Along with sunscreen and Hawaiian shirts, an ever-increasing number of cruise passengers are adding laptops and iPhones to their lists of must-pack items. The reason is simple. These days, staying in touch with friends and family stuck on land is easier than ever. Today's cruise ships come fully wired with Internet cafes, Wi-Fi hot spots and crystal clear cell phone transmission. So, whether you use a PDA for business, bring a cell phone to check in on grandma or need to surf the web to feed your news habit, you'll be covered.
But, while many operators have been making technological leaps, not all cruise lines are equally wired. For the most part, cruise ship connections will never offer the same high-speed service you get at home. Beyond that, Internet speeds can vary significantly from line to line, ship to ship, depending on factors like location and available bandwidth (in other words, how much the line has invested in its Web setup).
There's even variation within fleets. For example, only Carnival's newest ships -- Carnival Valor, Freedom, Liberty and Splendor -- offer bow-to-stern Wi-Fi. On the older vessels, you'll have to pay a visit to the Internet cafe.
Need to stay in touch while cruising? Here is some quick advice for staying connected at sea:
It's always cheaper to use on-land cyber centers in ports of call. In many cases, port facilities are adding on-site Internet centers. (Cruise crew love 'em.) And sometimes, as with the port terminal in Dubai, they're free! Otherwise, cyber cafes, which are often priced at less than $5 per hour, are usually close by. (Check out Cruise Critic's port profiles, which list nearby centers.)
Onboard, Internet charges vary by cruise line, ranging from 35 cents to $1.25 per minute. Cruise lines do offer packages for heavy users that discount the per-minute rate, often significantly. River cruise lines that operate boats on Europe's waterways offer different twists. On a recent cruise aboard Uniworld's River Beatrice, we paid a flat 15 euro for a week's worth of unlimited access. AMAWATERWAYS includes the cost of Internet in the price of the cruise.
The speed and availability of a ship's Internet connection varies greatly based on where you are in the world and how many people have logged on onboard. For example, mountains in Alaska and Monaco can often block the satellite signal, interrupting service. In general, if you want the fastest connection, log on early in the morning or late at night when fewer of your fellow passengers may be inclined to check their e-mail or surf the Web.
Some cruise lines offer personal at-sea e-mail addresses. We'll offer a caveat on this practice, however, because it tends to be pricier than using your own e-mail company via the Internet, as cruise lines that feature this option charge per missive sent.
While cellular rates at sea will vary by wireless company, they will generally reflect international roaming rates, which can be breathtakingly pricey. When the ship reaches port, pricing will switch to the country-specific roaming rate. For more information, check with your individual provider.
Be aware of the "quiet zone." Basically, what this means is that ships purposely keep a handful of places free of phone signals. For instance, Crystal Cruises has "quiet zones" in its dining rooms, theater and spas. Oceania Cruises' zone features public rooms and restaurants.
Carnival Cruise Lines
Internet & Wi-Fi: Carnival is one of the most advanced fleets in the industry, with shipwide Wi-Fi on all its vessels. As well, the line is beginning to incorporate a new, custom-designed portal into its cyber cafe computers; this offers a variety of special features and promotes easy access to news and sports sites. Other highlights include PhotoWorks access -- you can build your own scrapbook -- and access to iTunes for music downloads. And this is new: On Carnival Dream, the line's latest new-build which debuted in September 2009, the Internet cafe has been scrapped in lieu of 36 "FunHub" kiosks. The stations are spread out over Decks 3, 4 and 5 -- Carnival Dream's main public areas -- and provide free access to Dream's ship-specific information portal and social network. Read more about the FunHubs here.
Fees & Equipment: Passengers can either bring their own equipment, or rent laptops ($20/day), wireless Internet cards ($10/day) and optional insurance ($10/day). Both the Internet cafe and personal laptop rate is 75 cents per minute. Alternatively, minutes can be bought in blocks: 100 minutes for $55 or 250 minutes for $100. There is also a one-time activation fee of $3.95.
Cell Phones: Carnival passengers with GSM or CDMA wireless phones may now use their phones fleetwide; roaming charges will apply.
Celebrity Cruises
Internet & Wi-Fi: Celebrity offers cyber cafes and in-stateroom connections (folks without wireless capabilities will need to request a Connect@Sea kit). Wi-Fi is available in cruise cabins and certain ships have hot spots in public areas.
