I will be taking a cruise in the next few months and would like to use an Internet Acceleration program I use on my laptop when connecting to work. Does anyone know if the network aboard ship allows / supports this? (For the more technical among you, it makes an http connection through port 7797). Any help would be greatly appreciated.

I don't know for sure, but I wouldn't think so. Shipboard internet is not something that you simply access like a typical wi-fi hotspot. Their homepage will appear and you'll have to enter your account info and then be taken to the ship's homepage. Of course you can use your own browser at this point, but things are still not especially fast and they are being controlled - such as periodic interruptions to remind you about the minutes you have used and asking if you wish to continue...things like that.

I too posted questions about a laptop before my cruise with little replies. I figure most on here think, "hey your on vacation leave it home"
I opted to leave mine at home and use the internet cafe. They have full services, fax,printer and so on. I was told it is cheaper to use the cafe instead of wireless and laptop. Good luck and enjoy your cruise

The price should be no different whether you use their computers or your own, at least that is how I remember it from my last Carnival cruise.

I bring one of my laptops so I can keep up with this forum at my leisure, transfer photos, and download from all my e-mail accounts using my normal e-mail software. Actually, using your own computer is more efficient than using one of the ship's machines.