Cruise lines ramp up high-speed internet onboard. Now we can remain glued to our screens, just like on dry land

Until recently, taking a cruise forced us to disconnect.

At sea, cell phone service was spotty, expensive or both, and in-cabin TVs showed just a handful of channels — most of them advertising things to do on the cruise.

For entertainment, passengers had to participate in live events like karaoke contests, bellyflop competitions, shore excursions, or — yikes — chatting with strangers.