danielundecided Posted September 30, 2016 #1 Share Posted September 30, 2016 Hi, Does anyone know what social media(s) are included in the WiFi packages on board the ships, and if you can still buy minutes? Thanks a lot Dan Sent from my iPhone using Forums Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dgs1956 Posted September 30, 2016 #2 Share Posted September 30, 2016 Hi, Does anyone know what social media(s) are included in the WiFi packages on board the ships, and if you can still buy minutes? Thanks a lot Dan Sent from my iPhone using Forums I have asked Customer Services and you can only buy a 24 hour access package at £7.50. You can't buy minutes any longer. I have asked them to re-consider the "Minutes" packages. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Florry Posted October 1, 2016 #3 Share Posted October 1, 2016 (edited) Hi, you can no longer buy minutes. You buy one of the packages detailed here: https://ask.pocruises.com/help/po/life-on-board/access_internet The £12.50 package will get you access to all social media sites but you can't stream video or download music or films. The service is very fast. The process is that you register (the librarian will help) then every time you want to buy 24 hours you just type in your username and passcode then confirm your purchase. This has proven to be less expensive than I anticipated as I haven't brought it on sea days as I've managed with free services in ports, then during multiple sea days I have brought it every so often and timed it so I get it across two days - for example 2pm - 2 pm gives you the latter part of one day and the beginning of the next. In the past I have spent £100 on slow internet, I am on a 24 night cruise, won't spend that much and will get more time and a faster service. So, whilst it sounds extortionate at first if you plan you usage it's not too bad. I hope this helps. Sent from my iPhone using Forums Edited October 1, 2016 by Florry Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tartanexile81 Posted October 1, 2016 #4 Share Posted October 1, 2016 That's useful to know Florry. Thanks for posting. It sounds a good idea to do the mid-afternoon to mid-afternoon scenario. I'm doing a 28 day cruise with a lot of sea days so I could end up paying no more that I have done in the past. Can I ask if it will still work on multiple devices like my iPad and phone / my husband's iPad and phone? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Florry Posted October 1, 2016 #5 Share Posted October 1, 2016 We have had 14 sea days so I feel your pain! You can use it on one device at a time, so basically you have to take turns. The good thing is that you just buy the 24 hours when you want to, you don't have to commit to anything upfront, so some days you probably won't bother. Sent from my iPhone using Forums Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tartanexile81 Posted October 1, 2016 #6 Share Posted October 1, 2016 We have had 14 sea days so I feel your pain! You can use it on one device at a time, so basically you have to take turns. The good thing is that you just buy the 24 hours when you want to, you don't have to commit to anything upfront, so some days you probably won't bother. Sent from my iPhone using Forums Thank you for the quick reply. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Happy_Girl Posted October 3, 2016 #7 Share Posted October 3, 2016 Oh that's cool. So I don't have to buy a 10 day package for a 10 day cruise? I can buy 24 hours as an when I want to? Awesome Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
barriead Posted October 3, 2016 #8 Share Posted October 3, 2016 What package would you be able to use just to check your e mails and messages on while using an ipad? I am a bit confused (easy for me:D) as to what you can really use differing packages for?:confused::) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jayvee94 Posted October 3, 2016 #9 Share Posted October 3, 2016 What package would you be able to use just to check your e mails and messages on while using an ipad? I am a bit confused (easy for me:D) as to what you can really use differing packages for?:confused::) £12.50 per 24 hour package. Apparently the £7.50 one doesn't allow emails, Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Big Foot Posted October 3, 2016 #10 Share Posted October 3, 2016 What package would you be able to use just to check your e mails and messages on while using an ipad? I am a bit confused (easy for me:D) as to what you can really use differing packages for?:confused::) They haven't made it easy (well I don't think so!) we purchased the £12.50 package which I used on my iPad & was able to check emails etc. Someone did post a while ago that you could actually get your emails using the cheaper package, but I didn't try this so am unable to confirm. I didn't want to purchase the cheaper package & then find I couldn't check emails. However, it seemed that you could "upgrade" your package so if you bought the cheaper one & couldn't get emails then presumably you could then upgrade to the £12.50 option. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Florry Posted October 3, 2016 #11 Share Posted October 3, 2016 Oh that's cool. So I don't have to buy a 10 day package for a 10 day cruise? I can buy 24 hours as an when I want to? Awesome Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk Yes that's right [emoji1360] Sent from my iPhone using Forums Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
