Table Of Content
- What to Expect on a Cruise: Internet Onboard
- Cruise Ship Wi-Fi Comparison Table (Including the Different Type of Wi-Fi Service Offered)
- The cost of cruise Wi-Fi
- Price: Starting at $20 per day
- Is Internet Aboard Cruise Ships Safe?
- Satellite Internet on Cruise Ships Won't Be as Reliable As Your Broadband at Home
- Azamara WiFi Packages

The Social plan offers unlimited access to social media networks and popular airline sites but not email or web browsing. Yes, but internet access on cruise ships is both better and worse than you might expect. If you're headed on a cruise vacation and want to stay in touch with family and friends — or stream movies and music on board the ship — it is possible to stay fully connected while at sea. But you'll need to adjust your expectations if you think the connectivity will be similar to a hotel.

What to Expect on a Cruise: Internet Onboard
Depending on the destination, cruise ship capabilities, and even your stateroom location, the variances in coverage can be significant. The cruise line will be offering speeds up to 1.5 Gbps, well above the standard offerings. The pandemic changes the way the world does business, and has opened up remote working opportunities for many. Celebrity suggests if you book it in advance, you’ll save 10% than if you were to wait and purchase it on board, but often there will be additional deals when paired with other upgraded packages. Overall, users have good things to say about the service, though it does appear there can be some spotty coverage depending on your itinerary.

Cruise Ship Wi-Fi Comparison Table (Including the Different Type of Wi-Fi Service Offered)
Cruise lines know they have a reputation for having less than reliable Wi-Fi, and one way that the industry is trying to combat this is by using Starlink, high-speed broadband internet engineered by SpaceX. Hurtigruten Expeditions has already installed Starlink across its entire fleet, and other cruise lines, like Norwegian and Royal Caribbean, are following suit. The short answer is yes, but there are some caveats that you need to be aware of when planning your trip. Wireless internet is available in most public areas and cabins on all Windstar ships, and passengers can access computers onboard. High-bandwidth online activities are not recommended by the line.
The cost of cruise Wi-Fi
For example, Carnival Cruise Line has completed the rollout of Starlink across all Carnival ships, as has Royal Caribbean. 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. For most of the many years I've been writing about cruising, the typical internet connection at sea hasn't just been slow. You'd click on a website only to experience many seconds of frustration.
Disney Cruise Line, for example, has updated its internet access and pricing packages for four out of its five ships. But if you’re out at sea, it’s probably not a great idea to use your phone plan for service. Happily for cruisers, Wi-Fi is nearly always available, though the type and costs will vary. Personally, I find it easier to just hit the airplane mode button.
Is Internet Aboard Cruise Ships Safe?
AquaClass cabins always have Basic Wi-Fi included in the fare; suites in The Retreat always come with complimentary Premium Wi-Fi. If you have Basic Wi-Fi included in your cruise fare, you can upgrade to the Premium Package for $9.99 daily. The attacks exposed the personal data of the victims, including passport numbers and in some cases, social security and credit card numbers. Similarly, Carnival Cruise Line offers its Social Wi-Fi plan for as little as $8.50 while its Premium Wi-Fi package sells for $14.45 per day.
Can you stream movies on a cruise ship?
Carnival Cruise Line listens to its customers on key change - TheStreet
Carnival Cruise Line listens to its customers on key change.
Posted: Wed, 18 Oct 2023 07:00:00 GMT [source]
Starlink service is currently available on Oceania Cruises' Vista and Riviera, with a fleetwide expansion of the service to be completed by the end of 2024.
Satellite Internet on Cruise Ships Won't Be as Reliable As Your Broadband at Home
Dead zones are especially noticeable on older cruise ships not designed for high-speed WiFi connectivity. Newer vessels are built with access to the internet in mind, so you’ll find more reliable service around the ship. However, the WiFi connections’ quality, reliability, and speed might not be as high as you are used to at home. Guests can connect to the internet via a personal device such as a smartphone or laptop, or they can use one of the ship's computers in the Business Center, located on Deck 1. The line relies on a VSAT satellite terminal — what Viking says is "one of the best solutions" for internet connection at sea.
There is free access to the Disney Cruise Line Navigator app, which is also accessible to view other data packages. With Celebrity, Premium Wi-Fi is the top-tier package you can add to your cruises on Celebrity for near-constant coverage while cruising. This package is great for those wishing to stream movies and such while underway and seems to have fairly good reviews from previous customers. Now that the Carnival brand has added Starlink across its entire fleet, the line has announced that the upcoming Carnival Jubilee will feature 5G mobile connectivity via Wireless Maritime Service, as well.
Certain parts of Europe, like the Mediterranean, similarly have a lot of satellite coverage. In those areas, you'll find you can check email, update Facebook, upload photos and do general web searches without much difficulty. Book a Cruise With Free Internet as a PerkNorwegian, Celebrity, Princess and other lines have started to offer sales that provide free perks for cruising. Book one of these and you don’t have to worry about the cost of access.
Certain apps, a variety of service options, port of call, and destinations along your cruise can all impact the internet service on a ship. Younger guests, such as those attracted to Virgin Voyages, tend to attract, feels that connectivity is paramount. Having a reliable internet connection allows for cruisers to check in at work or home with confidence that those important connections will be ready and available when needed. NCL offers different perks on different cruises, so many bookings come with some complimentary minutes of internet and it’s easy to upgrade your package once on board. Norwegian also has an option where you can purchase 250 minutes of internet for use any time during your cruise for the price of $105.00 if purchased in advance of your cruise. If you want to purchase it onboard, it will be $125 plus a $3.95 activation fee.
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