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Wi-Fi on cruise ships: 5 things to know about internet use on board

I have good news for those of you who assume the only way to stay in touch with home from a cruise ship is via a message in a bottle: Cruise ships come equipped with internet, and cruise Wi-Fi connections have been getting faster at a rapid rate — and cheaper, too.

While checking emails and surfing the web on some vessels still requires the patience of Job, onboard technological improvements on many ships combined with new satellite and direct ship-to-shore systems is making cruise internet access much more like what you find on land.

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If you're a first-time cruiser, you're likely most concerned with the basics: Do cruise ships have Wi-Fi and how much does Wi-Fi cost on a cruise? Repeat cruisers who have paid the price for finicky service may be wondering the best way to access fast connection speeds across their devices while avoiding unnecessary charges.

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.

Wi-Fi on cruise ships will never be as fast (or reliable) as home

Yes, all cruise ships today offer an internet connection, but it might not be the seamless experience you've come to expect on land.

For most of the many years I've been writing about cruising, the typical internet connection at sea hasn't just been slow. It's been glacial. You'd click on a website only to experience many seconds of frustration. Maybe the page would come up. Maybe it wouldn't. Maybe the cruise would end while you were still sitting there.

Related: 16 mistakes cruise ship passengers make on disembarkation day

Why the slow speeds? To start, there is no Comcast cable wire running to your cruise ship. On cruise ships, every packet of data you are downloading onto your phone or computer, for the most part, is coming over a satellite, which is not a quick or inexpensive proposition.

The maritime communication companies that specialize in providing internet connections to ships have been trying to speed things up in recent years. Solutions have included adding more satellites and linking their systems to land-based towers that connect with ships as they near shore.

But, in the end, there are limits to just how well a satellite system can work. For starters, a ship needs a clear "line of sight" to a satellite to exchange data, something that isn't always the case. Cruise ships traveling through the famed Norwegian fjords, for instance, can lose their satellite signal due to the height of surrounding mountains.

And there are certain parts of the world where satellite coverage is too thin or nonexistent to allow for internet access on cruise ships. During a sailing in the Russian Arctic on a Hapag-Lloyd Cruises ship, I was forced to live without internet for a good part of a week due to a lack of satellite coverage in the area (something, I must say, was kind of wonderful).

So while onboard cruise Wi-Fi speeds are getting better, they'll never be as fast as at home, where a hard wire brings the signal straight to your router.

Onboard internet speed is getting much faster

On some cruise ships, the signal has become so much faster you now can stream Netflix from the comfort of your cabin — something that would have been unthinkable just a few years ago.

New satellite systems, paired with multimillion-dollar investments in shipboard technology, really are making things better in a big way. A turning point came in 2014, when cruise giant Royal Caribbean partnered with satellite company O3b Networks to create a new onboard internet system that it claimed was six times faster than anything else at sea. Called Voom, the system tapped into new Medium Earth Orbit satellites operated by O3b that can shoot their beams directly at ships as they move.

When I ran a speed test of Voom on Adventure of the Seas, I found the line's fastest option, the Surf + Stream service, usually offered download speeds of just around 3 megabits per second. I never found download speeds exceeding 4 Mbps, but I did see it drop as low as 1.5 Mbps. While still significantly slower than many home connections, that's fast enough to enjoy Netflix and other streaming video services, though I did experience grainy video and buffering issues on occasion.

Royal Caribbean still claims Voom is the fastest and best Wi-Fi option on cruise ships today. But we're a bit skeptical – not because the Wi-Fi is slower than stated, but because other cruise lines, like Carnival Cruise Line , are quickly catching up.

Carnival cruise Wi-Fi is also fast enough to support Netflix streaming on some ships, the company says. The cruise line uses a hybrid system that combines faster satellite connections at sea with a network of less-expensive land-based towers that take over as its vessels near coastal areas.

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.

Some lines in just the last year or so have begun partnering with Elon Musk's Starlink system for speedy internet.

Related: How fast is the internet on a Celebrity cruise? We put it to the test

Cruise internet costs have gone down

Just a few years back, you had to pay a small fortune for the privilege of accessing the internet on a cruise ship. The base rate for onboard Wi-Fi for years started around 75 cents a minute. That's $45 for a single hour online!

The old pay-by-the-minute system, which could leave even modest internet users with sky-high bills, is now giving way to simpler and more affordable "all you can browse" plans on many lines.

How much does Wi-Fi cost on a cruise today? 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.

Royal Caribbean also offers a slower-speed version of Voom that can't support streaming for $19.99 per day for one device. For both cruise internet packages, there are discounts for adding more devices and purchasing a package online before your sailing.

Related: 15 ways that cruising newbies waste money on their first cruise

Another line bringing down internet costs dramatically is Carnival. At the very low end, it now offers a Social Wi-Fi plan that allows access to all the key social sites (Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, etc.) as well as messaging services such as WhatsApp, for just $15.30 a day ($18 when purchased on board). A slightly more expensive Value Wi-Fi plan, at $19.55 per day when bought in advance ($23 per day when bought on board), adds access to email and most websites.

The line's top-tier Premium Wi-Fi plan, at $21.25 per day when bought in advance ($25 when bought onboard), triples the speed of the Value plan and adds access to VoIP calling on messaging apps and Skype (but not FaceTime). 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.

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.

Another way to get free or cheaper internet time on ships is to join cruise line loyalty programs . Many offer free cruise Wi-Fi or discounted package pricing to customers who hit mid- to upper-tier levels.

At Celebrity Cruises, for instance, the top Zenith tier in the line's Captain's Club loyalty program comes with unlimited free Premium-level internet (the fastest plan at the line). At Princess Cruises , customers can get 50 percent off MedallionNet internet packages after reaching the Platinum level in the line's Captain's Circle loyalty program (to qualify, you'll need to complete either five cruises, or 50 cruise days).

On Royal Caribbean, the path to free Internet on a cruise is through its high-end suites . Book a room in a Sky Class or Star Class suite (all suites above the junior suite level), and you'll receive free Voom.

Apps offer an alternative to paid cruise Wi-Fi

In recent years, a growing number of cruise lines have rolled out free apps for your phone that will let you make reservations for onboard restaurants, spa treatments and other services without ever leaving your pool deck lounge chair. On some ships operated by Carnival, you even can order beer and pizza to wherever you happen to be using an app.

Many of these apps also will show you a schedule of daily activities, offer ship deck plans and sometimes port maps to help you get around, and let you check your onboard account statement in real time. On Celebrity Edge and other Celebrity Cruises Edge-class ships, you can even use an app to remotely open your cabin door, change channels on the television and turn off the lights.

While all these apps work off cruise ship Wi-Fi, the good news is they don't require the purchase of a plan to use. Nor do they come with any other sort of fee — at least for most features.

At Carnival, you'll pay $5 per cruise to add a "chat" feature to the line's otherwise free HUB app that will let you communicate via text-like messages with other app-enabled passengers. Norwegian Cruise Line also requires passengers to pay a fee (currently $9.95 per cruise) to use a messaging and calling feature of its Cruise Norwegian app.

Cruise internet tip: Use airplane mode to avoid unwanted charges

Whether or not you're purchasing a Wi-Fi plan on a cruise ship, I have one very strong piece of advice: Put your phone in airplane mode the moment you step on board the vessel and leave it that way for the duration of the sailing.

This is the safest way to avoid unwanted data charges, which can be enormous. (Remember the story of a family that racked up $14,000 in data charges on a cruise?)

As many cruisers have found the hard way, international phone plans such as AT&T's $10-a-day International Day Pass do not apply to cruise ships at sea. If you let your AT&T phone roam while you're on a vessel, you'll pay $2.05 per megabyte of data — even if your base plan at home offers you unlimited data. You'll also pay $3 per minute to make a call, $0.50 per text and $1.30 to send a photo. All that adds up very quickly.

AT&T does offer a " Cruise Plus " plan for a flat fee of $100 that allows unlimited talk and text during sailings up to 30 days in duration. But it only comes with 1 gigabyte of data (which may seem like a lot until you start streaming movies), with any overage billing at a still-hefty $10 per 100 megabytes. It's also not available on every ship. More than 175 vessels are part of the program.

If you insist on leaving your cellular service on during a cruise, you should at least disable any apps running in the background (as they'll be eating up data, and running up your bill) and disable email auto-check.

Personally, I find it easier to just hit the airplane mode button. Once in airplane mode, I reactivate the Wi-Fi feature on my phone to access the cruise Wi-Fi, and sign up for a shipboard plan that will let me stay in touch by email or a VoIP service like WhatsApp.

Planning a cruise? Start with these stories:

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Princess Cruises MedallionNet WiFi: Speed Test and Review

Disclosure: This post may contain affiliate links. We may receive compensation when you purchase via my links at no cost to you. See my disclosure for more information.

Princess Cruises promises guests the “best internet at sea.”

But is it really the best? And how fast are MedallionNet internet speeds?

We’ve tested Princess Cruises MedallionNet WiFi to determine if it lives up to the name. Read our review on Princess’ internet plans.

Table of Contents

Princess Cruises WiFi Plans and Prices

MedallionNet WiFi starts at $24.99 per device per day when purchased before sailing. Platinum and Elite Captain’s Circle members receive a 50% discount on all internet packages.

You can expect to pay a higher price for the internet plan if you purchase it on the ship.

Princess Cruises offers some of the lowest wifi prices in the cruise industry.

Still, you can get it even cheaper!

Guests who purchase the pricier Princess Plus fare receive free drinks, gratuities, and wifi. You’ll pay more for the Princess Plus or Princess Premier package. But the added perks make Princess Plus worth it.

Princess Plus includes free WiFi, gratuities, and a Princess Cruises beverage package.

How Does MedallionNet Work?

