Terrible internet speed

[Psychedout]

Hi,

 

We took the W. Carribean Cruise on the Crown Feb 13 th. I tried to use the a computer in the Internet Cafe and found the connection speed worse then dial up. I waited so long to try and get on line that I gave up. Anyone experince this, and if you did, did you complain to Princess?

 

I did send Princess CS my feelings about this problem.

 

Hugh and Christine ;)

[Travelcat2]

It isn't the fault of Princess -- the internet connection on ships is typically very slow. In some areas (Alaska for one), you can lose the connection for several hours at a time. The signal is apparently weak once you get out in the middle of the ocean.

[1025cruise]

They use a satellite connection. Its going to be slow. What were you expecting?

[Essiesmom]

Did you look around you and see how many people were online with you? It is much slower during peak usage periods. I was on Westerdam and had trouble connecting in the cafe. Man next to me was using aol and waiting forever to bring stuff up...Burning minutes like crazy. EM

[sun~]

Every ship I have been on it is the same. That is why if I am composing an email I will write it on word, and then cut and paste to email. No way I surf the net at ship's prices!

[Psychedout]

Thanks for the replies, I had better luck on the Alaskan Cruise. On the Crown there were quite a few trying to get online and it appeared we all were waiting to get the log on screen to load.

 

I am wondering of I should take my wireless laptop next time.

 

Hugh:(

[SuitCaseBears]

Thanks for the replies, I had better luck on the Alaskan Cruise. On the Crown there were quite a few trying to get online and it appeared we all were waiting to get the log on screen to load.

 

I am wondering of I should take my wireless laptop next time.

 

Hugh:(

 

Hugh, if you mean your laptop with a wireless connection to plug into the ship's network - it will be the same (other than that you can log on from your cabin whenever you want). There is one feed for the whole ship, which includes the ship's own internet needs, the internet cafe, the wifi that's going around to all of the public areas and the cabins, the casino - all up and downloading via one satellite link.

 

However, if you mean your laptop with an EVDO card (cell phone air card), that can help. My husband and I are both self employed so we choose to work a little to be able to cruise more. We usually buy a block of minutes for each computer AND have one Verizon wireless 3g card. Often, when the ship's connection is very slow, the Verizon card will work, and sometimes it's the other way around.

 

To the best of my knowledge this is not Princess' fault. It's the limitations, so far, to satellite networks.

[Psychedout]

Hugh, if you mean your laptop with a wireless connection to plug into the ship's network - it will be the same (other than that you can log on from your cabin whenever you want). There is one feed for the whole ship, which includes the ship's own internet needs, the internet cafe, the wifi that's going around to all of the public areas and the cabins, the casino - all up and downloading via one satellite link.

 

However, if you mean your laptop with an EVDO card (cell phone air card), that can help. My husband and I are both self employed so we choose to work a little to be able to cruise more. We usually buy a block of minutes for each computer AND have one Verizon wireless 3g card. Often, when the ship's connection is very slow, the Verizon card will work, and sometimes it's the other way around.

 

To the best of my knowledge this is not Princess' fault. It's the limitations, so far, to satellite networks.

 

Thanks I realize it's not Princess's, the EVDO looks like that would be the best way to go, but as you wrote it could go either way.

 

Hugh and Christine

[Krazy Kruizers]

I won't even use the computers on HAL. Even taking your own laptop isn;t much better as you are still using the ship's signals for the internet.

 

I just wait and find an internet cafe in the ports.

[greatam]

Speed is all a function of bandwidth. When the internet cafe is busy, the speeds are the slowest, whether you are using a laptop/wifi or the internet cafe. If you need to use the internet cafe, during dinner (early dinner) is one of the best times. Few people in there on any cruise ship I have been on.

 

And using an aircard can incur HUGE charges. They are basically a dial up modem, running through the ship's cell/data service. $.02 per KB (over $20.00 per MB). A 3 minute song would cost about $60.00 to download on a cruise ship. Someone watched a football game while using their AT&T aircard and laptop hooked up to Slingbox at home. Bill was something like $27,000. If you plan on doing anything OTHER than quick emails minus pictures or attachments, you could have a HUGE bill.

