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Sea ViewsFrom President and CEO, Adam Goldstein

Improving the Royal Caribbean Onboard Internet Experience

Recently our Chief Information Officer, Bill Martin, was interviewed by Information Week about how we’re working to improve the onboard Internet experience. The article is titled, “Why Royal Caribbean Treats iPads Like Bed Sheets”, which is an interesting take on what we do onboard. I thought some of our readers would find the article interesting. If so, you can read more here.

24 responses to:
“Improving the Royal Caribbean Onboard Internet Experience”

Pam 21st February, 2013 at 2:15 pm

I would love unlimited internet for a reasonable flat rate- in this day and age- even on vacation we need to keep in touch with those back home.

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- Adam 22nd February, 2013 at 6:29 pm
  
  We appreciate your input, Pam, and we’ll be sure to pass your message along.
  
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- tony grant 24th February, 2013 at 9:46 pm
  
  That is my main concern aswell as to the internet conectoin’s on board the Ship , now i know Thankyou . I will now put off my cruise till the future
  
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Bonnie O'Neill 21st February, 2013 at 2:16 pm

This is only convenient and wonderful if the cost is no longer prohibitive. I bring my laptop to keep in touch with home. I also have an iphone, which I turn off because the access is too pricey. I use my laptop every morning and would also every evening but the cost stops me. This really takes away from my holiday experience and enjoyment.

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- Adam 22nd February, 2013 at 6:30 pm
  
  Thank you for your comment, Bonnie.
  
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Sal Nap 21st February, 2013 at 2:16 pm

We will be coming on board the Explorer of the Seas later this year, for a 10 day Cruise, taking our Laptop, will we be able to access the ‘net from our rooms??? at what cost???

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- Adam 22nd February, 2013 at 6:30 pm
  
  Hi Sal, please click here for available online pricing. Thank you.
  
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Michael in Texas 21st February, 2013 at 2:19 pm

I know I was disappointed (not all bent out of shape or angry, just “disappointed”) on my last cruise in Jan 2012 that the Mariner only had a few WiFi Hotspots, because an iPhone doesn’t really work with an Ethernet cable. Looks like RCCL is rising to the challenge, as did I getting a MacBook. My questions are…

1) The article references iPads in suites on recently remodeled ships. More specifically : would this include a GS on the Radiance of the Seas in the next few months?.

2) I know RCCL had mentioned previously a big reason in broadening access as so guests could share photos and stories of how awesomely cool a time they’re having and do a little “promotion” for Royal in the process. Internet access was a bit on the pricey side, and uploading photos and stories takes bandwidth. Any chance of this coming down?

3) Free Internet in the Concierge Lounge or Diamond Club? Maybe?

Again, thanks for stepping up in an area that needed a little stepping. Looking forward to my next Royal Caribbean adventure.

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- Adam 22nd February, 2013 at 6:30 pm
  
  We appreciate your suggestions, Michael. Please know that we will advise the proper department with your comment.
  
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Debbie Denley 21st February, 2013 at 2:20 pm

Hello! Wish you would do something about getting more channels on the tv. Not much to watch. I need tv to calm me before bed

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- Adam 22nd February, 2013 at 6:30 pm
  
  Thank you for your input, Debbie.
  
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tom walsh 21st February, 2013 at 2:38 pm

I recently traveled on the Independence of the Seas. Internet time at 65cents/minute is rather steep but then to get internet speeds approaching AOL’s dial-up service is absolutely ridiculous in today’s day and age. I do not have an iPad or any other Apple products. I do have a netbook PC which is adequate for my needs. It was having problems slowing down to adjust to your “speed”. RCCL needs to do a much better job in this area.

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- Adam 22nd February, 2013 at 6:31 pm
  
  Thank you, Tom. Your input will be passed along to the proper department.
  
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Elliot Hall 21st February, 2013 at 2:39 pm

I signed up for “Crown and Anchor” on my cruise on my first cruise EVER in November and I have not received any literature concerning that membership. I plan on taking more and more cruises because I want that free booze membership. Please let me know what the next steps are. Thanks!

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- Adam 22nd February, 2013 at 6:31 pm
  
  Hi Elliot, thank you for bringing this to our attention. Please call (800) 526-9723 and a Crown & Anchor Society agent can find your record, enroll you and ensure that we have all of your up-to-date information. We apologize for the inconvenience.
  
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JimB 21st February, 2013 at 3:10 pm

I really like the idea of an ‘app’ for Android/iOS that lets us see our calendar, make reservations at shows/restaurants, order room service, watch the on board things like daily activities, shows we missed, etc. After all, who wants to be stuck in their room. Doing that wirelessly throughout the ship, but not connected to the rest of the world is perfect. Great idea!

I must confess that my wife will not find it a great idea to have high speed broadband to the world. One of the added benefits she loves about cruising is I am too cheap to pay expensive rates to do e-mails, call into conference calls via VOIP, etc. As a result, cruising is one of the few vacations where I end up being ‘on vacation’ instead of ‘working remote’.

