While going on a cruise used to be a good way to totally unplug from work and social media during your vacation, that’s not the case any longer. Besides the fact that companies like GigSky now offer cheap e-sim plans to allow you to stay connected while at sea, just about every cruise line under the sun also has reliable, fast, and affordable Wi-Fi. Although it’s bad news for those who want to disconnect but can’t resist the appeal of the World Wide Web, it’s a godsend for the remote workers who don’t have any geographical constraints. Digital nomads and the likes can now enjoy spending days, or even weeks, at sea without losing on one day of work or missing an important meeting or email. Also, just as importantly, it’s great if you want to upload your best vacation pictures to Insta in real time.
Staying Connected on a Cruise: The Cheapest, and Most Expensive, Cruise Line WiFi Packages
How’s the quality of the Wi-Fi on cruise ships?
While just a couple of years ago you couldn’t rely on cruise ship Wi-Fi, very recently the quality of the internet connection at sea has improved dramatically, and it’s all thanks to Starlink. Most major cruise lines, from Carnival Cruise Line to MSC, Royal Caribbean, Celebrity Cruises, Oceania, Scenic, and many more have signed up with Starlink and, therefore, now have fast and dependable Wi-Fi. That said, because not every ship on every fleet has had Starlink installed just yet, you should inquire about the internet situation before booking, especially if you’re trying to work during your cruise.
I recently came back from a seven-day exploration cruise in the Galápagos Islands with Ecoventura, and the Starlink-enabled Wi-Fi, which was included, was solid throughout, allowing for seamless texting, emailing, and video calls, despite being in an extremely remote location. Of course, my experience is anecdotal and usually, the more remote the location, the more likely the internet connection will be spotty. Just be aware that the bandwidth might have some ups and downs throughout your sailing.
- From the cheapest to the most expensive Wi-Fi packages on cruises
- Cruise lines with some Wi-Fi included and some fee-based upgrades available
- Cruise lines with Wi-Fi included
From the cheapest to the most expensive Wi-Fi packages on cruises
Much like with drinks, on cruises, Wi-Fi is often offered in packages, with tiers ranging in speed, access, and price.
1. Carnival Cruise Line
- The Social Wi-Fi Plan costs $15.30 per day, per device for access to social media websites and apps, including Facebook, Instagram, WhatsApp, among others, as well as access to airline sites.
- The Value Wi-Fi Plan costs $19.55 per day, per device for the sites offered in the social Wi-Fi plan, as well additional browsing, and email. The Value Wi-Fi Plan has a faster connection speed than the Social Wi-Fi Plan.
- The Premium Wi-Fi Plan is three times faster than the other two plans and costs $21.25 per day, per device for all the sites and apps included in the Social Wi-Fi and Value Wi-Fi plans, as well as movie streaming, video chatting, and browsing. The Premium Wi-Fi Plan is also available on up to four devices for $75 per day.
Purchasing your internet package with Carnival Cruise Line prior to sailing allows you to save up to 25 percent.
2. MSC
- The Browse Cruise Package costs $15.99 per day, per device and allows for browsing the web, sending and receiving emails and images, and chatting on messaging apps. The price is unavailable online.
- The Browse & Stream Cruise Package costs $19.99 per day, per device and allows for browsing the web, sending and receiving emails and images, chatting on messaging apps, video chatting, streaming music and videos, and posting video and live stream on social media. The price is unavailable online.
Discounts apply for multiple devices.
3. Azamara
Azamara offers three Wi-Fi packages based on time usage: $19.95 for 60 minutes, $29.95 for 24 hours, and $19.95 per day for the duration of the cruise.
4. Cunard
- The Essential Internet plan costs $20 per day, per device to browse the web, email, and post on social media. If you only need this plan for $24, it’ll set you back $25.
- The Premium Internet plan costs $28 per day, per device to browse the web, email, post on social media, and stream music, videos, films, and shows. A 24-hour pass costs $40.
Discounts are available for multi-device plans and sailings of 50 nights or more.
5. Princess Cruises
- MedallionNet Classic gives you access the internet everywhere on board to browse, text, post photos, video chat, and stream for $24.99 per day for a single-device plan, and $44.99 per day for a multi-device plan.
- MedallionNet Max gives you access to the same services as MedallionNet Classic, but with much faster bandwidth. MedallionNet Max is only available with the Princess Plus package ($60 per day, per person), or Princess Premier package ($90 per day, per person), both of which offer additional benefits such as beverages and specialty meals, among others.
6. Norwegian Cruise Line
- The Voyage Wi-Fi Pass costs $29.99 per day, per device and allows for web browsing, emailing, and messaging.
- Streaming Voyage Wi-Fi Pass costs $39.99 per day, per device and allows for web browsing, emailing, messaging, and streaming music, videos, movies, and more.
7. Royal Caribbean
Royal Caribbean’s VOOM Surf + Stream Internet Package starts at $30.99 per day, per device, but the price varies depending on the itinerary and the length of the cruise. The package lets you message and video chat, browse the web, send emails and post on social media, and stream music, videos, movies, and shows. Royal Caribbean claims to have the “fastest internet at sea.”
8. Holland America
- The Surf plan is only available through the ‘Have it All’ package which also includes drinks, shore excursions, and specialty dining, and starts at $55 per day, per person. The Surf plan allows for browsing the web, sending and receiving emails, chatting on messaging apps, and consulting news and sports apps.
- The Premium plan costs $34.99 per day, per device for browsing the web, sending and receiving emails, chatting on messaging apps, consulting news and sports apps, and making audio and video calls.
- The Stream plan costs $45.99 per day, per device for browsing the web, sending and receiving emails, chatting on messaging apps, consulting news and sports apps, making audio and video calls, and streaming music, videos, movies, and shows.
Discounts apply for longer sailings.
Celebrity Cruises
- Basic Wi-Fi allows for browsing, emails, and messaging on certain apps.
- Premium Wi-Fi allows for browsing, sending and receiving emails with files attached, message and video chatting, and streaming music, videos, movies, and shows.
Prices not listed, varies by sailing.
Cruise lines with some Wi-Fi included and some fee-based upgrades available
Regent Seven Seas Cruises
Regent Seven Seas Cruises offers one complimentary log-in per stateroom. Additional devices and connection upgrades are available for purchase.
Prices not listed.
Atlas Ocean Voyages
Atlas Ocean Voyages provides each guest receives with 1 GB of data for free for one device. It can be used to chat, share, and stream content via email, YouTube, and social media apps. For those who want more, there are fee-based upgrades available.
Prices not listed.
Swan Hellenic
- Silver Connect is complimentary but only allows for chat messaging on WhatsApp, Facebook Messenger, iMessage, WeChat, as well as accessing some news websites.
- Gold Connect costs $25 per day, per device and allows for chat messaging, browsing and sharing pictures via social networks.
- Platinum Connect costs $37 per day, per device and offers a faster connection for chat messaging, browsing, sharing pictures via social networks, streaming videos and music.
Silversea
- Standard Wi-Fi which allows for browsing, messaging, and emailing is included for all guests.
- Premium Wi-Fi which allows for browsing, messaging, emailing, sharing social posts, streaming content, and making voice or video calls. Premium Wi-Fi is an upgraded service.
Price not listed.
Cruise lines with Wi-Fi included
The following cruise lines offer complimentary Starlink-enabled Wi-Fi access:
- Viking
- Virgin Voyages
- National Geographic-Lindblad Expeditions
- Aurora Expeditions
- Quark Expeditions
- Ecoventura
- Scenic Cruises
- Emerald Cruises
- Crystal Cruises
- Ponant
- Oceania
- HX
- Seabourn
