wifi on disney cruise line

Disney Cruise WiFi: Packages and Prices

Internet access and cruising don’t always mix, but if you set sail on a Disney cruise , you have several options to post the occasional picture on Instagram or check your email. Disney Cruise Line offers several internet packages aboard its fleet. All Disney cruise ships have WiFi .

Until recently, all internet packages aboard Disney cruises were priced with a “pay for what you use” model, with data plans based on megabyte usage. With the arrival of the Disney Wish in 2022, Disney announced changes to the Disney Cruise Line internet packages, which are now priced based on the type of internet access you want in a 24-hour period. These changes have now been rolled out on all ships, with the Disney Wonder being the final ship to upgrade to the new system during a September 2023 Dry Dock.

Below, we discuss everything you need to know about how Disney Cruise WiFi works in 2023.

Prices shown below are accurate as of August 2023.

Prefer To Speak With Someone? Get Free Help From Our Favorite Disney Travel Agency!

Disney Cruise Line Internet Packages

WiFi is available in three packages, each with a different level of internet access:  Stay Connected , Basic Surf , and Premium Surf :

These packages are based on usage for a 24-hour period, not a calendar day. If the time of day you use the internet matters to you, you’ll want to purchase a plan at a time that will renew when it’s convenient — and not in the middle of a work meeting.

You can share the plan on multiple devices (as long as you log out of one device before using the other) or pay to connect multiple devices simultaneously. And you can save a little money by purchasing for the entire length of your cruise.

Packages previously varied by ship, but these are now the standard packages across the entire fleet: the Disney Dream , Disney Fantasy , Disney Magic , Disney Wish , and Disney Wonder .

Here’s more information about each package, including their prices:

Stay Connected

The most basic internet package on a Disney cruise allows you to access, post, and engage on social media platforms, specifically Facebook, Facebook Messenger, Twitter/X, Instagram, Snapchat, Pinterest, LinkedIn, and Tumblr.

• $18 for 24 hours of access
• $16 per day if purchased for the entire cruise

This mid-tier internet package allows access to the social media platforms listed above, plus basic browser surfing and email capabilities. Audio WiFi calls are also available with this package.

• $28 for 24 hours of access
• $24 per day if purchased for the entire cruise

Premium Surf

The highest internet Disney cruise WiFi plan gives you all the access included in the Stay Connected and Basic Surf plans (with faster connection speeds). Plus, you can stream music and short-form video on apps like Pandora, Apple Music, Spotify, and YouTube. Video calling through FaceTime and Zoom is also available with this package.

• $42 for 24 hours of access
• $34 per day if purchased for the entire cruise

It’s important to know that none of the packages (not even Premium Surf) supports long-form video streaming such as using Disney+, Hulu, or Netflix.

Free Help Planning Your Disney Cruise

From the small questions such as details on WiFi onboard to the bigger questions about the best time to go on a Disney Cruise or how much it costs , you can get free help planning your cruise by contacting the Disney Cruise Experts at The Vacationeer .

Here are just a few reasons to use this Earmarked Diamond level Authorized Disney Vacation Planner to book your cruise.

• Free Onboard Credit: Get up to $1,000 to spend while onboard the ship
• No Planning Fees: There’s no cost to use their services
• One Dedicated Agent: No giant call centers or waiting on hold
• The Best Prices: Your cruise won’t cost any more than if you’d booked it yourself
• The Best Discounts: They know all the ways to save and will even watch for new discounts after you’ve booked
• No Pressure: Vacationeers provide free, no-obligation quotes so there’s no risk in contacting them

Does Disney Cruise Line Offer Free WiFi?

There are several ways you can get free WiFi on a Disney cruise:

Use the Disney Cruise Line Navigator App

Disney Cruise Line allows guests to access the Disney Cruise Line Navigator App for free.

The app is powered by a free WiFi network (DCL-GUEST) that’s only available onboard the ship.