Before discussing the speed of Princess Cruises WiFi, it’s essential to understand how MedallionNet works.

Cruise ships often travel to remote destinations around the globe and spend vast amounts of time far away from land-based cell phone towers. For this reason, cruise ships rely on satellite connections to keep passengers connected at sea.

In the past, cruise ships connected to satellites in geostationary orbit – up to 22,000 miles (36,000 kilometers) from the Earth. Although radio waves travel at the speed of light, the distance means up to 240 milliseconds of travel time.

It may not sound like much, but consider that your home internet likely has a connection speed below 30ms.

What makes Princess Cruises MedallionNet WiFi so fast?

Princess Cruises partners with Starlink to provide high-speed internet to guests. Starlinks low earth orbit satellints provide faster internet speeds, reduced latency, and much more bandwidth.

Internet speeds on Princess cruises aren’t as fast as you’re used to back home, but they are fast enough to browse the web, use social media, and stream movies.

How Fast is Princess Cruises MedallionNet WiFi?

We conducted several speed tests during our Caribbean cruise on Regal Princess to accurately measure MedallionNet’s internet speed.

We found average download speeds of 5.3 Mbps and upload speeds of 1.2 Mbps.

We conducted our speed tests multiple times daily to get the most accurate data sample.

In our experience, MedallionNet Wifi provides similar internet speeds compared to other mainstream cruise lines.

However, it’s important to note that the internet speeds aren’t as fast as you might be used to back home. The onboard WiFi is great for basic web browsing, emails, and messaging, but you will notice pages take slightly longer to load.

Further, while you can video chat and stream movies, TV, and music, don’t expect 4k video.

That said, for a cruise ship traveling in the middle of the ocean, Princess Cruises provides incredible internet speeds.

How Do You Access the Internet on Princess Cruises?

Accessing the MedallionNet internet is a straightforward process. Just follow the steps below to get your device connected in minutes.

• Open your device’s WiFi settings and select the MedallionNet WiFi connection.
• After connecting, you’ll be automatically redirected to the login page.
• Sign in using your cabin number and birthdate.

If, for some reason, your device won’t connect to the ship’s internet, visit guest services for assistance.

MedallionClass Wearable and App

Unsurprisingly, Princess Cruises offers fast internet speeds thanks to Starlink’s internet service. Every ship in Princess’ fleet is equipped with OceanMedallion – the cruise line’s award-winning wearable device program.

OceanMedallion replaces traditional room cards with a wearable that provides passengers with touchless boarding, room access, locating family on the ship, ordering food and drinks, and making purchases around the vessel.

The OceanMedallion wearable and accompanying app create a more personalized experience for passengers.

With thousands of passengers simultaneously using the technology, Princess cruise ships require a serious internet connection.

Final Thoughts

Princess Cruises MedallionNet WiFi provides comparable internet speeds among mainstream cruise lines .

While not as fast as you’ll find at home, the internet connection works perfectly fine for web browsing, emails, and messaging. It’s even fast enough to video chat back home and stream videos from Netflix, Amazon Prime, and YouTube.

Marcello De Lio

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Enchanted Princess cruise in the Caribbean today. Internet speed between 1.5mps and 2.5mps. No video calling and no chance playing games. Not the 12mps rumoured. I would prefer honesty rather than hype.

Princess Cruises used to have the fastest internet at speed. But with other cruise lines implementing Starlink satellite internet, their internet speeds have fallen behind.

Despite that, they continue to tout their “fast” internet speeds. I think it’s only a matter of time before they partner with a faster satellite provider and slow cruise WiFi becomes a thing of the past.

I was recently on a Carribean cruise aboard the Enchanted Princess over Thanksgiving this year. The Medallion Net service seemed okay at first but every time that I tried to access my email on either Yahoo or Gmail, the service bogged down tremendously, most often preventing me from even logging in to retrieve my emails.

I have sense booked new cruises for next fall and currently there is no options to add Medallion Net Wi-Fi to my bookings. Princess is planning on hiking the cost of their services in February, and I am guessing that they are not showing any options until their new rates go into effect. I am an elite member of Princess Cruise Lines and have 25 cruises under my belt. I believe that the new Medallion Net Wi-Fi today is inferior to what I have experienced in the past and now soon, will have to pay even higher fees for the service. It’s my opinion that by promoting the service to many more passengers by making it part of their Plus and Premium packages is causing an overload to their available bandwidth.

It’s true that internet speeds used to be faster. Today, more people connect to satellite internet, but the number of satellites hasn’t kept pace. This means that the limited bandwidth is divided amongst more people. It’s not just cruise lines but other ocean vessels, airplanes, and remote regions connecting to satellite internet.

Some cruise lines have been vocal about this issue. And several low-earth orbit internet providers are starting up. The low earth orbit satellites are faster because the connection doesn’t have to travel as far. The hope is that internet speeds will drastically improve in the near future as cruise lines make deals with the new satellite providers.

Thanks for this information… I am taking my first Princess cruise on the Enchanted Princess in a couple of weeks, can’t wait… do you have any more hints and suggestions?

Hi Marcello, Thanks for you excellent article. I am currently on the Majestic Princess cruising around New Zealand. I was getting between 0.03M and 0.51M download. (Using Googles Speed Test) (I can supply screen captures if required) On the Internet Cafe PC, the speed was even slower! Doing anything useful on the internet is impossible. (Outlook does not work – Times Out) I asked the IT manager about the slow internet speeds. He said that there was nothing he could do to fix it. He also advised that around the Caribbean the internet was fast. (Not much use to me!) For a 13 day cruise I paid more than I do for my monthly home 100M service. (As Elite I used to get Free Internet, but sadly no more). I have cruised with Princess for over 10 years, and this is the slowest I have seen!!!

That must be an incredible cruise. New Zealand and Australia are on my bucket list, but I haven’t had a chance to sail there yet.

I was in Alaska over the summer and experienced similar speeds, especially further north. It’s unfortunate, but the internet speeds outside of the Caribbean are extremely slow. Even in the Caribbean, internet speeds are far slower than many are used to at home.

I’d love to add those screen captures to the post and give you the photo credit. If you don’t mind me adding them, you can send them to [email protected] .

Thanks for explaining why the internet is slower in Alaska. I was on the Majestic Princess a few weeks ago and not only was it very slow, we kept losing the Wi-Fi altogether. Hopefully, these newer satellites will make a big difference. Thanks again!

I was in Alaska last month. It’s incredible how slow and unreliable the internet is a day or two after leaving Seattle/Vancouver. That should change shortly, thanks to newer technology.

I once heard that the princess ships throttle high bandwidth users so they don’t hog all the bandwidth for everyone else. Is there any truth to that?

To my knowledge, cruise lines throttle the bandwidth for all passengers. Most cruise lines rely on satellites in medium earth orbit or geosynchronous orbit. These systems have high latency, and limited bandwidth, forcing cruise lines to limit the bandwidth per device.

This will hopefully change in the future as cruise lines make the switch to low-earth satellite internet providers like Starlink.

We went to Alaska in June on the Ruby Princess and streamed content from YouTube. The speed was pretty good.

Thanks for sharing your experience. Internet speeds in Alaska are typically slower than in the Caribbean. I’m happy to hear you had a good experience!

Regal Princess Mediterranean trip wifi is very inconsistent. Slow and disconnect all the time.

Sorry, I had the exact opposite experience on Ruby Princess on an Alaskan cruise. Internet speed was between 12 and 36 kbps (yes K, as in poor dial up speeds!). This was on a phone, laptop and even one of their own Internet cafe computers. Horrible wifi!!!

I am sorry to hear about your experience. The internet speeds we measured were on our sailing in the Caribbean. Unfortunately, internet speeds are slower in Alaska because there isn’t coverage from medium-earth orbit satellite providers. In Alaska, Princess cruise ships switch to the high earth orbit satellites which have less bandwidth and slower internet speeds. Hopefully, this will change soon with SpaceX’s Starlink system looking to get approval for use on cruise ships.

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

It wasn’t that long ago that having internet access at sea was a nice perk, but hardly a necessity. Today, most people must have wi-fi — even if they are on a cruise in the middle of the ocean. In fact, we always sign up for service every time that we sail.

Of course, there are challenges to providing online access for thousands of people on a cruise ship that can be hundreds of miles of miles from the nearest land. That’s why in general you should expect the service on a cruise ship to be more expensive — and slower — than what you’d find back home.

Still, all cruise lines now provide wi-fi on their ships so that you can stay in touch whether it be for work or just checking in on the kids. You can also access social media sites, check email, and even stream movies in some cases.

But before you head out into the middle of the ocean, there’s likely a few things you’ll want to know about getting online on a cruise. We’ve answered some of the biggest questions so that you know what to expect once you board your ship.

In This Article...

How Much Does Internet Cost on a Cruise?

At your home, things are pretty simple. You pay one amount for your internet service and connect as many devices as you want — and they all have access to the full internet.

On a cruise, things are a little different. 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.

All that said, expect the price of service on a cruise to be much more than you pay back home. We’ve rounded up the costs of internet for several major cruise lines below.

In general, expect to pay about $20-30 per day, per device for wi-fi access.

Carnival Carnival offers three different tiers of service: Social, Value, and Premium wi-fi plans. Each offers different levels of access to the internet. One tip to save money: purchase your plan ahead of time to save off the rates on the ship .

Social Plan: Carnival’s Social plan offers access to social media sites, Facebook Messenger, WhatsApp, and airline sites. However, most of the internet (such as email and news websites) are blocked. You also can’t stream music or movies. The cost is $18 per day for one device once you are on the ship.

Value Plan: The Value plan offers access to much of the internet, including websites for news, weather, sports, and most importantly — email. The service is also faster than the Social plan. For the extra access, you’ll pay $23 per day if you wait to purchase once you are on the ship.

