Internet access isn't included in your cruise rate, but it's one of the extra costs that I think is worth buying anyway.

Royal Caribbean cruises are designed to be a modular experience, rather than an all-inclusive.  It allows guest to spend money on things and experiences they want, and nothing else. That provides value in not paying for drinks, Wi-Fi, shore excursions, or spa services they may not be interested in.

While there are some high end cruise lines that include Wi-Fi with the cruise fare, mainstream lines do not.  

Part of the reason why is it's expensive.  Historically, satellite internet access has been much more costly than land-based offerings. Even with the switchover to Starlink, it's still not cheap.

Michael Bayley, President and CEO of Royal Caribbean International, said last year you won't see free internet on their ships because Royal Caribbean pays "a ton of money" for Internet coverage.

"We got to pay a ton, a ton, a ton of money for Wi-Fi," Mr. Bayley said after being asked about the topic at a question and answer event on cruise ship.

"I sign the invoices when they come in [and] every time I see them I'm like, oh my God." Mr. Bayley said he cringes whenever he sees the yearly bill. 

He couldn't remember the exact amount the cruise line pays each year but reiterated that "it's huge."

Since it's likely never to be included, I'll continue to buy internet access on every cruise I go on.

Unlimited packages you can buy

When you go on a Royal Caribbean cruise, you can purchase an unlimited internet package or buy 24 hour blocks of time.

There used to be tiered service tied to speeds, but there's now just one universal speed choice.

It costs less if you buy it pre-cruise, as Royal Caribbean offers discounts on its Wi-Fi packages before the sailing begins.

Prices before the cruise can be as much as 30% off, which can really cut down the cost. 

For my upcoming 7-night cruise in Europe, there's a pre-cruise price of $18.99 per day for one device, which is $132.93 for 7-nights.

I always pre-purchase my internet, and I'll usually take advantage of a good sale to lock the price in. Royal Caribbean offers promotions throughout the year, and I've consistently found good prices to minimize the cost.

Being connected is a need, not a want

The reason I buy an internet package on every cruise I take is it's necessary and fast.

Royal Caribbean made a huge improvement to its ship Wi-Fi when they transitioned to Starlink.  Speeds went up, latency went down, and in most cases, I'm able to use the internet on a ship much like I do at home.

My life is based in the digital realm, so I have a professional need for the internet.  But even beyond my work, having internet access at sea makes my cruise better.

While I do get a free internet package every cruise because I'm a Pinnacle Club member, I still buy a second plan on every cruise so I can use my laptop and phone at the same time.

Communication is the first place an internet package becomes so helpful.

While Royal Caribbean has free messaging in its app, I prefer to use iMessage or WhatsApp to stay in contact with friends and family onboard and at home.

I like sharing updates with my parents of what we're up to, and our social lives go on at home.  It's nice to remain in the loop.

Having internet access on a cruise comes in handy in so many little ways.  

If you're like me, you search the internet for answers to strange questions, check the weather, look up sports scores, and of course scroll through social media feeds endlessly.

I love going on a cruise to embrace the cruise lifestyle, but I also want to keep up with the things I like about being online at home too.

I disagree being online isn't relaxing

There's this notion disconnecting on vacation is somehow the only way to relax, and I disagree with it.

I buy the internet package on a cruise for the influx of information I can get, but I'll still take a nap, sit by the pool, or enjoy a musical performance and having my phone with me doesn't take away from it.

I find my mind is more at rest if I'm not reminding myself of things I need to do. Or bothered because I can't look something up that's part of the conversation we're having.

Like all things in life, there needs to be boundaries and limits on how much you indulge in it.

Is a Royal Caribbean Voom Surf + Stream Internet Package worth it?

I never question the money spent on Wi-Fi during my cruise.

If you can buy it prior to the cruise, you should be able to save around $10 per day. Compared to so many other things you can spend money on during your cruise, I think it's a fairly low cost.

Plus, you're allowed to share the internet package, so you can let others hop on with your account and use it.

Adding in the convenience factor of being online, I think it's a solid buy.

Royal Caribbean appears to have introduced a new, unannounced Wi-Fi option that might fit your cruise needs nicely.