The app is similar to the My Disney Experience app and includes a host of information about your cruise. You can view your planned activities, excursions, rotational dining assignments, deck plans, entertainment schedules, dinner menus, and much more.

One of the app’s most handy features is the ability to message friends and family who are also on board.

If you want to truly unplug during your cruise vacation, the WiFi access you get through the Navigator app may be all the internet you need during your Disney cruise.

Stay in a Concierge-Level Stateroom

One benefit of staying in a concierge-level stateroom is free WiFi. How much internet you’ll get depends on the type of stateroom you booked. Those staying in Royal Suites get Premium Surf internet for the entire cruise. Concierge Suites get Basic Surf for the whole cruise, too. Other Concierge-Level staterooms get one day of Basic Surf for free.

Use Your Onboard Credit

Many Disney travel agencies offer a free onboard credit that can be used toward purchases you make while you’re onboard the ship. You can spend this on specialty dining, gratuities/tips , spa treatments, souvenirs… and virtually anything else that’s charged back to your shipboard account.

Luckily for you, onboard internet packages are charged to the folio, so onboard credit can be used to pay towards your onboard WiFi package.

The size of your onboard credit depends on the travel agency you pick and the cost of your cruise, but it could easily be enough to cover the cost of your shipboard internet.

Book With The Vacationeer To Earn Credit Toward Onboard Internet and Other Purchases

How to Use the Internet on Disney Cruise Line

Internet packages can be purchased through the Disney Cruise Navigator app once onboard and connected to the ship’s WiFi. To buy a plan, click the “more” tab in the app and scroll down to “connect to the Internet.” From there, you can select a package, the number of devices you want to use, and the number of days you wish to purchase. You’ll then be prompted to review the plan and check out. The package will be charged to your stateroom folio. If you have trouble connecting to the internet, the onboard internet help desk can troubleshoot internet and cell phone access onboard.

Can You Share Internet on a Disney Cruise?

You can share one internet plan on multiple devices if you only use one at a time and log out of each device when you’re done using it.

Multiple-device plans are also offered; choosing one of these will save you a bit of money versus the cost of purchasing two separate plans.

How Much is WiFi on a Disney Cruise?

WiFi plans have starting rates between $16 to $42 a day. The price can vary drastically based on the number of days you purchase and the amount of connected devices. You’ll get a slight discount if you purchase a plan for your entire cruise. You also save for each device you add.

Does Disney Cruise Line Have Cell Service?

Whether your cell phone will work on a Disney cruise depends on your carrier and plan. Cell carriers like AT&T, Sprint, and T-Mobile provide Cellular at Sea aboard Disney cruises, which allows you to use your plan like you normally would in your stateroom. However, you may need to pay roaming charges (which can get very expensive, very quickly) or purchase a special cruise add-on from your carrier. Your data allotment (cellular internet) also may be much more limited than on land. It’s best to check with your individual cell phone carrier before your cruise to determine how cell phone data usage will work while onboard.

How Good is the WiFi on Disney Cruise Ships?

While the internet speed on cruise ships has improved drastically over the years, it’s slower than the web surfing you’re used to at home.

Disney warns cruise guests that onboard internet may sometimes be slow, interrupted, or completely unavailable. This is especially true on at-sea days; the final sea day of a Disney Alaska cruise is notoriously bad for internet due to the ship’s position and direction of travel.

However, most cruisers will typically find onboard internet sufficient to occasionally check email, post on social media , or make a video call.

Get Free Help Planning Your Disney Cruise

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Disney Cruise Wifi 2024 Prices and Internet Options

By: Author tanialamb

Posted on Published: February 12, 2024

Disney Cruise Line has wifi on board all of their ships and they all now have the upgraded wifi. If you’re sailing on a Disney Cruise in 2024, the wifi increased in price in August 2023. Here’s everything you need to know about Disney Cruise Line internet like how much it costs, how to connect to the internet while sailing, and which data plan is best for you.

How Much Does Disney Cruise WiFi Cost?

