internet

[BOONITE]

I know this is asked all of the time , but I cant find the thread. How much is internet on the CP, and what if I bring my laptop, what is the cost for my laptop.

[star gazer]

I know this is asked all of the time , but I cant find the thread. How much is internet on the CP, and what if I bring my laptop, what is the cost for my laptop.

 

Thirty five cents a minute.

[Ray-Barbara]

Internet is much better on the Princess ships as it is only 35 cents a minute while on Holland America it is 50 cents a minute (and you have to buy it in blocks). I missed not using the Internet when on our HAL trip. Only 2 more Princess voyages and we get free Internet.

 

Ray

[sredish]

We were just on the Diamond Princess, and we purchased 30 minutes of time for $10.00. We had our Mac laptop and seemed to have much better luck at internet speed and actually getting connected than the computers provided in the internet cafe. Don't know why, but every time others were moaning and groaning about things taking forever, we were receiving and sending email almost as fast as at home.

[MBMiner]

Do you pay while you're using the computer offline, for example, using Word? On the Celebrity M ships there is no charge for doing this.

Bruce

[coiran]

You pay as long as you are sitting in front of the computer with it on.

 

Ron

[100cruisesorbust]

Internet is much better on the Princess ships as it is only 35 cents a minute while on Holland America it is 50 cents a minute (and you have to buy it in blocks). I missed not using the Internet when on our HAL trip. Only 2 more Princess voyages and we get free Internet.

 

Ray

 

 

Ray Barbara - You mentioned that you get free Internet? How many cruises do you have to be on. Or is it another way to get this feature?

[M&M CRUZERS]

The internet is free for all platinum (after completion of 5th cruise) and elite (after 15th cruise) passengers.

[S.S.Oceanlover]

The internet is free for all platinum (after completion of 5th cruise) and elite (after 15th cruise) passengers.

 

Also if you are booked in a suite you get free internet. Mini suites don't get it. Sorry :(

 

Bill

[work4cruising]

Does anyone know if you can use the laptop in the rooms, are they wireless?

[S.S.Oceanlover]

Pretty sure that's not possible right now. I think you have to go where the atrium area is to use your laptop. Even if your in a suite you still have to pay for this.

 

Bill

[bbrabozo]

Sorry, I know this has been a topic of discussion before. Can someone tell me if it's true that there are times during the Alaskan cruise that you can't get access to the internet in certain ports? Something about the (forgive my computer ignorance here) signal connection being weak or something. My husband needs to have access to his office e-mails on a daily basis and wanted me to find out past cruisers experience. I know it's supposed to be a vacation, but he just can't seem to cut the ambilical cord to the office when he's away. Thanks so much for your help. Mary We're sailing on the Diamond in july.

[bjkTX]

When we were on the Diamond in Alaska in May 2004 the internet wasn't available most of the time - it was pretty frustrating because they didn't post notices until after a few days. Not sure if that's the norm on that cruise or if we just hit a bad few days.

[FredS]

Princess has NO wireless in any stateroom. Wireless is only in atrim of the ships. Also since connections for the ship is via satallite and they are focused on populated areas when you are out in the "wilderness" there is no connection. And you can be connected and then the ship loses the connection and you cannot get on. Sometimes it is very slow and sometimes it runs pretty good. You can use your own laptop, still have to pay per min unless Platinum or Elite or use the ships computers. Only part of the ships computers you can use are the monitors, keyboard and mouse. None of the drives are available, all locked up in cabinets. The best thing is to look up internet cafes on shore. There are web sites that list cyber cafes around the world. These are usually a lot cheaper than the ship. Many ports have internet access in a terminal building at the port. In Manaus, Brazil (on the Amazon River) I was able to get on the net for $1.00 US for 1 hr. In many of these you can access the drives or hook up a camera to send pictures.

[cattman]

Princess has NO wireless in any stateroom. Wireless is only in atrim of the ships. Also since connections for the ship is via satallite and they are focused on populated areas when you are out in the "wilderness" there is no connection. And you can be connected and then the ship loses the connection and you cannot get on. Sometimes it is very slow and sometimes it runs pretty good. You can use your own laptop, still have to pay per min unless Platinum or Elite or use the ships computers. Only part of the ships computers you can use are the monitors, keyboard and mouse. None of the drives are available, all locked up in cabinets. The best thing is to look up internet cafes on shore. There are web sites that list cyber cafes around the world. These are usually a lot cheaper than the ship. Many ports have internet access in a terminal building at the port. In Manaus, Brazil (on the Amazon River) I was able to get on the net for $1.00 US for 1 hr. In many of these you can access the drives or hook up a camera to send pictures.

 

Good advice... do NOT depend on satellite internet on any ship, but especially not in Alaskan waters. On the Island in May I was able to connect only once all week, and it took almost 15 minutes(your mileage may vary). just to get to my ISP. Mine was free(plat), I'd wait for an internet cafe in port if I had to pay. I swear, that lousy internet has got to be second only to the casino as a cash cow for cruise lines....

[cafeamericaine]

On the Grand June 7 cruise, Greek Isles and Eastern Med, we had pretty good luck using my daughter's laptop with wireless connection. Had to buy time in blocks (30 mins for $10.50), so worked out to same per-minute ($0.35) charge as in internet cafe, but it was MUCH more reliable, although limited to the atrium area.

While she used the laptop, I tried the internet cafe several times, but it was very slow, and at times I waited 5 minutes or more to connect to any site (like Hotmail, CNN, and others). There was also no way to download or upload any files or pictures. Also, at least once, the terminal just locked up and wouldn't even let me log off. Yes, you could visit the purser's office (but would first have to wait 24 hours for the charge to even appear on your bill), and then get it removed for those times when it didn't work. However, I finally decided that waiting in line for 10 to 15 minutes on numerous occasions to remove a $2 or $3 or $5 charge was not a good use of my vacation time. I'm sure others felt the same way, and Princess counted on that fact to nickel and dime us.

In the Med, with my daughter's laptop, I only remember one day in port when we were not able to access the web, and pretty much when we were sailing it was available.

By the way, they closed internet cafe at midnight on the day before disembarkation so you couldn't use it the morning of disembarkation. However, with the laptop, we were still able to get online that morning.

Bottom line, if you really need to stay connected while onboard, you will be MUCH better off bringing your own laptop.

[relevart]

It doesn't work very well in the Indian Ocean or anywhere in the Middle East for that matter. You have to watch your SBA. They will deduct the amount if you tell them it was not available when you were trying to use it. I had to have about $50.00 removed. It is really frustrating to keep trying and it is not available. However, I would not give up traveling to exotic places for the world. My Mother and her family traveled in the early 1920's and their only mode of communication was letters.