Internet access on Royal Caribbean
 

We're crusing on Adventure of the Seas in December and am debating whether to bring a laptop computer. Although Royal Caribbean says that the dial up access from the cabins and the Internet cafe are both satisfactory, my gut feeling is that I will be frustrated with the speed of service (perhaps far slower than even land-based dial-up) and suspect that the cruise lines haven't quite got all the bugs out of their internet service. I would like to hear the experiences of those that have tried to access Internet service from RCCL (or other cruise lines). Many thanks!

I'll let you know what I see after our Western Carib on Explorer later this month. We were told that Royal Carib charges 50 cents/minute, $25 per hour, or $35 for 90 minutes. For those who really want to turn your vacation into another day at the office, they offer 24-hr access at a flat rate of $100 for a 7-day cruise. This would be the option to take if you plan to email everyday, as I can imagine it would take 15-20 minutes just to send a couple of emails via dialup each day and that would add up to $50-70/week using the per minute charge.

It does take forever to get signed on on Adventure. Same when I was on the RCCL Med Cruise this summer. I am going on the Adventure 12/23 for 11 days/10 nights of glorius fun. Can't wait to go since it will be our 2nd xmas on this ship.

Why take a lap top or go on line at all? You're on vacation. I can read emails when I get home. There's no one I HAVE to email when I'm on a cruise. I'll email when I get home. I take my cell phone but keep it turned off. Leave it all home and have fun!

I can't have fun if I get home and have 600 emails in my box, LOL! I have cruised RCCL 10 times and the internet service always stinks. You wait and wait, lots of times you hit "send" and the mail just sits there. Of course, I'm an AOL user and that's the biggest part of the problem. On the Mariner, there was even a sign in the computer area about AOL being inconsistent! Lots of times, I had my money refunded cause I couldn't even sign off!If you take your laptop, they have only a limited number of cables, so get one early. If you have AOL, get a hotmail account or yahoo while using internet aboard. You may want to consider using Internet cafe in port with high speed!

I like to check email and keep in touch while cruising. I do, however, find the ship's services slow and expensive.

It is very easy to find an internet cafe in most every port. Just ask a crew member as they know them all!

Thanks to all who responded. I will take a combination of your advice: have a friend respond to the important email, leave the laptop at home, and check email at ports if I get the urge. Besides, my wife saw through my plans - she didn't believe I was bringing my laptop just to provide her with DVD movies on the plane, and that I was really trying to sneak in work during vacation. Busted.