Just got back from a Celebrity S. Carribbean cruise. They charged $.50 per minute.
I think that Celebrity has come down on that price. Although I always use their in-cabin Internet access, I did use their Internet Cafe once, to print something for someone else and I thought that it was closer to $1.00/min. But that was at least 7 or 8 months ago and the cruise lines have been adjusting prices across the board, in order to entice more post-911 travelers.
I know that Royal Caribbean offers in-cabin Internet access in their suites on some of their ships, but I am not aware of any of their ships that have in-cabin Internet access in their standard staterooms. Though it has been many years since I cruised on RCCL, I did go on an RCCL FAM a few months back and that was where I got that info.
Personally, my favorite cruise line was Renaissance Cruises, so I am really saddened that they filed Chapter 11. They were certainly the classiest of the superliners. But at least, Celebrity is not that far behind, especially if you book a suite (lots of extra perks). Also, their alternative gourmet restaurants are fabulous and they have one of the best wine and port lists that I have seen at sea.
My other favorite is Windstar Cruises. Ultra high class and ultra laid back. Their goal is "casual elegance" - no Tuxes. I think that it's assumed that if you can afford to be on board, then you don't have to put on airs by wearing a Tux. The only problem is that they are truly an escape cruise and did not have Internet access the last time that we were on board and at least for the next year, I can't afford to be incommunicado for a week or two.
At one point, we considered buying an apartment on the World of ResidenSea, but it's beginning to look like they may not be able to keep that concept going, either. They still have a lot of unsold apartments. What a bummer. That really sounded like a great idea. With all of the communications facilities that they have on board, you could easily run a business from on board.
I'm really glad that FR is doing 7 day cruises now. Those 3 and 4 day jaunts are for the birds. You come back more tired than when you left. I will probably be out of the country on business when this FReeper cruise is underway, but if the next cruise is also a 7 day or longer cruise, I will certainly try my best to make it. In fact, the opportunity to go on a FReeper cruise is probably the only reason that we will ever go on a commercial cruise again, since we are now in the early planning stages of building a yacht. But make no mistake; I would gladly leave the yacht behind to join a bunch of FReepers for a week on a cruise ship. This cruise just comes at a bad time for us.
So, have one of those little drinks with the umbrella in it for me and I hope that I'll be able to join you next time.
Enjoy!
It's time for freepers to actually see what it is they've been hearing about for so long! I love watching CNNI's news and analyzing its presentations of it. Really sharpens my skills on spin to a fine point.
The commentators and news readers are different from those we see on our home TVs except when they switch to Wolfie or some other stateside CNN commentator for a report. The newsreaders all have different accents and the usual international slant on things.
However, I must admit that CNN International's coverage is terrific because of its long-established presence in various countries and hot-spots around the world, including enemy territory.
Freeper cruisers will enjoy 24/7, on-the-spot, late-breaking news while on this voyage!
Leni