We're getting our first laptop for our January cruise to Hawaii and French Polynesia. Can we count on these 'hot spots' for Email contact with family? What problems might we encounter? We'll have long stretches at sea and would prefer to not have to rely on the very expensive ship computers.
I hope this might lead to a discussion of cruising hot spots -and no that's not hot destinations. We're good on computer basics only.
Use of the cruise ship's computers is free. It's internet access for which you have to pay, whether you use a ship's computer or your own. Typically, ships offer internet options, such that the more time you buy, the lower the per minute cost. But everyone pays the same for using the internet, whether or not you use your own computer.
I've never sailed Ryndam so I can't speak about where the hot spots on that ship are located.
Ruth, a "hot spot" is a location on the ship where your computer can connect wirelessly (using "Wi-Fi" or similar) to the internet. It used to be that one had to go to the ship's internet cafe to use a computer to get onto the internet. Now, many ships have installed equipment such that you may be able to sit in a lounge or other public room, or even in your cabin, and use your own Wi-Fi enabled computer to sign onto the internet. But, as I said, no matter where you are physically sitting with your computer, be it the internet cafe or elsewhere on the ship, the price of getting onto the internet is the same.
By the way, "hot spots" have the same definition on dry land, too. For example, all of our local Barnes & Noble store is a hot spot, meaning you can take your own laptop to that bookstore and sit in the cafe or on any chair in the store, and sign onto the internet. Some places, like the Ft. Lauderdale airport, don't even charge for this service.
And I thought hot spots happened when the satellite was aligned. WE cruised the Yangtze on a basic boat and connections were lost in the then, deep gorges, which are in the process of being flooded. I thought it was a similar principle on a real cruise ship - minus the gorges.
When our son and daughter visit us they always rely on the 'hot spot' gift of a neighbour's connection.
I'm learning. I guess to save money we'll compose in off-line Word and then cut and paste to Hotmail when we're connected or rely on shore Internet Cafes as we did on our South American cruise. The big difference with the one we've signed for is this one has four and six sea days.
Again thanks Sandy, your explanations are better than the usual technical support help.
I guess to save money we'll compose in off-line Word and then cut and paste to Hotmail when we're connected or rely on shore Internet Cafes as we did on our South American cruise.
Ruth, that's a great plan. Composing messages offline and then pasting them into an email is the most efficient way to handle outgoing mail. It can be a tad frustrating, because onboard connections tend to be slow. But you'll get everything read and replied to. If you want to take the time to go to an internet cafe in your port stops, all the better -- and the cheaper by a huge factor.
Hi Ruth, on the Sapphire Princess (March 2007) we have to pay 50 cent/minute for the connection to the Internet with our notebook. The connection over satellite was very very slow and many times there was even no connection. Mostly we looked on land for coffehouses and hotels with Hotspots. On the Airport Singapure and in some coffehouses and hotels we had a free connection, but sometimes there was no hotspot, we have to use a wire (Ethernet). Hans
I suspect we'll have to use an internet cafe at our ports of call, because it sounds as if satellite connections are not reliable. We don't anticipate having urgent need for a connection.
We did Asia a couple of years ago -- extended land travel - and were charged for connections at each and every hotel but when in South America last winter each hotel was free, and these were just 3* hotels. And when cruising around the Horn we used cafes at a couple of ports and costs were negligible.
Yes, it's true, you have to pay for internet access, BY THE MINUTE!! It can get pricey about 75 cents or more per minute. We recently sailed on the Prinsendam and I used my laptop frequently, but for work, workaholic I guess. Make sure you check the internet cafe or the handouts in your room at the beginning of your cruise for the internet specials. I am sure all the HAL ships would offer the same thing. There was a price break if you purchased, I can't remember the number exactly, but 200 or 250 minutes for $100. It was a bout 40 cents a minute or so. Towards the end of the cruise they might sell smaller increments. But you are also smart to do your writing off line and then connect and cut and paste into your email to save those precious minutes. That's an advantage of having your own laptop. Sometimes the connections are slower at times, so I would suggest to just log off and try another time when it is quicker and you don't have to waste minutes just waiting for a website to load. Have a great trip.
Thanks -- maybe we'll break the bank and opt for a special on computer time when we board. Otherwise we could waste valuable touring time searching out an internet cafe.
My husband just ordered his new laptop today so I'm counting on him writing the great Cdn. novel on our 30 day cruise.
Leaving tomorrow for Seattle and boarding the Noordam Sunday morning bound for Alaska. We're also bring a laptop to stay in touch. We have Verizon National Broadband. Am I correct thinking that if I found a "hot spot" for my verizon to talk to itself, I don't have to pay for the internet offered through the ship?
It was I who posted the first question on this site and as I now understand it, no matter what, you have to pay thru' the ship's satellite connections. I assume they sell the password. Their mention of hot spots on their site is misleading, I believe.
Good luck. At least you should be able to use it on shore if you're lucky. Our cruise isn't until January so it will be good to hear about your experiences.
Others confirmed that it's best to compose off line and then simply cut and paste which should require less satellite time.
Oh, I guess I missed Magictam as he leaves tomorrow. But the "hot spot" basically is the wireless connection available in that specific spot. So for you to connect to any internet no matter what your service happens to be, you need a wireless connection first. When you get your computer Ruth, and it has built in wireless, you will be able to connect to wireless connections available to you. Some of those are free to connect to, but most you have to pay for or be member and have paid a monthly or annual fee. But watch out for the free connections, because most of the time they are not secure. This means that you may be able to connect to the internet for free, but your computer is susceptible to catching viruses or your security is compromised so information might be "hacked" by others. I'm sorry if this sounds complicated but something you should know about. Ask the salesperson to explain more. Like everything else, you have to watch it when something is "free".
Just returned from a wonderful vacation to Alaska on the MS Noordam. It was great! On the first day I inquired the exploration cafe' (where the computers are located) about internet usuage in regards to using my Verizon card or the ship's internet. I was that if I was unable to pick up the verizon signle then I could use the ships internet for a fee. I was able to pick up Verizon's signel at every port we stopped and a few miles to and from those ports. When I was unable to pick up the signal at sea, I would write what I wanted in a word document and then later copy it into an email and send it before I went a shore or returning from shore. I never once paid for HAl's internet service. Happy Cruising All.
Welcome home Magictam, and thanks for taking the time to tell of your wireless experience.
As I said earlier we've decided to splurge and use the ship's service as we have long stretches at sea -- 4 and 6 days and my husband chose to just have put on his laptop the programmes he'd need on a cruise. We're retired and so can rely on our home highspeed for most of our needs. Messages home while on a cruise will have to be costs factored in to the overall costs,
These exchanges have been an education for me and I hope for others who might read them in the future.
