WI-FI and Cell Phones On Board

jbond · January 6, 2006

It's a one time buy for $99. It can be used world wide. We have used it in Mexico, Caribbean, Spain and London. After buying it, you only get charged for the usage. Price for service varies, depending on where you are and where you're calling. It's between $1.35 and $1.95 per min. The big plus is there is no service/rental fee after the initial purchase.

When we had a problem on Serenade, our kids had a difficult time calling us. They kept losing the line. It cost them $79 to just leave a message for us to call home. It then took RCI about 12 hours to get us the message. We had no problem calling them back from the ship and RCI didn't charge us.

In Spain this year we were one of just a few people with phones and we were really popular. Our total phone bill was $135, but we and several others that used our phone would have happily paid a lot more.

JoeyandDavid · January 6, 2006

Great information thanks Jbond

Joanandjoe · January 7, 2006

Joey, I found the Radisson article on another cruise board with the same initials as this one. The press release is not yet on the Radisson web site, www.rssc.com, so I don't know the details. This is what I have:

RSSC Upgrades Internet, Phone Services Fleetwide <]

Radisson Seven Seas Cruises is ringing in 2006 with fleetwide telecommunications upgrades. The luxury line has announced that all four of its ships -- Seven Seas Mariner, Seven Seas Voyager, Seven Seas Navigator and Paul Gauguin -- have been enhanced with high-tech options such as worldwide cell phone access, faster Internet, onboard Wi-Fi and pre-cruise online booking options.

The changes are really an effort by RSSC to play catch up in the industry rather than make waves. Costa and NCL already offer at-sea cell service, and Carnival is currently the Wi-Fi bandleader, having ditched hot spots in favor of bow-to-stern access on Carnival Valor and Carnival Liberty. There is one innovation being announced, however -- as part of RSSC's new online booking options, passengers can make alternative restaurant reservations before they even back their bags.

Here's a complete rundown of what to expect:

New Online Booking Options: <]Guests who've made a deposit on their cruise can secure a table in advance for alternative restaurants and, coming soon, book appointments at the spa (a capability Princess introduced in 2004).

Upgraded Internet Bandwidth:<] In English, this simply means faster connections for Web-surfing passengers. And believe it or not, with speed comes savings -- the rate is now 35 cents per minute (or 25 cents per minute with a package of 100 minutes), much cheaper than the previous rate of 75 cents per minute.

Wi-Fi Hot Spots:<] Select public areas on each ship are now outfitted with Wi-Fi capabilities for guests with wireless-enabled laptops.

Expanded Television Programming:<] FOX News has been added to CNN on the in-room lineup via a new digital satellite feed.

At-Sea Cell Service:<] RSSC guests can now use cell phones equipped for international roaming while at sea; the per-minute cost is similar to Caribbean roaming charges regardless of itinerary, and folks will be billed by their individual phone provider. (This service is not available when ships are in port, or on Paul Gauguin's French Polynesia cruises.)

JoeyandDavid · January 7, 2006

Joan/Joe

Thanks .. Its interesting how they are comming late to the dance and still will charge for it

Dan · January 7, 2006

I think it's just a matter of technology. On land, how would you limit somebody to only using their cell phone in their hotel room, but not in the lobby bar? With WiFi internet, how do you set it up to offer wireless access in a cabin, but not in the lounge next door or one deck up? Many ships have plug-in internet access in cabins, but so many people are going to wireless laptops now, that offering WiFi is a selling feature.

JoeyandDavid · January 7, 2006

Dan Silly me was thinking they had tech. to jam the signal where they didnt want it to go .. you know like they did the pope selectors at the vatican..oh well

Dan · January 7, 2006

But again, you are talking about jamming in a bunch of relatively small areas on a ship, which are also located near or next to private areas. My cabin on Sapphire happens to be on the other side of the wall from the Terrace pool. How would you block a wireless signal at that pool without blocking it in my cabin?

There are always inconsiderate jerks around, and if they weren't talking on a cell phone, annoying somebody, they would be doing something else to annoy you.

JoeyandDavid · January 7, 2006

Good point Dan, I WISH I had the answer.. cause whoever comes uup with the soultion IMHO will get paid :grin:

NYCruiser · January 7, 2006

Well I definitely want them to have wireless, I own my own business and way I go away having a laptop in my room is a very convenient way to communicate in case something has gone wrong, and a cell phone would be great in an emergency.

but one of the reasons I love cruising so much is that no one can call you. And I know many people who cant put their phones down so I love being on a ship and never seeing a cell phone for a week.