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

Table Of Content

• Carnival Internet Package: What To Know Before You Go
• The ultimate guide to Carnival Cruise Line ships and itineraries
• Can I Purchase Carnival WiFi Packages Before the Cruise?
• Can you Use iPhone MESSAGES FREE without PAYING FOR Carnival Wi-Fi?
• How to Purchase a Carnival Internet Plan
• Can I Stream Movies or Music on Carnival’s Wi-Fi?

Carnival Cruise line requires passengers to buy the internet package for the entire duration of the cruise. 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. As you might expect, there is some blocking and filtering of websites while on the ship’s wi-fi. Of course, if you buy a lower-tier plan that doesn’t allow full access to the internet (such as Carnival’s Social plan) then you won’t be able to access the full internet.

Carnival Internet Package: What To Know Before You Go

The cruise lines charge different amounts for different tiers of service. They also charge based on the number of devices used at one time. So if you want to connect two devices at once (such as a husband and wife both surfing the internet), then you’ll pay twice as much. Note that you might be able to make Wi-Fi calls from an iPhone or via WhatsApp, even with the less expensive plan. Passengers who pay for a Carnival Cruise Wi-Fi plan in advance of sailing get a 15% discount.

The ultimate guide to Carnival Cruise Line ships and itineraries

This plan also supports messaging apps such as Facebook Messenger, WhatsApp, and Snapchat, making it easier to stay in touch without the need for full internet access. Most onboard activities such as shows and deck-top attractions are included in the fare. This is a notable change for the brand from just a couple of decades ago. There was a time when Carnival operated some of the biggest cruise ships in the world.

Can I Purchase Carnival WiFi Packages Before the Cruise?

It offers real-time info and features like restaurant booking, excursion booking, messaging with other passengers, and more. There are times when streaming the web will seem sluggish and there are times when the speed will be quick and efficient. Carnival offers three Wi-Fi packages onboard, the Social, Value, and Premium Packages. Norwegian Cruise Lines (NCL) is one of the few we’ve found that explicitly says they will let you access via a VPN. If you purchase their Unlimited Premium package, you are allowed access using one.

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Whether you want to hook up to the Internet with your laptop or post to Facebook from your phone, you can get service anywhere on the ship on any device. I opted for the Premium plan during my cruise, and its speed was truly impressive. I experienced no connection problems while video and music streaming or conducting video calls.

If this is the main way you keep in touch with people back home, then it’s a cheap way to stay connected. But perhaps the biggest development in cruise internet costs in recent years is that many higher-end lines have begun offering internet access for — get this — free. Viking, Regent Seven Seas Cruises and Silversea Cruises are among lines now including unlimited internet time in the base cost of a voyage. At some of these lines, such as Regent, you can pay extra for faster service. If I don’t want to use Wi-Fi calling, there are alternatives available as well. All Carnival Internet access charges are billed directly to the guest's onboard S&S account.

How to Purchase a Carnival Internet Plan

Well, the highest-speed version of Royal Caribbean's Voom connection currently costs $26.99 per day for one device. In the old days of 75 cents-a-minute pricing, that same amount of money would have gotten you just 36 minutes of web time. I can guide you through the ins and outs of Wi-Fi on cruise ships. Here are five things to know about onboard internet before you set sail. These new additions showcase innovative ship designs that we are proud to offer our guests.

Typically, Internet access is sold for the length of the entire cruise based on a per-day cost. There is a discount if you buy service before the cruise compared to the onboard price. Save up to 15% when booked prior to sailing versus onboard pricing.

There's almost always a piano bar that's home to lively singalongs. When it comes to raucous, though, nothing on Carnival ships quite compares to the frequent karaoke nights on board. Sometimes held in a secondary lounge or a shipboard pub, karaoke on Carnival draws a big crowd. Passengers come prepared with rehearsed songs and sometimes even their own guitars.

The service is available starting at $24.99 per day for one device when purchased before the cruise. Celebrity CruisesCelebrity Cruises offers wi-fi service to its passengers across the fleet. Like sister cruise line Royal Caribbean, Celebrity now offers one level of service known as the Premium Wi-Fi Package. For most of the many years I've been writing about cruising, the typical internet connection at sea hasn't just been slow. You'd click on a website only to experience many seconds of frustration. Maybe the cruise would end while you were still sitting there.

AT&T for example offers the AT&T Cruise Package which has a set fee of $100 for a month. The data is capped at 1GB which most users would hit fairly quickly, so I personally wouldn’t recommend this. Unless your mobile phone plan includes some form of International plan or “cruise cover”, the costs for these calls will be expensive.

On a sailing on one of the Carnival ships outfitted for faster internet, Carnival Sunrise, I did notice a significant improvement in cruise Wi-Fi speed. But the promised access to Netflix streaming wasn't quite as smooth as I had hoped. Clicking on a favorite show, I only could watch for a few minutes before the connection inevitably froze. Yes, all cruise ships today offer an internet connection, but it might not be the seamless experience you've come to expect on land.

Note that three of the line's newest ships — Mardi Gras, Carnival Celebration and Carnival Venezia — do not have launderettes. Carnival fans are quite peeved about this, and you should be, too. Most Carnival ships have self-serve launderettes on cabin decks with washing machines, dryers, irons and ironing boards. The launderettes also have vending machines that dispense small boxes of detergent and water softener at $1.50 per box. A few other forms of identification, such as a passport card, also are acceptable. While the free programming ends at 10 p.m., you can pay extra to leave your kids at Camp Ocean until 1 a.m.

Ultimately, the cost of a luxury cruise is a reflection of the level of luxury, service, and experiences provided to guests. Some people may feel lonely or isolated without the company of friends or family. It’s important to consider your own personality and preferences before deciding to cruise alone. Overall, solo cruising can be a rewarding experience, but it’s important to weigh the pros and cons before making a decision.

For those requiring the most comprehensive internet access, the Premium WiFi Plan offers the fastest connection available of the Carnival cruise internet plans. Carnival Cruise Lines offers three wifi package options on board. The price varies depending on when whether you pre-book it and how much internet access you need.