Internet Access at Sea...

[LiftinCruiser]

I understand that Royal Caribbean offers a few locations on ship that offer internet access (for a fee) through their onboard computers, via your own ISP. Further, I understand that each of the staterooms are equipped with internet access via your laptop, also using your own ISP, also for a fee.

Has anyone used either of these internet access points while on a recent RCI cruise? Any idea of the cost and/or relative speed? I doubt the laptop would fit in the room safe, so is it safe to leave the laptop in the room? Lastly... are there onboard "chat rooms" where one might find another "kindred soul?"

[Dave]

I used wi-fi on the Freedom Of The Seas recently, but it has wider coverage than the other ships. Relative speed is, well, relative. I thought I had fairly quick speed virtually all of the time - maybe around 128k if I were to judge it from past experience. Others on the same cruise thought it was very slow. I used the internet cafe once and it was much slower than what I got on my laptop. I don't know if it mattered, but I used a MacBook Pro. Another member also uses Mac and was told by the internet manager that Mac's get better reception on the ships. Is it true? Can't say, but mine worked well.

Base fee is 50 cents per minute. Packages of various numbers of minutes are available. I forget what they were but I got the highest one which I think brought the cost down to 33 cents or so. 100 minute package I think.

[LiftinCruiser]

Thanks, Dave... I'll let you know how things turn out. If I bring my laptop, I was considering giving a short daily report of the previous days highlights (since I like to wake up early and my wife and kids prefer to sleep in).

[Dave]

We'd certainly love to see a daily update from the ship!

BTW - your signature line weblinks appear broken to me.

[LiftinCruiser]

Thanks, Dave... yeah, my Cruise Ticker isn't cooperating... I'm sure I did something wrong, as I'm far from computer literate! I guess the adult ADD doesn't help much either!

Bill

[ChucksOK]

Originally posted by LiftinCruiser:
Thanks, Dave... yeah, my Cruise Ticker isn't cooperating... I'm sure I did something wrong, as I'm far from computer literate! I guess the adult ADD doesn't help much either!Bill

Change it to read (without the * ):
**

That should work... If not, send me a private message and I'll help you.

[LiftinCruiser]

Thanks, Chuck... it worked like a charm! I appreciate it!

[joarc]

My husband was able to use his laptop on our last 3 RCCL cruises. We paid a one-time fee for around $100 unlimited use). On one cruise, we paid per use at the internet cafe, and paid more than the one-time charge. We were on Radiance last May and they had just completed the installation of high-speed internet, but I'm not if all ships are have been updated.

[Dave]

I believe RCCL has recently stopped the unlimited use option. It was not available on the Freedom in June.