Charging for internet usage..what's your opinion ?

A recent discussion with a fellow cruiser revealed that some people think it's a scam to be charged.

My take is that we pay for the internet at home. We also pay for phone service

at home and onboard. I've never heard a complaint about having to pay for cell phone usage while cruising.

Internet usage onboard is an option, and the cost is provided upfront, so how is it a scam to charge for it ?

Capitalism 101 and

There is no entitlement to internet service.

I don't mind being charged, I just think the rates are outrageous. Ever since I switched to T-Mobile, I've been using it to Hot-spot my baby notebook (and DW Verizon cell) when we are in port. T-Mobile gives me unlimited (at 2G) Data/Text when roaming internationally and I only need about 15-20 minutes every couple days to drag down emails and sent out Trip Reports.

For every cruise I look at the number and location of ports and then decide on how many minutes I need and then purchase that package on the first day. Generally on the first day they have a sale, which either gives a discount on the price or a few extra minutes.

Base rate is $0.75/minute and goes down with bulk purchases and its been at that rate since the mid-90s.

I've read that some ships have gone to a 'daily' rate and I really don't like that at all. I don't Social Media and don't want or need to be connected all day, just need to do bulk email receive/send and some light web browsing to check CC's and Banks.

Maybe your fellow passenger just didn't have a good grasp of the meaning of the word "scam". Over priced, certainly, but you get exactly what they are offering for the agreed upon price. I see charging for internet no differently than charging for drinks or for specialty restaurants.

Most of the people who think that it is a scam to charge for internet service are basing it on the fact that most businesses, particularly restaurants, bars, auto mechanics, hotels, and similar don't charge. The fact that those businesses pay a very small amount for their internet service doesn't seem to enter the equation.

Ships charge for the service for a variety of reasons, but high on the list is to limit access to the relatively small bandwidth available. If their was no charge, the system would be overloaded such that no one would be able to use it. As available bandwidth has increased, the unlimited packages have come into existence, but again the cost cuts down on casual use.

It all comes down to as what is included in the base fare. The travel industry as a whole is going to a more a la carte model, it probably won't be too long before food is not included in the cruise fare.

It all comes down to as what is included in the base fare. The travel industry as a whole is going to a more a la carte model, it probably won't be too long before food is not included in the cruise fare.

It’s already heading there with all the upcharges for premium dishes and specialty restaurants.

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I teach online so I do have to do some work while onboard. I don't mind paying but I like the daily or weekly charge instead of the "by the minute" plans. We were on the Oasis of the Seas last month and I paid a little over $100 for unlimited usage for the entire week which was not excessive.

We'll be on the Nieuw Amsterdam this coming Thanksgiving for our first HAL cruise in 14 years and I will need access for the first few days of that cruise. I hope that the charges will be somewhat reasonable.

We paid $100 for 250 minutes on Maasdam in April and May. I thought it was quite expensive, especially since it was by time and not by how much is downloaded. Because of this pricing, HAL has no incentive to provide a faster connection. We made or time last for the full 20 days by being due to login, download something, then immediately signing off. One caution: we had about 20 minutes left on the last day, and wanted to use it before leaving the ship. The Navigator Web page (which gave access to the connection) had been reset for the next voyage, and our account was closed. Don't let HAL rip you off.

I think as technology changes

Pricing will change as well

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It all comes down to as what is included in the base fare. The travel industry as a whole is going to a more a la carte model, it probably won't be too long before food is not included in the cruise fare.

It’s already heading there with all the upcharges for premium dishes and specialty restaurants.

 

 

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I think with cruises it depends on what cruise line you're sailing. There are many that are offering options that are close to all inclusive. Some offer air fare, internet, "specialty" dinning, excursions or drinks. Sometimes all of the above. It's just a matter of choosing the line that most closely offers what you're looking for.

For our recent Alaska cruise, we did just fine without internet, just using wifi or phones in port. But for our next cruise we'll have many sea days so we went with a line that includes internet.

I've never used the internet on any HAL ships. I wouldn't mind paying by the minute if it were a fast connection. From what I've read, it seems that is not the case.

A recent discussion with a fellow cruiser revealed that some people think it's a scam to be charged.

 

My take is that we pay for the internet at home. We also pay for phone service

at home and onboard. I've never heard a complaint about having to pay for cell phone usage while cruising.

 

Internet usage onboard is an option, and the cost is provided upfront, so how is it a scam to charge for it ?

It IS a scam, just like the scam of making people pay money to go on a cruise. The word of the day is that everything should be free.

I don't mind paying but I like the daily or weekly charge instead of the "by the minute" plans.

 

We'll be on the Nieuw Amsterdam this coming Thanksgiving for our first HAL cruise in 14 years and I will need access for the first few days of that cruise. I hope that the charges will be somewhat reasonable.