Disney Cruise WiFi prices start at $18 a day for the entire cruise. Disney Cruise Wifi options and prices are the same for the Disney Fantasy, Disney Dream, Disney Wish, Disney Magic, and Disney Wonder.

The 2024 Disney Cruise Line Wifi Package Prices Start at:

• Stay Connected – $18 per day for a 24 hour period
• Basic Surf – $28 per day for a 24 hour period
• Premium Surf – $42 per day for a 24 hour period

If you book a wifi package for your entire voyage on Disney Cruise Line, then you’ll receive a discount on the wifi.

The price for Disney Cruise WiFi is per device in the room , not per room. So the price is cheaper per day if you choose wifi for the whole voyage. If not, you can choose 24 hour increments. 

For example, if you purchase internet on Disney Cruise Line on a Saturday at 5:00 p.m., you’d have until 5:00 p.m. on Sunday to use it before it shuts off. 

The graphic below shows how it works, but the prices are before the increase.

Disney Cruise Wifi Internet Packages

All Disney Cruise Line ships have upgraded wifi packages for 2024. Knowing Disney Cruise WiFi prices ahead of time will help you factor it into your budget.

The new and improved Disney Cruise Wifi is currently on the Disney Wish, Disney Magic, Disney Fantasy and Disney Dream, and now the Disney Wonder. The Disney Wonder was the last hold out. They introduced the new Disney wifi packages in 2022 and basically coincide with the old wifi packages – small, medium, and large – based on what you can do with them. 

Stay Connected Package

The Stay Connected package says it will allow you to post pictures on popular websites and applications like Facebook Messenger, Twitter, Instagram, Snapchat, Pinterest, LinkedIn and Tumblr. However, some guests have reported to not be able to send photos.

You can also try one package and if it isn’t working the way you’d like, then you can upgrade. One of the benefits of the Stay Connected plan is that it’s the cheapest.  The Stay Connected package starts at $18 a day. 

Basic Surf Package

The Basic Surf package seems to work for guests who want to post on social media, check some emails, and use basic internet activity, plus send or receive photos. “Surf the web, read the news, check the weather and visit your other favorite websites, send and receive emails, and make audio calls.” The Basic Surf Package starts at $28 a day. 

Premium Surf Package

The Premium Surf package is said to have faster connection speeds on a Disney cruise ship. “Make video calls, listen to your favorite music streaming platforms, surf the web, view short-form videos like TikTok.” This plan still does not support video streaming like Netflix. 

If you ever used the old Disney Cruise wifi, you know it was a struggle and it was slow. This new Disney Cruise wifi is definitely improved, though you still have to be patient, because you’re at sea. 

Pay-As-You-Use Disney Cruise Internet Prices

The old Disney Cruise Line WiFi  was a pay-as-you-use plan that started at $.25 per megabyte used. The Disney Wonder used to have the old wifi packages, but as of October 2023, the wifi has been upgraded and matches the rest of Disney Cruise Line.

How Do You Connect to the Internet on Disney Cruise Line?

When you board your Disney Cruise, you should be able to use your regular data plan for internet until about 10 minutes or so after you leave your port.

However, to actually use the Disney Cruise Line app, you need to connect to guest wifi on board and be in airplane mode. The DCL app is where you find information about activities, schedule, stateroom, dining rotation, etc.

You don’t need to purchase internet services to connect to the ship’s Wi-Fi network when used only for the Disney Cruise Line Navigator app.

However, if you want to connect to the wifi on a Disney Cruise ship, there is an additional cost. Once you’re on the Disney Cruise Line app, you’ll see the options to Connect@Sea. Then you’ll need to set up an account if you don’t already have one.

Again, the Disney Cruise Line wifi packages are per device, and not per stateroom. 

Then you’ll select your package, how many devices, and connect.

Free Disney Cruise Wifi Hack : If you have an iPhone and use iMessages and are logged in before you board, my party was still able to text people on land that had iPhones. It didn’t work 100% of the time, but as long as I had logged into iMessages before I boarded the ship, I could text while at sea for free.

