Most Affordable Cruise Ship WiFi Options for Frequent Cruisers

Cruising across crystal-clear waters or exploring new destinations should be about enjoying the moment, not stressing over staying connected. However, for most travelers, maintaining a connection during a cruise is important, whether it’s for updating loved ones, navigating ports, or mixing remote work with leisure.

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But here’s the issue: cruise ship WiFi can be incredibly expensive. This guide ranks the WiFi costs from major cruise lines like Carnival, Disney and Norwegian, and provides practical tips to save money on connectivity during your next cruise.

Ranking WiFi Costs on Popular Cruise Lines

To help you plan your budget, we’ve ranked the cruise WiFi costs of seven popular cruise lines, from most expensive to least.

7. Norwegian Cruise WiFi 

Coming in at the most expensive for cruise connectivity is the NCL cruise WiFi packages. Norwegian's packages provide unlimited connectivity and are powered by Starlink. The difference between the two packages is the ability to stream content, VPN access and faster connectivity speeds (available on the Streaming plan). There are no mentions of pre-cruise purchase discounts on NCL’s website. 

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• Voyage Wi-Fi Pass: $29.99/day 
• Streaming Voyage Wi-Fi Pass: $39.99/day
• 7-day cruise estimate: $209.93 to $279.93 

6. Princess Cruise WiFi 

Coming in offering the second-most-expensive cruise WiFi is Princess Cruises. Princess offers WiFi packages – MedallionNetⓇ and MedallionNet MaxⓇ – and encourages cruisers to bundle with other amenities, like drink packages. There are WiFi discounts for select loyalty members, but there seems to be no pre-cruise purchase discounts offered on Princess’ website. 

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• Single device: $25/day 
• 4 devices: $45/day 
• 7-day cruise estimate: $175 (single device) 
• 7-day cruise estimate: $315 (4 devices)

5. Royal Caribbean Cruise WiFi 

Coming in near the middle of the pack is Royal Caribbean with their “VOOM” internet powered by Starlink. Boasted as “the fastest internet at sea,” Royal Caribbean’s WiFi offers strong connectivity for both basic browsing and streaming. However, adding additional devices raises costs significantly. Royal Caribbean does offer pre-cruise purchase discounts; the size of these reductions depends on loyalty status, the number of devices and current pricing. Because of the availability of pre-cruise discounts, RC’s comes in under Priceness (though at face value it is more expensive). 

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• Cost per device (VOOM Surf + Stream): $26.99/day 
• Additional devices: $17.99/day per device
• 7-day cruise estimate: $188.93 (single device) up to $566.72 (4 devices) 

4. Celebrity Cruise WiFi 

Like its sister-cruise line – Royal Caribbean – Celebrity comes in at the middle of the pack, offering basic and premium cruise ship WiFi packages. The difference between them is the ability to share content online, Wi-Fi calling and streaming content, which is only available on the premium package. There are no mentions of pre-cruise booking discounts on the Celebrity website. 

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• Basic: $20/day 
• Premium: $35/day 
• 7-day cruise estimate: $140 (basic), $245 (premium) 

3. Disney Cruise WiFi 

Coming in at number three, offering the most affordable cruise ship WiFi is Disney. Estimates for Disney cruises are difficult to find and it seems they offer variable pricing based on the ship’s destinations. Though more affordable than some of its competitors, the data allowances on some plans can be limiting, particularly for browsing beyond social media. The Disney Cruise website doesn’t mention any pre-cruise booking discounts. 

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• Stay Connected: $16/day 
• Basic Surf: $24/day 
• Premium Surf: $34/day 
• 7-day cruise estimate: $112 to $238 

2. Carnival Cruise WiFi 

Coming in at number two with the most affordable cruise WiFi is Carnival. They offer several different plans that offer tiered coverage. Their Social plan covers scrolling on popular apps like Instagram and Facebook. However, more extensive use—including regular internet browsing or video streaming—comes at a higher premium. Customers can save up to 25% per device when they book before they sail, which is why Carnival ranks higher than some of its competitors for affordability. 

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• Social: $18.70/day 
• Value: $22.10/day
• Premium: $23.80/day
• Premium Multi-Device: $84/day for 4 devices 
• 7-day cruise estimate: $130.90 (Social) to $588 (Premium Multi-Device) 

1. MSC Cruise WiFi

And, coming in at number one for the most affordable cruise ship WiFi is MSC! This cruise line offers some of the most affordable WiFi options without compromising too much on quality. Their plans cater to both light users and those looking for faster streaming options. And their plans come in single and two-device options. There was no mention of pre-cruise booking discounts on the MSC website. 

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• Browse Cruise: $15.99/day single device
• Browse Cruise: $30.38/day two devices
• Browse & Stream: $19.99/day single device
• Browse & Stream: $38.38/day two devices
• 7-day cruise estimate: $111.93 to $268.66

Further Cost Analysis

It’s somewhat hard to compare each of these plans apples-to-apples-style because not all of the companies offer “premium” plans. Princess and Royal Caribbean are good examples of this. So, we compared all of the plans that offered streaming capabilities (think listening to Spotify or watching a movie on Netflix) and created an alternative list to consider. The prices below reflect 7 days of cruise WiFi for a single device with no discounts or loyalty rewards applied.  

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7. Norwegian - $279.99 

6. Celebrity - $245 🔼

5. Disney - $238 🔼

4. Royal Caribbean - $188 🔽

3. Princess - $175 🔽

2. Carnival - $166.60

1. MSC - $139.93

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Based on these comparisons, Carnival and MSC remain the most affordable cruise ship WiFi options, even when considering the premium plans. For more information on each of these cruise lines' WiFi packages, check out our Ultimate Guide to 2025 Cruise Ship WiFi Prices Across Major Lines. 

How to Get Affordable Cruise WiFi

If cruise WiFi costs seem overwhelming, don’t worry. There are several tips and tricks to help you save while staying connected:

1. Leverage Loyalty Programs 

Some cruise lines offer loyalty rewards to frequent cruisers, including complimentary or discounted WiFi. Top-tier members often get free access or reduced rates. If you’re planning multiple cruises, these perks can add up significantly.

2. Look for Pre-Cruise Discounts 

Booking your WiFi package before setting sail can save you up to 30% on some cruise lines, such as Carnival or Royal Caribbean. Check your cruise line’s website or pre-boarding communications for deals.

3. Take Advantage of Free Offerings 

Some cruise lines provide limited-time free access or social media packages for free. Keep an eye out for these perks during promotional periods or through special event packages offered during your trip.

4. Use GigSky Cruise and Land eSIM 

Looking for connectivity on and off the ship? Consider the GigSky Cruise + Land eSIM, a cost-effective and reliable option for staying connected across both sea and land. 

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• Plans start at just $19.99, much cheaper than traditional cruise WiFi. 
• eSIM technology allows seamless connectivity, so you can stay online from the ship to port to land. 
• New users receive a 100MB free eSIM service to get started. 

With global coverage in popular cruise destinations, this is an ideal choice for travelers seeking affordable and flexible connectivity.

5. Limit Onboard WiFi Use 

If you don’t need to be connected at all times, access local cafes or stores with free WiFi while docked. This way, you can skip expensive ship plans for casual browsing.

Enjoy Connectivity Without Breaking the Bank

Cruising shouldn’t have to mean choosing between connection and enjoyment. Whether you decide on a cruise ship WiFi package from your chosen line or an alternative option like GigSky’s eSIM, planning ahead will help you save money and stay connected seamlessly. 

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Want an affordable and reliable solution designed for travelers? Check out GigSky’s Cruise + Land eSIM to effortlessly stay online during your next adventure.

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