This weekend, the FAA — Federal Aviation Agency — declared that airline passengers will be able to use their electronic devices during take-offs and landings because they don't interfere with communications from the cockpit after all. Resisted was the urge to say passengers will be left to their own devices.
The message goes far beyond flight non-interference. The message is that we have all become so dependent on "devices" that Peter Public is demanding the removal of unnecessary firewalls. Where the philosophy applies to the cruise business is the unprecedented demand to be "connected" no matter where in the world the ship happens to be.
Connectivity from cruise ships has been both problematic and expensive. Times are a-changin'. Last month, several reports surfaced about how cruise lines are getting more bandwidth, presumably from the Great Bandwidth 
Distributor in the sky. The company that has dominated satellite communications, MTN, has slipped into second place behind the new kid on the block, Harris CapRock, which now has the contract for more than 100 ships from Carnival's family of cruise lines, along with Royal Caribbean's more modest collection of offspring.
The two satellite giants are duking it out to see who is fastest and most reliable. MTN's main strategy is to speed up the Internet by utilizing land-based carrier networks. CapRock's main strategy is to have more than one antenna on a ship (presumably MTN could easily do this, too) and, perhaps more significantly, to use satellites in lower orbits…i.e., closer to earth.
For those of us who are technologically challenged, it may sound as bit like VHS versus Beta in the old days of video tapes, but the bottom line is that Internet connections at sea are bound to get better.
The people insist. They also insist that it become more affordable and if you don't think that will happen…remember when that 40-inch flatscreen TV cost $2,800? The one that you can buy now for less than $500.
In the meantime, enjoy reading your e-book on the airplane!
Carnival Fascination
5 nights
November 17, 2013
Jacksonville (return): Nassau, CocoCay
Inside: $189
Cost per day: $37
www.carnival.com