Fees & Equipment: Passengers on all Celebrity ships can surf the web in cyber cafes featuring up to 18 stations at a flat rate of 75 cents per minute or package rates of 100 minutes for $70, 200 minutes for $120, and 500 minutes for $250. The same rates apply to wireless hot spots on all ships, and in-stateroom Internet access available on Celebrity's Millennium-class ships -- Celebrity Millennium, Celebrity Infinity, Celebrity Summit and Celebrity Constellation. Guests need to bring their own laptops and request a Connect@Sea kit onboard which costs $10 per day. Penthouse, royal and celebrity suites on Millennium, Infinity, Summit and Constellation also have flat-screen monitors and fax machines.
Cell Phones: Passengers on all Celebrity ships can use their GSM or CDMA mobile phones onboard. Roaming charges will apply.
Costa Cruise Lines
Internet & Wi-Fi: All ships in the Costa fleet feature wired Internet cafes.
Fees & Equipment: Costs range from a flat rate of 25 cents per minute in the U.S. and Caribbean and .50 euros per minute everywhere else. Package plans can be purchased: 15 minutes for $6 and one hour for $20.
Cell Phones: Costa was one of the first (as we mentioned) to invest in cell phone access, and as such GSM roaming is available on all Costa ships. Charges apply. CDMA service is not currently available.
Crystal Cruises
Internet & Wi-Fi: Passengers on Crystal Serenity and Crystal Symphony can surf the Internet in Computer University @ Sea, equipped with 24 to 38 stations depending on the ship. In-cabin access is available. Laptops can be rented onboard.
Fees & Equipment:Crystal has finally abandoned its incredibly confusing pricing system and now offers a more simplified series of plans. You can pay $50 for two hours or $200 for 10 hours. Stateroom connection requires a special configuration of one's personal laptop for $15. Renting a laptop is $5 per day.
Cell Phone: Access is available for phones and wireless PDA's.
Cunard Line
Internet & Wi-Fi:Queen Mary 2 passengers can choose from eight computer terminals in the Cyber Centre, six in the Library and 30 in the Cunard ConneXions rooms. These passengers can also log onto their own laptops in their cabins and in 13 wireless locations throughout the QM2, including the Golden Lion Pub, Sir Samuels Wine Bar and Sports Deck. Among its many other bells and whistles, QM2's in-cabin interactive television system notifies you when there is a new e-mail. File and picture attachments can be viewed using a Cyber Centre computer. Queen Victoria also offers a computer center and wireless Internet access in cabins and select public areas.
Fees & Equipment: On QM2, basic Internet charges will run you 50 cents per minute; a variety of package rates including $13.50 for half an hour and $167.95 for eight hours. You'll pay $1.50 to send or receive text messages via the interactive television.
Cell Phones: Cell phone service is available on both QM2 and Queen Victoria. Phones must have international roaming capabilities, and the guests' service providers must have a roaming agreement with Maritime Communications Partner AS. Cell phone service will not be available in theaters and restaurants onboard.
Disney Cruise Line
Internet & Wi-Fi:Disney's two ships each feature an eight-station Internet Cafe in the Promenade Lounge where passengers can send e-mail, check stock quotes and get news updates. Four additional terminals are also available in the Cove Cafe. Kids between the ages of 13 and 17 can chat on two stations in their own computer area, called The Stack on Disney Magic and Aloft on Disney Wonder. Wireless high-speed Internet is available, with many hot spots set up in a variety of public areas.
Fees & Equipment: On Disney Magic, the rate is 75 cents per minute, but packages can be purchased in increments of 100, 250 and 500 minutes at $55, $100 and $150 respectively. On Disney Wonder, the rate is also 75 cents per minute. Packages can be purchased in increments of 50 minutes, 100 minutes and 250 minutes at $27.50, $40 and $75 respectively. Prices for Wi-Fi are the same. Printing is 25 cents per page.
Cell Phones: Currently, guests can use their cell phones onboard only on Disney Magic (in port, however, the feature will be disabled so guests may use local cell phone providers). Disney Wonder will feature cell phone service mid-summer. Rates vary according to guests' cell phone carriers.
Fred. Olsen Cruise Lines
Internet & Wi-Fi: Passengers onboard can access the Internet via the internet cafe's on board all of the fleet. Balmoral and Braemar are equipped with interactive television.