Premium Plan: If you want the entire internet and you want the fastest speeds on Carnival, the the Premium plan is ideal. It offers full access at triple the speed of the Value plan. Depending on which ship you sail, streaming might be available. (Streaming is often provided on newer ships.) The Premium plan costs $25 per day. 

Royal Caribbean When it comes to internet on a cruise, Royal Caribbean is trying to position itself as a leader. The cruise line offers VOOM internet service , which it bills as “the fastest internet at sea.” If booked ahead of time, you can get up to 30% off the rates you’ll pay on the ship.

Surf + Stream: This package offers internet access, including the ability to stream music or movies. On a recent cruise the rate was $23.99 per day for one device when purchased on the ship. The cost was $29.99 if purchased for a single day only. Rates are considerably cheaper when booking ahead of time.

Norwegian Cruise Line Norwegian offers a different take on internet access. That’s because the cruise line has a popular “Free at Sea” sale that allows passengers to get free perks with their booking. One perk is internet access. Still, if you book a cruise without the free internet, you have three different levels of service you can purchase.

Unlimited Wi-Fi : This plan provides full internet access, outside of streaming. It also includes access to email providers, social media, and more. The cost runs $29.99 per day for one device.

Unlimited Premium Wi-Fi : Want to stream Netflix, Hulu or other services? Then you’ll need Norwegian’s highest-level package. It allows streaming movies and music and costs $39.99 per day if purchased on the ship.

Norwegian also offers a packages of minutes of access. 

Celebrity Cruises Celebrity 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.

This services includes full access to the web and streaming movies and music. While Celebrity doesn’t list costs publicly on their website, the rate for an upcoming cruise was seen $30 per day for one device, with a 20% discount if booking ahead of time.

One thing to know is that Celebrity trips often have a “Always Included” deal. With this offer, drinks and wi-fi service are already included in your fare.

Princess Cruises Princess offers service known as MedallionNet, which is dubs “The Best Wi-Fi at Sea.” The cruise line says that it can reach speeds “often eclipsing 100 Mbps,” which is faster than the average broadband speed on land.

The service is available starting at $24.99 per day for one device when purchased before the cruise.

Like Celebrity, Princess also has special fares with things like drink packages, gratuities, and wi-fi already included. In other words, you may have to pay nothing extra for service if you book one of these deals.

Other Cruise Lines If your cruise line isn’t listed above, that’s ok. Most lines have prices that vary based on the level of service, but most are in the $20-30 range for one device .

Additional devices are usually in the $15-$20 range.

How Fast Is Internet on a Cruise?

Expecting to have blazing fast internet on the ship like you would back at home? Well, it’s time to lower your expectations a little bit before you get online. While the cruise lines love to boast about the speed of their service, the actual speeds you see can vary.

We’ve been on ships with blazing fast connections and others that have been insufferably slow.

In our tests across different cruise lines, the speed of service has varied widely, but seems most consistently in the 3-5 Mbps range. That said, we’ve been on cruises with speeds in the 1 Mbps range and some that approached 60 Mbps .

Bottom line, it’s tough to say exactly what sort of speed you will experience. That said, with the introduction of Starlink (a satellite internet provider) across many lines, speeds do seem to be trending upward.

For lower-tier plans that are less expensive, expect the speed to be slower .

In other words, while you may find service is more than fast enough to meet your needs, be prepared for the possibility of slower speeds than you are used to.

Can I Post to Facebook, Instagram or Other Social Media Sites?

Absolutely. In fact, the cheapest plans usually have access only to the social media sites and apps like Facebook, Twitter, Snap, Instagram and more. If this is the main way you keep in touch with people back home, then it’s a cheap way to stay connected.

Even so, don’t expect the service to be blazing fast. You’ll have access but will still deal with the slower service you often find at sea.

Can I Stream Movies or Music on a Cruise?

Usually you can stream, however there are some caveats. First, you must purchase a plan that allows streaming. Many cruise lines offer lower tiers of service that are less expensive, but do not offer streaming capabilities. Those packages offering streaming are higher-priced.

Second, given the internet speed, you could see some lagging or lower-quality pictures. Many reports from users complain about streaming troubles. We’ve personally have had issues as well in tests we’ve done on cruises. Other times, it’s streamed perfectly.

There can be some hiccups. For example, a show might stream well for a while and then suddenly have a pixelated picture or pause while data loads.

Bottom line: Yes, you can stream while on a cruise, but don’t be surprised if there are times where it doesn’t work as well. If you want to watch a show, we think it’s a better idea to download it before you arrive on the ship. That way you don’t have to rely on internet access to watch.

Can I Use the Wi-Fi to Call or Message With My Phone?

Cell service is provided on the ship at sea, but it can be expensive. A much easier thing to do is simply use the ship’s wi-fi to send messages and even make calls.

Depending on your phone, it may be easiest to use a messaging app like WhatsApp. We’ve noticed that the iMessage service on iPhones seems to work well to send messages to other iPhones, but doesn’t easily text Android users over the wi-fi. Services like WhatsApp work with no issues.

As well, you can setup your phone to call over wi-fi or call through a communication app. Either way, you can use the ship’s wi-fi to keep in touch.

Are There Data Caps on the Plans?

Most of the cruise line plans these days are “unlimited” plans that don’t put a cap on your data. 

That said, we wouldn’t push it by trying to download the Lord of the Rings trilogy. First of all, it would take forever at the connection speeds. Beyond that, the internet is being provided by satellite for thousands of passengers at any given time. It’s likely that you would be asked about using such a massive amount of data.

If you’re doing what the service is designed for — streaming shows, checking email, etc. — you likely won’t be running into issues. But if you are using a ton of data, you might be asked about what’s going on.

Do I Have to Buy Internet for Every Day of the Cruise?

When we mentioned pricing above, you noticed that it was on a per-day basis. Most plans are sold this way ( similar to drink packages ). You pay a set amount per day, and the plan is purchased for the entire cruise. So if it’s $20 per day, you’ll pay $140 for a seven-day cruise. This gives you access for the whole trip.

But what if you want to only occasionally check email or post to Facebook? In that case, the cruise lines usually sell a smaller package. It can either be a 24-hour pass (unlimited access for 24 consecutive hours) or a number of minutes to access the web. 

This allows you online access without the cost of paying for service during the entire cruise.

Are Websites Blocked or Filtered?

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. Even if you do have full online access, you can still expect some content filtering.

For most people this will never be an issue. However, if you are trying to look at pages with adult themes, then you’ll likely find you’re unable to connect. For example, Carnival says that “access to certain sites such as mature or violent content is blocked” over their network.

In other words, expect to use the internet like you would at your local library. You’ll be able to access everything you need… but maybe not everything you want.

Can I Use a VPN on the Cruise Ship?

Many people use a VPN in order to access their work privately. Unfortunately, these don’t always work on a cruise.

Carnival, for instance, has stated clearly in the past that “VPN connections are not supported” on their network. Royal Caribbean doesn’t explicitly state one way or the other, but we’ve seen several reports that using a VPN can be hit or miss for passengers. In our experience, using a VPN led to some interruption in the connection.

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. Lower-tier packages do not allow VPN access.

In other words, unless you are sailing on Norwegian, then you should just assume you can’t access with a virtual private network. You might get lucky and be able to, but chances are slim.

Cruise Internet Seems Expensive, How Can I Save Money?

You are right that getting online access is pricey on a cruise. The good news is that there are ways you can save. We’ve covered them in more detail here , but here are some ideas:

Book a Cruise With Free Internet as a Perk Norwegian, Celebrity, Princess and other lines have started to offer sales that provide free perks for cruising. One of those perks is usually free wi-fi during your cruise. Book one of these and you don’t have to worry about the cost of access. It’s already included in your fare.

Wait Until You’re in Port to Get Online If you don’t need access every day, there’s a free way to get service: wait until you get to port. In many cruise ports there are stores or restaurants that offer free wi-fi to customers. You can sit down, have a bite to eat, and check email, etc. Now you might not be able to spend all day loitering while you watch a movie on your phone, but it’s a good way to check your email for free.

Pay For a Smaller Package While 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.

Buy Ahead of Time Want to save? Book ahead of time. Cruise lines offer discounts to passengers who buy the service before they sail. This discount can be significant — often 10-20% off the price of booking onboard.

It won’t make the service “cheap,” but it can take the sting off the high price tag.

Share a Connection Internet plans on cruise ships charge per device. So if you want to have two devices connected at once, then it’s double the cost. However, they also allow you to share a connection. 

Say you have a wi-fi package with one device. Once a person is done with it, then another person can login to that account and access the internet from their own device. So a husband can hop online to check email on his laptop, and then a wife can login later to surf the web on her phone without paying for an extra device. It’s just that only one device at a time is allowed.

More on Internet on a Cruise:

• Royal Caribbean VOOM Internet at Sea (Speed, Features, and More)
• Carnival Cruise Wi-Fi Service (Speed, Reliability, Cost, and More)
• Princess Cruises Wi-Fi Service (Speed, Reliability, Cost, and More)

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I am going on the Silver Dawn in Dec 23 I have discovered that it is the only ship in the Silver Seas brand that doesn’t have a contract with ATT. I really need to be able to receive and make phone calls on a 10 day caribbean cruise. You mentioned What’s APP Unless the person I am calling has What’s APP can I still receive /call this person.

Hi Vickie, in the Caribbean we use whatsapp a lot instead of texts so most persons have whatsapp. The catch is both persons need to have whatsapp for the features to work for whatsapp calls or whatsapp video as it’s using voip. You will still need an internet service to use whatsapp . It doesn’t work like regular phone calls in that sense so you would have to tell people in advance call me via whatsapp call during this period. Hope this helps .