barriead Posted October 4, 2016 #12 Share Posted October 4, 2016 As I will only use it while at sea a few times the £12.50 package appears to be the most suitable.....and 24 hours from 14.00 to 14.00 seems a cracking idea ( thanks Florry:)).....the £7.50 option does seem totally unsuitable for anything I might need and of course local wi-fi will probably be an option when in some ports.:) Thanks for all replys.....I just love this forum, so glad I found our little community.:D Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jayjaybee Posted October 10, 2016 #13 Share Posted October 10, 2016 The new internet system and charges are now in place. I found that the system was very quick compared to the old one. However the charges are really high and you can't buy minutes as before. You have to buy a package and the cheapest is £7.50 a day , then £12.50 a day and the top one is £25 per day. The cost of the package is dependant upon what you want. If you intend to use video , Skype or FaceTime then you have to pay for the £25 package. There are also packages for the whole length of the cruise but the costs are massive. The down side of this is that because they are 24 hour packages , you lose at least 8 hours a day unless, of course , you never go to bed or sleep at all. And surely there are not many people who actually stayed glued to the Internet for a whole day ! As I have said the system is quite quick compared with the old one, but it's a pity that you can't purchase the old minutes package as before. At least you only got charged for what you actually used when logged in. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kevinyork Posted October 10, 2016 #14 Share Posted October 10, 2016 The prices really are very high considering P&O have a reputation for lower onboard charges (drinks, tips etc). We've pre-booked Royal Caribbeans 'Vroom' fast internet for less than £5 per day for our Feb cruise with no restrictions on the level or type of use.. Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Goosebear Mum Posted October 10, 2016 #15 Share Posted October 10, 2016 (edited) There are also packages for the whole length of the cruise but the costs are massive. Out of interest, what was the cost over a whole trip, and for how many days was the trip? We're off on a 24 night trip, with only 7 port days. So I was thinking of getting a 12.50 package for half of the sea days (c.8) and use the package say 1pm to 1pm ish... 8 x 12.50 is a lot, so I dread to think what they'll charge for a whole trip!!! Edited October 10, 2016 by Goosebear Mum Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Florry Posted October 10, 2016 #16 Share Posted October 10, 2016 Out of interest, what was the cost over a whole trip, and for how many days was the trip? We're off on a 24 night trip, with only 7 port days. So I was thinking of getting a 12.50 package for half of the sea days (c.8) and use the package say 1pm to 1pm ish... 8 x 12.50 is a lot, so I dread to think what they'll charge for a whole trip!!! It was just the amount per day multiplied by the number of days, no saving just that it's longer access. Sent from my iPhone using Forums Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Southendweather Posted October 10, 2016 #17 Share Posted October 10, 2016 I'm glad I read this change as I would really have been hacked off if I found this out after booking, for what I use it for in real terms the cost has doubled. I did spend a couple of evening going through the booking process as the prices quoted you have to go hunting for, then you find somethings not quite all there. The 'From' and 'Upto' staements are misleading and then the price goes up every day. Time to look elsewhere! Keith (Southend) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Goosebear Mum Posted October 10, 2016 #18 Share Posted October 10, 2016 It was just the amount per day multiplied by the number of days, no saving just that it's longer access. Thanks, there's no benefit then. If we decide to, we may as well just purchase the 24hr periods we require. