Even with the pickup and drop off airport fees, it was well worth the 92 Euros that I spent. I picked up and dropped off at Terminal 2 at El Prat. As we stayed in Airbnb locations, we could not use the hotel delivery service. I'm not sure what I would have done with the Wifivox hotspot. We just returned from 8.5 days in Spain (flew in and out of Barcelona) with time in Barcelona, Madrid, Sevilla, and Granada. It might even allow you to skip the Wi-Fi on board entirely in some cases.I'm going to echo Aaron's views on Wifivox. For $50 for a full 30 days, customers get 50 minutes and unlimited texts while cruising on select ships. Related: Is Cunard's QM2 a Good Ship for Working Remotely?ĪT&T’s Cruise Package is an option for AT&T customers who need to make a few calls while onboard, or who primarily text to stay in touch with things at home. While you don't see a separate line in your bill from the satellite provider, rest assured it is getting a cut. In addition, your cell phone provider (AT&T, Verizon, etc.) also charges a roaming rate. The satellite provider sets up a mini-cell tower on the ship and charges for the transmission that takes your voice and sends it to the satellite and back down to land. You are essentially billed by two companies. Otherwise calls and text messages to your phone can rack up expensive charges very quickly. If you plan to buy a Wi-Fi plan onboard, or even if you simply want to use the smartphone apps many cruise lines offer, put your phone in airplane mode, but with Wi-Fi turned on. Turn Your Cell Phone Data Off at Sea to Save Money The disadvantage comes in areas with a lack of cell towers, where the cell signal is weaker and the connection speed slower.ħ. When the ship is near a cell phone tower, newer 3G or 4G service can provide faster service than what can be delivered through satellite. However, hills or mountains in the river valleys often block satellite connections, so river ships must use cellular for their primary internet connection. ![]() ![]() Being so close to civilization, you'd think there should be a quicker connection. Interestingly, river boats (many of which offer free internet) continue to offer a particularly frustrating online experience, if only because of heightened expectations. As more people are on their computers or cell phones requiring data, congestion can build up and passengers could notice slower speeds. Barring any obstructions, you can still get an internet signal down in Antarctica and as far as 80 degrees north latitude in Svalbard.Ĭongestion within the path also can be a problem. Related: 9 Tips for Getting a Last-Minute Cruise Dealįurthermore, when the ship has to change course quickly, it's common for the signal to be temporarily lost. It is also true that the ship itself can block a signal - on certain courses, the funnel or mast might be between the antenna and satellite. In the Norwegian fjords, the tall mountains often block satellites, so don't count on satellite reception there. In port, it might be that a tall building is directly in between the ship and satellite. Sometimes that pathway between the antenna and the satellite is blocked. In order for there to be a connection, the antenna needs to be pointing at, and have an unobstructed line of sight to, the satellite. All the data being sent from the ship to the satellite and back (for example, pages loading on a browser) has to traverse this pathway. Maritime communication companies have sped up this process, which used to take a long time, through various means including adding more satellites, increasing the bandwidth that can be sent during each transmission and linking up with land-based towers when sailing closer to shore.īut the biggest limitation to reliability continues to be a clear path between the ship and the satellite. These antennas transmit a signal from the ship to a satellite, which then sends a signal back down to earth. The big golf ball-shaped domes visible on top of cruise ships are protective shells that encase freely moving satellite antennae. To understand why shipboard internet isn't comparable to the broadband you enjoy at home, you first need to understand the technology behind it. ![]() That's true in almost every circumstance. Satellite internet at sea is not as reliable as on-land connections.
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