Internet on a cruise ship has slowly moved from novelty to must-have for so many people.  It's less about doing work from a cruise ship, but rather being connected and being able to stay in touch with friends and social media.

For those that want non-stop connectivity, the internet packages offered are fantastic. But what about someone that has more casual needs? Believe it or not, there's no free wi-fi on Royal Caribbean cruises.

Royal Caribbean has sold a 24-hour pass on its ships that isn't well known, but that's still much more access than just a quick task.  Plus, it costs $29.99 and is more expensive than the daily rate of the unlimited packages.

It looks like we may have a fix for those that need very limited internet.

New 60-minute Wi-Fi package

Guests on at least two Royal Caribbean ships this week report there's a new option for short-term internet needs.

Elizabeth Wright is an Associate Editor with Cruise.Blog and is sailing on Icon of the Seas this week. She confirmed the new option of a 60-minute package that costs $9.99.

It's only available once you're onboard, not pre-cruise.

There's one more catch, you actually have to ask them at the Voom desk to purchase it.

Just like the longer duration packages, it's the same high speed Starlink internet access that works quite well.  Our team has consistently found good success with Royal Caribbean's Voom options.

Better option for quick needs

Adding a one hour internet package may not be important for most cruisers, but it should serve a need that some have always wanted.

There are plenty of reasons why someone might want a short duration internet package but don't want or need to invest in something much longer. Royal Caribbean's internet options were previously "all or nothing."

Some people prefer to completely disconnect on vacation, and that means not having internet during their cruise. However, they may have reasons to be connected periodically.

• Checking in for flights
• Submitting school work
• Checking in with family periodically
• Emergencies

There's clearly a niche need, and those people may have skipped Royal Caribbean's internet all together in favor of using wifi in the ports they visit instead.

One good cruise hack is to find internet hot spots in the ports of call you visit because it can either be free or quite inexpensive.

The problem with this hack is finding an actual place offering it.  In my experience, the free spots are inundated with other people and speeds can be abysmal. 

Plus there's the security concerns of using public hotspots.

A Royal Caribbean option is certainly going to be more convenient and safer.

It's an effective option, but costs add up quickly

I think this new 60 minute option is perfect for people that have limited needs, but there's an argument for buying an unlimited package anyway.

The hour long package is only sold onboard the ship and for now is something you have to physically go to the Voom desk to get added to your account.  There is no way to pre-purchase or plan ahead.

That alone is a hassle, especially when the line for the Voom desk is inundated with cruisers who are trying to get their device working.

While it's only $10, that's a cost you could get more mileage out of with an internet package you pre-purchase, especially on short cruises.

As an example, for my 3-night Utopia of the Seas cruise in 2026 I have booked, it would cost just $65.97 if I pre-purchased an unlimited package. That is 6 times the price of the one hour package, but the it's a better value per minute, and I can use it throughout the cruise.

The more of these one hour packages you buy, the quicker the unlimited package makes more financial sense.

Keep in mind you can always change your mind on the ship.

Royal Caribbean allows you to buy an internet package for a pro-rated amount as the cruise goes on.  You could wait until the last day and buy it then, or even half way and only pay for the remaining days.

A new option that should make someone's cruise better

Ultimately, I think this new 60 minute internet package should be a benefit for at least some cruisers.

It will bring a little more revenue to Royal Caribbean from people that might of otherwise tried to find internet ashore or simply not bought it at all.

I think adding more flexibility is great for consumers.  Now the question is could we see even more flexible Voom packages in the future?

I was surprised how much money you can save on a Royal Caribbean internet package with one change.

No matter which mainstream cruise line you sail on, you're going to have to pay for a WiFi package if you want to use the internet.

While prices for an internet package are cheaper today than they used to be, it's still an expense. Especially if you want to get everyone in your family access too.

You can save money by taking advantage of a loophole in Royal Caribbean's pricing and opting to buy a multi-device plan, rather than a plan for everyone individually.

When you go to Royal Caribbean's app or website to buy WiFi packages for your cruise, you're given the choice of buying a one device plan, or a multi-device plan.

The multi-device plan is probably intended to be for a person to be able to use more than one device at at a time, but there's no restrictions or rules to say someone else couldn't use your internet plan too.