This is a nice perk to be still be in contact with friends and family back home.

Is Disney Cruise Line Wifi Worth It?

If you need to work or want to browse the internet, then wifi on Disney Cruise Line is worth it…if it’s necessary. However, it still can be glitchy at sea. 

If you don’t absolutely need to use it, then maybe wait until you’re in port to do what you need to do. Sometimes it’s also nice to disconnect from the world while on vacation.

You’re not always going to get the fastest wifi while on Disney Cruise Line or at sea, so I wouldn’t schedule an important meeting just in case there’s a glitch. However, the Basic Surf package should be enough to do what you need to do, provided you don’t need to make Zoom calls. 

With the price increase of Disney Cruise wifi, it’s not as cost effective and may not be in your budget. If you don’t have to use it, then save your money and buy Palo Brunch instead. 

I suggest trying it out for a day and then you can increases your package if necessary. If you find that the internet is not working, then you can also talk to Guest Services about their suggestions or request a refund if necessary.

Bon Voyage and have a great cruise!!

For more Disney Cruise Line tips, here is information on the Castaway Cay 5K and these are the Bibbibi Bobbidi Boutique Disney Cruise prices . 

If you’re doing a land and sea vacation, then these are the closest Disney Character Warehouse outlets to Disney World!

Wednesday 9th of August 2023

I think I remember years ago "one device" meant at a time, so I could log-in on one, log out and then my son could log-in on his. Is this the case on Disney Dream because $42/day is a lot.

I don't think you can change devices and have it still work. However if you're on your device and your son wanted to check his social media or something like that on your device, that would work. I haven't tried the workaround of logging in on another device. But the basic surf plan is usually sufficient for most guests.

Lukas Danny

Tuesday 13th of September 2022

Do you need to buy wifi per device or per room?

It is per device.

Friday 11th of March 2022

Does wifi on the cruise ships allpw vpn?

Thursday 28th of April 2022

@Dan, did you ever get an answer to your VPN question? I've been wondering the same and trying to search online first for the answer before calling.

Wednesday 7th of August 2019

Does anybody have current rates for Connect at Sea?

As far as I know, the packages are still the same price as in this post.

Friday 26th of July 2019

Is the free 50mb per guest or cabin? We are cruising for Christmas and will want to text/exchange photos Christmas Day at sea. Otherwise port WiFi should do.

Saturday 27th of July 2019

Both my husband and I were able to get the free mb. It goes very quickly though, especially if you're sending photos.

Guide to Disney Cruise WiFi: Tips and FAQs

Posted on Published: 02/27/2024

While I typically enjoy unplugging on my Disney cruises, sometimes it’s important to stay connected to the outside world. Disney Cruise WiFi is available for an additional cost, and while it isn’t as fast or reliable as a land WiFi connection, it does work pretty well. It’s a good option if you do need to stay connected at sea.

If you are taking a Disney Cruise and are thinking of purchasing a WiFi package, this post will help you decide what level to purchase and will help you know what to expect from your coverage.

Disclosure: I received complimentary WiFi on media sailings and have also paid for my own WiFi packages. All opinions are my own.

When you are on your sailing, you’ll want to put your phone in airplane mode . While cellular at sea is sometimes available, it can be quite expensive. Purchasing a WiFi package is typically the most affordable option if you want to stay connected.

AT&T and Verizon do have cruise ship packages that are separate from the Disney Cruise Line Wi-Fi. I prefer using the ship’s WiFi, however. If you want to use one of these programs, you’ll want to contact them to make sure it’s added to your cell phone in advance. You’ll need to have this feature activated in advance.

IMPORTANT: You’ll want to talk to your cell phone carrier before your trip to make sure you understand how your phone works internationally. They will likely recommend that you put your phone in airplane mode while at sea. Taking it out of airplane mode can lead to some very high charges.

