Internet In Staterooms

[spcl4cs_gal]

Do the Vista class ships have internet hookup in all staterooms or just in the SS and S suites?

[dakrewser]

According to the vendor (http://www.mtnsat.com/ds_kbyg_hal.htm):

Holland America’s Vista Class ships [Zuiderdam, Oosterdam, Westerdam] offer In-cabin dial-up Internet access for those guests traveling with their own laptop computer. Connection is by phone cord at 56K modem dial-up speed. Phone cords and additional software, if needed, are available onboard the ship.
RATE: $0.50 per minute. Time plans or advertised Internet Café specials do not apply to in-cabin dial-up service.

So that should be all cabins.

[Candy]

We tried the laptop connection in our Cat A suite. Since the battery's shot, we had to plug it in. The internet jack, however, was on the exact opposite wall. I should have taken a photo of us hopping over (or ducking under) the cords. Very clumsy. We'll bring the wireless lap next time.

Do the Vista class ships have internet hookup in all staterooms or just in the SS and S suites?

[spcl4cs_gal]

Thanks for the info. I guess I will take it into the internet cafe afterall...50 cents a minute is a bit steep. :(

[sonoma03]

Thanks for the info. I guess I will take it into the internet cafe afterall...50 cents a minute is a bit steep. :(
I hate to break it to you, but the price in the Internet cafe is not much better. Below is the email that I received from HAL when I asked about their Internet prices:

The ms Oosterdam offers high speed Internet access in the onboard Internet
Café, open 24 hours throughout the cruise, and also Wireless Internet
service. The Internet Café computer terminals give desktop access to the
Internet, AOL Chat, Yahoo Chat, CruisE-mail*, and Real One Player. Multiple
windows and applications can be opened and used at one time. There is an
Internet Café Manager available everyday for assistance. (Downloading and
opening files/attachments is restricted on the cafe systems)

Pricing*:
· One-time Activation Fee of $3.95 applies to each user
· Basic time charges are $0.75 per minute (pay as you go) or purchase a
Discounted Time Plan:
· 250 minutes for $100.00 ($0.40 per minute)
· 100 minutes for $55.00 ($0.55 per minute)
Time Plan minutes can be used anytime throughout the cruise, and can be
shared with fellow travelers.
* Pricing is subject to change without prior notice.

Please Note: Internet Café and WirelessTime Plans are not interchangeable
between systems. Wireless Time Plans cannot be used on Internet Café
terminals, and Internet Café Time Plans cannot be used on the Wireless system.

* CruisE-mail- This service is offered as a convenience should passengers
not have their own email address or be unable to access their own email
domain. This application is just like any other email domain and can be used
the same way. Every passenger is given a CruisE-mail account that will be
activated as the café opens for each new cruise. There is an additional
cost of $3.95 to send a CruisE-mail (in addition to the basic time charges).
There is no additional charge (only time charge apply) to receive any
incoming CruisE-mail messages.

Printing is available at $0.50 per page

Wireless Internet Services

Use your laptop computer to connect to the wireless Internet service
onboard the ms Oosterdam! Each Holland America vessel offers Wireless Internet
service throughout the ship. Use your own laptop or rent one from the
Internet Café (limited supply of laptops and wireless card available for
rent onboard). Wireless cards must support the 802.11b wireless protocol.

Wireless service is available in most public lounges around the ship.
Service is not available in guest staterooms.

Pricing:
· 250 minutes for $100.00 ($0.40 per minute)
· 100 minutes for $55.00 ($0.55 per minute)
· 33 minutes for $25.00 ($0.75 per minute)
· Laptop Rental $20 per day (optional insurance $10 per day)
· Wireless Card Rental $10 per day (optional insurance $5 per day)

Please Note: Internet Café and WirelessTime Plans are not interchangeable
between systems. Wireless Time Plans cannot be used on Internet Café
terminals, and Internet Café Time Plans cannot be used on the Wireless system.

