Computer use on board

[wagmart]

We are going to be cruising on the Westerdam in November and was curious what the fee is for using your own computer on board. I believe it says each cabin is wired for the internet and there are hot spots for wifi also. Thanks for your input.

[Krazy Kruizers]

It doesn't make any difference whether you use the ship's computers or your own laptop. The fees and plan times are the same price.

There is a one time activation fee of $3.95.

Plan 1 -- $0.75 per minute.

Plan 2 - 100 minutes for $55. Sometimes you can get 10 minutes free if you sign up on Embarkation day -- check with Internet manager.

Plan 3 -- 250 minutes for $100. Again -- might get 20 minutes free.

[Cruisedog123]

Internet access is available 24 hours a day on Amsterdam, Rotterdam, Ryndam, Volendam, Zaandam, Maasdam, Statendam, Westerdam, Veendam, Noordam, Oosterdam, Prinsendam and Zuiderdam. Each ship features an Internet Center, and in addition there are a number of "hot spots" available on each ship for personal laptop use. Guests on all Vista Class ships may access the Internet directly from their stateroom. There is a one-time activation fee of $3.95. The basic time charge is $.75 per minute, or you can purchase a discounted time plan of 100 minutes for $55.00 or 250 minutes for $100.00. Laptops may be rented for $20 per day.

 

I was on the Westerdam April 09 and could only get a very weak Wifi connection in my cabin, 5th floor. Really didn't work and there was no plug in connection. I did get a good connection on the third floor in a very quiet area near the shops. Didn't try anywhere else.

[K&RCurt]

Internet access is available 24 hours a day on Amsterdam, Rotterdam, Ryndam, Volendam, Zaandam, Maasdam, Statendam, Westerdam, Veendam, Noordam, Oosterdam, Prinsendam and Zuiderdam. Each ship features an Internet Center, and in addition there are a number of "hot spots" available on each ship for personal laptop use. Guests on all Vista Class ships may access the Internet directly from their stateroom. There is a one-time activation fee of $3.95. The basic time charge is $.75 per minute, or you can purchase a discounted time plan of 100 minutes for $55.00 or 250 minutes for $100.00. Laptops may be rented for $20 per day.

 

I was on the Westerdam April 09 and could only get a very weak Wifi connection in my cabin, 5th floor. Really didn't work and there was no plug in connection. I did get a good connection on the third floor in a very quiet area near the shops. Didn't try anywhere else.

 

 

I think you just missed the plug in connection. It is on the headboard unit of the bed in Veranda cabins. Not sure where it is located in other cabins. Luckily for me our cabin on the Veranda deck had a good wifi signal so I didn't need to be tethered to the cord....But the outlet was there.

[doublebzz]

It doesn't make any difference whether you use the ship's computers or your own laptop. The fees and plan times are the same price.

There is a one time activation fee of $3.95.

Plan 1 -- $0.75 per minute.

Plan 2 - 100 minutes for $55. Sometimes you can get 10 minutes free if you sign up on Embarkation day -- check with Internet manager.

Plan 3 -- 250 minutes for $100. Again -- might get 20 minutes free.

 

Wow! 55 cents a minute opposed to around 10 cents a minute in most internet cafes ashore. Even the casino doesn't operate on such a high profit margin.

[Pam in CA]

We are going to be cruising on the Westerdam in November and was curious what the fee is for using your own computer on board. I believe it says each cabin is wired for the internet and there are hot spots for wifi also. Thanks for your input.

Yes, you can use your own laptop or netbook in your cabin using the WiFi. Two things to note: MAKE SURE you type http://1.1.1.1 to log out of the system; otherwise, you could remain logged in, even if you shut down your computer, using up your minutes. The other thing is that if you have a question, the person in the Internet Cafe will not assist you if you're using the cabin's WiFi. They made that very clear on the Amsterdam last January, i.e., they don't support questions about in-cabin use or assist in any way. He absolutely, positively refused to assist me with a quick question.

 

Wow! 55 cents a minute opposed to around 10 cents a minute in most internet cafes ashore. Even the casino doesn't operate on such a high profit margin.

No Internet cafe onshore uses satellite service and the equipment needed to stablize the signal no matter how much the ship is moving or speed it's going. The difference between the $.55 and $.10/minute is the cost to the cruiseline for the equipment and satellite use. I'm sure it makes money but you're comparing apples with tangerines (not even oranges.)

