Connecting

[rinker250]

We are sailng 2/11/07 on the Pearl.
Although we are cruising for relaxation and "getting away" I would like to check my email in the morning.
I have read that the internet is quite expensive on board ship.
The Pearl advertizes wireless internet access in the staterooms.
I thought wireleess would be free.
Can anyone provide some input?

Dan

[Kuki]

I thought wireleess would be free.

Nope. You are not paying for the computer use, you're paying for access to their satellite system, and satellite time to connect.

All the cruise lines charge for this access.. it can vary from 40 cents to 75 cents per minute. I can't recall what NCL charges, sorry.

[rinker250]

Thanks Kuki,

I'm not gonna fault them for charging but ya'd think they'd mention a fee.
...in the way hotels and such do.

Dan

[lenny55b]

On the Majesty there were different packages available, I seem to remember a bit more money then we expected for the amount of minutes we needed to be online. But we made the mistake of "pay as you go", sounded good but the reality was by the time you logged in and got going the 2-3 minute quickie email took much LONGER and ended up being 15-20 bucks. This we "ACCOMPLISHED!" at the internet cafe, wireless might not be as slow?
I have some memory of 50$ being a minimum for the basic minutes package. Needless to say we didn't use it again!

[jaggy]

In my experience, the wireless connections are somewhat slower than the wired connections in the internet centers.

Tim

[rinker250]

It appears that internet access is just another way to be nickled and dimed by the cruise line.
The sattelite connection is a flat fee to the liner. (this is not speculation)
Unfortunately, we are only booked in a BA cabin.
The suites receive the 'net for free.
Dan

[Barb Nahoumi]

If possible, try to find an internet cafe in port. These can be much cheaper than what you might find on the ship.

Barb