Do Cruises Have Wifi? Here’s What You Need to Know

You’re going on a cruise with your family soon. While you want to be able to just sit back and relax, you should also get some work done too. Do cruises have WiFi? They do, but you’ve got to pay for it. While the WiFi on the ship won’t be as reliable as the internet you have at home, it should be good enough for you to get a bit of work done. Just don’t expect to be able to do anything too crazy. Keep reading to learn more about the cruise internet options that are available to you during your travels.

1. Look into Loyalty Programs 

Most cruise lines have loyalty programs that offer benefits to people who cruise often. One of these benefits is free Wi-Fi. Free Wi-Fi isn’t the only perk that you can get from these programs. So, no matter if you want to immerse yourself in Mexico’s wine culture on an Ensenada cruise or want to take a trip around the Caribbean, always go with the same cruise line and start building up your points. 

2. It’s Not as Reliable as Your Home Internet 

The internet you can get aboard the ship isn’t going to be as reliable as your home internet. This is because, for the most part, anything you do internet wise is being done through satellite internet. It’s not like at home where you may have your devices hardwired into your router. It is reliable enough for you to get a little remote work done though. Just don’t try to attend a work meeting via Skype. 

3. Ship Wifi Isn’t as Expensive as You Think

The days of pay by minute plans on cruises are coming to an end. Most of them have browsing packages that you can tack on to the overall cost of your cruise. The most you may spend on one of these plans is around 15 dollars a day. It’s not too bad depending on how long your cruise is. 

4. Don’t Forget About Your Hotspot

If you don’t want to spend money on an internet package, there’s always your mobile hotspot. All you have to do is turn on the hotspot on your phone and tether it to your computer. If you don’t have unlimited data this won’t be an option that you can use for long periods of time. Still, it’s better than leaving your important emails unanswered. 

5. Hit the Deck 

When you stop at a port, bring your laptop above deck and connect to one of the free local connections around the port. You’ll only have internet up until the cruise ship starts moving again but it’s better than nothing. 

To answer the question, do cruises have Wifi, yes, they do. You’ll have to pay for a package and it won’t be the fastest internet but you’ll be able to answer work emails and browse through your social media. Contact your local cruise line to ask about your options.