Cruise ship internet has come a long way in the past few years. With Royal Caribbean, and most major cruise lines, now using Starlink satellite internet, speeds are faster and more reliable than ever. But let’s be real—Wi-Fi packages aren’t cheap. If you’re looking for ways to stay connected without blowing your budget, here are some tried-and-true strategies.
1. Take Advantage of Crown & Anchor Perks
If you’re a Royal Caribbean loyalist, your Crown & Anchor Society status comes with Wi-Fi benefits:
- Diamond members: 1 free day of VOOM Surf+Stream internet
- Diamond Plus members: 2 free days
- Pinnacle members: unlimited VOOM for one device for the entire sailing
2. Use Onboard Credit (OBC) for Internet
Onboard credit is one of the easiest ways to offset the cost of internet. A couple tips here:
- NextCruise OBC: If you purchase a **NextCruise Certificate** on a previous cruise, that future booking will usually come with extra OBC. When you apply it to your sailing, you’ll have onboard credit available to spend on Wi-Fi.
- Instead of letting OBC disappear on impulse buys, use it toward your Wi-Fi plan—it’s basically “free internet.”
💡 We make a habit of always purchasing a NextCruise Certificate on every sailing because we always know we’ll be sailing again and it’s free money.
3. Buy the Right Length Package
Royal Caribbean sells internet in 24-hour increments, and you can choose how many days you want:
- Buying one day at a time works if you only need it occasionally.
- Purchasing a multi-day package almost always drops the per-day cost.
If you know you’ll need steady access, buy the longer package in advance for the best rate. Royal will always run a sale on these packages pre-cruise and sometimes you can grab them at 50% off.
4. Share a Plan With Your Travel Partner
You don’t necessarily both need your own plan. With a one-device package, you can:
- Log in, use your device, then log out.
- Your travel partner can then log in on their device with the same credentials.
It means you can’t both stream TikTok at the same time, but if you’re just checking emails, messages, or uploading photos, this is a great way to cut the cost in half.
5. Don’t Bring a Travel Router
In the past, travelers used travel routers to share a single Wi-Fi package across multiple devices. But as of early 2025, Royal Caribbean has officially banned travel routers (they’re now on the prohibited items list), and some guests report they’ve been confiscated at security.
Bottom line: skip the router. If you need multiple devices online simultaneously, buy the official “two-device” plan instead.
6. Protect Yourself With a VPN
Even if your company doesn’t require it, using a VPN is smart practice whenever you’re on a public or semi-public network (like cruise Wi-Fi or a port café). It adds an extra layer of security, protects your privacy, and reduces the risk of data interception.
7. Work Smarter, Not Harder
If you’re working remotely from the ship, Wi-Fi reliability is key. A few quick notes:
- Timing matters: Speeds are often best early in the morning or late at night.
- Test your VPN before you sail so you know it works over Starlink.
- Have a backup plan in case the ship’s connection goes down mid-meeting.
(We’ll share a full post soon dedicated to working from a cruise ship.)
8. Use Port Days Strategically
Want to save big? Skip the ship’s Wi-Fi altogether and catch up in port. Many destinations have reliable cafés or restaurants with free Wi-Fi:
- In Cozumel, San Juan, and Nassau, you’ll find hotspots within walking distance of the pier.
- Just keep in mind: you’re trading precious port time for connectivity.
9. Use Royal Caribbean’s Intranet for Free App Access & Messaging
You don’t always need a paid Wi-Fi plan to stay connected on board. Royal Caribbean’s intrAnet is free and lets you:
- Access the Royal Caribbean app for daily schedules, dining reservations, and activity bookings.
- Use the in-app messaging system to text other guests on the ship.
⚠️ Heads up: while handy, the messaging feature can be spotty at best—sometimes messages are delayed or don’t come through at all. Still, it’s a no-cost way to coordinate with your travel group without buying internet – when it works.
10. Do You Really Need Internet?
At the end of the day, a cruise is one of the few vacations where you can truly disconnect. Before the days of Starlink, a big reason we cruised was to NOT be expected to answer work emails while on vacation – you literally could not get in contact with me in the middle of the sea. Ask yourself:
- Do you need to be online 24/7?
- Or could you use the time to unplug and reconnect with your travel partner, family, or simply enjoy the sea?
Sometimes the best Wi-Fi savings tip is to skip the package entirely and embrace being offline.
Final Thoughts
Cruise internet will never be as cheap as your home service—but thanks to Starlink, it’s faster and more reliable than ever. Between Crown & Anchor perks, using onboard credit, choosing the right package, and even sharing access with your travel partner, you can stay connected at sea without overspending.
