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Cruise lines have recognized this need and offer a range of Wi-Fi packages tailored to different needs and budgets. Starlink is the first and largest satellite constellation using a low Earth orbit to decrease the distance information travels and deliver faster internet. Exact speeds and bandwidth that Royal Caribbean expects have not yet been disclosed.
Do Cruise Ships Have Wi-Fi? And 6 Other Things You Need to Know About Internet at Sea
Carriers usually offer per-day international plans that activate automatically if your phone is not in airplane mode in a foreign port. Some wireless plans include select countries in your home plan, particularly Canada and Mexico. If you purchase their “All Included” package at the time of booking you get free drinks plus free basic internet. You can then upgrade to the Premium service for $9.99 per day.
Disney Cruises WiFi Packages
On a sailing on one of the Carnival ships outfitted for faster internet, Carnival Sunrise, I did notice a significant improvement in cruise Wi-Fi speed. But the promised access to Netflix streaming wasn't quite as smooth as I had hoped. Clicking on a favorite show, I only could watch for a few minutes before the connection inevitably froze. All Silversea Cruises vessels feature Starlink connectivity on board. Disney Cruise Line previously offered varied internet plans for different ships and cruise destinations but now offers standard packages across its fleet.
Other Cruise Lines
For a fee, passengers ages 13 and older can access the app's chat feature to message other family members and friends onboard. It’s easy to find – just watch to see where all the crew are huddled in port. It’s only good when you’re off the ship, and network security could be an issue. Don’t use the Wi-Fi for any financial transactions and use a VPN for peace of mind. If Cruise Wi-Fi seems too steep for your wallet, you’ve got some other choices to stay connected.
How to Access WiFi on a Cruise Ship?
Despite working off Wi-Fi, they do not require guests to purchase an internet plan to operate them. Additionally, most don’t have an added fee for most of the features. These apps often have a daily activity schedule, deck plans, and maps to help you navigate the ship. Some will also allow you to message others on your cruise through the app. All Seabourn ships have satellite Wi-Fi access in suites and most public areas, as well as via terminals located in Seabourn Square.
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Note that you do not need a cruise ship Wi-Fi plan to access the free services — such as ordering food or checking the daily schedule — on a cruise line's app. Another tip to save money is to use one a PC laptop to create a hotspot in your cabin. Although this might not always work depending on the cruise ship’s enabled capabilities, I’ve successfully used my laptop as a hotspot multiple times. This allows us to purchase Wi-Fi for just one device and then create a hotspot for other devices to connect to. However, Starlink employs a novel approach by deploying a constellation of thousands of small, low Earth orbit (LEO) satellites. These satellites are positioned much closer to the Earth’s surface, significantly reducing the latency and providing faster internet speeds.
Cruise lines frequently run sales that you should monitor to get the best price possible. Those sailing on Royal Caribbean, Carnival Cruise Line and Norwegian Cruise Line can expect to spend anywhere from $20 to $30 per day per device onboard. Again, you can purchase daily passes or pre-purchase Wi-Fi for your entire cruise.
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You can also use Royal’s app without having to pay to connect to their Wi-Fi. We live in a digital age where social media is prevalent in many aspects of our lives. Stay refreshed with unlimited drinks, including cocktails, sodas and more — plus enjoy savings when you bundle high speed internet. Kids and parents both score with the Classic Soda Package + 1 VOOM Device. Complimentary Wi-Fi access is available to all Explora Journeys guests.
Price: Starting at $17.15 per day
Several factors affect the bandwidth and reliability of the connection on a cruise ship, including the satellite provider, weather, location, and the number of satellites in the range of the vessel. 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. Platinum and Elite members of Princess Cruises' loyalty program receive a 50% discount on plans that will appear as an onboard credit on the ship. When added to a cruising package, it is available 24/7 with no data caps, which is nice considering others throttle when available if you read the fine print. Satellite internet at sea is not as reliable as on-land connections. To understand why shipboard internet isn't comparable to the broadband you enjoy at home, you first need to understand the technology behind it.
Sophia’s travel expertise comes from her time as a reporter for The Points Guy, featured in Forbes, Business Insider, and The Balance. When not traveling, she enjoys relaxing in Priority Pass lounges with tea and battling slow Wi-Fi. Join her as she shares cruise insights and explores the world, one voyage at a time. In terms of performance, Princess claims that MedallionNet download speeds can exceed 100 Mbps and upload speeds can exceed 60 Mbps. Just be sure to sign out when you’re done so you don’t accidentally use up more data than you intend. You can also purchase a single 24-hour pass for the Value plan at $25 or the Premium plan at $35.
Some cruise lines charge a fee for WiFi usage, and the prices can vary. Depending on your budget and needs, you can choose from different WiFi packages available onboard. It’s recommended to check with your cruise line beforehand to get a clear understanding of the pricing and options available to you. On the expedition ships, the level of internet access is also determined by the suite category, except for Silver Origin, which has complimentary standard Wi-Fi for all guests. For guests on Silversea's full world cruises or Grand Voyages, all passengers receive complimentary premium internet access for the sailing.
While it doesn’t support streaming, it does allow users to browse the internet. Furthermore, discounts are available when you connect more devices or buy your package before embarking on your cruise. Princess Cruises' MedallionNet internet service allows passengers to post photos, video chat and stream videos and music with connectivity speeds similar to those found on land.
This allows you to browse websites, use social media apps (except for TikTok), and access email (no VPN). Hurtigruten Expeditions uses Starlink onboard and offers the service for free to guests and crew. The adventure line’s entire fleet, except its ship in the Galapagos, utilizes the new internet connection in collaboration with long-time partner Speedcast.
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. Of course, there are challenges to providing online access for thousands of people on a cruise ship that can be hundreds of miles of miles from the nearest land.
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