Is it possible to teach online while cruising? I need minimum 10mbps upload and download

That would be iffy. During our tests across several lines, we’ve seen speeds ranging from 1-5 mbps.

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Home » Cruise Ships & Wifi (Free Internet on Cruise Ships?) Updated 2024

Cruise Ships & Wifi (Free Internet on Cruise Ships?) Updated 2024

Last updated on March 9th, 2024 at 08:40 pm

We live in a digital age where social media is prevalent in many aspects of our lives.

Whether we are chronicling our travels, advertising our business interests, getting remote work taken care of, sharing vlogs , or engaging with friends and family – few can go a day, much less extended time periods without Wi-Fi access or means of getting to their accounts.

Especially in this remote-work-driven world, business has become a work-from-anywhere endeavor where you can be cruising the world and still keeping a finger on the heartbeat of your other ventures.

Table of Contents

Do cruise ships have Wi-Fi?

The short answer is yes…but it differs from cruise line to cruise line.

What follows is a breakdown of the advertised services around Wi-Fi by the cruise line and previous cruiser insights on these services for many cruise lines sailing vacationers are considering.

Things to remember about the internet onboard cruise ships:

Ships offer internet via satellite, which will be slower than the internet you will find on land. This also means that weather can affect connectivity.

Ships also will deal with bandwidth and data issues, which means the more people that are using it at the same time, the slower it will generally be.

A common question people ask is if they will be able to work a bit from the ship, i.e. do a Zoom call, etc. The answer is usually “maybe,” but you won’t likely know until you go to actually use it.

It will depend on where in the world/ocean you are, where in the ship you are, how many other people are using at the same time, etc. It’s best not to bank on it.

Royal Caribbean WiFi Packages

After a successful trial of Starlink satellite internet on Freedom of the Seas, RCL says it will be rolling it out to the rest of the fleet soon (2022/2023). A timeline has been set that will see Starlink installed on all Royal Caribbean ships by the end of Q1 2023!

This should vastly improve the speed and reliability of the internet onboard, but for now, RCL’s internet is still touted as the “fastest internet at sea.”

From my own personal experience, I tested StarLink internet onboard the Brilliance of the Seas in January 2023. Download speed was 97.7Mbps while upload was 16.5Mbps. For most users, even heavy users, this speed is more than fast enough for streaming as well as work applications.

Royal Caribbean offers VOOM high speed internet you can add to your cruise to stream and stay connected, but costs will vary based on number of devices you wish to connect as well as your ship and sailing.

The VOOM Surf Voyage Package on average starts at $15.99/day for one device and allows you to surf the web and send emails.

If you want to be able to stream as well as browse the internet, the VOOM Surf and Stream package would be for you at an average of $22.99/day. Again, these prices vary based on ship, sailing and number of devices you wish to connect.

Watch for package deals prior to your cruise and check if your Crown and Anchor member level offers a discount on internet service.

Overall, users have good things to say about the service, though it does appear there can be some spotty coverage depending on your itinerary. You can also use Royal’s app without having to pay to connect to their Wi-Fi.

Celebrity Cruises WiFi Packages

**StarLink Internet has been installed on some Celebrity ships as of mid-2023.

With Celebrity, Premium Wi-Fi is the top-tier package you can add to your cruises on Celebrity for near-constant coverage while cruising. This package is great for those wishing to stream movies and such while underway and seems to have fairly good reviews from previous customers.

Basic Wi-Fi is for those needing some basic email and messaging services for a more value-added cost. This is included in Celebrity’s “ Always Included.”

Costs will vary based on ship, sailing and number of devices, but they do note that Wi-Fi packages are not available on ships sailing from the Galapagos.

Celebrity suggests if you book it in advance, you’ll save 10% than if you were to wait and purchase it on board, but often there will be additional deals when paired with other upgraded packages.

In 2023, Celebrity will be installing StarLink Satellite internet on its ships, which will provide a much faster experience. Stay tuned for more details as they roll out the system across all their ships.

MSC Cruises WiFi Packages

MSC Cruises, following suite with Virgin Voyages and other cruise lines,  will be rolling out Starlink across their vessels. Other major cruise operators including Norwegian, Royal Caribbean and Carnibal have also been making the switch to Starlink.

The satellite internet , called Browse (just surfing websites), or Browse & Stream (allows for streaming Netflix) packages on MSC Cruises offer the ability to bring your own devices for public area and café spot coverage.

When added to a cruising package, it is available 24/7 with no data caps, which is nice considering others throttle when available if you read the fine print. The packages vary in price based on the length of the cruise and number of devices you wish to connect, but you can expect to pay approximately $12/day per device for the Browse internet package for a week-long cruise.

They also have cafes with printers and full screens and keyboards to facilitate work or other activities.

You can get discounts on the packages if you purchase them before boarding, or when adding multiple devices because each package is attached to a certain device, so you’d need a separate package for each device you wish to access the internet.

They do advise that if you want to use the internet when it’s fastest, to avoid doing it first thing in the morning, or when the majority of passengers return from shore excursions .

Carnival Cruises WiFi Packages

Carnival is pretty transparent in the three levels of Wi-Fi offered:

Social Plan – $6.80/person per day (can save 15% if purchased online pre-cruise) – allows access to social sites/apps, and airline websites, presumably to allow the user to check in for their flight while aboard, but may not allow access to other websites/apps

Value Plan – 10.20/person per day (can save 15% if purchased online pre-cruise) – allows surfing on websites and access to email, but does not allow for streaming (i.e. Netflix or Spotify) or for video calls (i.e. Skype or Zoom)

Premium Plan – $13.60/person per day (can save 20% if purchased online pre-cruise).  boasts three times faster connection to allow for streaming and video calling (where coverage allows).

Check the fine print and ensure that you pick the right package as there are some pre-purchase restrictions that are enforced before embarking .

*Carnival Cruise Lines will be installing StarLink Satellite internet on their ships in 2023. This will be a much faster experience. Stay tuned for more info on when it will be installed on all ships in the fleet. 

Holland America WiFi Packages

HAL offers satellite internet through the ship’s Wi-Fi or at workstations in the Explorations Cafe. There are three packages available, all with varying levels of data available:

Social – allows you to access popular social sites and apps, but may not allow for streaming or audio/video calls – $14.99/day

Surf – the most popular option which allows for broader internet surfing including news and sports sites, accessing your e-mail, but also may not allow for streaming or audio/video calls – $24.99

Premium – this has the highest amount of data which allows for everything including streaming and video calls.

The caveats with their internet, however, are that it won’t be as fast as internet on land (and current customers agree), and because it’s provided via satellite, physical blockages will affect connectivity (i.e. inclement weather or mountains).  Also, they do have a select number of free sites under “Complementary Browsing.”

*As Holland America is part of Carnival, StarLink Internet will be coming to the fleet in 2023.

Princess Cruises WiFi Packages

MedallionNet is the Wi-Fi service of Princess cruise lines, and recently they announced some improvements to their service even to help accommodate those that might need to work while onboard.

They boast their services being “The Best Wi-Fi at Sea,” and they have several unlimited day packages for as little as $9.99 a day for a one device package. If you are a Platinum or Elite guest, you’ll get 50% off, or if you purchase Princess Plus , your Wi-Fi will be included.

It must be added that there is a lot of good reviews out there that might back this claim but again, read through all the data to make the best-informed decision.

*As Princess is part of Carnival, StarLink Internet will be coming to the fleet in 2023.

Norwegian Cruise Lines WiFi Packages

Norwegian’s services onboard are offered in internet cafes onboard , with some stateroom access on certain ships.

Laptop rentals, email access, and other items for this coverage can be found on their website, but for those needing streaming services or more robust coverage for work, you must take a hard look at this one before booking.

Unlimited  Wi-Fi Package – 1 device is $25.50/day when purchased prior to your cruise. This allows you to browse websites, use social media apps (except for TikTok), and access email (no VPN).

Unlimited Premium Wi-Fi Package – 1 device is 34.99/day when purchased prior to your cruise. This allows access to streaming sites, like YouTube, Netflix, etc. as well as if you need to use a VPN to access your email.

Unlimited Social Media Wi-Fi – 1 device – 12.50/day when purchased prior to your cruise allows access to Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, but not TikTok.

Norwegian also has an option where you can purchase 250 minutes of internet for use any time during your cruise for the price of $105.00 if purchased in advance of your cruise. If you want to purchase it onboard, it will be $125 plus a $3.95 activation fee. It can be used only on one device at at time.

NCL offers different perks on different cruises, so many bookings come with some complimentary minutes of internet and it’s easy to upgrade your package once on board.

*Norwegian has experimented with StarLink internet on their ships so plan on upgrades coming in 2023. 

Disney Cruises WiFi Packages

Connect@Sea is the program covering all of Disney’s Internet packages at sea options. You will pay for the data you use, not by the minute, so if you’re looking to stream Netflix or just upload a few pictures to Instagram, you’ll be able to find the package right for you.

You can also share the package between devices simultaneously, as Disney’s technology will combine the amount of data. There is no discount for purchasing packages before your cruise, as Disney advises to look for a current price list in your cabin, or by talking to Guest Services.

There is free access to the Disney Cruise Line Navigator app, which is also accessible to view other data packages.

Virgin Voyages WiFi Packages

Wanting to stay ahead of the game and to keep current with their innovative approach to cruising, Virgin Voyages will be the first cruise line to incorporate SES Cruise mPOWERED + Starlink PRO services.

SES is a global leader in satellite communications and Virgin will combine Medium Earth Orbit (MEO) and Low Earth Orbit (LEO) satellite coverage in their bid to deliver the fastest internet speeds for their cruise passengers.

The cruise line will be offering speeds up to 1.5 Gbps, well above the standard offerings. The pandemic changes the way the world does business, and has opened up remote working opportunities for many.

