Staying Connected: A Guide to Your Cruise Ship’s Internet
Staying Connected: A Guide to Your Cruise Ship’s Internet
Along with the usual holiday essentials like sun cream and shades, more and more passengers are bringing their laptops, tablets and smartphones onboard – because who doesn’t love making everyone back home jealous with a few sunny snaps on their Facebook feed?
Thanks to the ever-improving technology on cruise ships, and the fact that nobody wants to go without it nowadays, Wi-Fi is now a common onboard feature, giving guests the chance to stay connected with friends and family over the course of their cruise.
You’ll be glad to hear that onboard Wi-Fi is getting faster and cheaper too, so surfing the web while you sail the seas is a far less frustrating experience that it used to be. But what kinds of internet packages do the big cruise lines offer – and at what cost? We’ll answer both, and take a look at where water-based Wi-Fi is heading too, below…
Do cruise ships have Wi-Fi?
They do indeed! All cruise ships offer their own supported internet connectivity. However, you can still connect to the internet using your phone’s 3G or 4G so long as you’re not too far from shore if you don’t fancy paying for your ship’s internet. Remember to turn off your data roaming if you don’t want hefty charges on your phone bill, too! When you’re way out at sea, you’re less likely to have access to this though.
That said, connecting to the internet at sea might not be the same as your internet at home. You might need a fair bit of patience when it’s time to sign in. There’s still hope though. With advancing technology and state-of-the-art equipment coming out at a rate of knots, it’s becoming much easier and quicker to get online.
If you’re taking a trip to the Caribbean, for instance, then you’ll certainly be in luck. Why is this? With more satellites in low orbit above the area, ships can stay within these satellites’ footprint for a journey’s duration – keeping you connected throughout your cruise.
Many cruise lines are also turning to hybrid solutions which combine satellites with terrestrial broadband connectivity. So even if you happen to be in a location where internet access isn’t great, you’ll still be able to send that email, upload that picture or do a spot of retail therapy.
The next step: Starlink on cruise ships
Developed by tech boffin Elon Musk, Starlink is a satellite-based internet company that’s capable of delivering internet speeds of 150Mbps to pretty much anywhere on the planet. In other words: it’s pretty fast.
And five cruise liners have plans to offer it to guests, including Carnival, Celebrity and Royal Caribbean – whose Starlink trial on Freedom of the Seas was a rousing success. As well as quicker connectivity and faster speeds, the use of Starlink will also allow guests to use more high-bandwidth activities like video streaming and video calls!
Cruise line internet packages: what’s available?
Let’s take a look at the various internet packages that the major cruise lines offer to their guests.
Azamara Club Cruises
How much is the internet on Azamara?
The line offers three packages at the following prices:
- 60 Minutes: $19.95
- One-Day Pass: $29.95
- Full Cruise: $19.95 per day
Carnival Cruises
How much is the internet on Carnival?
Carnival offers three packages, which cost:
- Social Wi-Fi Plan: starting at $12.75 per person, per day
- Value Wi-Fi Plan: starting at $17.00 per person, per day
- Premium Wi-Fi Plan: $18.70 per person, per day
Celebrity Cruises
How much is the internet on Celebrity?
Celebrity’s two Wi-Fi packages include:
- Basic Wi-Fi: $20 per person per day (free when you book through the line’s Always Included fare)
- Premium Wi-Fi: $35 per person per day (discounted when you book through the line’s Always Included fare)
Please note that Wi-Fi packages are not included on ships sailing from the Galapagos.
Costa Cruises
How much is the internet on Costa?
Costa offers three internet packages based on the amount of data you’ll be using – as well as how you’re using it. These include:
Refill Internet Package
Here, you’ll receive unlimited internet access – until the pre-paid threshold is reached, as follows:
- €35 for the 250MB
- €45 for the 500MB plan
- €110 for the 3GB plan
Next, there’s the social package which costs just €5 a day and lets guests access to many of the biggest social media sites.
There’s also a pay as you go option, starting at €0.25/minute, with an account creation fee of €3.
Cunard Cruise Line
How much is the internet on Cunard?
All Cunard ships feature the following two internet packages:
- Essential plan: $18 per day when purchased for the whole voyage
- Premium plan: $24 per day when purchased for the whole voyage
Fred. Olsen Cruise Lines
How much is the internet on Fred. Olsen?
The line’s Social Media Package will cost guests the following:
- 1 day - £10.00
- 5 days - £40.00
- 7 days - £55.00
- 14 days - £100.00
The line’s General Browsing package, which adds WhatsApp and Email access into the mix, will cost guests the following:
- 1 day - £12.00
- 5 days - £50.00
- 7 days - £63.00
- 14 days - £120.00
Holland America Line
How much is the internet on Holland America Line?
Guests can make use of the line’s two internet packages, priced as follows:
- Surf: $15 per day (or included in the Have It All fare)
- Premium: $20 per day
MSC Cruises
How much is the internet on MSC Cruises?
MSC feature three packages as part of their ships, which cost as follows:
- The Social Package: €3.90 per day or €14.90 for a full seven-day cruise
- The Surfer Package: €9.90 per day or €29.90 for a full seven-day cruise
- The Streamer Package: €19.90 per day or €59.90 for a full seven-day cruise
Norwegian Cruise Line
How much is the internet on Norwegian Cruise Line?
With two internet packages, guests can choose from the following:
- Unlimited Wi-Fi Package: $29.99 per day (does not support streaming functions)
- Unlimited Premium Wi-Fi Package: $39.99 per day
Oceania Cruises
How much is the internet on Oceania Cruise Line?
All guests onboard an Oceania cruise have access to the line’s FREE ship-wide internet Wavenet, though they’re welcome to upgrade to Wavenet Prime at a cost of $9.99 per person, per day for the duration of the cruise, should they wish to stream movies or music.
P&O Cruises
How much is the internet on P&O?
Guests can connect to the ship’s Wi-Fi through one of the following two internet packages:
- My Wi-Fi Essential: £12 per day with a cruise plan, or £18 per day
- My Wi-Fi Ultimate: £18 per day with a cruise plan or £24 per day
Princess Cruises
How much is the internet on Princess?
Included in their fares when booking Princess Plus or Princess Premier, guests can access MedallionNet across all ships. The line calls in the best Wi-Fi at sea! Guests can also make use of unlimited day packages for as little as $9.99 a day.
Royal Caribbean International
How much is the internet on Royal Caribbean?
Six times faster than other ships’ Wi-Fi offerings, guests can connect to VOOM, what the line calls the fastest internet at sea. Packages start at the following:
- VOOM Surf Voyage Package: $15.99 per day for one device
- VOOM Surf and Stream Package: $22.99 per day for one device
Surf the web on your next cruise adventure
With technology advancing and equipment constantly being revolutionised, it’s a wonderful opportunity for guests to be able to share their cruising experiences with family and friends at home. Looking for your next adventure? Head to our homepage to find the best cruise deals going.