Are you wondering if cruise ship Wi-Fi packages are worth the price? Don’t worry, I’ve got you covered.
I’ve been cruising for over 20 years and have seen the evolution of Wi-Fi on a cruise ship. Much has changed over the last few years, including internet speeds, packages, and pricing!
Whether you’re a first-time cruiser wondering about the basics of cruise ship wifi or a repeat cruiser wondering how much has changed, this information will be helpful. In this post we go over all your questions, from how much Wi-Fi costs to the details of how internet works when you’re at sea.
Is Cruise Ship Wi-Fi Worth it?
Whether or not cruise ship Wi-Fi is worth it depends on a few factors.
Cruise ship Wi-Fi is worth the price if you enjoy staying connected at sea. Whether it’s posting on social media, talking to family members back home, or working, many cruisers consider Wi-Fi an essential when they travel.
Furthermore, cruise passengers will get more use out of the Wi-Fi package if their cruise itinerary has fewer stops. In contrast, cruise guests won’t use the ship’s Wi-Fi much on port-intensive, making it not worth the price.
A secret added value many new cruisers may not realize is that internet connectivity is available in many cruise private islands. For instance, cruisers will still have Wi-Fi when they’re off the cruise ship in MSC’s Ocean Cay and Royal Caribbeans Perfect Day at Cococay.
Another factor cruisers should consider is the internet speed. On Caribbean and Mediterranean cruises, the Wi-Fi will have faster speeds than on Alaska and Norway cruises.
When it comes down to whether internet plans are worth it on a cruise, it depends on the cruiser. For some, Wi-Fi plans are a great value and add to the enjoyment of the cruise. For others, the internet on a cruise is overpriced and overrated, and they prefer to disconnect and live in the moment during their cruise vacation.
Why Is Cruise Ship Wi-Fi so Expensive?
Since cruise ships actively sail worldwide, no Comcast cable can be connected to the cruise. This means all of the data you are downloading onto your cellphone, tablet, or computer is coming over a satellite (or Starlink), which costs a lot.
Furthermore, cruise lines know that passengers like to stay connected while on vacation. Whether posting on social media, Wi-Fi calling family and friends or watching movies online, cruisers are using Wi-Fi more than ever.
Since there’s no alternative, cruisers are forced to pay the price for onboard Wi-Fi packages or not use the Wi-Fi at all.
Is it Cheaper to Buy Wi-Fi Before a Cruise?
Purchasing Wi-Fi packages online before your cruise is cheaper. Often, cruise lines offer promotions on Wi-Fi packages before the cruise. Once cruisers are onboard, they can still purchase the Wi-Fi. However, they will have to pay full price for their internet plan.
Before purchasing the Wi-Fi package, check for available bundles. For example, Princess Cruises offers Princess Plus & Premier, which bundles Wi-Fi, beverage packages, and crew gratuities into one price.
Since Royal Caribbean does not offer bundles, purchasing your internet plan in advance is a good idea. According to Royal Caribbean, paying in advance will give the best price on a per-day and per-device basis. Furthermore, it ensures you can connect to the Wi-Fi as soon as you get onboard the ship on embarkation day.
Before going on your cruise, it’s worth looking into the potential promotions and bundles they offer to get the best value on your Wi-Fi package.
Can You Share a Wi-Fi Package on a Cruise?
Depending on the internet plan and cruise line, specific Wi-Fi packages can be shared. For instance, Royal Caribbean’s Voom Surf internet package is available on up to four devices, allowing up to four passengers to connect to the Wi-Fi.
It’s important to note that you won’t be able to share Wi-Fi unless you’ve purchased a package that allows multiple device connections. If you have a single-device internet package and try to connect to a second device, the first device will be automatically disconnected.
How to Get Free Wi-Fi on a Cruise Ship Without Paying?