Fees & Equipment: Access on Balmoral, Braemar and Boudicca is charged by the amount of data downloaded (so for example, a page with lots of content will cost more to view than composing a simple email). Black Watch will have this system installed in the near future but at the moment, access is charged by time and cards can be purchased from reception costing £10 for 40 minutes.
Cell Phones: Roaming access is available for passengers with GSM phones aboard all of the fleet via the MCP system. GPRS is also available on selected ships and sailings.
Holland America
Internet & Wi-Fi:Holland America ships have some of the most attractive and useful Internet cafes at sea. Part of their "Explorations" cafe concept, the high-speed terminals are scattered around the library (also one of the best at sea) and handily adjacent to a coffee bar. Wireless access is also available there (and in most public areas, though not in cabins) for folks who bring their own laptops. Rates for Wi-Fi are the same as at the cafes. In-cabin access (56K dial-up speed, using your in-cabin phone line) is limited to the fleet's newer ships -- otherwise known as the Vista-class vessels -- and include Zuiderdam, Oosterdam, Westerdam and Noordam.
Fees & Equipment: After an initial activation fee of $3.95, the charge ranges from a flat rate of 75 cents per minute to package rates of 100 minutes for $55 and 250 minutes for $100. For guests whose laptops are not equipped for Wi-Fi, standard wireless cards are available for a fee of $10 per day (optional insurance at $5 per day). Laptops are also available for rent at $20 a day (insurance at $10 per day). Guests on the Vista-class ships -- Zuiderdam, Oosterdam and Westerdam -- pay a 50 cents per minute flat rate for in-cabin, dial-up access.
Cell Phones: As of March 2007, all ships in the Holland America fleet are cell-phone operational (provided by SeaMobile). Phones and PDA's must be activated for international calling with the passenger's home provider, but otherwise no special codes or software is needed. Roaming fees apply.
Fees & Equipment: Internet cafe and wireless users can buy 250 and 100 minute packages for 40 and 55 cents per minute. Where in-cabin access exists, the rate is 75 cents per minute. Wireless charges include a wireless card ($10 per day), optional card insurance ($3 per day), laptop rental ($20 per day) and laptop insurance ($10 per day).
Cell Phones: GSM and CDMA roaming access is available on all NCL ships except Marco Polo and the NCL America fleet.
Oceania Cruises
Internet & Wi-Fi: Passengers onboard Oceania's triplets -- Regatta, Insignia and Nautica -- can access the Internet via its Oceania@Sea program. Staterooms are equipped with interactive television -- you can also access e-mail and the Internet from there. In-cabin access is also available for folks who lug along laptops.
Fees & Equipment: Access is a flat 95 cents per minute -- pretty pricey. To send or receive e-mail to a specially designated Oceania address costs $2 per message.
Cell Phones: Roaming access is available for passengers with GSM and CDMA phones aboard Regatta. The services will eventually be extended to Oceania's other ships as well. Charges apply.
Princess Cruises
Internet & Wi-Fi:Princess Cruises' pay-as-you-go rate is currently 75 cents per minute. There are also three plans you can choose from: 100 minutes for $55 (55 cents per minute), 150 minutes for $75 (50 cents per minute), and 250 minutes for $100 (40 cents per minute). Wireless hotspots are available in public areas (though not in cabins) on all ships. Sun Princess and Dawn Princess have new Internet cafes; the number of terminals ranges from 8 to 26 depending on the ship.
Fees & Equipment: The aforementioned 75 cents per minute. One perk of its top tier frequent cruiser program is that those folks get credit towards package use (this is a departure from its previous policy of outright free Internet for Platinum and Elite members). Guests with laptops without wireless network cards can purchase a "Windows XP" compatible card onboard.
Cell Phones: Princess, so far, is one of the lone holdouts and offers no cell service.
Regent Seven Seas
Internet & Wi-Fi:Seven Seas Voyager, Mariner and Navigator offer Internet access in the internet cafe and on guests' laptops in public areas or suites. In-cabin access is available on Voyager, Mariner and Navigator. CruiseEmailTM service is available for guests who do not have their own e-mail or cannot access their e-mail provider, which costs an additional charge of $3.95 per outgoing e-mail.
Fees & Equipment: Plan A is a pay-as-you-go at a rate of 35 cents per minute. Plan B you can purchase 100 minutes for $25 and Plan C includes 250 minutes for $50. There is also a one-time activation fee of $3.95.
