While most cruise vacationers relish the thought of leaving their cell phones, pagers, and laptops at home, there are some travelers who just can't seem to leave modern communication tools behind.

Recognizing this, a number of cruise lines have wired their ships to accommodate even the most ardent Internet junkies and others who struggle with cutting ties to the outside world during well-deserved vacations.

"The cruise lines have done a nice job of outfitting their ships, especially the newer ones, with the latest Internet technology and other communications tools for passengers," said Bob Levinstein, CEO of Cruise Compete, LLC. "It's easy than ever to stay in touch with family, friends and the office."

Cruisers should be warned, however, there's a price to be paid for staying connected - up to $25 per minute when making a call from a cabin phone; up to 75 cents per minute for Internet access.

"There's no doubt you pay handsomely for the convenience of staying in touch with home, but many of our customers don't seem to mind," said Steven Gelfuso, president of CruiseBrothers.com, one of the largest family-owned cruise-only travel agencies in the country. "They insist on traveling on ships where they can stay connected. It's a sign of the times."

Here's a rundown of how people stay in touch with home on today's cruise ships:

Cabin telephones
Virtually every ship at sea today offers telephones in cabins to make ship-to-shore calls but, like hotels, they charge significant fees. Most cruise lines charge between $5-$8 per minute for the convenience of calling from your cabin. Resist the urge on Holland America Line ships, however, or be ready to pay $25 per minute.

Cellular Phones
Your typical cell phone is pretty useless on a cruise. In most cases, it will not be able to draw a signal at sea and only those equipped with international access capabilities will work in port. Traveling to Alaska, Hawaii or the U.S. Virgin Islands and your regular cell phone should work in port. But, for more exotic locations, you will need a GSM-capable cell phone. These phones are becoming more common with international travel.

GSM (Global System for Mobile Communications) capable phones range from $100 and up. Check with your cellular provider regarding availability. Make sure they enable the international roaming capability. This service is free, but the calls certainly won't be. International roaming charges range from 50 cents to $3 per minute and up. And the roaming charges don't even cover your long distance charges, which can range from 25 cents to $1.50 or more per minute. Persons should check with their cellular provider for specific pricing on international calls. Check with the cruise line, too. Cunard Line offers travelers the opportunity to purchase use of a cellular telephone with global capabilities. (CONTINUE...)