Holland America's Vista Class ships [Zuiderdam, Oosterdam, Westerdam]
offer In-cabin dial-up Internet access for those guests traveling with their
own laptop computer. Connection is by phone cord at 56K modem dial-up
speed. Phone cords and additional software, if needed, are available onboard
the ship.

Pricing:
$0.50 per minute*

*Flat rate charge. Time Plans or advertised Internet Café specials do not
apply to In-cabin dial up service.

Please feel free to contact us if we may be of additional assistance. We
are confident our "Tradition of Excellence" will surpass your
expectations. We look forward to welcoming you onboard in the near future.

Kind Regards,

James,
Internet Department
Holland America Line
877-724-5425

[Devin]

Anyone have any idea if the wireless internet is available on Oosterdam in the Neptune Lounge??


Thanks!

Devin

[LAFFNVEGAS]

Good question Devin, I am interested in this also. I know recently I was staying at a Hampton Inn that had free WiFi in their Lobby. They stated they did not have WiFi in the rooms only dial-up, but I still was recieving a signal to log in, in the room. It said the signal strength was "low" but the speed was quite good, better than some days at work. I am guessing if there is WiFi in the Neptune and your cabin is close like ours will be on the Westerdam we may be able to access the the WiFi signal. That would be great.

[Kabana]

I don't know about the Neptune, but there is wireless access on the Lido deck (by the center pool too), the library, and in the atrium area of the ship of the main (lobby), lower promenade (windstar cafe), promenade (ocean bar) decks.

[dakrewser]

Anyone have any idea if the wireless internet is available on Oosterdam in the Neptune Lounge??


Thanks!

Devin

I doubt you can get a good connection in ther Neptune (although I didn't try), due to the large amount of metal between the lounge and any of the WAPs (on the 3rd and 10th decks). But there's great connectivity in both the Ocean Bar and the Crow's Nest...

[PSR]

Is it correct that the in-cabin connection on Vista ships is only for PCs?

Penny

[Sea Island Lady]

The Internet Café computer terminals give desktop access to the
Internet, AOL Chat, Yahoo Chat, CruisE-mail*, and Real One Player.

On other ships I have cruised, they had a "quick button" to various email servers. I set up a free Hotmail account before leaving home. Worked great...quick and efficient!

Will Hotmail not work on the Vista ships?

[dakrewser]

Is it correct that the in-cabin connection on Vista ships is only for PCs?

Penny

No, it appears to be a standard modem connection which a Mac or Linux box could use also...

-dave

[PSR]

Thanks dave for your info re:modem connections. I think that maybe on RCCL I read that their connections were only PC, so we've never taken our Mac laptop.

Penny

[K&RCurt]

Just off the Westerdam and I opted for the wireless access for my laptop. I was SOMETIMES able to get an adequate signal on my veranda (Cabin 5092). Most times I went to the Erasmus library to check mail etc.

Acess in the cabin is via MODEM. You would have to unplug the phone and plug in your PC. There was a T-10 network plug in the cabin but I was told by the person in the internet center that it isn't connected to anything. I don't know if this is the case or not, but the wireless was much faster than a 56K modem and with the package pricing the per min. price was the same, so I got more done for the same money.

[LAFFNVEGAS]

Keith and Gina, thanks for the info. I will have to try it out on the balcony in about 39 days. I am still not sure which plan I will sign up for but probably the big one tha cost $100.00 since it is the cheapest per minute and I will probably use it. I have been in hotels where they said there was no WiFI in the rooms just in their lobby but I still had low frequency and it worked great. So I am hoping I can still get a signal in the cabin.

Does anyone know if there is WiFi in the Neptune Lounge? That would be closer plus if there is a signal there I might very well have a signal in the cabin since we are really close.

[dakrewser]

Does anyone know if there is WiFi in the Neptune Lounge? That would be closer plus if there is a signal there I might very well have a signal in the cabin since we are really close.

There's no access point in the Neptune and - with the amount of metal between there and, say, the atrium - I don't a signal could penetrate. But I didn't look for one either - the Ocean Bar and the Crow's Nest (on the O'dam) were comfortable enough :)

-dave