Technology on Board Cruise Ships

Advances in technology always fascinate me. We are now able to communicate with friends, relatives and business associates from almost anyplace in the world. Specifically, passengers on cruise ships are no longer isolated from the outside world.

Satellite Internet access has been available on cruise ships for a few years but a new advance is available this year. I was pleasantly surprised to find the Carnival Spirit even has a cell phone "tower" someplace on board. GSM cell phones work perfectly every place on the ship. I receive "five bars" signal strength everywhere I walk on board. I can place calls easily. If anyone back home dials my cell phone number, the iPhone on my hip rings a second or two later. I simply say "hello" and start conversing in exactly the same manner as I do when I am at home.

Some people might argue that such lack of isolation is a bad thing, intruding even into our vacations. However, I would argue that many of us are now able to enjoy two-week cruise vacations and other leisure activities that previously would have been impractical. Without business communications with the office and personal communications with home, many of us would be unable to travel for extended periods of time for leisure purposes.

The on-board cell phone international calling rates are expensive; about the same as placing calls while roaming in another country. I won't be chit-chatting for extended periods of time from the Lido Deck. However, the cell phone does allow me to handle even minor emergencies and to "check in" with the folks back home, should I wish to do so.

Modern technology does expand our worlds in many ways, allowing us to do more and more with our lives.

Comments

[Tar]

Cingular Wireless and Maritime Telecommunications Network

[Norm Prince]

va·ca·tion –noun [web based dictionary]

1. a period of suspension of work, study, or other activity, usually used for rest, recreation, or travel; recess or holiday:
2. a part of the year, regularly set aside, when normal activities of law courts, legislatures, etc., are suspended.
3. freedom or release from duty, business, or activity.

I am one who is not always impressed with the abilities which we are offered today as I believe some of the modern changes reduce the pleasures and benefits which we once enjoyed. Taking a cruse for me was a suspension of work, a break from the everyday life, a time to enjoy different adventures and places, as well as just enjoy being away. Folks today can not even go for a drive without having their ear plugged into a cell. Sorry you can not get the full enjoyment of being away from the office even if the office is your home without the need to be "plugged into the world".

[Mike]

I have been on many cruises and I have tried sending email online. It is quite expensive. On the other hand, how many of us, when leaving on a vacation, other than a cruise, leave contact information with friends or relatives, just in case. Bearing that in mind, "the ability" to be able to make and receive calls in case of an emergency is a welcome capability.

[Dick Eastman]

I agree somewhat that pervasive communications everywhere can be intrusive to a vacation. Indeed, there are drawbacks. However, I also believe there is another side to the issue.

For many people, myself included, going away for three weeks without communications is not an option. For many people who are self-employed or have positions where no one is available to "watch the shop" in their absence, being without communications for an extended period of time is simply not an option. Family consideations also may require communications: many parents and more than a few grandparents cannot take a vacation for days when no communications are available. Dotors, lawyers and otehrs may have similar constaints because of responsibilities they may have.

In my case, if Internet access and telephone capability wer not available, I would not be on this cruiseship right now. The only reason I am able to relax for about 23 3/4 hours a day is simply because I can communicate for the other fifteen minutes every day.

In short, I am able to enjoy a vacation simply BECAUSE of the communications capabilities available today. Otherwise, I wouldn't be on vacation at all.

- Dick Eastman

[Doug]

Some lines also have Wi-Fi, also at a very unreasonable price. It is my understanding that the cruise lines first set up the internet connection so that their vary diversifield crew could keep in touch with the family at home and then started selling it to their passengers.