Most cruise lines do not offer free Wi-Fi. However, passengers can access the Wi-Fi free of Charge through cruise line loyalty programs and booking suites. For example, Royal Caribbean offers free internet access to its top-tier members (Diamond, Diamond Plus, and Pinnacle Club members) in the Crown & Anchor Society.
Luxury cruise lines like Oceania Cruises, Viking Ocean Cruises, and Silversea Cruises offer free Wi-Fi for those with bigger budgets. However, their base fare is much more expensive than that of contemporary and premium cruise lines.
Furthermore, Virgin Voyages also includes Wi-Fi in the cruise fare. In fact, Virgin is the most “all-inclusive” mainstream cruise line, including specialty dining, fitness classes, and internet.
Some people recommend using your cell service while you’re at sea. However, it’s unlikely that your cell phone will have good service in the middle of the ocean. Although it is costly, the internet on a cruise ship is your best bet if you want to stay connected during your vacation.
Related: 10 Tips Before Taking Your First Virgin Voyages Cruise
Can You Text on a Cruise Ship Without Wi-Fi?
On most cruise lines, cruise passengers can text other guests onboard the ship without purchasing the Wi-Fi. This is done through the cruise lines app, where a messaging module allows passengers to message each other. This is ideal for families with young kids and teens and passengers who don’t want to purchase an internet package.
However, it’s important to note that cruisers cannot text while at sea (unless they are using cell service) without purchasing the Wi-Fi.
How Can I Avoid Cell Phone Charges on a Cruise?
Cruise passengers can avoid cell phone charges by putting them on airplane mode once the cruise ship sets sail. Once the phone is in airplane mode, connecting to the cruise ship’s Wi-Fi is a good idea. You can still use the cruise line app even if you have not purchased an internet package.
If you don’t put your phone on airplane mode, you will get charged by your cellphone service provider. Since you’re sailing in international waters, these charges can be hundreds and even thousands of dollars!
If you purchase a Wi-Fi package, you won’t be able to send text messages or make phone calls. However, you will be able to send messages, such as Facebook messages and WhatsApp messages. You can also make video calls through FaceTime or Facebook Messenger.
Is it Safe to Use Cruise Ship Wi-Fi?
Cruise Wi-Fi networks are safe to use. However, it’s still important to be cautious when you’re connected to the internet. Although using cellular data while cruising is safer (and more expensive), you’ll most likely be fine unless you are a high-risk target. To be safe, avoid online banking and use strong passwords for your social media.
In my 20 years of experience cruising, I’ve never had a security issue with cruise ship Wi-Fi. In reality, there are thousands of people connected to the network every sailing, and the cruise line has security measures to avoid potential issues.
Which Cruise Line Has the Best Wi-Fi Package?
For the best value, Royal Caribbean and Princess are popular for faster speeds and reasonable pricing. While other lines offer more budget-friendly packages for light usage, they do not provide the same Wi-Fi speeds as Princess Cruises and Royal Caribbean.
However, it’s still important to weight out your options and see which cruise lines Wi-Fi package suits your needs.
Royal Caribbean
When it comes to Wi-Fi packages at sea, Royal Caribbean’s internet package “Voom” consistently ranks as one of the fastest. It offers two options: “Surf” for general browsing and social media and “Surf + Stream” for streaming, at around $20 to $30 per device per day, depending on the cruise length and promotions.
The Voom internet package is a great option for passengers on Royal Caribbean cruises. Royal Caribbean has one of the fastest internet connections at sea, and they often offer great promotions before sailing.
Carnival Cruise Line
Carnival Cruise Line provides three internet options: “Social” for social media, “Value” for email and web browsing, and “Premium” with video streaming capability, priced between $15 and $22 per day.
The Premium plan offers the best speeds available for Carnival but, due to connectivity limitations, does not permit streaming on all services. Last year, when I sailed on Carnival Venezia, I was very disappointed with the Wi-Fi speeds.
