't share, I thought the badgering was uncalled for.

[ccrain]

I've been successful in not having to do work while on a cruise, at the hotel prior and at the airport after, yes, but not while on the cruise.

 

Having a connection to your business laptop would be crucial in answering important questions. Working files for reference would be crucial and not having them on the internet cafe computers would limit how well you could respond - so if you were going to work, your own laptop would be crucial.

 

I could forsee a need to take a laptop with me and actually do work on a cruise. That would be better than cancelling the cruise for sure!

 

However, I don't see the $0.50 per minute as excessive. There are several cost saving methods, writing and prepping responses offline, that I used to use back in the days before free high speed. Using a reasonable connection for uploading responses or directing other people to send large files in response shouldn't take too long in time.

 

In addition, my company would absolutely get billed for the connection time AND my time in doing work while on vacation. Let's see, sitting in the atrium drinking a tall cool one on a sea day, billing the company for the time while I compose a response and upload. Beats losing money in the casino!

 

If I was my own small business, I would definitely tax deduct the connection costs, and if my tax accountant backed me up, part of my cruise as well!

[T&J]

Sorry, I used an ellipsis to indicate that it was a longer quote that didn't need to be repeated in its entirety. Changing the meaning was not my intent. All I'm saying is that an officer who works in the IT function probably is a more reliable source of information than even a well-informed passenger. Since his integrity was being questioned, and for other reasons I won't share, I thought the badgering was uncalled for.

 

I wasn't badgering him either:rolleyes: ...I simply corrected him on the fact that Princess has switched over to MTN on ALL SHIPS in the Princess Fleet which was when they implemented there new card reader system at the end of October....I believe he ended up correcting himself on that in the following post.

 

Tony

:cool: :eek: :cool:

[armandpaul]

Personally, I would find another cruise or two to get yourself to Platinum status to receive free internet. Although it does not include your laptop, at least it would give you free access from the internet cafe. At that price, you could book a short cruise or two and it would be well worth your time and money to do so.

Internet access is a perk that you must pay for, I know, it is expensive, but it is just the way it is.

This isn't anything new actually, Princess has never had or has plans to have free wireless on their ships in the near future.

Sorry you are upset. You might try another line where you can purchase wireless in your cabin for a much cheaper rate if you have to work so hard on your vacation.

 

 

after 5 cruises you become a platinum member which entitles you to use their computers not your own wireless system

 

It should be noted that all systems a very very slow. Crew and computer instructure do not use the system but wait until port.

[armandpaul]

The cruise line is there to provide you with a comfortable and stress-free vacation.

 

They are not there to provide the infrastructure to run your business.

 

It's a cruise ship, not an office.

 

You must be on retirement or a garbage collector as many folks on board were upset.

[armandpaul]

Wow back up buddy!...Firstly, Princess has NEVER had free internet for pax's other than for Elite and Platinum members.

 

Secondly, I work from sea many a times and when I do I must pay the wireless charges to download my mail and it is $10.00 for 30 minutes to do so. It's a cost of doing business as far as I am concerned...so I don't drink that day by the pool!:(

 

The charges for years have been hovering from 0.35 cents to 0.50 cents a minute and $1.00 for priting per page and now Fleet Wide it's 0.50 cents a minute. Your Travel Agent could have informed you fully if you claim you didn't know the per minute charge prior to embarking the ship.

 

You may try and write a letter to Customer Relations if you feel that strongly but IMHO you'll reach a dead end and get nowhere on this issue. If I've got 47 cruises and 648 days at sea on Princess and I've got pay to run my office at sea...so do you!

 

Cruise Celebrity or RCCL for in-room internet capabilities...no plans on Princess currently to convert and make the investment.

 

 

:cool: :eek: :cool:

 

First never said free

 

but $30 an hour is our of the real world.

 

If in fact it was reasonable or they had a daily plan a number of things would happen including them making more money and maybe servicing their customer base.

 

We will just take our busines elsewhere but I am note sure they want to loose our business - $7200 for 15 days all in.