 

You REALLY need to be VERY careful using an aircard or even your cell phone on a cruise ship while the ship is moving. My satellite phone is cheaper to use than my Verizon phone running through the ship's cell tower. Of course, I can't use the sat phone from my cabin-need clean line of sight to the sky.

[Psychedout]

Speed is all a function of bandwidth. When the internet cafe is busy, the speeds are the slowest, whether you are using a laptop/wifi or the internet cafe. If you need to use the internet cafe, during dinner (early dinner) is one of the best times. Few people in there on any cruise ship I have been on.

 

And using an aircard can incur HUGE charges. They are basically a dial up modem, running through the ship's cell/data service. $.02 per KB (over $20.00 per MB). A 3 minute song would cost about $60.00 to download on a cruise ship. Someone watched a football game while using their AT&T aircard and laptop hooked up to Slingbox at home. Bill was something like $27,000. If you plan on doing anything OTHER than quick emails minus pictures or attachments, you could have a HUGE bill.

 

You REALLY need to be VERY careful using an aircard or even your cell phone on a cruise ship while the ship is moving. My satellite phone is cheaper to use than my Verizon phone running through the ship's cell tower. Of course, I can't use the sat phone from my cabin-need clean line of sight to the sky.

 

 

Thanks for the input it helps.

 

Hugh

[Cuizer2]

Hi,

 

We took the W. Carribean Cruise on the Crown Feb 13 th. I tried to use the a computer in the Internet Cafe and found the connection speed worse then dial up. I waited so long to try and get on line that I gave up. Anyone experince this, and if you did, did you complain to Princess?

 

I did send Princess CS my feelings about this problem.

 

Hugh and Christine ;)

 

This is what it is like on all ships. There is no DSL or cable out in the middle of the ocean. Everything has to be sent through a satellite and bandwidth on a satellite is expensive.

[Cuizer2]

Thanks for the replies, I had better luck on the Alaskan Cruise. On the Crown there were quite a few trying to get online and it appeared we all were waiting to get the log on screen to load.

 

I am wondering of I should take my wireless laptop next time.

 

Hugh:(

 

Your wireless laptop is going to connect the same way the desktops on the ship do. Therefore, it is going to be just as slow (or just as fast).

[Langley Cruisers]

I am wondering of I should take my wireless laptop next time.

 

Yes you should take your laptop and use it in port. Just do what we do - follow the crew! Their cost for internet onboard is high too, so they go into port to find WiFi hot spots. When you see them sitting down and typing, there's your WiFi. We've done that in every port we've been to - works like a dream. :) And as stated, if you can't find WiFi there are usually cafés in town.

[bbwex]

I would have to agree that a EVDO card would work quickly if you are in port, or are close enough that it is hitting a land-based tower. Once you are beyond that point, you have to use the ship's system, and you get to remember what a 33K modem was like (on a fast day). WiFi means that they have the ship wired (or wireless'ed) for you to connect anywhere, but you connect to what they have.

[BruceMuzz]

Yes you should take your laptop and use it in port. Just do what we do - follow the crew! Their cost for internet onboard is high too, so they go into port to find WiFi hot spots. When you see them sitting down and typing, there's your WiFi. We've done that in every port we've been to - works like a dream. :) And as stated, if you can't find WiFi there are usually cafés in town.

 

Actually the crew gets a substantial discount for internet. Most pay around 10 cents a minute. We also get WIFI connections in most crew cabins.

 

One of the reasons that ship internet access is so slow is that at any given time, several hundred crewmembers are downloading music and videos from the same narrow bandwidth you are trying to use.

[Psychedout]

Actually the crew gets a substantial discount for internet. Most pay around 10 cents a minute. We also get WIFI connections in most crew cabins.

 

One of the reasons that ship internet access is so slow is that at any given time, several hundred crewmembers are downloading music and videos from the same narrow bandwidth you are trying to use.

 

Makes sense, were you a crew member.

