Cruise Internet Costs Have Gone Down
Just a few years back, you had to pay a small fortune for the privilege of accessing the internet on a cruise ship. The base rate for onboard Wi-Fi for years started around 75 cents a minute. Thats $45 for a single hour online!
The old pay-by-the-minute system, which could leave even modest internet users with sky-high bills, is now giving way to simpler and more affordable all you can browse plans on many lines.How much does Wi-Fi cost on a cruise today? Well, the highest-speed version of Royal Caribbeans Voom connection currently costs $24.99 per day for one device. In the old days of 75 cents-a-minute pricing, that same amount of money would have gotten you just 33 minutes of web time.
Royal Caribbean also offers a slower-speed version of Voom that cant support streaming for $19.99 per day for one device. For both cruise internet packages, there are discounts for adding more devices and purchasing a package online before your sailing.
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Another line bringing down internet costs dramatically is Carnival. At the very low end, it now offers a Social Wi-Fi plan that allows access to all the key social sites as well as messaging services such as WhatsApp, for just $8 a day. A slightly more expensive Value Wi-Fi plan, at $12 per day, adds access to email and most websites.
Use Free Shoreside Wifi
Free wifi is usually available in each of the ports your cruise ship calls at, and its generally straightforward to find. A telltale sign that there is free wifi is when you see many crew members ashore in the cruise terminal on their phones. They generally know where to find free wifi services.
If youre ok with checking your social media accounts and email whilst your ship is in port, this is an excellent option to get free Wi-Fi on your cruise.
More Details To Be Revealed Later
If youre wondering which ship will get the faster internet speeds and what the prices will be, we will have to wait a bit longer for those details.
The announcement made no mention of when each ship would get Starlink added. Nor was there any indication of pricing.
Royal Caribbeans current prices for its faster tier internet start at $19.99 per day, per device. Multi-device plans bring down the daily cost a bit.
RoyalCaribbeanBlog has reached out to Royal Caribbean International for comment on when each ship would get Starlink.
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Can I Use My 4g On My Phone/tablet Onboard
Yes and no! 4G will not work on the days at sea. Your 4G will work if you are near a satellite, so when the ship is near a port or in port and your phone is picking up 4G, sometimes 3G.
Also, it depends where you are onboard the cruise ship you will pick up a better connection if you are closer to a window or outside. If you have an inside cabin you may not be able to connect.
The main issue is if you are in a foreign country to your phone provider, as it will depend if you have a roaming package. Some countries are not included in roaming packages or may just not work, for example, French Polynesia, American Samoa and other remote areas of the world.
The same goes for your phone signal, will only work if you have a roaming package and if the ship is near a satellite. You can connect to the cruise line phone service, but it is very expensive to make a call, you best to wait until you are in port.
Look For Areas On The Ship That Have Free Wifi
Explore the ship and visit different decks. Focus on spots where people mingle around, such as in the pool deck or near the dining areas and restaurants.
There could be some restaurants that offer their guests secure networks that need certain passwords. Search for the password inside the restaurant. It is often displayed near a prominent spot at the reception table or the front desk.
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Whats The Verdict On Cruise Ship Wifi
Depending on the destination, cruise ship capabilities, and even your stateroom location, the variances in coverage can be significant.
Look at the cruise line websites and reviewers on popular websites like the CruiseCritic Forums who can be brutally honest on reviewing such amenities. Real-life examples may help you from being frustrated mid-cruise and not enjoying a hard-earned vacation due to slow internet when you are already out to sea.
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Price: Starting At $1499 Per Day
Holland America uses supplemental bandwidth sources, like Starlink, to enhance connectivity for the lines guests and crew and the line offers three Wi-Fi plans. The Social plan, at $14.99 per day, per device , provides access to most social media websites and applications.
Surf is the most popular option at $24.99 per day , per device, and allows you to search the web and send and receive emails.
The Premium package at $29.99 per day , per device, includes streaming and audio/video calling. Additional plans are available for up to four devices at a discounted rate.
If youre considering other onboard expenses, the lines Have It All Premium Cruise Package is an economical way to get internet access as well as a Signature Beverage Package , specialty dining and a credit for shore excursions. The package is available on most sailings for $50 per person, per day.
Holland Americas 5-Star Mariner guests receive a $30 credit toward a Wi-Fi package. Early Booking Benefits for Grand Voyages include 5,000 minutes of complimentary internet access in select suite categories.