The world has also become acutely aware of the importance of connectivity. While most people don’t want to work on a vacation, the ability to remain connected, even for short periods, has made it apparent that combining business and pleasure can work out very well for all concerned.

Younger guests, such as those attracted to Virgin Voyages, tend to attract, feels that connectivity is paramount.  Having a reliable internet connection allows for cruisers to check in at work or home with confidence that those important connections will be ready and available when needed. 

Passengers will be able to keep up on messaging, emails and make video calls. This valuable service will help keep a cruiser current with business obligations and also give the peace of mind that being able to connect with home brings. 

Costa Cruises WiFi Packages

Costa features a Data and Social package for their internet, with access available in all public areas and cabins throughout their ships. They have an Internet Point area where you can use onboard devices or bring your full ship usage.

Additionally, their packages range from 250 MB to 3 GB. Their social package has a list of sites it allows access to in a more economical fashion – or you can pay as you go if you aren’t sure of your needs before sailing.

*As Costa Cruises is part of Carnival, StarLink Internet will be coming to the fleet in 2023.

Viking Ocean Cruises WiFi Packages

Internet access onboard is free , but there are some significant limitations on bandwidth for such activities as streaming. The ships do have a Business Center on board with computers or use your device, but the other amenities onboard are the draw – internet access due to itineraries, and locations along with onboard setup make access to the internet not as spectacular as on other cruise lines.

Oceania WiFi Packages

Wavenet is the internet service provided by Oceania, and the basic levels are free to all sailing with them. Additionally, a Prime option can be tacked for $9.99 a day to more robust access to allow for such things as streaming and the like.

Passengers in the premium Owners and Vista suites even get provided an iPad ensuite for the duration of the voyage for their use in accessing social media, email, and other internet options.

Azamara WiFi Packages

Azmara offers packages that start at $0.33/a minute with one-hour passes to one-day or full cruise packages. Several spelled out limitations to their services, such as Skype and others, so it’s important to go through their exceptionally detailed and transparent services listings before setting expectations for your cruise.

Silversea Cruises WiFi Packages

Silversea has unlimited complimentary internet for all those sailing. Speed limitations depend on the package level and ship, so checking to ensure you have the right service may include additional service level add-ons, but basic levels remain free.

They also feature onboard cafes where you may use their computers and other devices or bring your own and access the internet throughout their ships.

Seabourn WiFi Packages

Seabourn, the luxury cruise line is the newest cruise line to be equipped with Starlink internet . Expect fast internet speeds while you’re cruising to exotic locations offered by Seabourn. Learn more about complimentary WiFi on Seabourn .

A Word of Caution About Cruise Line Wi-Fi

Certain apps, a variety of service options, port of call , and destinations along your cruise can all impact the internet service on a ship.

If these services and having access to friends, coworkers, work, or even social media feeds are important to you, do your research before embarking as not all cruise lines have given their online services the same consideration.

Can you stream movies on a cruise ship?

Wi-Fi is getting better for certain and more readily available. While the speed of an individual cruise ship might be enough to stream movies, you might end up going through your available bandwidth quickly.

Additional charges in most cases will apply for streaming or higher/longer coverage periods and can have a significant impact on the cost of your cruise experience if not booked in advance.

That being said, it is not the same on every ship, and the costs are specific to each cruise line, so don’t make assumptions that just because you sail on one two years ago and want to pick a new line, the services may not be the same.

Why Is StarLink Internet a Game-changer for Cruise Ship Internet?

One of the primary advantages of Starlink Internet is its exceptional speed. Traditional satellite internet systems often suffer from latency issues due to the long distance signals must travel to reach the orbiting satellites and back to Earth.

However, Starlink employs a novel approach by deploying a constellation of thousands of small, low Earth orbit (LEO) satellites. These satellites are positioned much closer to the Earth’s surface, significantly reducing the latency and providing faster internet speeds.

Early tests and user reports have shown that Starlink offers download speeds ranging from 50 to 150 Mbps, with latency typically under 50 milliseconds. This makes it comparable to, and sometimes even surpassing, land-based broadband connections.

These innovations are good news for ALL cruise lines passengers. Cruise lines are striving to meet the need of cruisers to maintain a reliable connection with home and work. This will be a benefit for all. 

What’s the Verdict on Cruise Ship WiFi?

Depending on the destination, cruise ship capabilities, and even your stateroom location, the variances in coverage can be significant.

Look at the cruise line websites and reviewers on popular websites like the CruiseCritic Forums who can be brutally honest in reviewing such amenities. Real-life examples may help you from being frustrated mid-cruise and not enjoying a hard-earned vacation due to slow internet when you are already out to sea.

This page contains affiliate links for which we may receive financial compensation when a purchase has been made through one of our affiliate partners.

About Jonathon Hyjek

Jonathon is the tech guy behind CruiseportAdvisor.com. When he's not stuck in front of his computer, Jonathon enjoys travel & cruising (even after being on a cruise ship that caught fire - a story for another day!)

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How Strong is the Internet on Princess? A Review of MedallionNet

by Prof. Cruise · Published March 21, 2022 · Updated March 21, 2022

Go ahead, ask about internet speed in a cruise-related Facebook group if you want to be be virtually spanked for not entirely disconnecting on vacation. But don’t worry, I’m here to affirm you (or enable you?) and also answer your question: How strong is the internet on Princess? First though, let us enlighten those who may not understand why anyone would want or need internet access on a cruise ship.

Internet on a cruise ship? What’s the point?

There are many good reasons one may need strong and reliable internet access on their Princess cruise. Here are some of them:

• They “forgot” to tell their boss they were going on vacation and plan to “work” virtually.
• They guilted an extended family member into taking care of their kids while they cruised: “Come on, you saw so little of them during Covid, you need to make up for lost time.” But they feel obligated to at least check in a few times: “No one dead? Excellent! Love you, but gotta run – I have a spa appointment!”
• Nightly video chats with their fur baby whom they actually really miss: “Mommy ordered an extra prime rib at dinner tonight just for you! Paws crossed that I don’t get arrested for sneaking it off the ship.”
• So they can feel less guilty about the 10,000 calories they’re eating every day by sitting on an exercise bike at the ship gym while streaming Netflix.

I’m sure there are others too, but those are the ones that popped into my head for some reason (not that any of them are even remotely autobiographical).

Speaking of autobiographical, let me answer some questions you may have about MedallionNet internet on Princess ships by referencing my own recent experience onboard Princess. Remember that this is based on one person’s experience on one ship, but hopefully it can give you a sense of what to expect. I hope that others will chime in in the comments with their experiences too!

Is the Internet Strong Enough to Work from a Princess Ship?

When your professional title is “Professor of Cruising,” AKA “subpar cruise blogger,” you work to cruise and you cruise to work. And I was mostly able to fulfill my duty to keep my one loyal reader (hi, mom!) informed while on the Majestic Princess. There were a few spots and times of day where the internet signal wasn’t as strong, but it usually worked great in my cabin where I preferred to write, answer e-mails, and update my website and social media sites.

For those of you thinking, “But what about those of us with a real job?,” I say this…

I’ll have you know that I had to try six times to get a decent video for Instagram of the atrium as I traveled all the way up on the glass elevator because people kept getting in! If that’s not real work, I don’t know what is!

Also this…

While I wouldn’t feel comfortable guaranteeing that MedallionNet will allow you to accomplish everything you need to do for work from the ship (especially if it’s critical that you be able to always attend live meetings or respond immediately to messages and e-mails), this new and vastly improved Princess internet met my work-related needs MUCH better than any non-Princess ship I’ve ever sailed on.

Can I Stream Videos on a Princess Ship?

Yes. I was able to stream Netflix during a GRUELING hour long workout on a spin bike at the ship gym. Had I been on land, I would have peddled all the way from my apartment to Pike Place Market in Seattle in that time! (Psssst, it’s only two blocks away.)

Can I Zoom from a Princess Ship?

Let me tell you from experience that there’s nothing more zen than listening to your live weekly virtual yoga class over Zoom while you gaze out at the ocean and feast on a crap ton of free food delivery (go HERE to see my review of OceanNow food and beverage delivery on Princess along with the complete menu). I really hope I remembered to turn off my camera though, as I said my final “namaste” with a mouth full of chocolate cake.

In summary, Zoom worked well for me.

Can I Video Chat from a Princess Ship?

Yes, you can. At least I could – here I am tucking in my son over Facebook video chat before asking could he please put Henry (my dog) on now (remember that thing I said about missing one’s fur baby?).

How Much Does the Internet Cost on Princess?

As I discovered, that depends. But either way, it’s refreshingly reasonable! If you purchase a plan through the OceanMedallion App prior to sailing, the cost of a 1 device plan (meaning you can only use one device at a time) for a 7 night cruise for me was $69.93. For up to 4 devices (meaning you can use up to 4 devices at the same time) it was $139.93. I figured I’d wait to purchase my plan until I got onboard because I had a bunch of onboard credit to burn through.

However, once onboard, I discovered that it’s cheaper to pre-purchase a plan (that’s usually the case on other lines, but I didn’t see or read anything about that with MedallionNet, so I didn’t know). I paid $104.93 for my 1 device plan once onboard. Learn from my mistake and purchase your plan in advance!

So, how strong is the internet on Princess? Allow me to pitch this new slogan to the Princess marketing team: “MedallionNet, strong enough to keep you from relaxing on vacation!” Yes? No?

But seriously, it was strong enough to give my dog something to look forward to for 12 days. Unfortunately 8 of those days were unexpected and the prime rib I promised him over video chat went rancid while I sat in jail. Oh! I just thought of another slogan: “MedallionNet > JailNet.”

Cruising Pro Tip: You can’t take fruit, vegetables, dairy, grains, beverages or…prime rib on or off of a cruise ship (only packaged and sealed food is permitted).

