Computers on Navigator

[SgtMick]

Im sure this question has been asked before, but are there computers available for use on the Navigator. Also will Regent print out out airline boarding passes before we disembark?

[Responder]

Im sure this question has been asked before, but are there computers available for use on the Navigator. Also will Regent print out out airline boarding passes before we disembark?

The answer is yes to both questions..

[Travelcat2]

While computers are available, there are black-out areas throughout the world (especially Alaska) where internet may not be available.

[Hambagahle]

the computers on the Navigator are all in the library. This is a small area. I would guess that there are no more than 8-10 of them and they are highly in demand. But WiFi is available throughout the ship. We brought out laptop and it worked fine as long as the ship was receiving the signal. As TravelCat points out, there are blackout areas where they cannot pick up the signal, all over the world and this is more common, apparently, in very northern and very southern latitudes though it happened to us at Ijmuiden, the port for Amsterdam!!

[rallydave]

the computers on the Navigator are all in the library. This is a small area. I would guess that there are no more than 8-10 of them and they are highly in demand. But WiFi is available throughout the ship. We brought out laptop and it worked fine as long as the ship was receiving the signal. As TravelCat points out, there are blackout areas where they cannot pick up the signal, all over the world and this is more common, apparently, in very northern and very southern latitudes though it happened to us at Ijmuiden, the port for Amsterdam!!

Interestingly, the ship is required to disconnect from the internet while in port in Japan. We had this occur last October and Regent informed us that we would not have satellite TV or Internet while in Japanese waters. What actually occurred was that we had internet and TV until we were docked and it reappeared once we got underway. Some sort of Japanese law?? This might occur in other areas of the world but, not aware of any of those areas.

Also, blackout is a strange term for what is being described. That implies an intential blocking of the signal. What is really occurring is that the ship is in an area where the satellite signal is blocked by buildings, mountains, etc. or the signal from the satellite they are trying to receive from is simply out of range of that point on the ocean surface. The latter is what generally occurs at higher latitudes as all of the satellites transmitting TV and Internet are circling over the equator. Because there are limited spaces for satellites over the equator, the entire earth can't be covered with all services.

[RachelG]

Definitely was a problem getting a good or consistent connection on our Norway cruise. I too have observed that in large ports, connection is often poor or absent. I figured it must have something to do with all the stuff around causing an obstruction.

[rallydave]

Definitely was a problem getting a good or consistent connection on our Norway cruise. I too have observed that in large ports, connection is often poor or absent. I figured it must have something to do with all the stuff around causing an obstruction.

Absolutely correct RachelG and something I forgot to put in my previous post.

For those of you with satellite dishes on your roof, if you remember, when you oredered them, the company told you that you needed a clear view of the sky in a direction mostly south. Even tree branches will interfere with your reception and large thunderstorms will oftentimes interfere with your reception.

Also, for those of you living in the far north or south, look at the satellite dishes on peoples roofs and you will see that they are aimed pretty low in the sky meaning the signal to those dishes need to go thru more of the earths atmosphere and thus are subject to more disruption. When the ship is far north or south, they have to aim in the same way.

Having said the above, the ship has larger dishes which somewhat overcome the issues that those of us who have individual 18" or so dishes have but, if the signal can't get to the dish, you will not have reception.

[Responder]

Interestingly, the ship is required to disconnect from the internet while in port in Japan. We had this occur last October and Regent informed us that we would not have satellite TV or Internet while in Japanese waters. What actually occurred was that we had internet and TV until we were docked and it reappeared once we got underway. Some sort of Japanese law?? This might occur in other areas of the world but, not aware of any of those areas.


We had the same experience on our Sep 09 Mariner to Japan.

My solution was to find an open wi fi connection in port and attach to it..Worked fine.

Some kind of silly law like so many that prevail..

[Threechicks]

On my last cruise on the Voyager in May I took my laptop with me for the first time. I had heard all the stories about the reception in the suites not being as good as in the computer room so did not have high expectations. In one large port, I think it was Barcelona but not sure, the service was down until we sailed but otherwise I had excellent service in my room when others were complaining about the slow service downstairs. The last day I went down to the computer room to do my flight checkins because I wanted a printer. The printer had broken down and the computer service was impossible. I went back to my suite and zipped right through the checkin. No printing of boarding passes of course but otherwise it was great. Go figure.