Why internet on a cruise?

[mehitabel]

I always see lots of discussion on the boards about internet perks/benefits and questions about internet or wireless access. Why is being able to be online such a big deal when you're on vacation? Isn't part of being on vacation being able to put all that aside for a little while?

 

I don't know if our cellphones will get reception on our upcoming cruise--but I can tell you we're going to TELL everybody that they don't! Same thing goes for internet. I'm compulsively checking my email and favorite websites all day, every day. It'll be a nice break not to be able to for a week.

 

So for those of you that use the internet frequently onboard--is there a reason why? Or you just like having internet access just in case?

[junglejane]

I used the internet on our recent Mediterranean cruise to keep in touch with family members, including my 87 year old mother whom I usually call every day. Our cell phone would've cost $2.49/minute. Even though the internet was frustratingly slow, it was still a lot cheapier and easier to send emails than to talk on the cell phone -- especially given my mom's hearing problems. Also, I could send a group email to several family members at once to update them on our activities. And I didn't have to worry about figuring out the best time to call, given the 9 hour time difference. My mom in particular was very grateful for my daily email updates.

 

--Junglejane

[Toto2Kansas]

The internet onboard is the least expensive way to keep in touch with friends and family for whatever reason. Sometimes lifes little problems can't be left on the pier as you board, even on vacation, and even though we try. ;)

[cruiserjanet]

It really depends on what you use it for. We were supposed to have been traveling with my best friend and her husband on our Caribbean cruise but he ended up in the hospital a week before we were to leave having unexpected surgery. This was a cruise that was in the planning stages for a long time so it was sad that he was ill (he's fine now) and were unable to make the trip since it was to be our first time traveling with them. We were upgraded to a suite a few days before we were to leave so we had free Internet access. I posted a "Live From..." every day here on the Boards. This not only gave them a chance to read about our daily adventures (since they wanted to know) but it made them feel like they were sort of with us on the cruise even though they weren't. It also enabled our families to keep in touch if they wanted. We still felt like we had a fabulous vacation and "escaped completely".

[cdngrl]

when i travel without my kids i am able to relax more if i know they're doing okay. they are also interested in what i'm doing. having cruised themselves they can vicariously enjoy the crab legs with me! funny thing is, even if they weren't doing okay, they wouldn't tell me cause they want me to have a good time. we're just used to sharing our lives and i'm pleased we can do that on board.

[JustinPlusLauren]

The only time I used my internet was two years ago when I *had* to book my timetable for school, and I wanted to get all of the classes that I wanted, so I went on the internet to use it....problem was, the college's secure website to do this was blocked for some reason, and no one on the cruise could un-block it! I ended up having to call home and explain to my sister how to do it for me...at $4.99 a minute, blah!

 

Other than that, we've been happy not to use the Internet! We're on vacation and we don't really want to be tied back to the daily grind of being at home...we wanted to truly get away from everything!

[caribill]

Some reasons:

a) Keep in touch with family

b) Be able to be reached easily in an emergency

c) Pay bills online (they still come when you are on a cruise)

d) Check in for airline flights home

e) check weather for upcoming ports

[cmarshall9]

I'm a self employed contract employee. Potential jobs frequently come to me via e-mail. I can let people know my availability while I'm gone (I'm available when I return home), but it doesn't leave them hanging for more than a couple of days since I check e-mail every other day. My business grows through word of mouth so I can't let every potential customer know what my schedule is before leaving.

[NthernLgts]

Its a quick, convenient, and inexpensive way to check in with family & friends. For us, thats it.

[nho9504]

To handle banking via secured email on bank's website that could not be done in advance.

To check travel arrangements post cruise (we always tag on a week to 10 days land trip post cruise if we cruise other than from home port).

To check in online for flights and print boarding passes.

To quickly screen emails so not missing important messages.

[domdombus]

Me being in charge of basically everything at my company especially Computer equipment etc etc etc Am always on call 24/7. We finally hired someone more than semi competent to watch over things after 5+ years!

So I chose this cruise and UNPLUGGED! Verizon had no service most of the cruise except for San Juan and that was perfect. Well except when my phone got service in San Juan and a ton of 1 day old failure alerts started flying in, that wasn't fun, I started to flip out because I was not seeing recovery alerts. I started contacting people to find out why the problem wasn't taken care of. Then the recovery alerts started to come in and I just turned off everything and went back to calm!

The last thing I wanted to do was get internet access and start sifting through emails to find answers as to why things were not taken care of in a timely manner.