*Note: Reports from some ships this week, now that they’re closer to full capacity, are that the internet has been slower and that the app hasn’t been functioning as well (I couldn’t really get the app to work at all on my sailing, but I’d made all my reservations in advance, used the TV to order OceanNow food to my cabin , and appreciated still receiving a hard copy of the Princess Patter for the daily schedule, so I didn’t really need it). So keep in mind, that while it is technically “possible” to do all the things I discussed above with MedallionNet, internet speed slows with increasing demand. Choosing an off time (early in the morning, late at night, or in port while most passengers are off the ship) to accomplish important internet-dependent tasks may be the best option in some cases. And it’s best to have a backup plan for communication with work and home just in case.

And with that…

Class Dismissed!

Don’t forget to PIN this so you can refer back to it later!

Homework (10 points):  Share your experiences with MedallionNet in the comments and check out my other recent Princess-related content…

Does Princess Really have the Best Pizza at Sea?

Princess’s 2022 Main Dining Room Dinner Menus  

Preparing For Your Princess Cruise in 2022

Princess Cruise Line’s OceanNow Food And Beverage Delivery Menu 2022

Majestic Princess Mini-Suite Review and Tour

Princess Cruise Line’s Elite Lounge: A Review

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Princess Medallion Net Internet is excellent at middle latitudes (say…south of Ketchikan). They use lower Middle Earth Orbit satellites which provide fast service. Not having to count minutes or worry about logging out is a great improvement. Works well for real estate contracts!

Thanks for sharing your experience! I’m glad it worked well for your needs and thanks for pointing out another important use for it (real estate contracts can’t really wait). Happy cruising!

[…] You can read my full review of MedallionNet (the new fleet-wide internet service on Princess) HERE: […]

[…] the massive technology upgrades required to support Medallion technology, internet service (called MedallionNet), while still not perfect, has vastly improved on Princess. You can read my complete review of […]

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Given name Sarah, but also answers to Prof. Cruise. Retired after 10 years as a college professor to focus full-time on her primary research interest: travel. With a concentration in cruising.  Home port: Seattle.  Mom of a shaggy-haired dog and a shaggy-haired human.  Lover of books and dessert.  Fancies herself a bit of a comedian – you’ve been warned.

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All Princess Cruise Ships Will Have MedallionNet WiFi on Return to Service

Upon its return to service, every Princess cruise ship in the global fleet will feature land-like connectivity as part of its MedallionNet Wi-Fi service, making remote working, distance learning, and the opportunity to securely conduct important transactions, available all while enjoying the most picturesque video conference backdrop on the horizon thousands of miles from home.

Each Princess MedallionClass ship transmits enough bandwidth per vessel to guarantee a superior connection for each guest and the personal device they are using. MedallionNet’s seamless integration ensures guests can work from their deck chairs as efficiently and effectively as in their office, with access to their cloud-based enterprise applications such as storage, videoconferencing, and email.

And because there is an access point in every stateroom, as well as all public areas, guests can move freely around the ship as they work without any frustrating signal drops.

In late 2021, Princess connectivity partner – SES – will begin to launch a new constellation of satellites that will further super-charge MedallionNet and offer guests the best connectivity possible at sea.

The unmatched bandwidth capacity not only delivers superior Wi-Fi service levels, but also powers the Princess MedallionClass experience onboard. The cruise line’s award-winning OceanMedallion, the most advanced wearable device in the global hospitality industry, replaces the traditional cruise card to significantly expand touch-free options and personalization on board.

When cruise vacations begin again, Princess Cruises will be ready to take guests to the sun-drenched beaches of the Caribbean or Mexico, the awe-inspiring scenery of Alaska, the iconic sites of Europe, the unparalleled California Coast, and many more destinations.

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You Could Pay 67% More for Wi-Fi on Your Next Cruise

Andrea Santillan

• January 23, 2024

It’ll now cost more to check your Facebook on Princess Cruises. On January 22, the cruise line raised the price of its MedallionNet internet package on its cruise ships, with one package nearly doubling in price.

Meanwhile, the higher rates for purchasing your internet package onboard will start on January 31.

Passengers who want internet access for one device during the entire cruise will pay the most significant increase. Previously available for $14.99 per day, the new daily rate is now 67% higher at $24.99.

If you’re paying for one day and one device, the daily price is 50% more, from $19.00 to $29.99. 

For $44.99 a day, four devices can connect to Princess’ onboard Wi-Fi for the entire voyage, 13% more than the old rate of $39.99. Those who need single-day access for up to 4 devices will pay $54.99, marking a 38% increase from the former daily rate of $39.99.

The announcement makes Princess one of the few cruise lines increasing its prices despite cheaper and faster internet services courtesy of Starlink. Princess is using the higher internet rates to encourage more guests to buy bundled packages.

Their letter reads, “…there is no change to the price of Princess Plus and Princess Premier , meaning that our fare bundles are now an even greater value for your clients!”

Princess Plus can be had for $60 per day, while Princess Premier and its slightly longer list of benefits are priced at a daily rate of $80. In addition to unlimited Wi-Fi, these bundles offer perks like beverage packages, free fitness classes, photo packages, and priority seating during shows.  

Sister company Carnival Cruise Line also introduced Wi-Fi price increases last December, though the fee change was not as steep.

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Get Ready For Faster Internet on Carnival and Princess

Last Updated on July 11, 2023

Great news for cruisers who need to stay connected while on vacation. Carnival Corporation has signed an agreement with SpaceX’s Starlink to bring service across its fleet. That means Carnival, Princess, and Holland America ships should soon see faster, more reliable internet.  

The problem with internet on cruise ships

Internet connections on cruise ships have been notoriously finicky. With slow speeds and dropped connections, guests often had poor experiences, especially when sailing outside of the Caribbean. 

When you’re on land, your cell phone works by connecting to local cell phone towers to make calls. That tower could be on top of a grocery store, a nearby apartment building, or one of those notoriously fake-looking trees.

When you’re on a cruise ship, there are no nearby towers to connect to. So the only solution is for the ship to connect to orbiting satellites and use those to provide service onboard. But the satellites are so much further away than a cell phone tower. As a result, the signal takes much longer to get there, leading to high latency. That makes devices take longer to connect and respond to requests. 

It would be a frustrating experience for many guests who pay a good amount of money for the internet. 

“For many of our guests, it has become more and more important to maintain the type of connectivity at sea that they’ve become accustomed to at home, and of course to share the unforgettable experiences of their cruise with friends and family,” said Josh Weinstein, CEO of Carnival Corporation. “We are in the business of delivering happiness, and Starlink makes it as easy as possible for our guests to share all their great moments and memories, giving them even more joy out of their cruise vacation.”

Catching up to Royal Caribbean’s Internet

Over the summer, Royal Caribbean announced that they’d be rolling out Starlink internet across its fleet and had plans to complete the transition by April 2023. 

Much of their fleet now has Starlink service, and guests have been raving about it. Many passengers saw speeds like they’d see at home while in the middle of the ocean. 

It was great news but also a black eye for Carnival, who up until this point, hadn’t made any public commitment to the technology. 

What is Starlink technology?

Starlink technology uses low-orbit satellites to provide fast, low-latency internet connections to users around the world. Because the satellites are in lower orbit, the trip between the receiver and the satellite is shorter and faster. Also, Starlink’s receivers are fairly compact, meaning more can be placed on a cruise ship, increasing overall capacity. 

It’ll solve a major issue that guests have been facing in this increasingly connected world. 

Which cruise ships is Starlink coming to?

The good news is that Carnival will bring this service to all their brands, including Carnival, Princess, Holland America, and others. Unfortunately, Carnival didn’t yet provide an official timeline to complete the transition. They have been testing Starlink since December 2022, so your next sailing may have the new internet. 

Which Carnival ships have Starlink?

According to John Heald, the following ships have been updated to Starlink of July 11, 2023.

• Carnival Panorama
• Carnival Elation
• Carnival Sunrise
• Carnival Valor
• Carnival Venezia
• Carnival Pride
• Carnival Magic
• Carnival Sunshine
• Carnival Vista
• Carnival Mardi Gras
• Carnival Celebration
• Carnival Jubilee

The rest of the ships are scheduled to be upgraded soon.

How much will Starlink internet cost on a Carnival ship?

Carnival just recently increased the cost of their internet to $12.75 to $18.80 per person per day, depending on the speed you want. We expect to prices to stay the same during the rollout of Starlink. 

See Carnival Corp’s full press release

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Randy Young

Randy Young is the founder and editor-in-chief at Cruise Spotlight. He has been in marketing for 19 years and has been cruising for just as long. Over the years, he's worked with products like TVs, copiers, light bulbs, and EV chargers, but cruising has always been his passion. There's nothing Randy likes more than the first couple of hours on a ship, exploring every nook and cranny and seeing how it's different from everything else out there. He's known for providing detailed and analytical coverage of cruising to help cruisers get a comprehensive picture of a ship's offerings.

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• Australia & New Zealand Cruisers

Princess Internet Pricing

By OzKiwiJJ , September 12, 2022 in Australia & New Zealand Cruisers

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There has been some confusion over the pricing of the internet packages on Princess, for people who choose not to book a Plus or Premier fare.

This is the current pricing as at 11am Monday 12th September 2022 as sourced from the Internet Cafe on Coral Princess. 

- Platinum and Elite (P/E) passengers get a 50% discount on all internet purchases and I have shown those prices below as well as the full prices.

- If you buy an internet package for your whole cruise after boarding the ship it is $20 per day, $10 per day for P/E. If you are on a ten day cruise you pay for ten days, ie $200 or $100, and that covers you until you ding off the ship during disembarkation. In other words you should not get charged an extra day for the disembarkation morning.