While prices for an internet package will vary by ship, sail date, and which promotion is active, I found this hack almost always is cheaper.

Royal Caribbean incentives guests to pay for more devices by discounting the per-device fee with the more devices you add.

So instead of buying everyone a one device plan, share a multi-device plan with your family.

Here's a breakdown of the cost difference for a 7-night cruise:

• 1 device package: $167.93
• 2 device package: $272.93 ($105 more)
• 3 device package: $398.93 ($126 more)
• 4 device package: $517.93 ($119 more)

If we bought 4 one-device packages, it would cost $671.72. 

Rather than paying $167.93 for each person, you're paying less and less with each additional device that you add to a multi-device plan.

The catch with sharing an internet package

There's no question sharing a multi-device internet package will save money, but there's one downside to it.

Everyone will share the same login credentials, and it's easy to accidently disconnect someone else who's already signed in.

When you buy a multi-device package, it allows that many devices as you purchased to be logged in concurrently. 

That means if you have the 3 device package, after 3 devices are logged in, when a fourth device attempts to login, it will disconnect the first device.  

It's not necessarily a big deal, nor a reason not to buy it, but you should be aware of how it works. Additionally, you should have a way to contact the people with access to let them know when this happens to prevent a round-robin series of everyone disconnecting each other.

Keep in mind that you can have as many different devices use your internet package during your cruise, but only a fixed number at once.  You can switch from one device to another device, such as disconnecting from your phone to use your laptop and vice versa.

More Royal Caribbean wifi tips

Now that you're saving money with this internet package hack, here's a few more tips you should know about Royal Caribbean's internet.

Every Royal Caribbean ship uses Starlink internet, which means it's true high speed access at sea.  For many years it was substantially slower, but now it does work pretty darn well.

This means you can use a VPN to conduct work, stream a movie, or make a video call with friends or family. The internet works well enough to support this. It is satellite internet, so intermittent slow downs or pauses in service do happen, but they are rare.

If you buy an internet package, you can use it at Royal Caribbean's private destination of Perfect Day at CocoCay in The Bahamas with no additional cost.

Internet access will work while your ship is in Labadee, but there's no WiFi access around the private destination.

Whether you buy an internet package or not, always put your phone into airplane mode at the start of your cruise to avoid costly bills later.

Just recently one passenger didn't do this and ran into a surprise $1,300 bill because of roaming charges.

While in airplane mode, you can still make and receive phone calls and text messages by enabling the WiFi calling feature on your phone.  It's free to do so, and you can set it up and test WiFi calling while at home.

And yes, you can use the Royal Caribbean app without purchasing an internet package at all.

When you get on the ship, there will be an option after connecting the WiFi network if you want to use an internet package or just access the app.

Choose the app, and then your app will work during your cruise.

Are you thinking about buying WiFi access on your Royal Caribbean cruise, but wondering if it is worth it?

Royal Caribbean sells onboard internet access (known as Voom Internet) that is good for the duration of your cruise, but is it a good idea to buy a plan for your sailing?

Royal Caribbean's onboard internet is effectively the only option for being connected while at sea (you definitely do not want to be roaming with your cell phone on your ship), but some people opt to forgo the internet all together in an effort to disconnect from the world during their vacation.

For those that do purchase a package, the experience can very depending on the ship, location, and other factors.

If you are wondering how well (or not well) Royal Caribbean's wifi performs, here is what you should know before you buy.

What does Royal Caribbean wifi get you access to?

When you buy an internet package for your cruise, you'll be able to connect to the internet for things like web surfing, email, social media, video streaming and more.

We haven't seen Royal Caribbean filter out any content, but then again, we haven't tried to accessing nefarious websites.

Please note that you do not need to buy an internet package to use Royal Caribbean's app. Access to the app is free without an internet package.

How much does wifi cost on a Royal Caribbean cruise?

Royal Caribbean offers two tiers of WiFi packages on its cruise ships: Surf or Surf & Stream.

Surf & Stream internet access is the faster option, and allows for internet access without any hindering of the connection.  The regular Surf package throttles the connection down so that it can only be used for basic internet usage, and not streaming of any kind.

In addition, you can choose between a 24-hour pass (only available onboard) or unlimited use packages. The unlimited plans are sold onboard, or online.