I am the exact opposite, preferring to buy a "bank" of minutes to use as required. I only really need the internet in order to check my email on a regular basis, so I see no point in paying for an entire day when I can accomplish what I need to do in a few minutes. We were on the Niew Amsterdam over a year ago and at the time it was possible to buy minutes; however, on our most recent cruise on the Maasdam that feature was no longer available, so I fear that HAL has done away with that option.

I know that there is no comparison between a land-based business and a cruise ship when it comes to amenities that are offered as a courtesy, so the term "scam" is misused in the context of this thread. However, I am reminded of the days when the internet was in its infancy and the budget hotels all provided free access, whereas the high end luxury brands all charged a daily rate for the privilege...

...I am reminded of the days when the internet was in its infancy and the budget hotels all provided free access, whereas the high end luxury brands all charged a daily rate for the privilege...

Hear! Hear! Had we not had a family member in precarious health (not that there was much we could do), we'd have skipped paying too much for too little.

However, one nice thing is that we loaded a fair number of Netflix titles onto our (12-inch) tablet at home.

Scam? Nope. Expensive? U bet. Slow? So I've heard. Inconsistent? I've heard that complaint too.

Hotels used to charge for internet. Most don't anymore. Restaurants & Bars & All Inclusives of 4+ stars don't charge either. As 'kids' these days won't live without it, I can see a time in the near future where it's included in the base fare.

Personally, I mostly give up internet on vacations. I check on things when I'm in port having a coffee or drink or food where the internet is free.

Free for the crew only. The rest of us can pay and the cruise companies decide on the price.

Sandra

A recent discussion with a fellow cruiser revealed that some people think it's a scam to be charged.

 

My take is that we pay for the internet at home. We also pay for phone service

at home and onboard. I've never heard a complaint about having to pay for cell phone usage while cruising.

 

Internet usage onboard is an option, and the cost is provided upfront, so how is it a scam to charge for it ?

I don’t pay for it in a hotel, restaurant or library. It’s 2018 internet should be free.

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Hotels, bars, restaurants, coffee houses, are all land based, and in the US and Canada, a proprietor can get 50 - 100 mb/s internet for maybe $75 a month for his 50 or so customers. Cheap !! Keeps the customers drinking, happy and draws more in. Totally different on a ship at sea where 100% of the onboard internet bandwidth is via satellite. Satellite delivered bandwidth is expensive, because of the limited capacity of the satellites and there's loads of marine operations that are using it. I am an IT manager for a small resort in the Caribbean. With government controlled internet, we are paying $370 a month for 45 mb/s service. Yes, it's robbery, but there's only one undersea fiber optic cable bringing the internet to the island, and it also has limited bandwidth. With just 12 villas in the resort, in high season, I have seen 50 or more connected devices to the system, because everybody brings a phone and a tablet, they are powered on all the time, and they all want to watch HD movies. Why not, they do this at home with their 100 mb/s internet for just 4 prople in a house, so what's the difference ? We offer free internet, but the system really gets loaded down when all guests are using their multiple devices.

Same on a cruise ship, but multiplied 1000 times over. That satellite downlink is being shared by Marine Operations (the captain and crew), Hotel Operations (hotel manager, food & beverage manager, shore excursions, sales, casino, shops, etc., and finally the guests. And you know which groups take priority !! If the internet was totally free to every guest, the system would be so slow, that no one could access anything, and there would be thousands of complaints. To prevent that kind of disaster, they charge for their precious bandwidth to make sure the system works for all who are paying. Also, when you are on a HAL ship, and connected, enter this URL www.iplocation.net. You will see that no matter where in the world you are, you are connected through Carnival Corp. in Miami. Your computer thinks it is in Miami, no matter where your ship is. Carnival's internet is shared by all Carnival Corp. companies.

I don't mind being charged, I just think the rates are outrageous. Ever since I switched to T-Mobile, I've been using it to Hot-spot my baby notebook (and DW Verizon cell) when we are in port. T-Mobile gives me unlimited (at 2G) Data/Text when roaming internationally and I only need about 15-20 minutes every couple days to drag down emails and sent out Trip Reports.

 

For every cruise I look at the number and location of ports and then decide on how many minutes I need and then purchase that package on the first day. Generally on the first day they have a sale, which either gives a discount on the price or a few extra minutes.

 

Base rate is $0.75/minute and goes down with bulk purchases and its been at that rate since the mid-90s.

 

I've read that some ships have gone to a 'daily' rate and I really don't like that at all. I don't Social Media and don't want or need to be connected all day, just need to do bulk email receive/send and some light web browsing to check CC's and Banks.

It has been confirmed to me today by Mariners society that all HAL ships are turning to the new packages of unlimited internet effective end of July. All 'per minute' packages' will be gone by August 1. Only option are now per day or per voyage, but unlimited use.

I don’t pay for it in a hotel, restaurant or library. It’s 2018 internet should be free.

 

 

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While I agree in theory that it would be nice if it were free, along with free booze and free specialty dining, the reality is that there is no comparison in the costs associated with internet on land and the costs when using satellites. Hotels can provide you with the service at a fraction of the cost for cruise lines. HAL could go "all inclusive", and capture those costs in your booking fee, but I'd rather have the option of waiting until the next port and finding free or cheap internet.

