Downloading Books

Has anyone attempted to download a book to their Kindle or Nook from the wifi at sea? Does it take forever and use up all one's minutes?

sounds likely to us with all the experiences we have had with a slow Internet.

I would never try it via the ship's wifi. It would probably crash the system :eek:. I always do mine before I leave.

I've never tried it as I load up before I leave home but I really don't think it would take very long. It happens so quickly at home. Others may know more.

I have a 3G Kindle and I was able to download for free without using wifi. Not sure how it would work by using wifi.

I just download everything I can before departure. Sometimes, one can't get a 3G signal. On my past few cruises, I don't even bring the kindle as I bring the ipad. I use the Kindle app on the ipad and read my books on that instead. I can't bring myself to bring two devices with me.

On a 30 day cruise, I thought I had downloaded plenty of books before we left. But I finished them quicker than I thought I would, so decided to try a download while in the middle of the Pacific.

No problem. It actually was very quick. I was pleasantly surprised. I think the secret is to choose a time when you figure there will be few people using the internet.

I was using my Kindle App on my iPad. It worked well.

Don't even try when at sea, but when in any Port ,3G or similar, [that takes over ,] works very well, we have downloaded in far flung places like Vladivostok, it is a modern world, always good to stock up before you leave but if required, books are very available...where ever you are.Norway far reaches, have limited coverage ,curvature of the earth and things and the Fjords, but Amazon has it covered. Mostly everywhere... Enjoy..!!

Actually, I downloaded when at sea and also had no problem and it was fast. Like the earlier poster I did it at time when the wifi was not in heavy use.

Susan

On a 30 day cruise, I thought I had downloaded plenty of books before we left. But I finished them quicker than I thought I would, so decided to try a download while in the middle of the Pacific.

 

No problem. It actually was very quick. I was pleasantly surprised. I think the secret is to choose a time when you figure there will be few people using the internet.

 

I was using my Kindle App on my iPad. It worked well.

I usually stock up also, but on my last cruise several successive days of inclement weather put a large dent in my library. However, several of the cruise terminals had free wifi from which to replenish. Unfortunately, I cannot confirm that a similar service will be available at any of the ports on my upcoming 42 day cruise.

I may try it at sea around 5 AM.

We have older Kindles with built-in Whispernet. We can download books anywhere where we can get a signal - and we have used this feature sailing everywhere in the world. Have found some great new-to-us authors in talking with passengers plus we are fairly fast readers so quite often want to upload new books. Best part is that the Whispernet does not use our internet minutes. When we told a fellow passenger this, we later found out he went home, bought an older Kindle on ebay, attached it to his account and moved the books he wanted over before his next cruise as he also is a fast reader and is never quite sure if he will need new books.

Sometimes older is better (she says tongue in cheek).

Terri

We have older Kindles with built-in Whispernet. We can download books anywhere where we can get a signal - and we have used this feature sailing everywhere in the world. Have found some great new-to-us authors in talking with passengers plus we are fairly fast readers so quite often want to upload new books. Best part is that the Whispernet does not use our internet minutes. When we told a fellow passenger this, we later found out he went home, bought an older Kindle on ebay, attached it to his account and moved the books he wanted over before his next cruise as he also is a fast reader and is never quite sure if he will need new books.

 

Sometimes older is better (she says tongue in cheek).

 

Terri

I don't disagree with you but wanted to advise that Amazon is currently selling 3G Kindles that allow downloading over the 3G cell network for FREE.

I have a Nook. Does anyone have any direct experience with a Nook?

I have a Nook. Does anyone have any direct experience with a Nook?

This is precisely why I buy a Kindle with 3G(Whispernet). Able to download anywhere. EM

Yes. Neither I nor the Internet Manager could figure out how to enter a username and password to log onto the ship system. Or I couldn't, and he didn't want to bother trying. He just said he didn't know anything about Nooks. I had to wait until we got to a port with free wifi. (This was with a Nook Simple Touch ... wifi only)

I had no trouble accessing the ship's system with my Nook on either the NCL Sun or the Maasdam.

The Nook was a gift, not my personal choice, but since I have it, I use it.

I have the new Samsung/Nook tablet and I've downloaded close to 25 books for our upcoming TA. I also have a couple downloaded from our library's ebook collection. They expire after 2 weeks but I doubt I will be online much at all so I should be able to read them as well.

BTW, after researching until my head nearly exploded, I bought my first Nook, now long out of action. Although I dearly love Amazon, I didn't want to be tied to their content. Even on my oldest Nook, I could download from libraries all over.

I had no trouble accessing the ship's system with my Nook on either the NCL Sun or the Maasdam.

 

The Nook was a gift, not my personal choice, but since I have it, I use it.

Since in your first post you are asking about downloading, I presume you weren't doing that. What were you doing when you were "accessing the ship's system"?

On the Maasdam how did you enter your username and password to get connected? Maybe you have a more advanced model than DW's Simple Touch. (also a gift)

 

Since in your first post you are asking about downloading, I presume you weren't doing that. What were you doing when you were "accessing the ship's system"?

After I purchased my internet package, the system appeared on my Nook wifi settings menu. Tapping the name brought up the login page. I used it for CC, Facebook, email, reading newspapers, and weather info. In other words, everything I would have used my laptop for.

I have the new Samsung/Nook tablet and I've downloaded close to 25 books for our upcoming TA. I also have a couple downloaded from our library's ebook collection. They expire after 2 weeks but I doubt I will be online much at all so I should be able to read them as well.

 

BTW, after researching until my head nearly exploded, I bought my first Nook, now long out of action. Although I dearly love Amazon, I didn't want to be tied to their content. Even on my oldest Nook, I could download from libraries all over.

Please let me know how the Samsung works out. I have a Nook HD Color tablet, but I am seriously considering upgrading to the Samsung.

Tapping the name brought up the login page.

.

Took some getting used to but I love it now. Much easier to borrow from the library and much faster. I'm writing this on a bus on our way to New York and our TA cruise so forgive the poor syntax.

You won't be sorry with the Samsung Nook.

I have a Kindle. I download more books than I can possibly read before I leave on a cruise. Some I get from the library. There is a limit but right now I'm not sure what it is. I turn on my wifi, download from the library and then turn wifi off. Books from library don't go away until you turn wifi back on. I have them for my entire trip as I have no need to turn the wifi back on.

I have a Kindle. I download more books than I can possibly read before I leave on a cruise. Some I get from the library. There is a limit but right now I'm not sure what it is. I turn on my wifi, download from the library and then turn wifi off. Books from library don't go away until you turn wifi back on. I have them for my entire trip as I have no need to turn the wifi back on.

Thats a clever way to keep them!

I have never tried to download to my nook on a cruise, but I do know you cannot buy new books on nook in Mexico or Canada. I've tried in both places. I was told you can only buy in U.S. perhaps that he changed?