When I started cruising in the 70s, communications with folks back home was extremely limited.
Post cards were mailed from exotic ports -- and usually arrived a month or two after I returned home. And that was about it.
There was, of course, the ship telephone. But no one used it without fear of taking out a second mortgage on the house. It was reserved for the details of funerals for very close relatives.
About a decade ago, cruise lines took advantage of satellite technology by installing internet cafés on board. Grandmothers could keep in touch with grandkids who never bothered responding.
That was soon followed by wireless connections on board. Passengers could search out the various hot spots (inevitably located in areas where various goods and services were sold) and check on the status of that financial portfolio.
Personally, I find it a great luxury. Even before I started writing this blog, I liked the idea of being able to stay in touch with everyone -- as if I were on land.
Well, not exactly like being on land. Internet speed (and its concurrent cost) are quite different than connections at home.
In Oregon, I paid about $80 a month for blazing fast internet. In Mexico, I pay about $50 a month for a rather plodding internet speed.
At sea, I pay $.65 a minute for a connection that would lose to a liveried footman delivering notes on embossed stationery. Or, at least, it seems that way.
I have been preparing my photographs and drafting my blogs offline to conserve online time. Even with those precautions, it usually takes me close to a half hour to post a short blog with two photographs.
So, I purchased one of the discount packages. For $150 I get 500 minutes of internet time. That is about $.30 a minute.
On my last trans-Atlantic cruise, I had minutes left over.from a similar package. Not so this trip. In four days I have burned through half of those minutes.
Before the trip is over, I may end up spending more for computer time than the cost of my Dubai to Los Angeles air ticket.
And that may not be a bad comparison. The benefit I get from keeping in contact with friends and relatives is money well spent. Certainly far more enjoyable than spending 16 hours in a cramped airline seat.
Post cards were mailed from exotic ports -- and usually arrived a month or two after I returned home. And that was about it.
There was, of course, the ship telephone. But no one used it without fear of taking out a second mortgage on the house. It was reserved for the details of funerals for very close relatives.
About a decade ago, cruise lines took advantage of satellite technology by installing internet cafés on board. Grandmothers could keep in touch with grandkids who never bothered responding.
That was soon followed by wireless connections on board. Passengers could search out the various hot spots (inevitably located in areas where various goods and services were sold) and check on the status of that financial portfolio.
Personally, I find it a great luxury. Even before I started writing this blog, I liked the idea of being able to stay in touch with everyone -- as if I were on land.
Well, not exactly like being on land. Internet speed (and its concurrent cost) are quite different than connections at home.
In Oregon, I paid about $80 a month for blazing fast internet. In Mexico, I pay about $50 a month for a rather plodding internet speed.
At sea, I pay $.65 a minute for a connection that would lose to a liveried footman delivering notes on embossed stationery. Or, at least, it seems that way.
I have been preparing my photographs and drafting my blogs offline to conserve online time. Even with those precautions, it usually takes me close to a half hour to post a short blog with two photographs.
So, I purchased one of the discount packages. For $150 I get 500 minutes of internet time. That is about $.30 a minute.
On my last trans-Atlantic cruise, I had minutes left over.from a similar package. Not so this trip. In four days I have burned through half of those minutes.
Before the trip is over, I may end up spending more for computer time than the cost of my Dubai to Los Angeles air ticket.
And that may not be a bad comparison. The benefit I get from keeping in contact with friends and relatives is money well spent. Certainly far more enjoyable than spending 16 hours in a cramped airline seat.
