Thursday, April 18, 2024

Wi-Fi on cruise ships: What you need to know about internet use on board

cruise wifi

Second, given the internet speed, you could see some lagging or lower-quality pictures. We’ve personally have had issues as well in tests we’ve done on cruises. You pay one amount for your internet service and connect as many devices as you want — and they all have access to the full internet.

Everything to Know About Internet on a Cruise (Speed, Cost, & More)

Carnival Cruise Line raises WiFi prices - Travel Weekly

Carnival Cruise Line raises WiFi prices.

Posted: Mon, 11 Dec 2023 08:00:00 GMT [source]

Princess Cruises' MedallionNet offers a package sold by the day or for the entire voyage. Wi-Fi is also included in both Princess fare bundles, Princess Plus and Princess Premier. Internet service is available at computers in internet cafes on MSC ships; Wi-Fi is available on personal devices in all cabins and common areas with the purchase of a package.

Do Cruise Ships Have WiFi? Quick Guide for Travelers

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. Although the internet speeds on a ship will be slower than what you’re used to on land, the availability of WiFi on cruise ships is continuously improving to ensure you stay connected while sailing. On most cruise lines, you'll need a minimum of $100 in onboard credit per device for a week's worth of free basic Wi-Fi. On lines that offer premium plans designed for streaming, you'll need around $20 per day per device. More and more cruise lines are jumping on the bandwidth bandwagon by implementing next-generation Starlink internet access onboard. This is a game changer for both small-ship operators and large cruise companies — and clients aiming to work or simply stay connected at sea.

Wi-Fi on cruise ships: 5 things to know about internet use on board

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. That said, we wouldn’t push it by trying to download the Lord of the Rings trilogy.

Our partners cannot pay us to guarantee favorable reviews of their products or services. So it’s possible we just cruised when there was some issue affecting the speed. While we were able to stream a show on Netflix, it was heavily pixelated for much of the program before clearing up. When calling back home using FaceTime, the video would cut in and out, but the voice quality was clear. And while we did post to this site during the trip, it took considerably longer than normal. Speed tests that we performed regularly through the cruise topped out at around 1.7 Mbps.

cruise wifi

Carnival Corporation and Princess achieve this speed by working with SES Networks, a leading satellite connectivity provider. One-day internet packages are $29.99 per day (for Browse) and $34.99 (for Browse & Stream). The Stream package is $45.99 per day, per device, and includes streaming capability and all the benefits of the Surf Voyage and Premium packages.

Fast and reliable internet

We’ve noticed that the iMessage service on iPhones seems to work well to send messages to other iPhones, but doesn’t easily text Android users over the wi-fi. Cell service is provided on the ship at sea, but it can be expensive. A much easier thing to do is simply use the ship’s wi-fi to send messages and even make calls.

Learn About Credit Cards

With Princess Plus, you’ll get WiFi for one device per person, a beverage package, the crew gratuities included. 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. 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. That’s why in general you should expect the service on a cruise ship to be more expensive — and slower — than what you’d find back home. On all voyages — and with both types of internet access — the complimentary Wi-Fi is unlimited for two devices used at the same time.

Search Cruises

Specific to NCL, the line offers various package tiers for a charge, or bundled as a part of its “Free at Sea” promotions. Based on guest feedback we have moved away from pricing based on minutes or megabytes. Our aim is to reduce friction in the guest experience by ensuring guests do not have to monitor their usage – they only need to purchase the package which includes the sites they want and enjoy. If guests need temporary access to more sites they can upgrade seamlessly from the same device they’re using to access Wi-Fi. Wi-Fi is available in all guest areas aboard Holland America Line ships including in guest staterooms and suites. Holland America Line has invested over the past few years to expand onboard Wi-Fi service to satisfy growing guest demand for digital access at sea.

You can also access social media sites, check email, and even stream movies in some cases. If guests have standard internet access but want to upgrade to the premium plan, the price is $29.99 per day (covering two devices connected at the same time). Two free logins are provided per cabin or suite for use on one device at a time. Plans that include access for additional devices can be purchased on the ship, and an upgrade to streaming services for movies or music is available at a cost of $9.99 per day. You can purchase prepaid packages during the first two days of the voyage, and pricing is based on the number of minutes — or days — guests will need access to the internet. The plans are only available for one device at a time, and unused minutes are nonrefundable.

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. Connectivity can be slow and spotty, although cruise lines are working to change that. All guests on Silver Origin in the Galapagos receive free standard internet access. Complimentary service applies to two devices at a time, and upgrades can be purchased when available. Now, the highest internet speed on Voom (by Royal Caribbean) is $24.99/day/device.

Carnival Cruise Line raises prices for specialty restaurants, Wi-Fi - USA TODAY

Carnival Cruise Line raises prices for specialty restaurants, Wi-Fi.

Posted: Wed, 06 Dec 2023 08:00:00 GMT [source]

Just enable WiFi on your device after switching to airplane mode, and you can connect to the ship’s network. You may find inconsistent internet speeds throughout the day and in different areas of the ship. As you plan your cruise vacation, you can share your memorable experiences and upload beautiful images of your trip, all thanks to satellite internet. So, pack your bags and embark on a fantastic journey, knowing that the digital world is just a click away.

If you're struggling to upload photos on a sea day when everyone is on board and online, wait until folks are off the ship in port to try again. Early morning and late at night, when people are sleeping, are also good times to find faster connections. Cruise lines are adopting new technologies to make internet access more reliable — and more affordable.

No comments:

Post a Comment

Iowa West Field House : Pickleball Court Information

Table Of Content Sports Complex What type of surface do the indoor pickleball courts have? Play Iowa West Field House: A Commitment to the C...