How to Save Money on Cruise Ship Wi-Fi (and Stay Connected at Sea)
Cruise ship internet has come a long way in the past few years. With Royal Caribbean, and most major cruise lines, now using Starlink satellite internet, speeds are faster and more reliable than ever. But let’s be real—Wi-Fi packages aren’t cheap. If you’re looking for ways to stay connected without blowing your budget, here are some tried-and-true strategies.
1. Take Advantage of Crown & Anchor Perks
If you’re a Royal Caribbean loyalist, your **Crown & Anchor Society status** comes with Wi-Fi benefits:
- Diamond members: 1 free day of VOOM Surf+Stream internet
- Diamond Plus members: 2 free days
- Pinnacle members: unlimited VOOM for one device for the entire sailing
2. Use Onboard Credit (OBC) for Internet
Onboard credit is one of the easiest ways to offset the cost of internet. A couple tips here:
- NextCruise OBC: If you purchase a **NextCruise Certificate** on a previous cruise, that future booking will usually come with extra OBC. When you apply it to your sailing, you’ll have onboard credit available to spend on Wi-Fi.
- Instead of letting OBC disappear on impulse buys, use it toward your Wi-Fi plan—it’s basically “free internet.”
💡 We make a habit of always purchasing a NextCruise Certificate on every sailing because we always know we’ll be sailing again and it’s free money.
3. Buy the Right Length Package
Royal Caribbean sells internet in 24-hour increments, and you can choose how many days you want:
- Buying one day at a time works if you only need it occasionally.
- Purchasing a multi-day package almost always drops the per-day cost.
If you know you’ll need steady access, buy the longer package in advance for the best rate. Royal will always run a sale on these packages pre-cruise and sometimes you can grab them at 50% off.
4. Share a Plan With Your Travel Partner
You don’t necessarily both need your own plan. With a one-device package, you can:
- Log in, use your device, then log out.
- Your travel partner can then log in on their device with the same credentials.
It means you can’t both stream TikTok at the same time, but if you’re just checking emails, messages, or uploading photos, this is a great way to cut the cost in half.
5. Don’t Bring a Travel Router
In the past, travelers used travel routers to share a single Wi-Fi package across multiple devices. But as of early 2025, Royal Caribbean has officially banned travel routers (they’re now on the prohibited items list), and some guests report they’ve been confiscated at security.
Bottom line: skip the router. If you need multiple devices online simultaneously, buy the official “two-device” plan instead.
6. Protect Yourself With a VPN
Even if your company doesn’t require it, using a VPN is smart practice whenever you’re on a public or semi-public network (like cruise Wi-Fi or a port café). It adds an extra layer of security, protects your privacy, and reduces the risk of data interception.
7. Work Smarter, Not Harder
If you’re working remotely from the ship, Wi-Fi reliability is key. A few quick notes:
- Timing matters: Speeds are often best early in the morning or late at night.
- Test your VPN before you sail so you know it works over Starlink.
- Have a backup plan in case the ship’s connection goes down mid-meeting.
(We’ll share a full post soon dedicated to working from a cruise ship.)
8. Use Port Days Strategically
Want to save big? Skip the ship’s Wi-Fi altogether and catch up in port. Many destinations have reliable cafés or restaurants with free Wi-Fi:
- In Cozumel, San Juan, and Nassau, you’ll find hotspots within walking distance of the pier.
- Just keep in mind: you’re trading precious port time for connectivity.
9. Use Royal Caribbean’s Intranet for Free App Access & Messaging
You don’t always need a paid Wi-Fi plan to stay connected on board. Royal Caribbean’s intrAnet is free and lets you:
- Access the Royal Caribbean app for daily schedules, dining reservations, and activity bookings.
- Use the in-app messaging system to text other guests on the ship.
⚠️ Heads up: while handy, the messaging feature can be spotty at best—sometimes messages are delayed or don’t come through at all. Still, it’s a no-cost way to coordinate with your travel group without buying internet – when it works.
10. Do You Really Need Internet?
At the end of the day, a cruise is one of the few vacations where you can truly disconnect. Before the days of Starlink, a big reason we cruised was to NOT be expected to answer work emails while on vacation – you literally could not get in contact with me in the middle of the sea. Ask yourself:
- Do you need to be online 24/7?
- Or could you use the time to unplug and reconnect with your travel partner, family, or simply enjoy the sea?
Sometimes the best Wi-Fi savings tip is to skip the package entirely and embrace being offline.
Final Thoughts
Cruise internet will never be as cheap as your home service—but thanks to Starlink, it’s faster and more reliable than ever. Between Crown & Anchor perks, using onboard credit, choosing the right package, and even sharing access with your travel partner, you can stay connected at sea without overspending.