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But What If I Need To Reliably Get Online During My Cruise
For the fastest internet connection on cruise ships, try to log on when few other people are likely to be online, such as late at night or in port when most passengers are ashore. The first is especially important while sailing far out to sea. The more people online sharing limited bandwidth, the slower the connection. You can also try saving the bulk of your internet usage for times when you’re nearest land.
Unfortunately, there isn’t much else an individual cruiser can do. Users won’t find much difference between connecting via Wi-Fi at the ship’s internet center versus other locations on the ship.
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Of course, the fastest — and cheapest — connection will always be onshore, and for those with heavy internet needs, using Wi-Fi or cell service travel plans in port may be the best route. Check with your cell service provider before taking this route, though, as roaming and international charges can be steep if they aren’t included in your regular plan or as part of a supplementary plan.
Set Up Your Phone And Save Money
You may not aware but there are background applications on your devices. Turn off the background app if you have on a phone. In doing so, you keep fast loading speed. Otherwise 50 MB you get for free from the cruise line, for example, will be finished within about 5 minutes. But keep antivirus app though if you have.
- Prevents Background apps from refreshing it automaticallyBackground App Refresh
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Save Money By Saving Mobile Data On Board
The cruise ship has its own cellular network antenna, which activates once you are a few miles offshore. There are several strategies and techniques for saving mobile data, but data is continually being used in the background. As previously stated, roaming rates are more costly when onboard a cruise ship.
Thus, you need to make sure that your mobile data is turned off. In case you are vacationing with children, check their mobile data settings on a regular basis. There have been stories of kids mistakenly turning on mobile data usage, and their parents were astonished by the large phone bills when they returned from vacation. So, better be safe than sorry!
Royal Caribbean Wifi Packages
UPDATE: Starlink Maritime August 2022
After a successful trial of Starlink satellite internet on Freedom of the Seas, RCL says it will be rolling it out to the rest of the fleet soon. A timeline has been set that will see Starlink installed on all Royal Caribbean ships by the end of Q1 2023!
This should vastly improve the speed and reliability of the internet onboard, but for now, RCLs internet is still touted as the fastest internet at sea.
Royal Caribbean offers VOOM high speed internet you can add to your cruise to stream and stay connected, but costs will vary based on number of devices you wish to connect as well as your ship and sailing.
The VOOM Surf Voyage Package on average starts at $15.99/day for one device and allows you to surf the web and send emails.
If you want to be able to stream as well as browse the internet, the VOOM Surf and Stream package would be for you at an average of $22.99/day. Again, these prices vary based on ship, sailing and number of devices you wish to connect.
Watch for package deals prior to your cruise and check if your Crown and Anchor member level offers a discount on internet service.
Overall, users have good things to say about the service, though it does appear there can be some spotty coverage depending on your itinerary. You can also use Royals app without having to pay to connect to their Wi-Fi.
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How To Get Free Wifi On Cruise Ships
Free is always better. The best option is to try and get a free internet package that offers free WiFi on cruise ships as part of your planning and booking. So look out for campaigns both before you book and even after you have booked your cruise.
If you are lucky enough to book with a package that offers free WiFi on cruise ships, it will stipulate exactly what it is you get and for how many devices.
And if you want to upgrade, its possible, and you pay the difference.
Alternatively, see if you can get On Board Credit included in your booking. This way, you can use the credit to purchase an internet package.
Are There Data Caps On The Plans
Most of the cruise line plans these days are unlimited plans that dont put a cap on your data.
That said, we wouldnt push it by trying to download the Lord of the Rings trilogy. First of all, it would take forever at the connection speeds. Beyond that, the Internet is being provided by satellite for thousands of passengers at any given time. Its likely that you would be asked about using such a massive amount of data.
If youre doing what the service is designed for streaming shows, checking email, etc. you likely wont be running into issues. But if you are using a ton of data, you might be asked about whats going on.
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Royal Caribbean Wins Cond Nast Traveler Readers Choice Award
Royal Caribbean won an award in the latest Condé Nast Traveler Readers Choice Awards.
In the “Mega Ships ” category, Royal Caribbean edged out MSC Cruises and Norwegian Cruise Line for the top honor.
Royal Caribbean International President and CEO Michael Bayley shared the news on his Facebook page, “We are so proud to be recognized for the amazing vacations our ships deliver they are crafted with all of our guests in mind!”
