Using a laptop on board

[natvtxn]

Can anyone tell me plain and simple about taking a laptop on board? Where do you use it? Cost involved? TIA!

 

I'll be on Ecstasy.

[jleq]

The answers for your Ecstacy cruise:

http://www.carnival.com/CMS/FAQs/On_Board_Internet_Cafes.aspx

[ialacruiser]

I really think that internet rates on cruise ships are waaaaay too high. For one thing, if they're not competitive with internet cafes in port, then a lot of people are going to just wait until they're on shore. So, it might be to their advantage to make these rates a little more reasonable...especially for people using their own laptops.

 

Does anyone know if it costs the ship a lot of money to provide this service? That's the only explanation I can really see for such high prices.

[natvtxn]

So, let me understand this, as I've never been to an internet cafe. You will have to pay for service using your own laptop? How do they charge you? Sorry, I'm a stay-at-home-internet-junkie!

[WellDeserved]

Does anyone know if it costs the ship a lot of money to provide this service? That's the only explanation I can really see for such high prices.

 

As far as exact cost, that I do not know. But as far as the tech; yes it is expensive. As far as additional costs incurred by the ship; no much. Lost yet?

 

The satellite service is the same as is used by the ship for their communications with the Corp. office, so they have it on board anyway. They are just using additional bandwith.

 

I recommend just connectiong to receive and transmit email. Do not surf!

[hubofhockey]

So, let me understand this, as I've never been to an internet cafe. You will have to pay for service using your own laptop? How do they charge you? Sorry, I'm a stay-at-home-internet-junkie!

 

In business hotels, you search for a wireless connection and a choice will come up with the designated provider and it will ask you for a credit card (or room number) for a certain amount of time for a certain amount of money. I'm assuming it's similar in internet cafes. I don't know if I want to carry around a laptop on an island. I'll probably suck it up and pay for an hour's worth of time on the ship and use a few minutes each day to check for e-mail and some other things.

[Sealicker]

So, let me understand this, as I've never been to an internet cafe. You will have to pay for service using your own laptop? How do they charge you? Sorry, I'm a stay-at-home-internet-junkie!

 

Not to use your own laptop, but to connect to the internet, it uses the satellite system for a connection, just like the phone, yours at home doesn't charge extra, but to use the ships phone it does, same with internet.

[dianepm]

Do you get charged for wireless?? (You probably just answered that but I am the most tech-illiterate person I know :D )

[Sealicker]

Do you get charged for wireless?? (You probably just answered that but I am the most tech-illiterate person I know :D )

 

Yes - same price as the PCs in the internet cafe.

[PlanoDebbie]

I have no idea how costly it is for the cruise ships to actually offer the internet service. Here's my thoughts on why they charge so much though...

 

If internet service was absolutely free, how would that affect the cruise ship revenues? Well, my thoughts are that revenues in the casino and shops would drop dramatically if most of their customers were chilling out in their cabins surfing the internet for free. Nobody would go to the Art Auctions. Nobody would play Bingo. Nobody would be in the lounges buying drinks.

 

Now, this is obviously an exageration of what could truly happen, but I think the main reason the cruise ships charge such outrageous prices for internet is because they want people out feeding the slot machines, buying liquor, jewelry, t-shirts, playing bingo and just about anything else that brings in additional revenue above the price of the cabin.

 

Most hotels now offer free WiFi connections. Many cities also offer free WiFi within their city limits to anyone. Internet service is really pretty cheap these days. The only reason for cruise ships to charge the outrageous prices, is to offset their loss of revenue in other ship activities.

[Sealicker]

Internet service is really pretty cheap these days. The only reason for cruise ships to charge the outrageous prices, is to offset their loss of revenue in other ship activities.

 

 

...actually the cost for the equipment in order to do this several hundred miles out to sea is quite expensive. The signals have to be translated into a different format and then transmitted over leased satellite lines, then re-routed back into the internet.

 

Same reason, a cell phone is free and service is $30, satellite phones cost $500 and charge a minimum of $100/month...

[uva1981]

I will be on Freedom in September in the Med. I was hoping to take and use my Blackberry mostly for e-mail to family and office. Will I have to purchase internet time from the ship? Sorry for my ignorance but I am new to this high tech gadgitry. Thanks for any input!:)

[honeywell]

You do not have to purchase internet time for your Blackberry to use email, but you will have to arrange international calling and message capability with your phone service provider. Also, check the international calling/email/msg rate with your phone service provider - it may be more expensive than using your laptop or the internet cafe. My Blackberry never works at sea, but your email will be forwarded to your BB if you have that set up already. Just may not deliver it immediately, but when you reach an area of reception.

 

You can use your laptop right in your cabin, but same rates apply as in the internet cafe. I found that if it is critical to your business or life back home, bring it. If it isn't, then check in a few times in the internet cafe and turn your brain off.;)

[YB Nrml]

My daughter in August had to enroll at the University of Kansas and did it through one of the internet cafes in Cabo. The only reason I bring my laptop is to download pictures from our camera. I wouldn't want to check my email--I'm vacationing on a cruise!!

[Rockstar79]

You shouldn't have to search for a connection in an internet cafe - they will have computers available for you to use that already have a connection. They usually charge by the minute.

[Cuizer2]

I bring my laptop only to store photos and to write my review (I sit on the balcony and summarize my day at night). On my last cruise the hotel offered free high speed Internet access (as did Orlando Airport). However, most airports (such as LAX) charge, so I don't use the Internet on the ship or where I am going to be charged (I'm on vacation).

[Lewdog]

Internet service is really pretty cheap these days.

 

That's not entirely true. Satellite based internet, even on land is actually quite expensive to the tune of $60 a month almost 3 times (or more) what cable or DSL costs. And that's the basic plan, pro and business levels are even higher and all you get is a little more speed (in theory) and it's not highly reliable and the speed are not guaranteed. That was download, uploads are a little faster than dial-up.

 

Have you priced true broadband wireless internet? How about almost $80 a month! Not exactly cheap

[choclitsnda]

Check this out... http://boards.cruisecritic.com/showthread.php?t=508842

[Sundagger]

The company that Carnival (among others) uses for passenger internet services onboard is at:

 

http://www.mtnsat.com/digitalseas/ccl.htm

[WellDeserved]

Typically you can get 60 minutes of time for $24 on ship. Generally that should be adequate to check email on a 5 day cruise. I used my Mobile 5 pda without a hitch.