With my newly purchased Ipad, can I connect on a cruise ship with out using the ships connection. I was told that for $35 per month I had my own connection built in ??. please help a novice understand. It would be much cheaper if this were true.

I have requested that the moderators move this thread to the iPad forum so that you may get the help you are looking for.

Is your iPad one that comes with 3G or 4G LTE hardware or is it wi-fi only? A wi-fi iPad will only be able to connect to the ship's wi-fi network (if it has one - I believe most do these days) and any other method of connecting to the Internet will not work because of range limitations of wi-fi.

If you DO have 3G or 4G with your iPad, it MIGHT work. You would have to be in range of a 3G or 4G signal, and that depends entirely on where you are in the world. Some coastal cruising areas may be in range, likely the middle of the ocean would not. The cost for this would depend on your contract with your carrier.

Best of luck.

Hello:

If you are at sea, you have no option other than the ship's connectivity. In port, you might reach a wireless (AT&T for example) phone network if your iPad has that capability.

Barry

On the other hand a river cruise (such as on the Mississippi, Rhine or Danube) might be within range the whole time, even while underway.

Once you're out at sea you'll be out of range of land based cell towers. So your connection won't work. Your only choice will be the satellite link provided by the cruise ship (which is at a premium price I understand)

Your $35 dollar a month plan only works if there's a cell tower in range....honestly you'd find the same issues in the american south west where there are large stretches with no cell coverage. For example, the last time I was at the grand canyon there is no cell signal actually at the canyon, you have to go down into town to get cell service.