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- Adam 22nd February, 2013 at 6:31 pm
  
  Thank you for your suggestion, Jim. We will pass it along.
  
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R E Reed 21st February, 2013 at 3:17 pm

So who cares about having a ship provided iPAD, when what we really want is decent internet connections at acceptable speed and charges. On-board internet is a “Royal” joke, IMHO.

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- Adam 22nd February, 2013 at 6:32 pm
  
  Thank you for your input, R E.
  
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NancyHE 21st February, 2013 at 8:35 pm

I would hope when RCCL is upgrading the internet they also make it free WiFi access in the common areas. Even if they limit this access to certain times of the day, it is great customer service and an excellent marketing tool. Most hotels, around the world, have some type of free WiFi access in public/lobby areas.

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- Adam 25th February, 2013 at 8:09 pm
  
  Thank you for your suggestion, Nancy.
  
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Al Lewis 24th February, 2013 at 1:34 pm

Unlimited Internet would really help the cruisers who have their own bussinesses be able to take back to back cruises. Why not tag the out going emails and posts with a small RC logo which would be a link. You could tag it “the sea could be your too!”. I have heard several times people would like the 10-14 day cruise but the can not be out of touch that long. Reward frequent or extended cruises.AlG

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- Adam 26th February, 2013 at 5:48 pm
  
  We always appreciate suggestions, Al. Thank you, we’ll be sure to pass it along.
  
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Ann P. 10th March, 2013 at 12:00 pm

I literally just stepped off the Freedom of the Seas where I used my new iPad onboard. Happily, I am a Diamond member and enjoyed the benefit of some free Internet minutes. While it was generally very easy to go wireless and log int the WiFi application, it was not intuitively obvious how to log out. The application asked whether I wanted to bookmark the logout location but never provided the address for me to do so. In order for me to logout of Internet access, thereby preserving my remaining Internet minutes, I had to obtain the URL of the logout screen that a friend of mine had on their iPad from a previous voyage and enter it into my browser by hand. She was assisted with the download of an app that provided both login and logout access. I cannot locate this app at RCCL. Can someone point me to it?

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About Adam

Adam Goldstein, President and CEO Royal Caribbean International

Adam is a father and a Phillies fan. He's got a mean table tennis serve.

Adam Goldstein, the President and CEO of Royal Caribbean International, has been answering it Royally since 1988. In 1998, Advertising Age named Adam one of their “Marketing 100,” the magazine's annual roundup of the best and brightest American and international marketing minds.

Goldstein graduated with honors from Princeton University, majoring in public policy at the Woodrow Wilson School of Public and International Affairs. He also has a law degree from Harvard and an MBA with distinction from INSEAD, the European business school in Fontainebleau, France. Adam and his wife have two children and live in Miami, Fla.

Lisa Bauer

Executive Vice President, Global Sales & Marketing

Lisa Bauer is Executive Vice President, Global Sales and Marketing overseeing Royal Caribbean International's global Marketing and Revenue Management as well the company's Sales & Marketing Offices and International Representatives around the world, which represents three of the company's brands – Royal Caribbean International, Celebrity Cruises and Azamara Club Cruises. Lisa's blog posts have provided a behind the scenes look into new product developments including dining, entertainment and much more. Lisa is a huge animal lover, and has several cats and dogs, including a chocolate lab puppy named Coco Chanel and two rescue cats, Dolce & Gabbana.

John Weis

Vice President of Global Tour Operations

John Weis is currently the Vice President of Global Tour Operations for Royal Caribbean Cruises Ltd. In this role John oversees all aspects of the shore excursion operations worldwide for Royal Caribbean International, Celebrity Cruises & Azamara Club Cruises. John joined Royal Caribbean in 1998 and has held various management positions in Accounting/Finance, Supply Chain/Logistics, Private Destinations and most recently in Global Tour Operations. During his tenure, he was in charge of the redevelopment project at Labadee including the construction of a pier and development of one of the first public/private partnerships with the government of Haiti. He was also assigned to the Clinton Foundation assisting in the reconstruction efforts in Haiti after the 2010 earthquake. In addition, John has played an active role as chair of the United Way Fund raising campaign at Royal Caribbean for two years and serves on the Audit Committee for Food For the Poor. John is a graduate of Florida Atlantic University and is a CPA. He is married and has two children.

Lisa Lutoff-Perlo

Executive Vice President of Operations, Guest Port Experience Royal Caribbean International

Lisa Lutoff-Perlo is Executive Vice President of Operations for Royal Caribbean International overseeing Hotel Operations, Marine Operations, Land Operations, Entertainment and Activities, and Food and Beverage Operations. Lisa has held a variety of roles since joining Royal Caribbean Cruises Ltd. in 1985 and last served as Celebrity Cruises' Senior Vice President of Hotel Operations, where she played a vital role in shaping extraordinary guest experiences for the brand and was instrumental in the delivery of the line's Solstice-Class of ships. In 2001, Travel Agent magazine named Lisa one of the "Most Powerful Women in Travel." Lisa is an avid and passionate (American) football fan and has named two of her puppies (she has 5) after her favorite team's quarterback.