 

Hugh

[navybankerteacher]

The real question is why people want to "stay in touch" so much. Sure, a few may have a real need - ill relative, for example; but they miss a lot of the point of going to sea if they are always checking emails (which, if they were honest, they would acknowledge as largely unimportant).

 

There are always convenient, reasonably priced internet cafes at ports if an occasional (and high speed) connection is actually necessary.

[flamomo]

Having your own laptop means you can relax in your cabin or on your balcony or out on the deck somewhere while waiting for the slow connection to work for you. I find that far preferable to sitting in the internet cafe.

 

IMO, most of us are so accustomed to HiSpeed access, that the ship's internet slowness in very frustrating. But even slow access is better than no access.

[BruceMuzz]

Makes sense, were you a crew member.

 

Hugh

 

Yes, I still am a crewmember.

 

The ship's very narrow satellite bandwidth is also used for:

 

All corporate emails to and from the ship (many thousands per day)

All free internet access for frequent cruisers and suite occupants (about 500 cabins on a large ship)

All free internet access for ship's officers (about 100 on a large ship)

All free telephone calls for company business (many thousands per day)

All charged telephone calls from passenger staterooms

All discounted crew telephone calls (many thousands per day)

All charged passenger cell phone calls from the special cell tower.

All passenger credit card charges (many thousands)

All passenger credit card cash advances (many thousands)

All ATM withdrawls (many thousands)

Background music downloads on newer ships

Webcam feeds on most ships

Television channel access on newer ships

Passengers using Skype and other software with high bandwidth requirements

Crew using Skype and other software with high bandwidth requirements

 

I'm amazed that it works at all.

[Cruise Gypsy]

We just got back from a 10 night cruise on Princess. The key for better speed is choosing the time of day to log on. We used our laptop in our cabin and checked email while getting ready for dinner (about 7pm) or late at night. The speed is pretty good then. Once I had to do something for work and had to log on during "Prime Time" about 1pm on a at-sea day and it was horrible but I had no choice we were 4 hours off west coast time.

 

Remember if the internet cafe is full - there are probably many more on their laptops or iphones.

[Psychedout]

Yes, I still am a crewmember.

 

The ship's very narrow satellite bandwidth is also used for:

 

All corporate emails to and from the ship (many thousands per day)

All free internet access for frequent cruisers and suite occupants (about 500 cabins on a large ship)

All free internet access for ship's officers (about 100 on a large ship)

All free telephone calls for company business (many thousands per day)

All charged telephone calls from passenger staterooms

All discounted crew telephone calls (many thousands per day)

All charged passenger cell phone calls from the special cell tower.

All passenger credit card charges (many thousands)

All passenger credit card cash advances (many thousands)

All ATM withdrawls (many thousands)

Background music downloads on newer ships

Webcam feeds on most ships

Television channel access on newer ships

Passengers using Skype and other software with high bandwidth requirements

Crew using Skype and other software with high bandwidth requirements

 

I'm amazed that it works at all.

 

So am I! Thanks for the reply. I am, just amazed the the U.S. can develop Satilite technology that can see you in your back yard from space but we can't get faster internet speed, more bandwidth.

[Texas Tillie]

So am I! Thanks for the reply. I am, just amazed the the U.S. can develop Satilite technology that can see you in your back yard from space but we can't get faster internet speed, more bandwidth.

 

The one thing you've left out here - how much does it COST to take that picture of you in your backyard from the satellite?? Modern technology isn't always cheap - but it will get cheaper over time. And the the next great thing will be more expensive...........and so on and so on.....

[BruceMuzz]

So am I! Thanks for the reply. I am, just amazed the the U.S. can develop Satilite technology that can see you in your back yard from space but we can't get faster internet speed, more bandwidth.

 

I'll bet the Space Shuttle Astronauts get incredible satellite internet speed.

Do you think they are spending only 75 cents a minute to get it?

I wonder if they smuggle their own beer onboard the shuttle?

[Psychedout]

I'll bet the Space Shuttle Astronauts get incredible satellite internet speed.

Do you think they are spending only 75 cents a minute to get it?

I wonder if they smuggle their own beer onboard the shuttle?

 

LOL ok ok I get the point :D