Cost/Availability for Internet Use

[iamaphisig]

Hi folks,

 

Looking for your expertise on this one...

 

How much should we expect to pay for internet use on the ship? We're doing the 20-day S. America/Antarctica trip, so we're thinking we can't be disconnected from the outside world for THAT long! We travel with our laptop, and would like to utilize the wi-fi in the cabin if that's possible.

 

Any/all information on the internet on the Veendam (or is it all the same?) would be much appreciated!

[innlady1]

Just off the Noordam. It was $100 for 250 minutes. Those minutes get used up very quickly because the connection at sea is so slooooooowwww.

 

We bought 3 $100 packages and I didn't even do a "live from" this time.

[azkcruizers]

On the Eurodam it took me about 28 minutes to print our boarding passes:( just visiting that one website.

 

Karen

[RedmondCruiser]

There are internet cafes in most of the ports and they charge very low prices. (try $5 for one hour) Internet and phone service on the ships are very expensive.

[jrzebird]

On our 11 day last year, I used 2 $100.00 packages, plus the extra minutes you get for purchasing early the first day, or other times set out in your daily program. I don't gamble and don't buy extravagent items, so this was my entertainment while DBF was in the Casino! I kept a diary and published it daily, but I composed off line and only went online to post it. I'd quickly read some emails (I know there's a way to download email and read and answer off line, but I'll be darned if I can figure it out), and maybe check the news headlines and weather from home. BE SURE TO LOG OFF FROM THE SHIP'S INTERNET or you will continue to be charged. I can't remember the code to do this, (1.1.1.1. something) but I'm sure others recall what I don't.

 

We were on the Noordam and had a room on the Main Deck. Our internet connection was quite good. Not perfect, but not as bad as dial up of the olden days!

[iancal]

We seldom bother with ship internet any more (too slow, too expensive). If we do, it is only to print a boarding pass or very infrequently download mail. We usually just go to a shore based internet point.

[jtl513]

innlady1 mentioned one package. There's also a $55 package for 100 minutes, or just $0.75 /min if you don't want to buy a block. All options require a $3.95 start-up fee. If you buy a block on the first day you get bonus minutes.

 

I highly suggest using Outlook/Outlook Express (or equivalent) to do your email reading/writing off-line, and only connect to send/receive.

 

It's "available" 24 hrs per day as long as the ship antenna can "see" the satellite. If you have a verandah, check when you're in ports if you can pick up any free shore-based access points. Or take your laptop to a near-by coffee shop or McD's.

[Alexat2]

I was on the Veendam in October - the internet rate, best deal is $100 for 250 minutes. BUT the printer was broken... you had to email the IT manager what you wanted printed and he printed it for you. (NOTE: You don't have to stay online until you see it on the printer! just until it's sent!)

 

FYI - the reason printing is so sloowwww onboard HAL is it has to relay from the ship to MIAMI and then back to the SHIP.

 

Speed varies widely, some days it's not bad almost up to cable, other days it's slow... it just depends. I do website design for a living so they make a fortune on me when I'm on board at least 250 minutes a week. It's a good thing I don't gamble too :p.

 

Internet Cafe's are great - when you can find them. If you're lucky there's one in the cruise terminal in port, if not you have to hunt - and sometimes the obvious places - the big tourist destinations - are the one's they're hard to find in. Sometimes it's easier to have you own laptop with wi-fi, coffee shops that offer wi-fi are sometimes easier to find the internet cafes.

 

Oh - on the Veendam I was on Lower Promenade aft outside and had signal in my cabin, no problem. On the Statendam - Veranda deck forward inside cabin I had signal too.

 

Lydia