Cruise Line Wi-Fi and Internet Packages

Table Of Content

• Silversea Cruises
• What kind of Wi-Fi connection can you expect on your cruise ship?
• The benefits of a basic package
• Have an iPhone? You May be Able to Text for Free Onboard
• What does Virgin Voyages' internet service cost?
• Phone/Email/Mail
• Major Differences Between Royal Caribbean and Norwegian Cruise Line (NCL)

You likely know that in your house there may be spots — like the corner of that one bedroom — where for whatever reason your wi-fi just doesn’t work. With a huge ship there may be dead zones for wi-fi service, but we’ve never encountered them. If you have trouble accessing the Internet, there is a help-desk available on the ship. Enjoy OceanView on your stateroom TV or anywhere around the ship using the Princess® app.

How to Track a Cruise Ship Location on the Internet - Royal Caribbean Blog

How to Track a Cruise Ship Location on the Internet.

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Silversea Cruises

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In fact, the cheapest plans usually have access only to the social media sites and apps like Facebook, Twitter, Snap, Instagram and more. If this is the main way you keep in touch with people back home, then it’s a cheap way to stay connected. Still, all cruise lines now provide wi-fi on their ships so that you can stay in touch whether it be for work or just checking in on the kids. You can also access social media sites, check email, and even stream movies in some cases. Guests can choose from one-device to four-device packages starting at $24.99 per day that you can purchase through the MedallionClass app pre-cruise.

What kind of Wi-Fi connection can you expect on your cruise ship?

If you want to have access to relatively fast internet -- and we're guessing you do -- you'll have to pay extra. If you do sail a ship that has both options, you’ll want the faster “Surf+Stream” service to watch video online. The sign-up process for Royal Caribbean’s VOOM service is relatively simple. First, passengers enable wi-fi on their device and then select the ship’s service from the list of available connections. What if you just want to hop online for a single day or just for a few minutes to check email? There are time blocks available for purchase, as well as a daily rate that is higher than the multi-day package rate.

The benefits of a basic package

Windstar offers three options and an all-inclusive bundle. The Email plan is 200 MB, which would amount to between 15 and 60 minutes of time online. The Surfing plan provides 500 MB, suitable for light surfing for approximately five hours.

Have an iPhone? You May be Able to Text for Free Onboard

The cost for internet is a bit pricy, starting at $249 on a seven-night cruise. Buying a package before the cruise gets you a 10 percent discount off the onboard price. Fast, reliable internet is increasingly important to cruise passengers and can be a factor when considering which cruise line or ship to book.

Reliability of the Internet Connection

Second, given the internet speed, you could see some lagging or lower-quality pictures. Many reports from users complain about streaming troubles. We’ve personally have had issues as well in tests we’ve done on cruises. In our tests across different cruise lines, the speed of service has varied widely, but seems most consistently in the 3-5 Mbps range. That said, we’ve been on cruises with speeds in the 1 Mbps range and some that approached 60 Mbps.

What does Virgin Voyages' internet service cost?

As many cruisers have found the hard way, international phone plans such as AT&T's $10-a-day International Day Pass do not apply to cruise ships at sea. If you let your AT&T phone roam while you're on a vessel, you'll pay $2.05 per megabyte of data — even if your base plan at home offers you unlimited data. You'll also pay $3 per minute to make a call, $0.50 per text and $1.30 to send a photo. Share your unforgettable cruise moments by purchasing one of our onboard Wi-Fi packages or by calling home with plans provided by your cellular provider. As we strive to bring our guests the best onboard experience, we have partnered with Starlink — the fastest Internet at sea — to help you stay connected through your entire voyage. For cellular plan options, simply contact your provider to choose the plan that's right for you before you embark on your vacation.

Phone/Email/Mail

If you missed the purchase window, check with us once you're on board — we'll help you find what you’re looking for. Norwegian Cruise Lines (NCL) is one of the few we’ve found that explicitly says they will let you access via a VPN. If you purchase their Unlimited Premium package, you are allowed access using one. However, if you are trying to look at pages with adult themes, then you’ll likely find you’re unable to connect.

Major Differences Between Royal Caribbean and Norwegian Cruise Line (NCL)

This allows you online access without the cost of paying for service during the entire cruise. We’ve been on ships with blazing fast connections and others that have been insufferably slow. The service is available starting at $24.99 per day for one device when purchased before the cruise. In general, expect to pay about $20-30 per day, per device for wi-fi access. One login is provided per suite for use with one device at a time.

According to a June 27, 2022 article in an online publication, Cybersecurity Dive, Carnival Corporation was the target of a series of cybersecurity incidents between 2019 and 2021, including two ransomware attacks. You'll be able to mail postcards and letters from various ports of call. Our Guest Relations staff can tell you how, when and where to post mail. Remember, in most cases you will probably arrive home before your mail.

You pay a set amount per day, and the plan is purchased for the entire cruise. So if it’s $20 per day, you’ll pay $140 for a seven-day cruise. Expecting to have blazing fast internet on the ship like you would back at home? Well, it’s time to lower your expectations a little bit before you get online.

While all these apps work off cruise ship Wi-Fi, the good news is they don't require the purchase of a plan to use. Nor do they come with any other sort of fee — at least for most features. Pay For a Smaller PackageWhile the internet is most widely sold in a package that lasts the length of your cruise, there are options for smaller amounts of time. Head to the ship’s internet Café and you’ll find that you can access the internet by the minute. It can be pricey on a per-minute basis, but still much cheaper than buying a package for the length of the cruise.