Verizon global data or onboard Internet?

[danfromca]

As a veteran cruiser, I'm well familiar with the cost (and speed) of the onboard Internet.
Rumor has it that Verizon's global data plan ($25 for 100MB) works onboard and that there is 3G on board.

If this is true, it brings up the question - is it a better deal to use the onboard Internet or the phone's 3G and tether? In one case you're paying for data, in the other for time connected.

Has anyone tried this? And if so, on which ship?

Thanks

 

[erionm]

The cellular service on ship is provided by Cellular at Sea. The service uses the ships satellite to transmit data. The speed is not even close to real 3G service.

 

[danfromca]

The cellular service on ship is provided by Cellular at Sea. The service uses the ships satellite to transmit data. The speed is not even close to real 3G service.

Right - but how does it compare to the regular onboard Internet, which is not even close to real broadband service?

 

[Essexguy29]

hi - on my mobile (cell phone for those in the U.S) I couldn't get a stable internet connection using the ships signal and it was virtually impossible to browse the internet.

It took at least 5 minutes for me to get a picture message through to my family using the ships signal.

 

[bridgemanva]

We've begun to call and activate global roaming and global data before we sail that way when we're in port we do the most data transfer and web searching as there is generally better connectivity. But while at sea still have email, voice and text. And it doesn't cost as much as we usually spent on internet. Verizon only charges you for the prorated time of the usage. We've done this for our last 6 trips abroad/at sea and only had a problem the first time we'd get warning messages about data usage when we had not even neared the usage max for the plan we set up. also easy to stay in touch w/ my husband as we both have smart phones.

The only problem we ever had is I had to have Verizon mark our account to ensure we'd have no problem so we could ignore their warnings with impunity b/c I called in so much in response to their inaccurate/automatic warning notices that the supervisor said she'd turn off warning and personally notify us if it was nearing limit.

 

[erionm]

Right - but how does it compare to the regular onboard Internet, which is not even close to real broadband service?

Both are going thru the same satellite at a low priority.