Staying connected with friends and family during your vacation may be a costly expense when taking a cruise. Popular cruise lines charge up to $21.25 per person daily for Wi-Fi access, so you might pay close to $150 for Internet access during a seven-day cruise.
In this article, we explain how to get internet on a cruise ship for free.
Booking A Cruise With Free Internet
The price to stay connected during your cruise depends on the cruise line, ship, and destinations you are about to visit. Some cruise lines, such as Crytal Cruise, Oceania, and Viking Oceans, are known to offer free Wi-Fi to all passengers onboard the cruise.
Passengers who booked premium accommodations with the Silversea cruise line can also enjoy free unlimited internet.
Some cruise lines offer free internet in public areas; however, the speed can be rather slow, and streaming services are usually unavailable.
Cruise lines realize that offering free internet onboard is a highly valued service, which is why the price for onboard Wi-Fi has decreased in recent years.
The good news is that some ships are being upgraded with Starlink, which may further drive down the cost of internet on board cruise ships.
Get Free Internet In Ports
If your cruise line’s internet package is outside of your budget and you don’t need to stay connected nonstop, it’s a good idea to check for free Wi-Fi at the ports that you will be visiting during your cruise.
In most destinations, restaurants, bars, and coffee shops on land provide customers with free internet access. This is a great occasion to check your emails or share your recent photos with family and friends.
While this strategy won’t get you free internet on board the cruise, it will enable you to stay connected in a limited capacity.
Get An eSIM
When embarking on a cruise, you will be likely visiting several destinations. A regional eSIM plan, which works in various destinations, can be a useful and affordable option for getting internet on a cruise ship.
If you are embarking on a cruise ship in the Caribbean, you might want to consider getting the best eSIM for Caribbean cruise, which will cover your internet needs in up to 24 countries and islands.
According to SIMPACKERS, an eSIM for the Caribbean starts at $1,9 per GB if you sort the options according to the best value.
The benefit of an eSIM is that you don’t need to share the bandwidth with other passengers, making your browsing faster and more secure. The eSIM often comes with a validity of 30 days, meaning you can enjoy internet even before you board the cruise.
Additionally, you are not limited to one device. Most eSIM providers allow you to create a hotspot and share your Wi-Fi with other devices for free.
The only downside is that an eSIM works only if you can connect to a local network. The network coverage may differ depending on your location.
While this might not be an issue in the Caribbean, if you are cruising between continents, hundreds of miles away from land, an eSIM might not give you the required coverage.
Do Your Research
Comparing the available internet plans before embarking on a cruise ship is recommended to avoid unpleasant surprises. While a regional eSIM plan may be the most flexible and affordable option, it all depends on the cruise line you choose and the places you plan to visit.