Apps Offer An Alternative To Paid Cruise Wifi
The recent introduction by many cruise lines of free apps that allow you to make reservations and view your onboard account and other services is taking off in a big way.
As these apps develop, you will find more and more innovation with what they offer, including deck plans, daily activity schedules, port maps and much more. The good news is that although these apps use the ships wifi, you dont need to purchase a package to use them. They are free!
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Other Ways To Access Wifi On A Cruise Ship
If the ship is in port or close enough to land, you may be able to utilize the local 4G/5G network on your mobile phone. On some routes, cruise ships will remain close to the land network, and with an international data plan, you can use the package you purchased.
If you are on a river cruise, the river will generally be close to a local mobile phone network service, so there is a good chance there is a signal with access to data services.
You might like to consider using a Mobile Hotspot device like the GlocalMe Triforce 4G LTE Mobile Hotspot.
With built-in data and no need to insert a local SIM card simply turn it on, set it up, and use! However, if you do want to use a local SIM card, the GlocalMe 3 has two SIM slots. It offers connections to the high-speed internet connection in more than 140 countries around the world. You do need to be close to land for these devices to work.
Find Out What Kind Of Wi
The good news is that an increasing number of cruise linesCelebrity Cruises and Viking among themare including at least a basic internet package in their cruise fares. Lines such as Holland America, Norwegian, and Princess Cruises also run promotions that include free Wi-Fi. On river cruises, Wi-Fi is included, with ships relying on cell towers , but it can be rather slow at times. Luxury ships also tend to include some Wi-Fi, with the option of upgrading to a premium package. Silversea, for instance, includes premium access for guests in its Medallion, Silver, Royal, Grand, and Owners suites and standard access for those in Vista and Veranda suites . Seabourn includes complimentary basic Wi-Fi for one device per guest, or you can pay to upgrade to a streaming package.
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Wifi On Cruise Ships At Disney
Disney Cruise Line offers a WiFi service called Connect@Sea. You pay for the megabytes you use. Disney does not have a service for an unlimited per day WiFi usage.
Disney offers 3 WiFi plans. Disney WiFi costs:
Pay as You GoYou can set a spending limit to prevent overspending or prevent to turn off the WiFi after the usage. Fees: $0.25 per minutes
1000 MBFees: $89
Disneys Connect@Sea packages can be a little tricky. The WiFi service is based on megabytes you use. You might not know how long you can be connected for 100 MB.
I tried a data usage calculator. It says you can explore website browsing for 4 hours with 100 MB .
Disney gives you 50MB for free on the first night of the cruise as a trial. So sign up for it before you leave home.
Why before you leave home?
There are two important points you need to keep in mind:
*Prices are subject to change at any time.
Connecting The Internet With Wifi At Sea
Getting WiFi for internet access is costly at sea. This is because there is no competition in the industry. The situation now is much improved than before. The internet connection was unreliable and was costly.
Good news is that some cruise lines are changing the scenery. What they have changed are:
- Implementing the system for high-speed service.
- The price is also getting more affordable.
Many cruise ships now have their own brand apps. Family cruisers and couples can talk to each other on the ship. Or have you got new friends on the ship? Thats great. High-bandwidth WiFi makes communication at sea much easier than before.
First, lets find out the WiFi service the cruise lines offers. You can compare the prices and pick up the best for you. Then set up your iPhone before you set sail.
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The Race For Faster Wifi On Board Cruise Ships
Top cruise liners are currently competing to offer the best high-speed internet connection to their guests who view on-board surfing a key necessity. But with connectivity at sea still patchy and expensive, who are the current leaders in speedy WiFi?
ByEva Grey
With summer approaching, the race between cruise lines in attracting passengers on their sunny decks is in full swing.
Cruising continues to be a popular vacation choice for many, with demand increasing by 20% between 2011 and 2016 particularly from the US, China, Germany, the UK and Australia, according to a report by the Cruise Lines International Association .
But the demographics of those who are taking new interest in cruising are fast changing as well. The same report found that 33% of those surveyed have a household income of less than $80,000, while river and small ship cruising continues to gain traction specifically among millennials.
This, along with the expectation that 2018 will bring a rise in traveller-friendly on board technologies that enhance travel experiences, means it is easy to assume that customers now expect a reliable WiFi connection while on board, at an affordable price or even for free.
Related
On-board connectivity has been notoriously difficult until now. At sea, the Internet is provided mainly by way of satellites, and coverage so far has been patchy, slow, expensive, and a mainly a luxury associated with premium packages.