Do you bring your laptop with you on a cruise?

[EASchechter]

I know most of us will have a phone and maybe a tablet of some kind, but what about a laptop? Do you bring one with you on a cruise? If so, what do you use it for? If not, have you missed it for any reason?

I was considering it, so that we could offload pictures and such, but my husband has pointed out that extra memory cards are easier to carry.

I might still anyway, because I'm a working writer. I have no idea what deadlines I'll be under when we cruise.

 

[redsonja76]

I've taken it before and not used it at all. Now I never take it and don't miss it in the least.

 

[FigmentSpark]

One of the things I like to do is play around with my pictures with Photoshop Elements. But I don't know if I'd have the time, with all the other things going on, to pull out a laptop for that. I did think that if I was buying the Shutters package, it would be better to be able to check the USB before leaving the ship. That way, if there are any problems, they could rectify it right then.

The downside for me is that we are doing some time in Orlando before the cruise and then a day in MK after. The laptop and our suitcases are going to spend a little time, vulnerable, in our rental van while we are shopping, or after checking out of the World and doing MK. That's bothering me.

 

[phinz]

I take a laptop and leave the phone in airplane mode and only app wifi. That way I can control my paid data usage. The phone does *not* get logged in to the paid wifi because it would devour data in no time flat.

 

[2Bnºoºt2B]

One of the things I like to do is play around with my pictures with Photoshop Elements. But I don't know if I'd have the time, with all the other things going on, to pull out a laptop for that. I did think that if I was buying the Shutters package, it would be better to be able to check the USB before leaving the ship. That way, if there are any problems, they could rectify it right then.

The downside for me is that we are doing some time in Orlando before the cruise and then a day in MK after. The laptop and our suitcases are going to spend a little time, vulnerable, in our rental van while we are shopping, or after checking out of the World and doing MK. That's bothering me.

Not unless you park in a very busy and visible spot, I'm not sure I would take the chance of leaving anything in our vehicles ...

 

[Kaleea]

DH Never goes anywhere without his laptop, but we will use for backing up photo's too. I prefer to have the safety net in case memory cards get lost or damaged. As soon as we hit a wifi signal that is free, we can connect to our home server and send the photo's home.

 

[ratt1345]

We have brought either my laptop or DW's laptop in the past. I am thinking that for our upcoming cruise in October 2016 we won't bring either one. We have an extra card for the camera so there's no need to download pictures to a computer until we get home. I don't think we will miss it either!!

 

[FigmentSpark]

Not unless you park in a very busy and visible spot, I'm not sure I would take the chance of leaving anything in our vehicles ...

Indeed, but what's the alternative when you're checking out of one hotel and checking into another much later? Except for WDW, I don't know if I'd trust the hotel desk, either.

 

[jubjubrsx]

No electronics at all here. We unplug and that is the whole reason for our cruise vacations.

same here.....i dont even like carrying around my phone....best part of the cruise is disconnecting from the world

 

[MinnesotaMouseketeers]

Never travel with my laptop, but do bring an iPad. It has movies and games to entertain during the flights and books while cruising. But I must admit it rarely comes out of the case while on the cruise; too much to do while on board. My wife uses her iPhone for all the above, but she does use it more often to read while on the cruise. Loves to sit out on the verandah and read, occasionally looking up to watch the world slip by while cruising.

 

[Savikins]

I've never brought a laptop or anything like that on a cruise before. Unfortunately, I have a small amount of classwork to do while on my upcoming cruise, so I'll have to take something with me. I would bring my laptop, but it's broken, so I'll be taking a tablet.

 

[kid-at-heart]

Sadly yes, I always bring my computer on vacations. Because I am a professor who works summers instructing online courses or if we are on breaks, I am prepping for courses. So I am always working, on vacation or not. By the way, I do love my job and feel very lucky to be a professor. The students are awesome.

 

[2Bnºoºt2B]

Indeed, but what's the alternative when you're checking out of one hotel and checking into another much later? Except for WDW, I don't know if I'd trust the hotel desk, either.

It depends on the hotel chain ... if it's reputable then it should be ok. For valuables, see if they have a secure room/safe deposit box. When we got off the Fantasy and checked into the Portofino Bay Resort a few years ago, we arrived way before check-in (before 11 am). We were able to lock up our passports, travel documents etc with them, Bell Services took care of the luggage ... and off we went to Universal. When our room was ready, they gave us a call.

 

[FigmentSpark]

It depends on the hotel chain ... if it's reputable then it should be ok. For valuables, see if they have a secure room/safe deposit box. When we got off the Fantasy and checked into the Portofino Bay Resort a few years ago, we arrived way before check-in (before 11 am). We were able to lock up our passports, travel documents etc with them, Bell Services took care of the luggage ... and off we went to Universal. When our room was ready, they gave us a call.

While I wouldn't say we're staying in seedy motels, we are staying in hotels on the lower end of the price range. Except for one. All my 'hotel budget' is going to a theme park view deluxe resort for one night post-cruise. I know, that's off topic, but that's why we'll be lugging our stuff from hotel to hotel while we do things through the day. And since we have a van, it's the reason I worry about the laptop.

I do think some valid points have been made here, like using it for work items and for the land part of your trip. Offloading and reviewing photos is a big one for me.