 

 

Why write to customer relations going directly to CEO

[armandpaul]

I have cruised on Carnival and the internet service was priced about the same as princess I took my laptop on one cruise and never even used it until I got into port and then I used my verizon card depending where you are going you may have service in some islands in the caribean by the way my verizon card is faster than the service on the ship You can use it on sail away day and maybe a port or two and also on disembark day. on my second carnival cruise I did not take my laptop I bought an hour of time at the internet cafe on board and wound up using about 20 minutes of time. I also am self employed so I do need to check email daily. but I tell every one that I am going to be unreachable for x days usually have work done before I leave.

 

If you you are cruising in Hawaii you should be in luck with a cell phone provider using one of their products on port days and you should be in port most days the initial investment might be the same as using all week on board the ship but you will have your equipment after the cruise with this setup you should be able to eliminate an

 

expensive portion of internet costs on board the ship.

 

 

You can get wireless in some ports on the side of ship nearest the port. The issue is in today's world they are going back to the dark ages. they also lost revenue and profits.

[armandpaul]

Hi there..................

While I appreciate your situation and problem I have to say I believe most of the folks who cruise enjoy the freedom FROM the office, Internet, telephones, Fax machines etc.

I agree, the Internet rates on Princess ships are high but they also give free service to those that have cruised with them five times. This perk is a lot more than other lines offer.

I know this is going to be a real "HOT" topic so I'll just sign off with this: again, sorry for your problem and situation but you are really going to be in the minority of this issue......being an issue.

 

 

Minority - just arrived back today - not in minority of those spending money and still activily in the work force. While some people do not require connectivity to earn a living many of us did - Princes wishes to sell only to those out of the work force, teachers etc on vacation (not an insult but different life), then that is fine. But if they wish to attrached the balance of use with disposable income they will need to come to the party.

[armandpaul]

True, but if the guy and his wife are having a "cow" about a $30 charge I don't think he's gonna spend thousands more to get the free internet.:rolleyes:

 

Wireless is NOT free even for Full Suite paxs.

 

Tony

:cool: :eek: :cool:

 

It is $30 per hour times x hours a day could be thousands when you are done. We were able to keep our under a $1000 but it was not easy.

 

As for being cheap - wrong guy.

 

Armand

[dforeigner]

So, armandpaul, besides the Internet fiasco, how was your cruise.

[huskerdan25]

The cruise line is there to provide you with a comfortable and stress-free vacation.

 

They are not there to provide the infrastructure to run your business.

 

It's a cruise ship, not an office.

 

Bingo! Clear and concise!

 

Dan

[Beach4me]

You must be on retirement or a garbage collector as many folks on board were upset.

 

No - some of us highly paid project managers can manage to take a 2 week cruise without having to log on and be in touch with work. I trust my folks, I don't need to babysit them. I also have surrounded myself with very capable individuals. And, you know what? There are many who could take over for me in even a longer absence. That is, after all, my job...to make sure that the company can move forward with any one of us missing.

 

I used to have my own company. Same thing applied. And, I set my clients' expectations that when I was on vacation, I was on vacation. And, when I was working for them, I was giving them 110%.

 

Life IS too short. I hope you someday get to fully enjoy a vacation without worrying about your job/income. Living in fear and constant work stress/work presence is NOT living. I was lucky enough to learn that lesson and survive a couple years ago.

[RodneyG]

50c a minute is MORE then for the internet cafe which is 45c a min , however I would not bitch and moan about internet charges IF the internet was actually useable , it is so slow that marely to download headers of 30 or 40 mails (just the subject line)can take 10 minute or worse. At most ports in hawaii , there is free wireless or real cheap wireless. Wireless internet is often essential as the internet cafe will not allow you to run the mail program of your choice , download some files , go onto irc etc.

If princess crows about their cutting edge in their photo dept , they can at least provide modern facilities at a reasonable price that are useable.

I can get 24 hgrs access on Singapore air for $2.99 , and its very high speed , if a boeing can have it so can a ship.

The internet charges are merely a way to milk passengers , we live in a modern age where online connectivitiy is not merely a work tool but a personal entertainment tool. Apart from which , those being less than sympathetic to those that want or need the internet - why on earth would you take that attitude to a fellow passenger who is being royally screwed , their use of a computer or a laptop doesnt impact you at all and does absolutely nothing to decrease your cruise enjoyment. I too need to be in contact with my business in South africa as well as having other reasons for using the internet - as I say , the cost wouldnt be much of an issue if indeed it was USEABLE!!!! Currently it is pure theft.

