Luxury line Regent Seven Seas Cruises is getting even more all-inclusive with the addition of free unlimited WiFi access for every passenger.
Regent on Wednesday announced the new perk would be available fleetwide starting in late 2016. The company currently offers free unlimited WiFi only to passengers in top suites. Passengers in lesser cabins get 200 to 500 minutes of free WiFi access per cruise, with the time depending on the voyage length.
Regent's move comes just six months after the debut of Viking Ocean Cruises, a new upscale line that has been making waves in the industry with a "no nickel-and-diming" mantra that includes the promise of free Wi-Fi for every passenger. Viking's free Internet offering is similar to Regent's in that there is no time limit for any passenger.
When I first started cruising, one of the benefits I saw was that I would be totally unplugged from work and could relax completely. Unplugging is not stress reducing anymore as more as more of our lives require the internet. Sometimes you just need to check in to make sure everything is OK at home or work.
Just last year I had to purchase a internet package for my son on a cruise we took because he was taking a online class and could not afford to not keep up with the work involved.
I imagine within the next few years, internet access will be free or very inexpensive on all the major cruise lines. Congratulations should go out to Regent Seven Seas and Viking Ocean Cruises for offering free Wi-Fi to all their passengers.