Cell Phones: GSM and CDMA roaming access is available aboard Seven Seas Voyager, Mariner and Navigator. Charges apply.
Royal Caribbean International
Internet & Wi-Fi: Ships are equipped with Internet Cafes featuring 12 - 24 terminals (more private are the cyber stations at business centers on ships that have them -- Voyager and Radiance class). One of the most interesting touches -- and unique, as far as we can tell, to the industry -- is that Internet-accessible terminals are located in its Adventure Ocean kids' facilities (and the rate's half what parents pay). On the line's more recent ships (Voyager and Radiance class) in-cabin access is available.
Fees & Equipment: CyberCabin service costs $70 for a four- to five-day cruise, $100 for a one-week cruise, and $130 for nine- to 10-day sailings. Rates for the onboard cafe are 50 cents a minute (25 cents per minute for kids' terminals in Adventure Ocean).
Cell Phones: GSM and CDMA roaming access is available on all ships. Charges apply.
Seabourn
Internet & Wi-Fi: This line's five ships -- Seabourn Pride, Seabourn Legend, Seabourn SpiritSeabourn Odyssey and Seabourn Sojourn -- are wired for Wi-Fi access in all suites and most public areas. Computer centers on Pride, Legend and Spirit have six terminals. Odyssey and Sojourn have eight public terminals.
Fees & Equipment: The flat rate for both wireless and computer center access is 50 cents per minute. Passengers can also purchase a package of 30 minutes for 45 cents per minute, one hour for 42 cents per minute, eight hours for 35 cents per minute and 32 hours for 25 cents per minute.
Cell Phones: Cell phone capability has recently been added to Seabourn's ships and passengers can connect while at sea in a few locations, such as on the outer decks; a company spokesman says that it's their hope that folks will chat in their suites rather than in public. Indeed, access is blacked out in most public rooms and dining areas.
Silversea
Internet & Wi-Fi: The line's four vessels -- Silver Cloud, Silver Shadow, Silver Whisper and Silver Wind -- are 100 percent wired for Wi-Fi from bow to stern. Each of the ships' computer centers have computers with flat-screen monitors.
Fees & Equipment: The rates for both wireless and computer center access is 50 cents per minute. Passengers can also purchase a package of 100 minutes for 45 cents per minute ($45), 250 minutes for 34 cents per minute ($85) and 1,000 minutes for 25 cents per minute ($250).
Cell Phones: In 2006, the line teamed up with SeaMobile, a global wireless voice and data communications provider, to offer at-sea cell capabilities to cruisers with GSM, CDMA and GPRS devices (GPRS is the platform that handheld PDA devices, such as BlackBerrys, work on).
Windstar
Internet & Wi-Fi: Wireless Internet is now available on all three Windstar ships, and passengers can access computers onboard (and rent laptops). Wind Surf is the first ship to get a new facility; its Internet Center has been incorporated into the ship's new Yacht Club -- a coffee house-cum-game room-cum-library-cum-Internet cafe.
Fees & Equipment: Windstar offers three packages: White 30-Minute Card: $22.50 or $.75 per minute; Silver 100-Minute Card: $55 or $.55 per minute; Gold 250-Minute Card: $100 or $.40 per minute.
Cell Phones: Mobile phone service is available on Wind Surf. Wind Star will get cell service on November 29, 2008, and Wind Spirit on April 18, 2009. The onboard international roaming network supports GSM and CDMA technology, and text messaging, GPRS and EDGE data service is available. Cell phone use is not permitted in public areas.
--by Carolyn Spencer Brown, Editor in Chief and Dan Askin, Associate Editor
It's always cheaper to use on-land cyber centers in ports of call. In many cases, port facilities are adding on-site Internet centers. (Cruise crew love 'em.) And sometimes, as with the port terminal in Dubai, they're free! Otherwise, cyber cafes, which are often priced at less than $5 per hour, are usually close by. (Check out Cruise Critic's 
Fees & Equipment: Passengers on all Celebrity ships can surf the web in cyber cafes featuring up to 18 stations at a flat rate of 75 cents per minute or package rates of 100 minutes for $70, 200 minutes for $120, and 500 minutes for $250. The same rates apply to wireless hot spots on all ships, and in-stateroom Internet access available on Celebrity's Millennium-class ships -- 
Internet & Wi-Fi: 
Internet & Wi-Fi: 
Internet & Wi-Fi: 