Here is a look at onboard pricing for Voom packages:

Royal Caribbean sometimes offers WiFi packaged with other popular cruise add-ons, such as an unlimited drink package or The Key.  

You should also be aware complimentary WiFi access is provided to all guests in Star or Sky Class suites on Oasis Class or Quantum Class ships only. Suite guests on other ships do not get free internet access.

You will almost always find deeper discounts offered before the cruise on Royal Caribbean's Cruise Planner site. If you know you want to buy internet for your cruise, be sure to pre-purchase it online.

Voom internet performance

While Royal Caribbean's onboard internet prices are reasonably priced, the real question is how well does it work.

A number of factors can influence how fast the ship's internet is, including how many guests are using it, natural barriers and the ship's latitude. Internet is transmitted over satellite, so it is not perfect or exactly like at home, but for ship internet it is usually pretty good and often better than hotel internet.

Royal Caribbean labels its onboard internet access as Voom, and says it is the fastest internet at sea.  Depending on the ship you sail on, this promise is sometimes true.

Freedom, Oasis and Quantum class use newer satellite technology, which means better speeds overall and you will likely find it performing well.

Older ships use older satellite technology.  You can still stream but will likely see some more buffering at times on the older ships. 

How do I get free wifi on Royal Caribbean?

If you just want to use the Royal Caribbean app, you can connect to the "royal-wifi" network and use the app without any extra cost.

However, there is no free wifi for access the regular internet, including email, social media or anything else online.

As mentioned before, if you are in a Sky Class or Star Class suite on an Oasis or Quantum Class ship, then wifi access is free for all suite guests. Each guest will get a single device Surf and Stream package with their own login.

Your best bet to get free wifi would be to wait until you get to a port of call on your cruise and try finding free internet access at a shop or bar.

The future: Starlink?

Something to keep an eye on is a potential partnership between Royal Caribbean and Starlink.

Royal Caribbean is testing SpaceX's Starlink internet aboard Freedom of the Seas presumably as a real-world sample case for expanding the service to other cruise ships.

In limited testing, the speeds Starlink provide are substantially faster than anything Royal Caribbean had offered on its ships in the past.

Royal Caribbean has not publicly commented on if Starlink will be added to other ships, or even if a deal will be signed between the two companies.

If Starlink does make its way on Royal Caribbean cruise ships, it has the potential to bring the kind of internet speeds we are used to on land to a cruise ship.

Is a Voom package worth it?

In general, Royal Caribbean's internet works just fine for basic web browsing, email and even keeping up with social media.

There are many factors that impact the speeds of internet access, but I generally find it more useful than not to have purchased internet access.  For most people's needs, Royal Caribbean's wifi works quite well.

You should expect periodic slow downs due to weather, location on the ship, and how many other people are using the internet at that time. Moreover, speeds are better on some ships than others, but a good rule of thumb is the newer the ship, the better the performance.

Considering how incredibly expensive cell phone roaming can be on a ship, as well as spotty internet access in places your ship may visit, buying a Royal Caribbean internet package is the easiest way to stay connected while on your ship, and it works fine most of the time.

Do you think Royal Caribbean's WiFi is worth it? Tell us why in the comments!

It's very easy to get connected to the internet on a Royal Caribbean cruise, and the speeds are faster than ever.

For years, cruise ship wifi had been expensive and slow, but thanks to Starlink, you can get true high speed internet on a Royal Caribbean ship.

The key is to buy the right package and save money in the process, thanks to some easy strategies.

How can I get internet access on my Royal Caribbean cruise?

You can buy internet access on the ship or before it begins. 

To buy it before the cruise, go to the Royal Caribbean app or Cruise Planner website and reserve a package.

Onboard the ship, all you need to do is connect to the ship's wifi network.

Connecting to Royal Caribbean's Wi-Fi is just like at anywhere on land:

1. Log on to the to the network "royal-wifi" using your device.
2. Open a web browser and attempt to visit any web site.
3. The Royal Caribbean WiFi login page will appear, with options to purchase an internet package or allow guests that already have a package to login.

What is Voom?

