Wind Surf internet

[landj999]

Is it expensive? Is it fast enough to be worthwhile?

Thanks in advance j

[dandee2]

Fast? Not for me. I had a mini-laptop last year. I learned the hard way that you have to disable the Window automatic update. It kept downloading updates and using lots of bandwidth.

 

Price: I do not remember but I did post it in the forum somewhere. If money no object, it is definitively reliable on the ship, just not that fast.

 

Best bet: Ask one of the crew member to direct you to a restaurant or bar at your next port that has Wifi. They know; That how they communicate with their family back home. They also have SIM card for every island they visit.

 

Skype on our mobile (wifi) worked miracle for us while calling the children back home. $0.02/min.

 

Some people seemed able to use their cell. at sea.

 

This from CruiseCritic:

Windstar

 

Internet and Wi-Fi: Wireless Internet is available in most public areas and cabins on all Windstar ships, and passengers can access computers and rent laptops onboard. Wind Surfhas an Internet center with eight workstations.

 

Fees: Windstar offers three packages: 30 minutes for $22.50, 100 minutes for $55 and 250 minutes for $100.

 

Cell Phones: Mobile phone service is available fleetwide. The onboard international roaming network supports GSM and CDMA technology, and text messaging, GPRS and EDGE data service are available. Cell phone use is discouraged in public areas.

[acruisefan]

Unless you must be tied in for work, your best bet is to go to a local internet cafe. My DH bought an internet pkg on the Windsurf our 1st time - it was slow as we were warned. Our 2nd cruise, on the Windspirit, the crew actually advised us to use the internet cafes, which is what we did.

 

We also arranged for international service through our cell phone in the event of an emergency where we would want to call the US. There was a small fee involved, and then we had access with a reduced minutes fee. We only used it once - for an emergency, to be sure that family memvers were safe from a Tsunami that was supposed to hit Hawaii, where they were on vacation. We were on board and sailing near Turkey at the time and were able to reach them and hear that they were safe, with no problems.

[dandee2]

You can find this info on Windstar Web Site:

 

CELL PHONE SERVICE

Guests may now access cell phone service both at sea and in port. At sea, both GSM and CDMA maritime roaming is available. Be sure to contact your home network prior to embarking to ensure your account is authorized to roam internationally and to confirm maritime roaming pricing. Verizon subscribers should dial *228 and select Option 2 to update their roaming list. All roaming charges will be included in your monthly bill by your home carrier.

 

PHONE & FAX COMMUNICATIONS

Those at home can reach any Windstar ship. Please have the ship name, stateroom number and party name. (go to the link)

 

 

http://www.windstarcruises.com/already-booked-general-information.aspx#CellPhoneService

 

Guests on board may make phone calls from their stateroom at a cost of $7.95 per minute.

 

EMAIL

Windstar Cruises offers full internet capabilities, depending on course and position of the ship, as well as wireless Internet service on all three ships. Wi-Fi access is possible in most public areas, staterooms and suites. Please note that during Ocean Crossings there will be no internet at all and all computers in the Computer Center will be shut down.