Unlimited Internet Cafe Option on the Repo?

[thiscloud]

I remember seeing the unlimited internet cafe option listed on the DCL website for $179.99 or $189.99 within the last few weeks. However, I don't see the option now on the page. Anyone confirm VERY recently that there's still the unlimited option on the 14 day cruise?

 

[ivanova]

It does mention unlimited internet access for the 3, 4, 7 and 10 night cruises, but the only place where the repo cruise is called out specifically is the $105 for 300 minutes access.

So I don't know if they'll double the 7 night cost for unlimited on the repo, or they aren't offering it.

There were issues at times during the "practice" repo cruise in May - folks waiting in line to use a terminal, being limited to 10 minutes of use. There were probably complaints from folks that paid for unlimited and felt since they were limited to 10 minutes at a shot they weren't truly getting "unllimited" service.

If DCL perceives that might be an issue again, simply remove the unlimited option and (supposedly) remove the Guest complaints.

 

[thiscloud]

ack! this is going to affect whether i decide to bring my laptop or not...

really, there were lines for the terminals?

 

[ivanova]

ack! this is going to affect whether i decide to bring my laptop or not...

really, there were lines for the terminals?

Yeah, at certain times of the day (I'd imagine mid day on the days at sea).

We had several friends on the ship -- a couple were crazy enough to wait in line for a terminal, and then had to type fast because they were only allowed 10 minutes -- other friends simply waited until after midnight (ZZZZZZZ) when there were no lines for terminals and they could type to their heart's content without a time limit.

 

[thiscloud]

well, i'm usually a night owl, so i'll probably use it during the late evening anyway. i just hope you're still offering the unlimited option in a week and a half...

 

[Mickey&JoshNut]

There were issues at times during the "practice" repo cruise in May - folks waiting in line to use a terminal, being limited to 10 minutes of use. There were probably complaints from folks that paid for unlimited and felt since they were limited to 10 minutes at a shot they weren't truly getting "unllimited" service.

That's interesting...I was on the "practice" (your words not mine) REPO cruise in May and never once had my time limited...even when there was a line...our biggest problem was the internet connection going down and the second was that there were not enough computers as we had more adults than children onboard (only 300 kids).

I think a lot of people did limit their time when they saw people waiting but there was not a DCL imposed 10 minute limit. I was in the internet cafe enough and knew quite a few people with internet access that if DCL had imposed a time limit, we would have known.

I think the unlimited internet was $179.99 but we did get a credit on our last night of the cruise due to the problems with the internet onboard.

DCL probably took off the 14 night price since the cruise that leaves on August 20 is the only 14 night now being offered. All the prices for the internet will be shown on the screen when you go to log into the computers onboard for the first time.

 

[Lisa F]

I called DCL for confirmation and it is, in fact, true that they have removed the unlimited option on our cruise. I was advised that if I wanted to officially complain that I should email dcl guest communications but that they take 3-4 weeks to get back to you so not enough time for this cruise but they would take it under advisement for future cruises.

My husband works in a 4 person company and the only way he can take any time off AT ALL is if he puts in an hour or two a day of work. Instead of the $179.99 unlimited package that we were counting on, it will now cost us $500+ for him to do what he needs to do. We have been saving up for this very expensive vacation for more than a year (and it is our first vacation in 3 years) so this is a blow to the budget to say the least, not to mention the fact that I will now be stressing about how much every minute that he has to work is costing us. Honestly if this had some out before final payment deadlines we would have seriously considered canceling the trip and now I wish we could. I know it will be our last Disney cruise and we will be bowing out of the future DCL plans with friends of ours (who we convinced to try the cruiseline from the beginning).

Yes, I was concerned about the unlimited internet situation but my husband has always gotten up early, 5am or so, so that he could use the computer in peace without feeling like he was making other people wait.

 

[winotracy]

Do you think DCL is worried about people sharing internet access? I know that has happened in the past -- don't know if it happened on the westbound cruise, but maybe with the number of people waiting for terminals and the amount of money made they figured people were sharing, which is against DCL policy. Just a thought. We had already planned on bringing the laptop and doing wireless so no problem here.

 

[kcashner]

The CMs know where to get cheap internet and phone access in port (at least on the Eastern and Western Carribean)...and will share the information. Of course, we don't want to spend our port time on line.

