Computer University@Sea - distance learning from a cruise ship

Cruise Travel, Oct, 2001 by Jeannie Block

With a printed instruction sheet in hand, plus some lab-time practice and staff guidance whenever it was asked for, we soon started to send and receive e-mail without help. (In-coming e-mail is sent to a personal address printed on every passenger ticket.) All work stations are open to all for practice or to send e-mail, before and after class hours. Three Compaq PCs lined up in the rear of the room are always available. The program was recently expanded, adding internet access from passenger accommodations. Every stateroom is now configured for dial-up interact access via the rental of an onboard laptop computer. Even when the dedicated Computer University@Sea lab is closed, passengers can explore the worldwide web or log in to their e-mail accounts round-the-clock by using newly installed computers in additional public areas onboard.

Computer University@Sea charges depend on passenger preference. Guests accessing their interact-based e-mail or exploring cyberspace are charged $1.25 a minute, with a 10-minute minimum. As an alternative, e-mails sent or received via a guest's personal shipboard e-mail address provided by Crystal cost $3 each. For both services, there is a nominal one-time set-up fee of $5. Printing, workshops, and group instruction are complimentary; private lessons can be arranged for a nominal hourly fee. For in-stateroom use, passengers may rent laptops for $5 per day, on which they can work with Microsoft Windows, create and read e-mail, and connect to the internet.

The word-processing course taught us how to edit and format text, insert and manipulate a photo, create a logo using word art, and print out a document. Commonly used Microsoft Office 97 suite for Windows 98 was the software program we used for word processing and e-mail. The spreadsheets function (Microsoft's Excel) simplifies keeping track of bank-check transactions.

The curriculum we experienced is essentially for itineraries greater than six days. A basic program is presented on shorter sailings. On very long ones, like world cruises, many more subjects are intensively covered by the instructors as well as guest lecturers who are aboard as part of Crystal's extremely popular guest-enrichment presentations.

Besides computer learning, in brief, the two Crystal ships are cut from the same cloth of elegance, providing an upscale cruise experience with cuisine that experts cite as among the best at sea. The Crystal Harmony's two alternative restaurants--provincial Italian Prego, and authentic Japanese Kyoto--prepare unique ethnic treats. Several expansive open-deck lunch buffets feature unusual foods not commonly served, and an afternoon gala buffet laid out in the lobby is laden with gastronomic luxuries.

One very special event--"Excalibur!"--is a recently added replication of the spirit of King Arthur's court, replete with fanfare and buffoonery, and knights and ladies in richly adorned costumes that we were told cost more than a million dollars. A "Royal Feast" and a period show round out an imaginative spectacle. Also well out of the ordinary are the classy, daily, formally served teas--one a tribute to Mozart, with music and costumes to match.