I gave everyone the Princess emergency number before I left and told them, I will have ZERO access to anything if you have an emergency here is the number otherwise see you in 9 days BYE BYE................

[chasetf]

Some reasons:

a) Keep in touch with family

b) Be able to be reached easily in an emergency

c) Pay bills online (they still come when you are on a cruise)

d) Check in for airline flights home

e) Check weather for upcoming ports

Some more reasons:

f) Check on exchange rates I am getting with my debit card

g) Check on investment performance

h) Check on World and National news to stay informed

[KC_fn]

People cruised for years and years without the internet, so I figured I could do it too. I also gave the emergency shore-to-ship number to a few carefully selected people, along with instructions not to call me unless it was literally a life-or-death matter. Just like in the olden days, my friends & family found they could wait for my return to hear all about my trip, and the rest of the world kept right on going without my input. For me, getting UN-connected is essential to the advanced state of relaxation which can only be found on a cruiseship.

[gambit57]

I just use it to check in for airlines and print out boarding pass.

 

You can set up your e-mail to send an automessage that you're on vacation.

[llandaff]

Simple. I'm addicted to it. ;)

[mascara]

While it's easy to SAY that the point of vacation is to "unplug," the reality is not everyone's job allows that complete disconnect. Not to say that your company can't survive without you for a week (mine sure can without me), but there's something to be said for taking half an hour twice a week during a vacation to just make sure there's not a big fire going on that three minutes of your time could fix now. I promise, the mess you return to is much worse than the half hour spent screening emails every three or so days.

[whale-watcher]

For me the reason is simple...stay in touch with the office, or stay home...without internet (or at least cell phone) access, I cannot travel for any extended period of time.

[Casshew]

Honestly I don't see much of a difference between sitting reading a book, sitting watching a movie or sitting surfing the net. It's a persons holiday, who am I to criticize how someone spends it as long as they enjoy :)

 

I hope to have a 'Live From' thread on my cruise in a couple of weeks - it's fun for me to do so, I have friends and family who will follow it.

[Growler]

I'll need it on our upcoming New England cruise to post a 'Live From' review to the boards here ;)

 

Anyone know if there's a way of downloading subscribed threads on this forum so I can read and reply offline?

 

Cheers

 

Tim

[coiran]

I do a lot of banking and bill paying over the internet. It comes in handy on long cruises.

 

Ron

[hubofhockey]

Everyone has mentioned great reasons. I'll add another. I am a huge Boston sports fan and when I cruise in April, I can keep up with the Sox, Celtics, and Patriots draft. When my wife and I do a Med cruise (without the kids), it will be the only way to send them letters every day to camp.

 

I have read many posts on other threads about people telling others to leave it at home because "it's supposed to be a vacation". I relax more knowing I have the ability to take care of anything that comes up while I'm far away.

[Julia’s Journey’s]

I always see lots of discussion on the boards about internet perks/benefits and questions about internet or wireless access. Why is being able to be online such a big deal when you're on vacation? Isn't part of being on vacation being able to put all that aside for a little while?

 

I don't know if our cellphones will get reception on our upcoming cruise--but I can tell you we're going to TELL everybody that they don't! Same thing goes for internet. I'm compulsively checking my email and favorite websites all day, every day. It'll be a nice break not to be able to for a week.

 

So for those of you that use the internet frequently onboard--is there a reason why? Or you just like having internet access just in case?

 

On a week cruise I will rarely even go look where the internet cafe is especially if the kids are with us. If they are not then I may send them and email just to touch base or at least contact my parents to make sure everything is okay with school etc.

 

On our last cruise it was a month long and even then I didn't use half our minutes, it was nice to email home and check that everything was okay with house and dogs etc.

 

One of the reasons we love cruising is we really get away from it all:D

[Cozzette2]

To call in sick:D Just kidding boss.

[jhannah]

My MIL is 85, and we like to have a conduit for communications with our kids who check on her while we're gone. But I don't surf the net at all while on vacation.

[MaryPoppinz]

Why is being able to be online such a big deal when you're on vacation? Isn't part of being on vacation being able to put all that aside for a little while?

 

Everyone's vacation needs are different. I assume it's a big deal because people either need to use it or want to. Just like the pool, the casino, the show lounges, the library, the gym....

 

How about a cruise where there is no access to phone or internet at all? That might be a perfect choice for you to get what you're after (or, rather, not after.)