Norwegian Cruise Line
Norwegian Cruise Line (NCL) has two packages:
The Voyage Wi-Fi Pass costs $29.99 per device per day. This plan is ideal for answering emails, scrolling social media, and messaging friends and family.
The Streaming Voyage Wi-Fi Pass costs $39.99 per device per day. This plan is perfect for cruisers who want to stream movies and music throughout the sailing. It also includes a VPN, which is a solid bonus.
NCL offers the More at Sea bundle, a great value for cruisers looking for an all-inclusive experience. For $89 per day, More at Sea includes Wi-Fi, enhanced specialty dining, and a drink package.
Related: NCL New More at Sea Promotion: Everything Cruisers Need to Know
MSC Cruises
MSC Cruises offers flexible Wi-Fi plans that cater to the connectivity needs of cruise passengers across their fleet. Their two primary packages are:
The Browse Packages is MSC’s basic Wi-Fi option, ideal for guests who want to use social media, browse the web, and check emails. However, this package doesn’t allow for video streaming.
This is a great option for passengers that plan on using minimal amount of Wi-Fi. Pricing generally starts around $10 per day per device but can vary based on the cruise length and any promotions.
The Browse and Stream Package is a good choice for cruise passengers who plan to use the internet more regularly. This plan covers streaming on services like Netflix or Spotify, web browsing, and social media.
This internet plan is designed for cruise guests who want a seamless streaming experience. The cost for this package is typically between $15 and $20 per day, with multi-day discounts available if purchased for the entire cruise.
Princess Cruises
Princess Cruises offers MedallionNet service, which is praised for better connectivity and easy device pairing. Daily pricing starts at $24.99 per device per day, and purchasing for the entire cruise offers better value.
As someone who has been cruising with Princess for a long time, I’ve seen the ship’s Wi-Fi evolve. Since Princess installed Starlink on its entire fleet, Wi-Fi speeds onboard its cruise ships have significantly increased.
Furthermore, with Princess Plus and Premier packages, cruise passengers can get Wi-Fi, a beverage package, included crew gratuities and specialty dining for $70-90 per day.
Celebrity Cruises
Celebrity Cruises offers two Wi-Fi packages: the Basic Wi-Fi Package and the Premium Wi-Fi package.
The Basic package covers essential browsing, social media, and emailing, while the Premium Wi-Fi package includes access to streaming services for video and audio, making it a better choice for those wanting full internet access.
Prices for onboard internet powered by Starlink can range from $20 to $35 per day. However, these rates can change depending on the sailing.
Holland America
Holland America Line has three different Wi-Fi plans.
The Surf package is part of their “Have It All” bundle and covers basic email, messaging, and unlimited access without streaming features. This package is only available for cruise passengers who purchase the “Have It All” package.
The Premium plan is ideal for cruise passengers who want to scroll on social media and message family members. However, it still restricts video streaming. The Premium plan costs $34.99 per day.
The Stream plan is available at a higher price for passengers who want to stream video on platforms like Netflix, Disney+, and Spotify. The Stream plan costs $45.99 per day.
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Final Thoughts on Are Cruise Ship Wi-Fi Packages Worth the Price
In recent years, cruise ship Wi-Fi has become more accessible than ever!
At one time, cruise passengers were limited to a number of minutes throughout their voyage, and they had to visit an internet cafe to navigate the web. However, every cruise line now offers unlimited access to their cruise passengers, and the prices are becoming more affordable.
Whether the internet package is worth it comes down to personal preference.
As the internet becomes more accessible worldwide, cruise internet package prices will only become more affordable. Hopefully, sometime in the near future, Wi-Fi will be included on all cruise ships!
Happy Cruising!
Ethan
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Ethan Schattauer, a seasoned cruiser since the age of four, has gone on over 40 cruises with his family. Drawing from his extensive travel experiences, Ethan offers a fresh and youthful perspective on the world of cruising. He also writes about cruise cuisine, onboard experiences, and practical tips, providing valuable insights for cruise travelers worldwide.