How much does Internet cost aboard cruise ships? Overall, prices have been coming down in recent years, and there are even a few ways now to receive free Internet during your cruise:
- Crystal Cruises announced that all guests will now enjoy up to an hour of free Internet access, with guests in Penthouse suites qualifying for 90 minutes a day.
- Regent Seven Seas now offers free Internet access to passengers in its largest suites; about two-thirds of guests qualify.
- As of late 2015, Oceania is now providing free Internet to guests who book premium suites on all five of its ships.
Cruise lines usually offer a few different packages to purchase Internet access. If you're a power user, you'll save money by purchasing a full Internet package up front. Some cruise lines offer pay as you go packages, where your fees depend on your usage. Others may charge an activation fee. Check with your cruise line for details.
Different varieties of Internet plans at sea
In general, you'll have to pony up for wi-fi aboard cruise lines. In some cases, you'll be able to use the wi-fi signal from your stateroom; in other cases, you'll need to saunter on down to the Internet cafe (available on all midsize or large ships) or another public room to connect.
Here are the latest pricing plans that the cruise lines are offering guests. If you see any information that differs from your own experience, please let us know and we'll update this pricing guide.
cruise line
shipwide availability*
cost
Azamara
Available in staterooms and public areas of both ships.
65¢/minute. Plans range from $9.95 (15 minutes) to $69/day for unlimited Internet.
Carnival
Available in staterooms and most public areas of all ships.
In August 2015 Carnival introduced social media Internet packages at $5 a day or $25 per voyage for about half its fleet, with the remaining ships joining by Q1 2016. Its traditional plans cost 75¢/minute, ranging from $29 (45 mins.) to $159 (480 mins.).
Celebrity
Available in staterooms and most public areas of ships except Celebrity Century and Celebrity Xpedition, which offer it only in public spaces.
75¢/minute. Plans range from $25 (38 mins.) to $400 (1,666 mins.), plus $4 activation fee.
Costa
Available in staterooms and most public areas of all ships.
66¢/minute. Plans range from $13 (60 mins.) to $32 (180 mins.), plus $4 activation fee.
Crystal***
Available in staterooms and all public areas of all ships.
74¢/minute. Plans range from $50 (120 mins.) to $300 (1,500 mins.). Repeat cruisers receive 60 mins. of free Internet per day.
Cunard
Available in most public areas of all ships.
75¢/minute. Plans range from $48 (120 mins.) to $168 (480 mins.).
Disney
Available in most public areas of all ships.
25¢/megabyte. Plans range from $19 (100 MB) to $89 (1,000 MB).
Holland America
Available in staterooms and most public areas.
75¢/minute. Plans range from $55 (100 mins.) to $100 (250 mins.), plus a $4 activation fee.
MSC Cruises
Available in staterooms and most public areas.
$5 for the first 10 minutes, 50¢/minute after that. Plans range from $15 (30 mins.) to $80 (250 mins.).
Norwegian
Available in staterooms on the Norwegian Gem, Star, Epic, Pearl, Jade, Jewel, Sun and Breakaway, and most public areas on all other ships.
75¢/minute. Plans for cruises 5 days and shorter range from $17 (30 mins.) to $24 (60 mins.); plans for cruises 6 days and longer range from $55 (100 mins.) to $100 (250 mins.), plus a $4 activation fee.
Oceania***
Available in staterooms and most public areas.
99¢/minute. Pay-as-you-go plan is $160 for 200 mins. Flat-rate plans are $28/one day of unlimited usage or $22/day for unlimited usage for the duration of the cruise.
P&O**
Available in most staterooms and all public areas.
50 pence/minute. Plans range from £35 (100 mins.) to £62.50 (250 mins.), plus a £2.50 activation fee.
Paul Gauguin
Available in all suites and most public areas on both ships.
40¢/megabyte. Plans range from $29 (100 MB) to $99 (750 MB), plus a $4 activation fee.
Princess
Available in staterooms and most public areas.
79¢/minute. Plans range from $69 (100 minutes) to $249 (1,100 mins.), plus a $4 activation fee. Discounts are available for pre-purchased plans.
Regent Seven Seas***
Available in staterooms and most public areas of all ships.
99¢/minute. A plan can be purchased for $160 (200 mins.) or $30/day for unlimited Internet. Passengers in Master, Grand, Seven Seas, Horizon View, Mariner, Navigator and Voyager Suites receive free unlimited Internet.
Royal Caribbean
Available in most public areas of all ships and in staterooms. Oasis of the Seas, Allure of the Seas and Quantum of the Seas boast the fastest signals in the fleet through the use of low-orbiting satellites.
65¢/minute. Plans range from $35 (60 mins.) to $150 (500 mins.), but they vary greatly from ship to ship.
Seabourn
Available in most staterooms and most public areas.
40¢/minute. Pre-paid plans range from $20 (120 mins.) to $240/week for unlimited Internet access.
Silversea
Available in all staterooms and most public areas of all ships.
25¢/minute with the timed plan, $250 (1,000 mins.). Unlimited Internet plans range from $16/day (for cruises 8 days or longer) to $30/day. Select sailings offer complimentary Internet access.
Windstar Cruises
Available in staterooms and most public areas. (No Internet is available during transatlantic cruises.)
Two plans are available: the Email Plan, $50 (75 MB) or the Surfing Plan, $100 (160 MB).
*All these ships also have Internet cafes open 24 hours a day.
**In British pounds
***See top: These cruise lines offer free Internet for some guests.
Note: All pricing is subject to change at any time.
**In British pounds
***See top: These cruise lines offer free Internet for some guests.
Your take
How about you? Do you have any tips for cutting down on unneeded bandwidth during a cruise?
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