[mithryl]

It's free if you book a suite!

[ccrain]

Seems that we've lost a perk here, as well as the price going up:

 

 

http://boards.cruisecritic.com/showthread.php?t=469592

[spongerob]

You must be on retirement or a garbage collector as many folks on board were upset.

I manage accounts that generate in the "high 8's" dollar-wise annually, and can arrange to take vacations without the need to look over the shoulders of anyone tasked with minding my affairs while I'm away. The key is having good people in place that you trust.

 

Of course, I never plan to be gone so long that anyone actually figures out how to take over, just so long that they start missing me. :)

 

Those who cannot or will not make such arrangements, or just can't let go of the reins, should make their vacations choices in such a way that they can remain in control. Again, it's a matter of good management practices.

[Admiral Horatio Nelson]

Crew and computer instructure do not use the system but wait until port.

 

This is complete rubbish. It sounds like a throw away comment by one crew member. Many crewmembers use the internet onboard, the revenue from crew on a Grand class ship is about $3000 per week!

 

Also all admin access goes through the same satellite meaning that the ship operates on this Sat also. All ordering of supplies, equipment etc. is done on the admin network.

 

Maybe there are a few crew who like to download MP3s etc. who wait until port but most crew use the system.

[Admiral Horatio Nelson]

50c a minute is MORE then for the internet cafe which is 45c a min , however I would not bitch and moan about internet charges IF the internet was actually useable , it is so slow that marely to download headers of 30 or 40 mails (just the subject line)can take 10 minute or worse. At most ports in hawaii , there is free wireless or real cheap wireless. Wireless internet is often essential as the internet cafe will not allow you to run the mail program of your choice , download some files , go onto irc etc.

If princess crows about their cutting edge in their photo dept , they can at least provide modern facilities at a reasonable price that are useable.

I can get 24 hgrs access on Singapore air for $2.99 , and its very high speed , if a boeing can have it so can a ship.

The internet charges are merely a way to milk passengers , we live in a modern age where online connectivitiy is not merely a work tool but a personal entertainment tool. Apart from which , those being less than sympathetic to those that want or need the internet - why on earth would you take that attitude to a fellow passenger who is being royally screwed , their use of a computer or a laptop doesnt impact you at all and does absolutely nothing to decrease your cruise enjoyment. I too need to be in contact with my business in South africa as well as having other reasons for using the internet - as I say , the cost wouldnt be much of an issue if indeed it was USEABLE!!!! Currently it is pure theft.

 

Your views are totally out of proportion. You talk as if they could offer a better, faster service if they wanted to but they would just rather screw people out of money, which is obviously just nonsense. If they could offer a service that rivalled the fastest available on land, they would. There are technical and financial limitations to the services. And whilst breakthroughs are being made all the time, it doesn't keep up with that of land based systems. Remember Satellite technology is being used, and we are talking about high orbit geo stationary satellites, not the low orbit Stratosphere Satellites known as 'stratollites' used by TV companies for satellite TV.

 

You cannot get the Singapore Airlines service anymore. It has been withdrawn as of 31 December 2006, because there wasn’t enough interest in it and costs were 'sky' high (pardon the pun) http://www.singaporeair.com/saa/en_U...unications.jsp

 

What people have to remember is the technology involved is very complex, expensive and at this time, is the best you can get. Remember this: 20% the speed at 200% the cost of regular service on land, that is an approximation. The problem is people expect more than ever from this service because of the speeds accessible from home now. However, you have to remember where you are and that you are on a ship. Furthermore, people who want to do the things you mentioned are in a minority onboard a ship. If every person who came aboard did the things you said, the service would probably have a wider bandwidth, because then Princess could afford to pay for it. Remember Princess is a business and it needs to make money.

 

Saying the service is 'unusable' is just wrong. There are many users who work on that ship you are on whom rely on that very service you call unusable. The crew use this system to interact with shore-side every day, without this service the ship would grind to a halt. Ordering of new supplies, equipment for replacement etc. is all done over the internet.

 

Also the phone system onboard also goes through the same system that the Internet goes through, so you have multiple systems using the same Sat. So the comparison with an aircraft is also a bad one. Not to mention that many of the airlines are discontinuing the service because it is cost prohibitive. So if the cruise lines followed the aircraft industry as you suggest, you would lose the service altogether.