Seabourn ships offer guests access to the internet by means of transmission between satellites orbiting approximately 20,000 miles above the earth and our mobile shipboard system. While this technology enables mid-ocean access in virtually every part of the world, satellite service is frequently noticeably slower and slightly less reliable than land-based methods of access due to the motion of the ship and limitations of bandwidth. There are two main reasons for this:

• The available bandwidth from satellite transmission is much lower than is available from most shoreside systems served by stationary cables with much greater bandwidth capacity.
• In addition, a shipboard system is typically serving a greater number of users simultaneously than most shoreside networks. Many shoreside users use wireless cell phone systems for internet access, further reducing demand on hardwired systems. Each user’s data transmission occupies a portion of the available bandwidth. More users means slower service.

For these reasons, we ask that guests not use internet service for high volume uses such as gaming, file sharing or streaming video content. The internet service on board is generally quite adequate for all guests’ usage when web browsing and sending or retrieving email.

Guests can access the internet either at terminals located in Seabourn Square, or wirelessly using their own wireless-enabled devices in most locations on board, including in guest suites, lounges and most areas on open decks.

Internet access on board is subject to a nominal service charge based on usage. This nominal charge serves to limit usage to some extent and thus improve the performance for all our guests. Guests simply register at the Seabourn Square terminals to set up an account, which is charged to the guest’s shipboard account. The basic charge is 40 cents ($.40 USD) per minute. Several different advance purchase plans are available on board at lower rates, to accommodate individual needs. Time purchased as a plan may be used at any time during the cruise, either at the terminals or wirelessly.