A line-by-line guide to internet access at sea

Table Of Content

• Line-by-line guide to cruise ship internet access
• Price: Starting at $25.99 per day
• Royal Caribbean International Wi-Fi and Internet
• Price: Starting at $12.75 per day
• Do cruise ships have Wi-Fi? A line-by-line guide to internet access at sea
• Conclusion – Internet on Cruise Ships is not cheap and look for Starlink if speed and reliability is important
• Use onboard credit to pay for a Wi-Fi package

Whether you’re on a cruise ship with Starlink internet or a cruise that claims to have the “fastest WiFi at sea”, the WiFi speed will still be slower than on land. Unfortunately, even with the enhancements, cruise ship WiFi just isn’t 100% reliable at all times. On Celebrity Edge and other Celebrity Cruises Edge-class ships, you can even use an app to remotely open your cabin door, change channels on the television and turn off the lights. On some cruise ships, the signal has become so much faster you now can stream Netflix from the comfort of your cabin — something that would have been unthinkable just a few years ago. I can guide you through the ins and outs of Wi-Fi on cruise ships.

Line-by-line guide to cruise ship internet access

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Carnival Cruise Line has an internet that supports streaming services by incorporating a hybrid system combining networks of land-based towers and quicker satellite connections. While most people can watch streaming shows, the experience may not be as smooth. Companies have been attempting for years to speed up connectivity on cruise ships. So far, solutions involve introducing additional satellites and linking systems to land-based towers that connect to cruise ships as they are closer to shore.

Price: Starting at $25.99 per day

The Costa App is similar to most cruise lines, offering cruisers the ability to manage their cruise before and during the sailing. No Wi-Fi plan is required to use most features of the app while onboard. Guests staying in suites in The Retreat are treated to Premium Wi-Fi at no added cost. Premium Wi-Fi is also bundled with a selection of onboard amenities like unlimited room service in a package called Premium Access, available for purchase by all guests.

Royal Caribbean International Wi-Fi and Internet

This services includes full access to the web and streaming movies and music. While Celebrity doesn’t list costs publicly on their website, the rate for an upcoming cruise was seen $30 per day for one device, with a 20% discount if booking ahead of time. Viking, Celebrity Cruises, Silversea Cruises, and Regent Seven Seas Cruises have unlimited internet access included in their base cost. With some lines, there may be an additional cost for quicker service. The challenge of internet access on cruise ships is that connectivity can be really slow.

At $21.25 (or $25 on board) per day, guests will be able to place video calls and stream music and videos. Not all cruise lines offer the ability to purchase a day pass (rather than unlimited internet), but if yours does, it may be worth considering. This is especially true if you plan on being on shore as much as possible. Because most public internet lounges have limited space, you might find yourself waiting for an open terminal. If you think you'll be spending lots of time online, plan to bring your own laptop or tablet. If internet connectivity is important to you, there are more and more cruise ships outfitted with technology that enables high-speed internet.

Do cruise ships have Wi-Fi? A line-by-line guide to internet access at sea

So while onboard cruise Wi-Fi speeds are getting better, they'll never be as fast as at home, where a hard wire brings the signal straight to your router. Carnival, for instance, has stated clearly in the past that “VPN connections are not supported” on their network. Royal Caribbean doesn’t explicitly state one way or the other, but we’ve seen several reports that using a VPN can be hit or miss for passengers. In our experience, using a VPN led to some interruption in the connection. In other words, while you may find service is more than fast enough to meet your needs, be prepared for the possibility of slower speeds than you are used to. The apps allow guests to keep track of their onboard statement.

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On cruise ships, every packet of data you are downloading onto your phone or computer, for the most part, is coming over a satellite, which is not a quick or inexpensive proposition. 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 the cruise lines love to boast about the speed of their service, the actual speeds you see can vary.

Conclusion – Internet on Cruise Ships is not cheap and look for Starlink if speed and reliability is important

The race to improve connectivity is a marathon, not a sprint. If you purchase an all-inclusive Princess Plus or Princess Premier, they offer free WiFi as part of your fare. You can even use FaceTime or FaceTime Audio to make calls while on your cruise vacation. In other words, unless you are sailing on Norwegian, then you should just assume you can’t access with a virtual private network. You might get lucky and be able to, but chances are slim.

Again, these prices vary based on ship, sailing and number of devices you wish to connect. Passengers on Silversea can use their own personal devices to access the internet in their cabins or throughout the ship. Computers with internet access are also available onboard via internet cafes on all ships. The Essential plan provides access to web browsing, email and social media. The line offers discounts for multi-device plans and on voyages of 16 nights or more.

As more ships install the latest technology, the need to be in a certain spot on the ship to get a good signal is quickly becoming a thing of the past on most mainstream lines. Lack of service on today's modern ships is more likely to come from the location of the ship on the globe than from its onboard distribution system. Disney Cruise Line offers three Wi-Fi packages to suit varying needs. Their “Stay Connected” value wi-fi plan is meant for Social Media only while you’ll need Basic Surf if you want access to email and general website browsing.

The weather, your ship's location, and how far you're out to sea all affect the quality of your Wi-Fi. Regardless, you shouldn't expect Wi-Fi on a cruise to provide the same internet reliability or speed you're probably accustomed to. While each cruise line differs, this tiered-plan approach is relatively common. You may also find plans that charge by data usage, per day, or for the entire voyage.

If you’re using the wi-fi for work or streaming, use it early in the morning or late at night. From our experience, we’ve found that when fewer people are on the WiFi, the internet works faster. Something to note is that Cellular at Sea is not available on all cruise ships. If you purchased the cruise ship’s Wi-Fi, you could message your friends and family on the cruise or back home by using Facebook Messenger, WhatsApp or iMessage.

Many people wonder how to use Wi-Fi when their phone is on Airplane mode. However, when you are in airplane mode, you can still access the cruise ship’s Wi-Fi. By purchasing your WiFi plan in advance on the cruise line’s website, you can save 15% or more on the internet package. Many first-time cruisers make the mistake of waiting until they board their cruise to purchase wi-fi, and then they have to pay the price.

Cruise Hive was established back in 2008 and among the earliest blogs in the industry. Since the start, it's been our aim to provide the latest cruise news covering all the major cruise lines. While most fleets have incorporated onboard technological improvements, some require patience. Many ships contain a direct ship-to-shore system and new satellites similar to systems found on land. One of the major appeals of taking a cruise is disconnecting from real life on land. Cruise line loyalty programs would seem to be a good fit for free Wi-Fi for frequent cruisers, but historically, these programs have leaned more toward discounts than freebies.

One login is provided per suite for use with one device at a time. Gold and higher-level members of the Seven Seas Society and guests in Concierge Suites and higher receive up to four logins/devices per suite. Princess Cruises claims the "fastest Wi-Fi at sea" with its MedallionNet technology, with download speeds of 12.6 Mbps and upload speeds of 1.9 Mbps. Carnival Corporation and Princess achieve this speed by working with SES Networks, a leading satellite connectivity provider.

Members of the line's loyalty rewards program, Azamara Circle, receive benefits and perks for internet options based on their level. Members who book a Suite or Verandah Plus category can also combine their loyalty and suite Wi-Fi minutes. Perks of membership range from a 5% savings, including 30 free Wi-Fi minutes, or 20% toward a Full Voyage Unlimited Package at the Azamara Circle Adventurer level. For Discoverer Platinum members, there's a 100% savings on Wi-Fi that provides a Full Voyage Unlimited Package, no matter the category of cabin or length of the voyage.