- If after embarking you wish to buy internet for a single day, defined as a 24 hour period, the current price is $27 per day, $13.50 for P/E.

- The price for internet packages purchased before embarking on your cruise can vary depending on whether there is a promo running at time of purchase or not. At the moment it is typically $14-$15 per day, $7-$7.50 for P/E.

- There has been a rumour circulating that if you have an internet package you can't use the computers in the Internet Cafe.  This is false.  You can indeed use those computers.

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cruiser3775

Thanks for that information.  Is it possible to buy less than a one day package?  So, if I just wanted to check my emails, could I buy an hour or so at the internet cafe, and how much would that cost?

Aus Traveller

32 minutes ago, cruiser3775 said: Thanks for that information.  Is it possible to buy less than a one day package?  So, if I just wanted to check my emails, could I buy an hour or so at the internet cafe, and how much would that cost?

I don't believe they would cut the day rate further.

43 minutes ago, cruiser3775 said: Thanks for that information.  Is it possible to buy less than a one day package?  So, if I just wanted to check my emails, could I buy an hour or so at the internet cafe, and how much would that cost?

Guess depended on your phone you can check when we are in ports around Aus?

1 hour ago, OzKiwiJJ said: There has been some confusion over the pricing of the internet packages on Princess, for people who choose not to book a Plus or Premier fare.   This is the current pricing as at 11am Monday 12th September 2022 as sourced from the Internet Cafe on Coral Princess.    - Platinum and Elite (P/E) passengers get a 50% discount on all internet purchases and I have shown those prices below as well as the full prices.   - If you buy an internet package for your whole cruise after boarding the ship it is $20 per day, $10 per day for P/E. If you are on a ten day cruise you pay for ten days, ie $200 or $100, and that covers you until you ding off the ship during disembarkation. In other words you should not get charged an extra day for the disembarkation morning.   - If after embarking you wish to buy internet for a single day, defined as a 24 hour period, the current price is $27 per day, $13.50 for P/E.   - The price for internet packages purchased before embarking on your cruise can vary depending on whether there is a promo running at time of purchase or not. At the moment it is typically $14-$15 per day, $7-$7.50 for P/E.   - There has been a rumour circulating that if you have an internet package you can't use the computers in the Internet Cafe.  This is false.  You can indeed use those computers.

Have they put the prices up for P/Elite if you buy it for the whole cruise ?

i came off the Coral a month ago and only paid $7 per day 

15 minutes ago, rkmw said: Have they put the prices up for P/Elite if you buy it for the whole cruise ? i came off the Coral a month ago and only paid $7 per day 

Pricing seems to be a 'moveable feast'. On a Live Chat with a Princess rep, I was told it was $12.99 per day with 50% discount for P/Elite. The same day people on the ship were told $10 per day for P/Elite.

38 minutes ago, rkmw said: Have they put the prices up for P/Elite if you buy it for the whole cruise ? i came off the Coral a month ago and only paid $7 per day 

Did you buy it before you embarked or once you were onboard?

The prices I listed are current as of 11am today. The pre-boarding price is still around $7-$7.50 for Elites.

23 minutes ago, Aus Traveller said: Pricing seems to be a 'moveable feast'. On a Live Chat with a Princess rep, I was told it was $12.99 per day with 50% discount for P/Elite. The same day people on the ship were told $10 per day for P/Elite.

I'm not sure some of the Live Chat people actually know the Australian pricing.

SinbadThePorter

On the app the P/E price is $AU 6.75/day for one connection.

Double that for four connections.

1 hour ago, cruiser3775 said: Thanks for that information.  Is it possible to buy less than a one day package?  So, if I just wanted to check my emails, could I buy an hour or so at the internet cafe, and how much would that cost?

1 hour ago, Aus Traveller said: I don't believe they would cut the day rate further.

More to the point is that they don't appear to offer hour or minute pricing any more. I think the smallest unit is now a 24 hour period i.e. a day.

1 minute ago, SinbadThePorter said: On the app the P/E price is $AU 6.75/day for one connection.   Double that for four connections.

Onboard or preboarding?

Deleted. Duplicate of Julie's question.

Please note - if you are posting prices that you have found would you please state whether that is a pre-purchase (pre-boarding) price or an onboard price. Thank you.

17 minutes ago, OzKiwiJJ said: Did you buy it before you embarked or once you were onboard?   The prices I listed are current as of 11am today. The pre-boarding price is still around $7-$7.50 for Elites.

No that was a pre purchase price

i just checked my pre pricing on my next cruise and still $6.70 per day

3 minutes ago, rkmw said: No that was a pre purchase price

Then it hasn't gone up, although that price can vary a little. The onboard purchase price is higher.

Just now, OzKiwiJJ said: Then it hasn't gone up, although that price can vary a little. The onboard purchase price is higher.

I have a future cruise with US currency and if you pre purchase the internet the price is AUD but if you wait until you board they’ll charge you US prices

6 minutes ago, rkmw said: I have a future cruise with US currency and if you pre purchase the internet the price is AUD but if you wait until you board they’ll charge you US prices

The US price is from $9.99 so $5 for P/E -  which would be pre-purchase prices and onboard prices would be higher - but not so different at current exchange rates. However you are at the mercy of the exchange rate if buying onboard.

Definitely $6.75 per day for our two cruise with Elite discount if purchased pre cruise.

2 minutes ago, resordanis said: Definitely $6.75 per day for our two cruise with Elite discount if purchased pre cruise.

As I said in my OP, the pre-purchase prices can vary a little due to the type of promo in place. That's the best so far. Lucky you! 😊

1 minute ago, OzKiwiJJ said: As I said in my OP, the pre-purchase prices can vary a little due to the type of promo in place. That's the best so far. Lucky you! 😊

Thanks but as they are both Australian cruises, I am thinking I might not take up the offer. I will save my money for your wine recommendation. 😁 Cheryle

7 minutes ago, OzKiwiJJ said: The US price is from $9.99 so $5 for P/E -  which would be pre-purchase prices and onboard prices would be higher - but not so different at current exchange rates. However you are at the mercy of the exchange rate if buying onboard.

It’s $28.80 for 4 days for a US currency cruise so still closer to $7 per day if I pre purchase now 

11 minutes ago, resordanis said: Thanks but as they are both Australian cruises, I am thinking I might not take up the offer. I will save my money for your wine recommendation. 😁 Cheryle

We've had a couple of bottles of the Grüner Veltliner on this cruise. There isn't sufficient variety in the white wines by the glass to suit our palates so we've had to resort to buying bottles to go with some foods.

6 minutes ago, OzKiwiJJ said: We've had a couple of bottles of the Grüner Veltliner on this cruise. There isn't sufficient variety in the white wines by the glass to suit our palates so we've had to resort to buying bottles to go with some foods.

We can’t wait to try it on Majestic shortly.

Wonderfully consistent Princess. Imagine when they go from one ship to three in the next month or so.

Too much info for me, glad that plus has it sorted already.

48 minutes ago, resordanis said: Definitely $6.75 per day for our two cruise with Elite discount if purchased pre cruise.

I had better check on the price for my up-coming cruises. Do you pay ahead or does it come out of OBC when you get on board?

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Cruises are the best vacations for introverted travelers. Here's how I make them work for me.

Posted: May 27, 2024 | Last updated: May 27, 2024

• As an introvert, cruises are one of my favorite ways to travel and recharge. 
• I wake up early and go on walks around the ship and take myself to dinner.
• I book cruises with lines like Princess that I know are more peaceful and relaxed, too. 

I've been writing about my family's travels for over a decade and traveling for even longer. I'm also an introvert who gets easily overwhelmed by crowds and finds energy in moments of quiet solitude.

But even as a seeker of alone time, cruising remains among my favorite ways to explore the world.

Although heading onto a ship packed with thousands of guests may seem off-putting for introverts like me, cruising is among the best types of vacations I've taken from a recharging standpoint.

While at sea, there are plenty of moments, spaces, and activities perfect for taking time away from the chaos of the crowds. In fact, I'd even argue that cruising is one of the best vacations for introverted travelers .

I recently sailed aboard Princess Cruises' Caribbean Princess during spring break, when the ship was at its more than 3,000-passenger capacity , and never found myself feeling socially spent or overwhelmed by others.

Here's why cruises are great for introverts — plus, my advice for anyone who wants to recharge and take some "me time" on a cruise vacation.

And with cruise ships projected to be packed as ever this year, even extroverts could use these tips to find some much-needed peace on board.

First of all, some cruise lines are much more peaceful than others.

It's important to choose a cruise line that fits your travel personality .

Since my family knows me and my son are introverts, we choose cruise ships that attract a more calm clientele and offer a more elevated experience.

I've sailed with a few lines, but my family often chooses Princess Cruises because its ships are a bit calmer and more elevated than those packed with water slides and rock-climbing walls.

Plus, the more attractions and activities a ship offers, the more likely the people on it are seeking a louder, wilder time.

Ships often have quiet times in the early mornings and late nights.

I've found the two times when a ship's decks are virtually empty are early in the morning and late in the evening.

For most of the day, the busy main pool decks of the Caribbean Princess were full of revelers enjoying the spring-break sunshine, but in the morning and evening, things were much quieter.

Not having to fight the crowds to get a chair on the pool deck makes for a relaxing time of watching the ocean or reading a book quietly.

There's nothing like a morning walk with ocean views.

Each morning on a cruise, I set an alarm for 7 a.m. and wake up before my family to go for a walk around the ship.

The Caribbean Princess had a jogging track on one of the lower decks, and walking there while taking in sweeping ocean views was a beautiful way to start my days and burn off the stress caused by being around other people.

Although our ship offered a fitness center and group fitness classes, I found the peaceful outdoor track to be the better option for my introverted self.

Coffee and a good book are the perfect way to usher in the day, too.

