Staying in touch with fellow passengers at sea, and friends and family on land is easier than ever. Many ships now have branded apps that allow cruisers to chat with each other onboard. Several lines have rolled out superfast high-bandwidth Wi-Fi, with relatively affordable high-speed services that can even support video chats, music and movie streaming.
However, internet speeds can vary significantly by line and ship, depending on location, available bandwidth and other factors. And, the majority of cruise lines still don't offer speeds that can support streaming/video chat services, such as Netflix or Skype.
Internet charges also vary by cruise line. You can be charged by the minute or by bandwidth, pay for daily or voyagelong packages, or choose from tiered usage packages with prices based on the types of sites and online services (sending emails, streaming shows) passengers use.
Cellular services are generally supported by your home carrier; rates at sea vary by wireless company but typically reflect international roaming rates, which can be breathtakingly pricy. When the ship reaches port, pricing will switch to the country-specific roaming rate -- also not cheap unless you've signed up for an international calling plan.
Below is a rundown of what the major cruise lines offer for internet and cellular service.
For some background and tips, here's everything you need to know about internet at sea.
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Azamara
Carnival Cruise Line
Internet and Wi-Fi: Carnival offers fast shipwide Wi-Fi, as well as internet access at onboard cafes and kiosks, on all vessels.Fees: All ships offer three cruiselong internet packages: The Social plan is $8 per day for unlimited access to social media networks and popular airline sites but not email or web browsing. The $12 per day (or $16 for 24 hours) Value plan adds access to email and the internet but restricts bandwidth-intensive activities, such as streaming movies and music, or VoIP (Voice over Internet Protocol) services, such as Skype and FaceTime.For heavy internet users, a $17-a-day (or $25 for 24 hours) Premium plan gives access to a faster internet speed and Skype. All plans exclude video and music streaming, although Carnival Vista, Carnival Sunshine and Carnival Horizon are Netflix-enabled, so you can use the app to watch shows. Passengers can pay the daily rate or purchase a voyagelong package. The prices listed here are for packages bought onboard the ship; get up to 20 percent off on any package purchased pre-cruise.Cellphones: Carnival passengers can use their phones fleetwide to make calls, text and surf the web using data; roaming charges from cellphone carriers apply and vary by provider.Additionally, the line offers an app -- Carnival HUB -- which is free to download and use onboard (even without a Wi-Fi package). The app offers easy access to information, such as deck plans, ship schedules, dining info and Sail & Sign shipboard account balances. For $5 per sailing, passengers ages 13 and older can access the app's chat feature to message other family members and friends onboard. (Cruisers ages 12 and younger can activate the onboard chat with parental/guardian consent.)Celebrity Cruises
Crystal Cruises
Internet and Wi-Fi: Passengers on Crystal Cruises' ocean ships can surf the internet at the line's Computer University@Sea. Wireless access is available throughout the ship. Laptops can be rented onboard, and Technology Concierges are on hand to help answer questions about devices and connectivity. High-bandwidth applications, such as Skype, FaceTime and other similar services, are not supported on Crystal ships.Fees: All passengers receive free unlimited Wi-Fi.Cellphones: Wireless Maritime Services provides cellphone access on Crystal Serenity and Crystal Symphony; roaming fees apply and are set by your home cellphone service provider.Cunard Line
Disney Cruise Line
Internet and Wi-Fi: Satellite wireless internet connectivity is available for purchase throughout all Disney ships for passengers bringing their own laptops or other electronic devices.Fees: Connect@Sea offers internet packages that are based on the amount of megabytes used. One package can be shared on multiple devices. Passengers can choose to pay as they go ($0.25 per megabyte) or pick from one of following three packages: The small package includes 100MB for $19 and is ideal for occasional use, such as checking email; the medium package offers 300MB for $39 and is geared toward moderate users, such as those who wish to upload images to social media; and the large package covers most internet needs, providing 1,000MB for $89.Cellphones: Cellphone usage is available on all ships, with roaming charges applied by your home carrier.Passengers also can use the Disney Cruise Line Navigator app on their smartphones, which will allow them access to daily itineraries, activities, dining menus and the ability to chat with other passengers through the passenger Wi-Fi network while onboard. There is no charge to use the app.Each stateroom also comes with two Wave Phones, which you can use to text and call fellow cruisers onboard and while on Castaway Cay, Disney's private Bahamian island. The Wave Phones can call any shipboard phone, stateroom phone or another Wave Phone. Additional Wave Phones can be borrowed for a fee.Holland America Line
MSC Cruises