 

[Lisa F]

Well Allen (my DH) called as well and this change was made two days ago (Tuesday). The official reason is that because of overcrowding at the internet cafe on the westbound cruise they are cancelling the unlimited package on our cruise. I'm glad this info came out in advance, but upset that they made the last minute change. At least now I have time to get my annoyance out of my system and I guess we will figure out how to pay an atrocious internet bill. I will just take the money out of our kids' college funds, they don't need to go to college anyway.

 

[Niagara2]

I wonder if they will offer unlimited internet for the wireless users. We can bring our laptop and use the wireless. If the true reason that unlimited access was taken away is to alleviate the crowding at the internet cafe than offering it to people with their own laptops would not cause a problem.

 

[winotracy]

I wonder if they will offer unlimited internet for the wireless users. We can bring our laptop and use the wireless. If the true reason that unlimited access was taken away is to alleviate the crowding at the internet cafe than offering it to people with their own laptops would not cause a problem.

No. I got word from the Internet Cafe Manager that they will be offering 300 minutes for $105 for wireless, but no unlimited option. It seems like a lot of money, but if you figure out how much time you have to spend on unlimited to pay the same rate as the wireless, it's between 5 and 6 hours. That's a lot when you're on vacation.

Tracy

 

[Lisa F]

No. I got word from the Internet Cafe Manager that they will be offering 300 minutes for $105 for wireless, but no unlimited option. It seems like a lot of money, but if you figure out how much time you have to spend on unlimited to pay the same rate as the wireless, it's between 5 and 6 hours. That's a lot when you're on vacation.

Tracy

That's not a whole lot when the vacation is 2 weeks long and you need to do some work on it. It really sucks and quite honestly if we knew this had been the case in advance we probably would have cancelled the trip. I don't need to spend a small fortune on a vacation and then worry about whether something is going to blow up at my husband's job and how much it's going to cost us if it does. Yes, in an ideal world he'd be able to go "no contact" for his first vacation in more than 3 years, but we don't live in an ideal world and life is full of compromises. I guess our compromise is going to be taking that money we were planning to spend on rebooking onboard and paying that for internet access.

 

[winotracy]

That's not a whole lot when the vacation is 2 weeks long and you need to do some work on it. It really sucks and quite honestly if we knew this had been the case in advance we probably would have cancelled the trip. I don't need to spend a small fortune on a vacation and then worry about whether something is going to blow up at my husband's job and how much it's going to cost us if it does. Yes, in an ideal world he'd be able to go "no contact" for his first vacation in more than 3 years, but we don't live in an ideal world and life is full of compromises. I guess our compromise is going to be taking that money we were planning to spend on rebooking onboard and paying that for internet access.

Don't get me wrong Lisa, I agree, when you have to work, it's not that much, but for the majority of the people cruising, unlimited is a lot of time for the money. I'm trying to figure out how to keep my time to a minimum because I have to work too.

Tracy

 

[miclen]

I haver a question about the internet access, but having never used it on board I may be wrong. If I bring my labptop (With wireless capabilities), can't I type my emails "Offline" and then only sign on to actually send them? Therefore only paying for the actual minutes spent sending and not those spent typing? This was my hope and then I thought my cheapest option would be to just pay by the minute and not buy a package. Please help me if I have this wrong.

 

[Lisa F]

Well at this point we will probably budget for 900 minutes or so ($315 as opposed to the unlimited package) and hope an hour a day on average does the trick. Hey maybe we will get away with 600 minutes.

 

[JSCTRico4]

Miclen, that's what I was going to do. At the very least, you can type in Word, then sign on and copy and paste to your e-mail. There are definitely ways to preserve your actual "on-line" time. I think 20 minutes a day to keep in touch by e-mail will be plenty for me. We too are using our internet for business purposes while cruising, but, with careful planning, we can mak it work.

 

[winotracy]

Not sure how it will work, but agree, you can always copy and paste. I plan to do that with the e-mails from work. My secretary may even just send pdfs or word docs so I can quick download them then get offline. I can't believe there wouldn't be an option to work on the computer offline. That would get a lot of complaints!

Good plan Lisa. I think we'll be getting 600 minutes and it better be enough!

Tracy

 

[Hygiene99]

Not sure how it will work, but agree, you can always copy and paste. I plan to do that with the e-mails from work. My secretary may even just send pdfs or word docs so I can quick download them then get offline. I can't believe there wouldn't be an option to work on the computer offline. That would get a lot of complaints!

Good plan Lisa. I think we'll be getting 600 minutes and it better be enough!

Tracy

 

[winotracy]

You better not call me every waking hour! I'll turn off the Skype phone

Tracy