Morning routines truly are an introvert's key to powering up for long days of cruising, whether those days include time in the pool or adventures in various ports of call.

After my morning walks, I'd grab a coffee and head to one of the ship's upper decks, where I'd read for a bit, getting caffeinated and ready for whatever each day would bring.

When the ship is crowded on sea days, I head to the spa.

My most recent sailing included three days at sea, meaning we did not get off at a port for about 72 hours straight.

On sea days, the ship's main areas are way more crowded, so I always book a spa treatment to escape.

On my recent trip, I booked a seaweed wrap and massage and spent time before and after the 90-minute service relaxing in the spa area, sipping infused water, and reading in my cozy robe.

Most ships have adult-only areas, which are often quite calm.

Another day-at-sea tip for introverts is to take advantage of the ship's adults-only areas.

Even if you're traveling with children , it's perfectly acceptable to send them off to the kids' clubs on board while you relax in a much quieter atmosphere.

The Caribbean Princess had an adults-only pool area available to all guests. Still, we took our seclusion a step further by renting a cabana in The Sanctuary, the cruise line's exclusive deck area just for grown-ups.

There, I recharged in complete silence by reading in a pool lounger overlooking the ocean.

Having a solo dinner on a cruise ship is amazing.

On one night of every cruise, I take myself on a little date, sending my husband and kids off to explore the ship together while I have dinner on my own.

I curl up in my chair with a good book and eat my dinner peacefully while I allow my body to relax and unwind from a full day of activities.

With no one at my table to chat with, I have time to recharge and quiet any stresses I've felt throughout the day.

In fact, cruising makes it easy to be alone and entertained for an entire evening.

On my sailing aboard the Caribbean Princess, I treated myself to dinner and a show.

Since the cruise line offered performances nightly in its onboard theater, I was able to head there after dinner to watch a show in darkness and solitude.

Yes, there were hundreds of other guests in the audience, but since I wasn't with my travel party, I didn't need to make small talk with anyone and was able to soak in the relaxing vibes.

But it's also OK — and easy — to blend into the crowd.

Another way I take some time for myself while cruising is to choose a few activities on the ship's entertainment schedule each day to attend alone.

From a paper-flower-making class to cooking demonstrations, our ship had plenty of interesting activities on offer each day.

Among my favorites? Sitting in on a trivia or game show-style activity all by myself — a team of one, ready to use my brain only for thinking of answers, not for making small talk.

Lastly, there's nothing more recharging than a cruise-ship nap.

I'd be remiss if I didn't mention the bliss of a cruise-ship nap, which I took full advantage of most afternoons and reaped the benefits of.

After all, there's nothing quite like being rocked to sleep by the ocean at 3 p.m. after a long day in the sunshine.

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5 Affordable Cruise Vacations to Book — Plus How to Find the Best Deals

Here's what you need to know to save money on your next cruise.

Best Affordable Cruise Lines

How to find the best cruise deals, tips for saving money while on board.

Courtesy of Norwegian Cruise Line

Cruising has become increasingly popular in recent years, and it’s easy to see why. This form of travel is incredibly convenient (read: no need to pack and unpack), and everything you need can be found right on board — ultimately taking the stress out of trip planning. Plus, with hundreds of ships at sea across dozens of lines, there’s a cruise out here for every type of traveler. Fortunately, cruising doesn’t have to cost a small fortune, and many budget-conscious travelers may opt to set sail for their next trip. Below, we’ve rounded up the best cruise lines offering affordable fares coupled with value-packed inclusions to stretch your dollar further. We’ve also tapped some expert cruise specialists to share their top tips and tricks to help you save money both on and off the ship.

Here's everything you need to know to book an affordable cruise vacation.

Virgin Voyages

Courtesy of Virgin Voyages

This adults-only cruise line from Richard Branson — which also happens to be a Travel + Leisure World’s Best Award winner — offers excellent value. In fact, according to T+L A-list cruise advisor and Q Cruise + Travel founder and president Rob Clabbers, Virgin Voyages fares “include more than on most mainstream large-ship cruise lines.” For example, he says, “Virgin fares include internet access, gratuities, all meals — there are no cover charges for its restaurants that on most other lines would be considered specialty restaurants.” Beverages like soft drinks, coffee, and tea are also included, as are snacks, mezze at the aft terrace, and group workout classes. Best of all, there are no pricey beverage packages. “Instead,” says Clabbers, cruisers — or, as Virgin calls them, sailors — can buy their own reasonably priced drinks (think: beers from $6, $10 cocktails, and wines by the glass under $11) a la carte. Additionally, with some promotions , the cruise line throws in a “ bar tab ” credit that can be used towards drinks.

Princess Cruises

Taylor McIntyre/Travel + Leisure

Another World’s Best Award winner — and WBA Hall of Fame Honoree, no less — this fan-favorite ocean line is renowned for refined ships, serene ambiance, and exceptional service. Moreover, per Clabbers, passengers can choose from “optional packages to help customize a passenger’s trip that provide savings over buying things separately.” For an extra $60 per day, consider Princess Plus, which offers perks like Wi-Fi for one device per guest, gratuities, fitness classes (two per sailing), and beverages like bottled water, specialty coffee, soft drinks, and juice. Alternatively, for $80 per day, passengers can spring on the Princess Premier package, which features the same beverages plus specialty dining (two per sailing), unlimited fitness classes, premium desserts, reserved theater seating, and Wi-Fi (four devices per guest).

Norwegian Cruise Line 

Norwegian Cruise Line is a favorite among families of all ages for its over-the-top entertainment and activities (think: go-karting, Broadway-caliber productions, and so on). “While Norwegian Cruise Line may price slightly higher than some of its competitors, you need to consider the Free at Sea package,” says travel advisor Jennifer Travis of Marvelous Mouse Travels . She goes on to describe the promotion as a “game-changer when it comes to cruising” since it includes perks like a “free open bar (up to $1,400 in savings), free specialty dining (up to $180 in savings), free Wi-Fi (up to $200 in savings), and a $50 discount on excursions.” Other Free at Sea perks include 70 percent off second guests, free third and fourth guests (on select dates), and free airfare (per the cruise line’s website: “ Pay airfare for one guest, and you'll automatically lock in roundtrip flights for two ”). Also, you can’t go wrong with the Free at Sea Plus package, which includes a wider selection of beverages, more specialty dining, unlimited Wi-Fi, and additional shore excursion credits. Before booking, be sure to check the line’s full selection of deals , which run the gamut from half-off deposits to $150 cruise credits and more.

Royal Caribbean

Courtesy of Royal Caribbean

Zip lines, water slides, surfing simulators, ice skating, rock climbing walls: Find all this and more aboard (most) Royal Caribbean ships — and, best of all, they’re complimentary! Ideal for fun- and adventure-loving travelers of all ages — read: kids and kids-at-heart alike — it’s pretty much impossible to be bored while cruising on this World’s Best Award-winning mega-ship line . Additionally, according to Travis, Royal Caribbean “offers some of the best short itineraries,” some of which clock in at under $200 per person for two-night sailings. Longer itineraries, including a seven-night Bahamas sailing aboard one of the line’s newest ships, Odyssey of the Seas , clock in at under $600 per person. The line also offers an abundance of deals , including up to $600 off sailings, 60 percent off second guests, and more.

Carnival Cruise Line 

Courtesy of Carnival Cruises

“ Carnival Cruise Line is known for its competitive pricing without cutting back on the onboard activities or various dining options, thus making them an attractive option to budget-conscious cruisers,” explains Travis. For example, many itineraries, including a four-night Bahamas cruise from Miami , clock in at just over $150 per person. Additionally, says the travel advisor, “Carnival sails to a wide variety of destinations from so many local ports that you almost do not need to fly to your cruise ship anymore, which is another huge savings given the cost (and stress) flights can add to any vacation.” Keep an eye out for frequent flash sales for even more savings.

Booking early is an easy way to save on your next cruise vacation . “Typically,” says Travis, “the best pricing on a cruise is when the schedule is first released.” And, while you could wait for a last-minute deal, “you may not get the room category that you want.” Similarly, Clabbers says that flexibility is key when it comes to finding — and scoring — the best cruise deals . For example, he previously told T+L that if you are “very flexible and are looking for a standard room on a large ship on an itinerary that repeats week after week, you are more likely to find a promotional fare.”

Conversely, giving up some of that flexibility sometimes pays off. According to Clabbers, select cruise lines will offer lower fares to those who opt for a nonrefundable deposit instead of a refundable one. Finally, you may also consider cruising in shoulder season or even low season. Sure, the weather won’t be perfect, but the fewer crowds and cheaper fares more than make up for that, especially if you’re on a budget.

While your tab can quickly rack up once on board, there are several savvy ways to save money. For one, consider bringing your own booze. According to Travis, “Many cruise lines allow their guests to bring a specific amount of alcohol or nonalcoholic beverages onboard the ships, which can help save you money while you are on the ship.” Additionally, ​​Michele Benard , another travel advisor at Marvelous Mouse Travels, advises packing your own necessities from home — like Advil, Tums,  motion sickness medicine, and after-sun lotion — as opposed to buying them on board at a much higher price. You’ll also want to skip the souvenirs at the onboard gift shop, which tend to be more expensive than those you’d find in port.

Benard also recommends taking advantage of “all the free activities on the cruise ships,” which can include everything from water slides to trivia game shows. Pro tip: “Stay onboard during a port day, and the lines won’t be as long.” On a similar note, spa treatments tend to be less expensive on port days, so those craving some R&R — that is, sans breaking the bank — may consider booking a service during this time.

Finally, says Clabbers, save money on your next cruise by enlisting the help of an onboard cruise consultant to select your next sailing. “You will typically receive an onboard credit or savings on your next cruise, and your own travel advisor will be alerted so they can help you plan your vacation.”

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