Royal Caribbean adds new onboard WiFi option cruisers will love

For many cruisers, reliable internet access at sea that allows them to stay connected for their entire voyage is an absolute must.

On the other hand, a large number of travelers still want to completely disconnect during their vacations. Cruises can be very appealing to these types of cruisers, since WiFi and cell service are limited at sea, unless you’re willing to pay extra for expensive onboard internet packages or recently introduced cruise phone plans.

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For Royal Caribbean cruisers who want to stay connected, the cruise line’s Voom wireless onboard internet service powered by Starlink offers decent speed and reliability, but it comes at a premium. The Voom Surf + Stream Internet Package will typically cost you $20-30 per day for one device and the package must be purchased for the entire duration of your cruise to get the lowest price per day.

If you’re a cruiser who mostly wants to disconnect during your vacation, spending the extra money on an onboard internet package often doesn’t make sense. But sometimes, things come up during your cruise, or you’d like to check in with family, work, or school every so often.

Some savvy cruisers do this by finding free WiFi in ports of call, but having a way to connect to WiFi for just a short period of time on board the ship would be a helpful option for many.

And now, it appears that there is a new way to get that kind of access on board Royal Caribbean cruise ships.

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Royal Caribbean adds new 60-minute internet package

Royal Caribbean is now offering a short-term, 60-minute internet package on board its ships, according to RoyalCaribbeanBlog, an unofficial fan blog not affiliated with the cruise line.

Passengers on some Royal Caribbean ships have recently reported that a new 60-minute WiFi package is available on board for $9.99. Adding the new package to your cruise is not simple, however. It can only be purchased at the VOOM desk on board the ship, which may mean waiting in a long line to get it. The package is not currently available to book pre-cruise.

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Although this new package may not meet the internet needs of passengers who want to be able to connect at least once a day, it’s perfect for passengers who mostly want to disconnect during their cruise but may need access for just a quick task or two at some point during their voyage.

If you want to be able to connect for longer than 60 minutes but not for the entire voyage, you can also purchase a 24-hour internet pass on board, which typically costs around $30.

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Full-voyage internet package offers more value

Although it’s helpful to have additional WiFi package options available on board your cruise, you’ll want to keep in mind that pre-purchasing a VOOM Surf + Stream Internet Package offers the best value per minute overall. If you end up needing to purchase multiple 60-minute internet packages while on board, your costs will add up quickly, too.

Even though the full-voyage package will cost you significantly more than a short-term one, you’ll get much more connectivity time and the peace of mind of knowing you have WiFi access anytime. 

Related: Royal Caribbean unveils all-inclusive cruising (sort of)

Royal Caribbean also offers bundled discounts if you purchase the full-voyage package for multiple devices to share within your travel party. Voom Surf + Stream internet service is also available on Royal Caribbean’s private island, Perfect Day at CocoCay.

Additionally, if you book a full-voyage internet package prior to your cruise, you don’t need to visit the Voom desk on board to activate it. You can simply open the Royal Caribbean app once on board and tap “Join” or click on the internet icon to activate your prepaid internet package.

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Make a free appointment with Come Cruise With Me’s Travel Agent Partner, Postcard Travel, or email Amy Post at amypost@postcardtravelplanning.com or call or text her at 386-383-2472.

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