PSA: WiFi can get you on the Internet, but it is not the Internet

[Deb]

Seeing cruise lines and hotels advertise "Free WiFi" and people thinking this is free Internet access. In many cases it is just access to the ship or hotel WiFi system, to use their app, ONLY. You have to pay extra to be connected from that equipment onto the internet.

It was not, sorry you misunderstood.

it wasn't?

 

[soccerdad72]

There's a certain level of irony in being schooled on technical terminology by tvguy.

 

[tvguy]

it wasn't?

You made my point.

"Seeing cruise lines and hotels advertise "Free WiFi" and people thinking this is free Internet access.

 

[Deb]

You made my point.

"Seeing cruise lines and hotels advertise "Free WiFi" and people thinking this is free Internet access.

I did not make your point.

Have a good day

 

[easyas123]

Yes, the WiFi is the on ramp TO the Internet, but getting beyond the router may cost you money. Like a toll road.

No, it doesn't, that was my point. I provided examples of going to various hotels & one cruise line where there was no issue, no toll.

 

[FastPasser.]

Anyone have experience with GigSky, Truphone, or KeepGo among others? It’s an alternative to ship Wi-Fi/internet plans?

I’m trying one of them in a few weeks. I’ve heard mostly positive things about e-Sim international data plans. It’s cheap enough to give it a try.

 

[lanejudy]

Seeing cruise lines and hotels advertise "Free WiFi" and people thinking this is free Internet access.

I think your point was hotels and cruiselines are advertising free wifi and people are being deceived. But no one has provided any evidence of that

It was not, sorry you misunderstood.

it wasn't?

"Seeing cruise lines and hotels advertise "Free WiFi" and people thinking this is free Internet access.

Wow... anyone else feel this is going in circles?

@tvguy you've given no evidence to back up your theory that businesses (hotels, cruise, restaurants, etc.) advertise free wifi and do not provide that. Do some people assume "wifi" means "free wifi" is available? I'm sure some do. But that is different than saying it's promoted as free but charge for the access.

 

[kdonnel]

"Seeing cruise lines and hotels advertise "Free WiFi" and people thinking this is free Internet access.

In all my travels I have never seen a cruise line or hotel advertise "Free WiFi" and it not include some level of internet.

If anyone is confused, it is not because the cruise lines or hotels are unclear in their advertising.

MSC:
https://www.msccruisesusa.com/on-board/internet-apps

The seems clear to me, a section on Wi-Fi and a section on MSC for Me the onboard app. If you click on them they have FAQ that clearly explains that using the MSC for Me app does not include internet access.


In my experience the other cruise lines I have traveled on also make it clear that the using the onboard app does not include or require internet access. This is made clear either on their webpage or when using the app or in both places.

I don't see how anyone who has read anything on the cruise lines sites could think that using the onboard app will grant access to the internet since the cruise lines don't advertise it as free wifi but instead focus on when onboard connect to the ship wifi to use the onboard app. The only people who could think that using the onboard app granted access to the general internet would have to be new to cruising and not have read anything on the cruise line web page prior to getting onboard.

The seasoned cruisers know that not much onboard is free(well unless you have booked some sort of all inclusive package) and that the onboard app is a replacement for the daily printed activity guide.

 

[sam_gordon]

You made my point.

"Seeing cruise lines and hotels advertise "Free WiFi" and people thinking this is free Internet access.

Because 99.999999999% of the time, thats what it means. You still haven't come up with a single example of where thats not the case.

 

[tvguy]

Because 99.999999999% of the time, thats what it means. You still haven't come up with a single example of where thats not the case.

Princess Cruise lines.

 

[tvguy]

Wow... anyone else feel this is going in circles?

@tvguy you've given no evidence to back up your theory that businesses (hotels, cruise, restaurants, etc.) advertise free wifi and do not provide that. Do some people assume "wifi" means "free wifi" is available? I'm sure some do. But that is different than saying it's promoted as free but charge for the access.

Yes, circles. I have tried to explain, but clearly that is not working. Princess Cruise lines is an example but .......oh well.

 

[kdonnel]

Princess Cruise lines.

What about this makes it seem like the Medallion Class experience includes free internet access?

https://www.princess.com/ships-and-experience/princess-medallionclass



Seems clear to me that I could purchase one-device or four-device packages at low daily rates.

Edited to add:
The FAQ also says it is a paid option
https://www.princess.com/faq/onboard-experience

and this page all about Medallion Net again mentions it is a paid service.
https://www.princess.com/ships-and-experience/princess-medallionclass/medallionnet

 

[lanejudy]

Princess Cruise lines is an example but .......oh well

Link? I have been all over the Princess website and do not find what you claim.

 

[tvguy]

Link? I have been all over the Princess website and do not find what you claim.

Here you go

https://www.princess.com/cruise-deals-promotions/plus-premier-cruise-packages


https://www.princess.com/ships-and-experience/princess-medallionclass/medallionnet

Princess uses their WiFi for passengers to access their app via the ships intranet. This is free.
Access from the ship out onto the internet requires once of three things.
1) Buying an internet access package
2) Buying the Plus package, internet access is part of the bundle
3) Buying the Premiere package, internet access is part of that bundle

 

[lanejudy]

Here you go

https://www.princess.com/cruise-deals-promotions/plus-premier-cruise-packages


https://www.princess.com/ships-and-experience/princess-medallionclass/medallionnet

Princess uses their WiFi for passengers to access their app via the ships intranet. This is free.
Access from the ship out onto the internet requires once of three things.
1) Buying an internet access package
2) Buying the Plus package, internet access is part of the bundle
3) Buying the Premiere package, internet access is part of that bundle

But Princess isn’t claiming the WiFi is free on those links. It’s pretty obvious you have to pay. Again YOU claimed “cruise lines and hotels advertise ‘Free WiFi’” when it costs.

 

[tvguy]

But Princess isn’t claiming the WiFi is free on those links. It’s pretty obvious you have to pay. Again YOU claimed “cruise lines and hotels advertise ‘Free WiFi’” when it costs.

Yes, clearly I wasn't clear. My concern if with INDIVIDUALS who consider WiFi to be Internet access.

 

[sam_gordon]

These two signs do NOT mean the same thing...




Do people get confused? I'm sure.

 

[lanejudy]

Yes, clearly I wasn't clear. My concern if with INDIVIDUALS who consider WiFi to be Internet access.

WiFi is essentially the same as internet access. Neither is necessarily free unless stated as such.

 

[Deb]

I all my years in the hotel business I can't begin to tell you how many people think "continental breakfast" means "complimentary" it does not . And the hotel is not in the wrong for advertising continental breakfast if it's not free.