You might hear and read about something called, "Voom," which is what Royal Caribbean calls its onboard internet service. Unlike traditional internet options at sea, Voom utilizes a different kind of satellite technology to provide much faster connectivity.  

Voom offers guests the ability to stream music and movies, upload pictures, video chat with family and friends using FaceTime or Skype, check their email, lookup their stock prices, surf the web and stay connected with work via VPN.

In fact, on Oasis and Quantum class ships, you can easily stream video from services like Hulu or Netflix, or engage in Facetime and Skype video calls.

Some other ships, notably Royal Caribbean ships that spend time outside the United States, the speeds may not be quite as fast, but fleetwide, the Voom service is significantly better than onboard internet available through other cruise lines.

How do I sign up for Wi-Fi?

Your access to the internet onboard your Royal Caribbean ship is tied to your stateroom and account you create.  

When you first logon to Royal Caribbean's Wi-Fi, you will see an option to create an account and there you can sign up for a plan or pay for the internet by the day.  In either case, the charge for internet usage will be applied to your stateroom account.

Alternatively, you can pre-purchase your wifi package and have it prepaid for your cruise.

If you buy it in advance via the Royal Caribbean Cruise Planner website, then log on to the wifi network onboard your ship and instead of being charged, you will see the prepaid plan ready to activate.

Can I use my Wi-Fi internet package at Perfect Day at CocoCay?

Yes, your Wi-Fi package works at Perfect Day at CocoCay for no additional charge.

What devices can access the internet? 

Any internet device that can access a 802.11b wireless connection can connect to the internet.  This include most smart phones, laptops and tablets.  

Royal Caribbean does provide workstations that are shared and available on a first-come, first served basis but we have found the workstations to be slow in terms of performance.

How fast is Royal Caribbean's Wi-Fi?

Let me be frank, internet access on a cruise ship will never be quite as snappy or responsive as it is on land.  However, Royal Caribbean's Voom packages are serviceable, and on the newer ships, pretty fast.

A number of factors can influence how fast the ship's internet is, including how many guests are using it, natural barriers and the ship's latitude.

Speeds don’t vary much between ships but newer ships have newer technology with lower latency so it seems faster. 

How much does internet access cost?

The cost of a Wi-Fi internet package varies depending on the number of devices and the service package purchased. 

Royal Caribbean offers unlimited plans that can be purchased onboard the ship or pre-purchased prior to the cruise. 

Without a doubt, you will save money by pre-purchasing your Voom internet package via Royal Caribbean's Cruise Planner site.

If you wait to book onboard, here is a copy of Voom prices in 2025, which should be about the same across the fleet.

Can I switch between devices while using a Voom package?

Yes, you may use as many devices as you like, but whichever plan you purchase will limit you to the number of devices that may be connected at the same time.  

To change devices, first log off the first device by typing logoff.com into your web browser.  This will log your first device out.  Afterwards, log back in with the other device.  You can do this as many times as necessary.

If you are at least a Diamond member or above in Royal Caribbean's Crown and Anchor Society, here is a great way to maximize your savings on a Royal Caribbean Voom internet package for your cruise.

This deal assumes a few things for it to be worthwhile:

• You must be at least a Diamond member or above in Crown and Anchor Society (Diamond, Diamond Plus, or Pinnacle).
• You are interested in buying a Voom package for the duration of your cruise.
• You want to get the best possible price on a Voom package.
• The price of a one-device Voom package on Royal Caribbean's Cruise Planner before your sailing is $15.99 per day or higher.

For years, Royal Caribbean has been offering a pre-cruise discount on its Voom internet packages, which is an option on top of taking advantage of the onboard internet package discount Crown and Anchor Society provides.  Essentially, you can pick one, but not both.

Recently, Royal Caribbean has seemed to change the pricing of its Voom Surf and Stream internet package when purchased onboard, to be $19.99 per day (for one device).

The strategy

Thanks to Royal Caribbean Blog reader twangster, there appears to be a way to take full advantage of the onboard discount, which will yield better savings compared to the pre-cruise discount.

What you have to do is wait to book the Voom package onboard, and then wait to buy the internet package on day two of your cruise.

