HotSpot on ship question

If you have a separate hotspot for your tablet will they work on the ship while out at sea?

Not unless you pay through the nose through your cellular carrier. They use cellular connections, and the cellular data is way overpriced..

If you have a separate hotspot for your tablet will they work on the ship while out at sea?

Huh?

Just when I thought I knew all about most of this stuff....

Back to basics. You tablet has to connect to something, somewhere.

On the ship, the only connection is data over the cellular network - VERY VERY expensive. Or, via the normal internet connection over their onboard WIFI.

Huh?

 

Just when I thought I knew all about most of this stuff....

 

Back to basics. You tablet has to connect to something, somewhere.

 

On the ship, the only connection is data over the cellular network - VERY VERY expensive. Or, via the normal internet connection over their onboard WIFI.

You've got the concept, but a little swizzled around.

Ship's data (whether at the public desktop or the shipboard wifi), cabin phones (and cellphones connected through the ship's conversion) go through satellite links. Those are what's expensive. They work everywhere, mostly.

Individual hotspots work through cell networks -- they're basically dumb smartphones with no displays and big batteries, that do nothing but relay data to on-shore cell networks. Those only work within reach of the shore-based towers, which means 10-15 miles out tops. Plus, there's there complication that if that connection is left available, once you get to Bermuda or Cozumel or wherever, your phone/hotspot can latch on to a partner service there, and start charging international rates for data.

So, to get back to the original question, trying a hotspot device shipboard is not advisable: it either won't work or will leave you a nasty surprise in your monthly bill, except in ports of your home country.

All RCI ships have a cell tower. If you use your cell 3G, texts, or voice you will be charged by your cell provider. $$$$ Turn off your cell or put it in Airplane mode.

Use the ships WiFi network for data, it's a lot cheaper.

Thank You for your replies! :cool:

If you have a separate hotspot for your tablet will they work on the ship while out at sea?

Most hotspots have the ability to turn off roaming, and I would recommend making sure that roaming is disabled. That way you do not get a large bill at the end of the month.