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Florry Posted October 11, 2016 #19 Share Posted October 11, 2016 Thanks, there's no benefit then. If we decide to, we may as well just purchase the 24hr periods we require. There was no benefit on the cruise I did, however I wouldn't be surprised if this doesn't change. I'm guessing P&O are assessing initial sales and how to structure charges, it might even end up changing from cruise to cruise depending on duration similar to the hydropool etc. It's a bit of a rip off really because P&O will be buying the package based on data usage but they are selling it on to us on a time basis (and making sure that they limit what data we use), I suppose you can't blame them for maximising profit. Ultimately everyone will be effected in different ways depending on your sea days, whether you have kids, whether you work on holiday, whether you just want to pick up email etc. One thing we all benefit from is the new fast connection, which was great. Sent from my iPhone using Forums Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Southendweather Posted October 11, 2016 #20 Share Posted October 11, 2016 I have always put in the questionaire/comments that it should be based on MBytes you use, then if you want to stream video, Skype or the like you have to pay for it. Keith (Southend) There was no benefit on the cruise I did, however I wouldn't be surprised if this doesn't change. I'm guessing P&O are assessing initial sales and how to structure charges, it might even end up changing from cruise to cruise depending on duration similar to the hydropool etc. It's a bit of a rip off really because P&O will be buying the package based on data usage but they are selling it on to us on a time basis (and making sure that they limit what data we use), I suppose you can't blame them for maximising profit. Ultimately everyone will be effected in different ways depending on your sea days, whether you have kids, whether you work on holiday, whether you just want to pick up email etc. One thing we all benefit from is the new fast connection, which was great. Sent from my iPhone using Forums Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jayjaybee Posted October 11, 2016 #21 Share Posted October 11, 2016 Out of interest, what was the cost over a whole trip, and for how many days was the trip? We're off on a 24 night trip, with only 7 port days. So I was thinking of getting a 12.50 package for half of the sea days (c.8) and use the package say 1pm to 1pm ish... 8 x 12.50 is a lot, so I dread to think what they'll charge for a whole trip!!! I can't remember the exact figures quoted but it was certainly over £250 for the medium package and well over £300 for the top package. Consider that you are not online the whole time and that approx 8 hours a day is lost through sleep (?) it's a rip off. I did speak two someone who is reasonably high up and I was told that they are reviewing the payments and packages. When ? Who knows. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Clodia Posted October 11, 2016 #22 Share Posted October 11, 2016 They haven't made it easy (well I don't think so!) we purchased the £12.50 package which I used on my iPad & was able to check emails etc. Someone did post a while ago that you could actually get your emails using the cheaper package, but I didn't try this so am unable to confirm. I didn't want to purchase the cheaper package & then find I couldn't check emails. However, it seemed that you could "upgrade" your package so if you bought the cheaper one & couldn't get emails then presumably you could then upgrade to the £12.50 option. That may have been me! I use gmail and was able to access it on the cheapest package, but other providers didn't work. And what a good idea to spread usage over 2 days; I never thought of that! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jayjaybee Posted October 11, 2016 #23 Share Posted October 11, 2016 But you still will lose at least 8 hours when you are asleep unless you stay awake for the night on the net. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jayjaybee Posted October 11, 2016 #24 Share Posted October 11, 2016 The package is a straight 24 Hours so for example if you start at 10.30 a.m it will finish at 10.30 a.m the next day. Nomatter how you do it there will always be a night period whereby you are not likely to use the time. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Florry Posted October 11, 2016 #25 Share Posted October 11, 2016 (edited) But you still will lose at least 8 hours when you are asleep unless you stay awake for the night on the net. I suppose that's no different to your internet service at home - just more expensive [emoji53] interestingly the questionnaire only asked about the quality of service and not the value and the question was asked after the open box opportunity to add comments. P&O ask feedback questions in such a way they prevent you giving the feedback you would like to give. Any survey should provide an open comment box at the very end, if the company really cares for customer opinion. Hopefully passengers will be choosy how they invest in this service and use the increasingly good port wifi (which can be picked up on the promenade deck in some ports). Sent from my iPhone using Forums Edited October 11, 2016 by Florry Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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