Why Cruise Wi-Fi Is Not Like Home Internet
Cruise Wi-Fi has improved, but it still depends on the ship, itinerary, package, weather, satellite service, and how many people are online. First-time cruisers should know what they are buying before paying for it. Each cruise line has their own lingo, their own packages and you must pay attention to the package you are purchasing because they are NOT all created equally!
Quick Answer: Is Cruise Wi-Fi Worth Buying?
Honestly, depends on your cruise vibe. Some of us like to just get away and Disconnect, so the internet is not all that important to us. However, others have the ability to work from home or remote, so Wi-Fi is definitely needed. So it really comes down to you. What do you need or how do you want to spend your time away. Also, what is our budget, because Wi-Fi is not cheap at sea.
First-Time Cruiser Series
⚓ First-Time Cruiser Series
This article is part of my First-Time Cruiser Questions Answered series. Start with the full guide before diving deeper into cruise cabins.
Read the Full First-Time Cruiser Guide
What Cruise Wi-Fi Is Good For
As you can imagine, when in the middle of nowhere Wi-Fi signals can be somewhat difficult to attain. Add to this that you are on a moving ship means that signals can come and go. The strongest apps to use on cruise ships are email or messaging apps, social media and web browsing. However there can be some restrictions.
Email and Messaging
Apps like Outlook, Gmail, WhatsApp and iMessage usually work real well when you are at sea. Some cruise lines will require you to purchase a Wi-Fi plan to use some of these apps, others do not. Carnival Cruise Line for example offers a Chat Plan located in their Carnival Hub app that will work without purchasing Wi-Fi.
Social Media
Works better on stronger packages due to the amount of video playback on most social apps these days. Apps like Instagram for example, will work but be sluggish if your followers post Reels alot. Apps like /X or Facebook should operate as expected.
Basic Web Browsing
Useful for checking plans, maps, and updates all work well. this will come in handy when you need to check in for flights, or when looking at things to do when you are at your next port!
What Cruise Wi-Fi May Struggle With
Video Calls
If you are not on the top tier Wi-Fi package, you will not be able to take video calls. Facetime, zoom, Webex, etc will not work on standard Wi-Fi plans. So be sure to read the description of the plan and make sure it will fit your needs.
Streaming
Netflix and Tiktok will not work on basic Wi-Fi package either. Spotify and Apple Music can also be impacted depending on the cruise line and Wi-Fi package purchased
Large Uploads
Uploading videos or large photo batches can be slow.
Basic Wi-Fi
Usually best for messaging, email, and light browsing.
Premium Wi-Fi
Better for work, video calls, streaming, and heavier use, when supported. As much as I do no like ot be online when we are away, we do usually have to purchase a premium package. With dog sitters and elderly parents at home, this allows for us to check in and facetime our loved ones while we are away. Somewhat reliably as well.
Cruise Wi-Fi Comparison Table
| Use Case | Basic Wi-Fi | Premium Wi-Fi |
|---|---|---|
| Text messaging | Usually fine | Usually fine |
| Usually fine | Usually fine | |
| Social media scrolling | Mixed | Better |
| Posting photos | Mixed | Better |
| Video calls | Often poor or blocked | Better, but not guaranteed |
| Streaming | Usually not included | Sometimes supported |
| Remote work | Limited | Better option |
Common Mistakes With Cruise Wi-Fi
Assuming Basic Wi-Fi Supports Video Calls
Many basic plans are not built for Zoom, FaceTime, or Teams.
Buying One Day at a Time
Full-cruise packages may be cheaper per day. And if you are cruising on cruise lines like Norwegian Cruise Line you can possibly use their 150 minutes included in your fare before purchasing extended internet packages to save a few bucks.
Forgetting Airplane Mode
Leaving cellular roaming on can cause expensive charges. Once you board the ship, and the sail away party happens, put the hone in airplane mode and leave it alone. Wi-Fi and Bluetooth will continue to work when in Airplane mode and it is peace of mind knowing you are not going to come home to a large, cell phone bill.
Expecting Land-Based Speed
Ship internet has limits. Even with new technology like Starlink, cruise ship Wi-Fi is not as snappy as at home Wi-Fi. So do not expect super fast speeds. You may have a fantastic signal when at the pool deck when fight for a signal when in your room. Remember, the ship is all steel, which most certainly affects your Wi-Fi speeds.
Advisor Tip: Decide Before You Sail
If you need to work or stay reachable, than you are going to need to purchase a reliable, premium internet plan to handle you work load. You may also need to splurge with a premium plan when you need to check on loved ones. So you need to weight your options.
Money Saving Tip
If you feel the need to purchase a premium plan, you can purchase a Single device plan and share the credentials between those in your cabin. This allows for the premium speeds but also saving you hundreds of dollars. This is how we do it. We purchase 1 Premium streaming enabled plan so our daughter can use her TikTok, Snapchat, Etc and we can use it at night for facetime calls with the In-Laws and puppies.
Keep Reading
⚓ First-Time Cruiser Series
This article is part of my First-Time Cruiser Questions Answered series. Start with the full guide before diving deeper into cruise cabins.
Read the Full First-Time Cruiser Guide