[doublebzz]

I'm sure it makes money but you're comparing apples with tangerines (not even oranges.)

 

You are absulutely right. How can you compare some poor slob in a developing country trying to eke out a living by peddling phone cards, internet minutes and cafe con leches with a multi-billion dollar corporation like Carnival Corp?

[Cruisedog123]

I think you just missed the plug in connection. It is on the headboard unit of the bed in Veranda cabins. Not sure where it is located in other cabins. Luckily for me our cabin on the Veranda deck had a good wifi signal so I didn't need to be tethered to the cord....But the outlet was there.

 

 

There was a plug but not ethernet with a 8P8C modular connector, it was too small, was probably for a six-contact RJ25 type plug.

[RMLincoln]

Internet on board is slow so your minutes can be used up quickly. But the good news is that it is usually available...sometimes it goes down. So it's a balance between your need for convenience, your tolerance for usuing a slow unfamiliar system and your economics.

 

An alternative is to go to internet cafes in ports. That takes up time in the port. If you want to go on a lot of shore excursions then you probably don't want to use your port time going to internet cafes. It's a choice and there is no best answer for everybody.

 

You could even do both: buy some time and use some time in ports if that fits your needs, style, time and budget better. It's whatever works best for you!

[Willsot]

Very, very slow. I don't take my laptop anymore. Passengers are warned when they sign up but on the past three cruises I have witnessed very angry folks taking out their wrath on the poor persons who had cautioned them beforehand.

[Boytjie]

Wow! 55 cents a minute opposed to around 10 cents a minute in most internet cafes ashore. Even the casino doesn't operate on such a high profit margin.

 

Internet cafes don't connect to the Internet via a satelite.

[catl331]

There was a plug but not ethernet with a 8P8C modular connector, it was too small, was probably for a six-contact RJ25 type plug.

Yes, it's RJ25 for a standard dial-up connection, but they don't always work. On the Noordam last Dec, the whole dial-up side of the system was non-functional.

[Randyk47]

Has anybody tried one of the new notebook computers on a cruise? We're planning our Med cruise next year and we're going to go to some very interesting and exciting places. We got to talking about taking notes as we go along but think our present laptop is too much of a hassle to haul half way around the world along with all the other electronics we'll be taking. The idea of one of the new, small notebooks stuck us as potentially a good compromise between handwritten notes and our laptop. Worth it, not worth it?

[catl331]

Has anybody tried one of the new notebook computers on a cruise?

Sail7seas loves her Acer on the Maasdam! Huge (601 replies) thread here: http://boards.cruisecritic.com/showthread.php?t=916012

[Randyk47]

Wow! Thanks. Should have known that some CC'er had tried one of these. We haven't bought one yet but we've looked at them at CostCo and they're really light and small. :)

[cle1]

We will be taking our Notebook on our S.Pacific cruise......how do we keep track of how many minutes we use? Also, for anyone on Med. cruises....most Internet Cafe's that we found do not have "hot spots". In Sicily, we had to show picture ID...we had our drivers license others used passports, when we handed them to the owner he took them and made copies to keep....when we said NO we wanted the copies back, he shrugged his shoulders to indiciate he didn't understand. DID NOT LIKE leaving my information. Also heard it is not always safe to use public computers. That is why on this next cruise I will buy a plan and bring my little notebook. I also use my notebook to keep a sort of daily diary....it is great to read after getting back home...brings back many great memories....Carol

[catl331]

We will be taking our Notebook on our S.Pacific cruise......how do we keep track of how many minutes we use?

You get a "report" each time you disconnect by going to http://1.1.1.1 and IIRC you also are told how much time you have remaining when you log on if you have purchased a block plan. If you run over that time, you are not disconnected, but continue at the same rate until you do disconnect.

[cle1]

Thank you for the information! Carol

[CruiseBumm]

Check into the computer lab when you board. They may have a drawing for free time. I won 100 free minutes my last cruise on the Massdam

[cle1]

Check into the computer lab when you board. They may have a drawing for free time. I won 100 free minutes my last cruise on the Massdam

 

WOW!!! I will definately check it out.

[Kween Karen]

Good information. Always up for a few free minutes. Am planning on doing my blog offline and reducing before uploading and checking email only infrequently. I have pre purchased 1000 minutes and thus got another 100 for free. Hopefully I can do it in 1100 minutes!!