It has been confirmed to me today by Mariners society that all HAL ships are turning to the new packages of unlimited internet effective end of July. All 'per minute' packages' will be gone by August 1. Only option are now per day or per voyage, but unlimited use.

My New Year's cruise on the Zuiderdam had the per-day packages. I understand why the ship shave gone to unlimited per-day pricing, but the pricing was insane! I needed to pay some personal bills and do some banking related to those bills. But because of the limits on the packages I had to pay for the more expensive package, even though I needed the internet for only a few minutes of the day. $25/day is insane for pricing just to check email or do some personal business.

It actually worked out cheaper for my husband to pay his mobile phone carrier for unlimited data. We paid $10/day to the mobile phone company for each day in port. That's a way better deal than $25/day on board.

If they want to continue the unlimited plans, the cost and plans need to be adjusted for people's actual needs. Some people need just a little access daily, but not for solely social media sites. There should be an all-access plan for those passengers as well, that's not insanely priced!

I've never used the internet on any HAL ships. I wouldn't mind paying by the minute if it were a fast connection. From what I've read, it seems that is not the case.

The connectivity was horrendous the one time we had a shipboard internet package. It was a "free" perk so we didn't have to pay for it but had we actually paid for it I definitely would have asked for a refund as it was almost totally worthless.

JUST OFF THE EURODAM AND THE INTERNET OFFERING WAS:

NEW INTERNET OPTIONS!!!!!

Three different options for a seven day cruise (assume it to be adjusted accordingly for longer cruises):

SOCIAL PLAN: Allows a daily volume of 200MB. Streaming and audio/video calling may be blocked.

$69.99 for 7 Days or

$14.99 for a 24 hour period

SURF PLAN: Allows a daily volume of 300MB. Streaming and audio/video calling may be blocked.

$99.99 for 7 Days or

$24.99 for a 24 hour period

PREMIUM PLAN: Allows a daily volume of 500MB. Supports audio/video calling and streaming where coverage allows

$139.99 for 7 Days or

$29.99 for a 24 hour period

According to MobileOffice, A 200 MB data plan would cover in one month: 1,000 text emails, 50 emails with photo attachments, 150 emails with other attachments, 60 social media posts with photos uploaded, and 500 Web pages viewed - So if you're not using it for audio/video calling and streaming, you should be able to get by with the Social Plan.

I used the Premium Plan because I needed to be able to conduct audio/video calling. I never ran out of MB. I stayed on throughout the day. Service was for the most part, excellent! You are also able to switch between devices as long as you are on one plan and disconnect from one device to sign into the other device. That enabled me to alternatively switch between my laptop and phone for connectivity. I am still an active real estate broker with an over-active business clientele, so FOR THE FIRST TIME I was able to actually maintain business requirements and not stress about the previously horrible HAL internet while enjoying daily activities on the cruise!

JUST OFF THE EURODAM AND THE INTERNET OFFERING WAS:

 

NEW INTERNET OPTIONS!!!!!

 

 

Three different options for a seven day cruise (assume it to be adjusted accordingly for longer cruises):

 

SOCIAL PLAN: Allows a daily volume of 200MB. Streaming and audio/video calling may be blocked.

$69.99 for 7 Days or

$14.99 for a 24 hour period

 

SURF PLAN: Allows a daily volume of 300MB. Streaming and audio/video calling may be blocked.

$99.99 for 7 Days or

$24.99 for a 24 hour period

 

PREMIUM PLAN: Allows a daily volume of 500MB. Supports audio/video calling and streaming where coverage allows

$139.99 for 7 Days or

$29.99 for a 24 hour period

 

According to MobileOffice, A 200 MB data plan would cover in one month: 1,000 text emails, 50 emails with photo attachments, 150 emails with other attachments, 60 social media posts with photos uploaded, and 500 Web pages viewed - So if you're not using it for audio/video calling and streaming, you should be able to get by with the Social Plan.

 

I used the Premium Plan because I needed to be able to conduct audio/video calling. I never ran out of MB. I stayed on throughout the day. Service was for the most part, excellent! You are also able to switch between devices as long as you are on one plan and disconnect from one device to sign into the other device. That enabled me to alternatively switch between my laptop and phone for connectivity. I am still an active real estate broker with an over-active business clientele, so FOR THE FIRST TIME I was able to actually maintain business requirements and not stress about the previously horrible HAL internet while enjoying daily activities on the cruise!

This was the plan pricing when I was on the Zuiderdam at New Year's. But, the Social Plan allowed access to social media sites ONLY and it was enforced. I tried to use it to get to my bank's site and it was blocked with a pop-up page that said to access that site I had to upgrade the plan.

I hope that they have changed the blocking on the plans, but be sure to check before you sign up for a plan, because you will have to go to the higher plan before visiting sites blocked with a cheaper one.