Internet and Wi-Fi: 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.Fees: MSC offers five tiers of connectivity, with connections that work onboard or on the line's private Bahamian island, Ocean Cay MSC Marine Reserve. The Standard plan (from $93 per cruise for 3GB) provides access to email, websites, all social networks and chat apps for up to two devices. If you just need to connect on one device and don't want to worry about data usage, there's the Unlimited Internet Cruise package (from $159.90 per cruise).There's a 24-Hour package (unlimited data from $44.90) if you need the internet for a day or less and a Chat & Social Apps plan (from $49.90 per cruise for 1.5GB) that lets you stay connected through social media and chat; both plans are available on one device only.For families and/or heavy users, the Premium Internet package (from $147 per cruise for 6GB) is available on up to four devices.Note: Video streaming is not available with any package. Package pricing may vary slightly by ship, destination and cruise duration; advance online bookings can save up to 20 percent off.Cellphones: Roaming service is available on all ships; charges apply from your home carrier.The line's free MSC for Me app is available on MSC Grandiosa, MSC Bellissima, MSC Meraviglia, MSC Seaside, MSC Seaview and MSC Splendida. It offers real-time event and activity listings, an interactive ship map and a chat feature for connecting with other onboard passengers.For a supplemental charge ($15), and when utilized in conjunction with a wristband, the app also features a Family & Friends Locator to track family and friends on the ship; there's a Kids Locator service, too, for $18.Norwegian Cruise Line
Oceania Cruises
Internet and Wi-Fi: All Oceania vessels have shipwide Wi-Fi. Passengers can sign up to gain access on a shared computer in the Oceania@Sea Internet Center, or by connecting to the network directly from their personal devices. Passengers staying in the Owner's and Vista suites each receive the added bonus of an iPad to use onboard; passengers in Concierge-level rooms and Penthouse Suites can request iPads but they are limited.Fees: All passengers across Oceania's fleet have free access to unlimited internet called Wavenet, which will allow them to do low-bandwidth activities, such as checking email and surfing the web. Passengers can choose to upgrade to Wavenet Prime, at a cost of $9.99 per person, per day, for the duration of the cruise, in order to stream movies or music.One log in is provided per stateroom and is valid on one device at a time; a second login for Wavenet can be purchased for $24.99 per day, or for Wavenet Prime for $34.98 per day.Cellphones: Calls, text and data plans are provided on most cellphones via Wireless Maritime Services; roaming charges are billed by your own wireless service provider.Princess Cruises
Regent Seven Seas Cruises
Internet and Wi-Fi: As of January 2020, Regent has nearly doubled the internet bandwidth size across its fleet, with the goal of providing faster and more reliable internet, as well as a smoother and more streamlined login process to the Regent Wi-Fi network.Computer centers with internet access are available on all Regent ships. Wireless access is available throughout the ships, but bandwidth-heavy applications, such as Skype and FaceTime, are blocked onboard with the free plan; a supplementary streaming-enabled plan can be purchased at an additional fee.Fees: All passengers receive free unlimited Wi-Fi, though streaming is prohibited. Passengers who'd like to stream or use high-bandwidth apps and websites would find a streaming plan ($9.99 per day) more convenient.Regent provides one login per suite that is limited to one device at a time. Gold-level and higher members of the Seven Seas Society and Concierge Suites and higher receive up to four logins/devices per suite.Cellphones: Roaming access is available on all ships; charges apply from your home-based wireless service provider.Royal Caribbean International
Seabourn Cruise Line
Internet and Wi-Fi: All Seabourn ships are wired for satellite Wi-Fi access in suites and most public areas, as well as via terminals located in Seabourn Square. The line requests that passengers do not use the service for activities, such as streaming, gaming or file sharing.Fees: Seabourn charges 40 cents per minute for internet usage. Additionally, the cruise line offers some usage packages, which can be purchased onboard or in advance. Packages cost $19.95 for two hours, $29.95 for three hours, $39.95 for four hours, $239.95 for seven days with unlimited use and $399.95 for unlimited access during a longer cruise. Only one device at a time is supported.Cellphones: Seabourn passengers can tap into an onboard mobile phone network supported by Wireless Maritime Services; your home cell provider's roaming charges will apply.Silversea Cruises
Viking Ocean Cruises
Internet and Wi-Fi: All Viking Ocean ships have Wi-Fi onboard. Passengers can use their own device or a computer at the Business Center on Deck 1.Fees: Internet aboard all Viking Ocean ships is free, but the line imposes heavy-bandwidth limitations for large uploads/downloads and livestreaming.Cellphones: Viking Ocean ships are cellphone compatible; international roaming rates vary -- and are billed -- by your home carrier.Windstar Cruises
Updated February 27, 2020
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