Chip - There's now a priceless story about our son-in-law (Coast Guard) having to figure out which cruise ships were in a certain vicinity on a certain day to find us. Gary's mother had a time critical life threatening health problem. Regent actually found us in the dining room thanks to a stepdaughter who would not take "no" for an answer. Grandma survived, but it was a wake-up call for us. We now leave emergency information with the family members and it's been better for everyone's piece of mind.

FWIW, I'm glad you raised the topic. At least you were able to get through on your laptop when you were blocked in the computer room. I'm not at all sympathetic about the blocking software applying to personal laptops. Those computers are not readily accessible to the general passenger population. The theoretical liability issue argument doesn't hold up. What about kids viewing R rated DVDs (or movies on the TV channels)? That's got to be a greater source of liability. The cruise lines willingly make that material available to their passengers. It strikes me blocking an entire e-mail account because the software is picking up one or more questionable phrases in a subject line is the electronic equivalent of killing a fly with a sledge hammer.

Cheers, Anne