If you can skip buying the internet package on day one, you can reap significant savings.  Most guests will have cell phone coverage to provide internet access on day one for most of the day.  Assuming a 4pm departure time, it is likely you have just 8 hours until midnight of no internet access.  With dinner, entertainment and everything else going on during the first day, waiting until day two to book a Voom package is seemingly easy.

Here is a breakdown of the discount options:

7 Nights

On board - 7 * $19.99 = $139.93 - $22.99 Diamond discount = $116.94

Pre-cruise - 7 * $15.99 = $111.93

Best buy - On board Day 2 -  6 * $19.99 = $119.94 - $22.99 Diamond discount = $96.95

9 Nights

On board - 9 * $19.99 = $179.91 - $22.99 Diamond discount = $156.92

Pre-cruise - 9 * $15.99 = $143.91

Best buy - On board Day 2 -  8 * $19.99 = $159.92 - $22.99 Diamond discount = $136.93

12 Nights

On board - 12 * $19.99 = $239.88 - $22.99 Diamond discount = $216.89

On board Day 2 -  11 * $19.99 = $219.89 - $22.99 Diamond discount = $196.90

Best buy - Pre-cruise - 12 * $15.99 = $191.88

The Diamond discount is effectively between 9.6% and 28.8% based on cruise length. Longer cruise yield less effective discount.

Of course, if you really want to get some additional savings and are okay pushing off internet access for another day, waiting until day three of your cruise will yield even higher savings.

Gold, Platinum and Emerald members

If you are a Platinum or Emerald member in Crown and Anchor Society, you get less of a discount (15%) off onboard internet prices, but the result is pretty close to the same as Diamond members.  Just like Diamond members, the best buy is to wait until day two. 

• 4-night cruise: Diamond Voom discount: 28.8%
• 5-night cruise: Diamond Voom discount: 23%
• 6-night cruise: Diamond Voom discount: 19.2%
• 7-night cruise: Diamond Voom discount: 16.4%
• 8-night cruise: Diamond Voom discount: 14.4%
• 9-night cruise: Diamond Voom discount: 12.8%
• 10-night cruise: Diamond Voom discount: 11.5%
• 11-night cruise: Diamond Voom discount: 10.5%
• 12-night cruise: Diamond Voom discount: 9.6%

For anything longer than 7 nights, the Platinum and Emerald discount is better than the Diamond discount. 

For 12 night cruises, the Gold discount (10%) is better than Diamond discount.  

Royal Caribbean has added a new combo offer for guests to purchase, that combines the ulimited soft drink package with the unlimited internet package.

Dubbed, "Classic Soda And Voom One Device," this new offering costs $19.00 per guest, per day and can be purchased via online prior to a cruise, via Royal Caribbean's Cruise Planner.

If a guest were to purchase the Classic Soda Package and Voom one device internet package separately, it would cost them $8.50 + 14.39 ($22.89) per person, per day.

The Classic Soda And Voom One Device plan is similar to the Deluxe Beverage Package and Voom One Device plan, which has been a popular choice for guests that want to get the unlimited alcohol package and Voom internet plan together.

Thanks to Royal Caribbean Blog message board reader FManke for spotting this new option.

Royal Caribbean guests in the market for an unlimited alcohol package and internet access will want to take notice of a new option Royal Caribbean has added.

The Deluxe Drink Package and Voom One Device offers guests the deluxe beverage unlimited alcohol package and a one-device Voom plan in one combo.

The cost of this package is listed at $54 per guest, per day. Compared to buying the two options separately, there are potential savings to the guest.

Here is an example for what each would individually cost for a 7-night cruise on Harmony of the Seas.

This "Sip and Stream" combo package has appeared in the past but has also disappeared quite quickly.  If you are interested in it, our advice is to book it immediately.  Keep in mind that Cruise Planner purchases are able to be canceled prior to the start of the cruise.

Royal Caribbean has a new option that we have spotted in the Cruise Planner that combines two popular cruise add-ons into one package together.

The Deluxe Package And Voom One Device offers guests the deluxe beverage unlimited alcohol package and a one-device Voom plan in one combo.

The cost of this package was listed at $49 per guest, per day. Compared to buying the two options separately, there are savings to the guest.

Keep in mind that this option may not be available for all guests, and exact pricing may vary depending on your sailing.