Disney Cruise WiFi Packages and Pricing

There are three levels of packages on the Disney Cruise Line. These are the Stay Connected, the Basic Surf, and the Premium Surf. Within these categories, you have the option to purchase WiFi for 24 hours, or the entire length of your cruise. Disney Cruise Wi-Fi pricing is based on the cruise period’s length or 24 hours.

If you think you’ll want WiFi just to look up something quickly, the 24-hour option is a good choice. Otherwise, you’ll save money by getting an entire length of cruise package rather than purchasing daily individual 24-hour packages.

The type of package you’ll need will depend on what you are doing. If you want to stream short videos or make video calls, you’ll need the Premium Package, while the Stay Connected package is best if you only want to look up text. Generally, long-form video streaming, like TV shows or movies, is not supported under any of these programs.

When I sail on the Disney Cruise Line, I typically purchase the Basic Surf package. It lets me send and upload photos, but I don’t need the streaming functionality.

The price per day of the WiFi packages ranges from $16 for one day of Stay Connected when purchasing the full voyage to $42 per day for the Premium Package when only buying one day.

So, is the Disney Cruise WiFi reliable? In my experience, it’s somewhat reliable, but not as fast as you’d expect for a land connection, and sometimes drops off. If you require more bandwidth, it’s a good idea to purchase the Premium Package.

What Can You Do Without Disney Cruise Wi-Fi?

So, do you need to have WiFi while on a Disney Cruise? There are still some things you can do without purchasing a WiFi package (or using Cellular at Sea).

The Disney Cruise Line Navigator App works even if you don’t purchase the package. You’ll be able to check schedules, look at your folio, and book experiences through the app. You’ll just need to connect to the DCL-GUEST network (and make sure your phone is in Airplane mode).

In addition, with app access, you’ll also be able to message guests directly through the app. It can make keeping in touch very easy. Everyone will need to have their own copy of the app loaded on their devices.

If you use the Apple iMessage system, you can send text iMessages to other users both on and off the ship. So, if you wanted WiFi just to stay in touch at home, you may not need it.

There are some Disney-owned websites you can also connect to at no cost when on the DCL-GUEST network without needing WiFi. These include:

• Disney Cruise Line
• Disney Cruise Line Photos
• Walt Disney World
• Disney Vacation Club
• Walt Disney World Resorts
• Adventures by Disney
• Aulani Reservation Management

How to Connect to WiFi

Once you are on the ship, you can put your phone in Airplane mode and then connect to the DCL-GUEST network. From there, you can either stay with free access to the app or purchase a 24-hour or length of cruise internet package. If you purchase a package, it can be charged directly to your room to make it very easy.

International Day Pass/TravelPass

Some cellular phone providers offer an international day pass option. With this, you’ll pay a flat fee for 24 hours and will be able to use your phone just as you use it at home (with the same data, text, and phone package).

It’s important to know that these programs work in participating foreign countries, but do not work at sea. If you are hoping to use this program while at sea, you may find yourself with many unexpected charges.

Check with your cell phone provider directly to learn about these programs, and to find out if you are eligible. Just remember you can only use it at a port (in a participating country) and not when at sea. Your cell phone provider can let you know which countries are part of this program. You’ll need to have it activated on your phone before using it.

Frequently Asked Questions

No, you’ll purchase a WiFi package once you are onboard and connected to the DCL-GUEST network.

If you want to do that, you’ll need to purchase multiple packages.

Except for the uses mentioned above, free WiFi isn’t available. You’ll need to purchase a package to use the ship’s satellite WiFi.

In the past, the WiFi was billed by the usage but it’s since changed over to this new system. I prefer paying by the day because it was always difficult to know how many MBs I would use.

Have you ever used the Disney Cruise Wi-Fi?

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Disney Cruise Internet: Wi-Fi, Policies, and Tips

By Alisha Molen

It’s probably not high on your list when planning your Disney Cruise , but understanding the Disney Cruise Internet is definitely something you will think about when you can’t login to check your email aboard the ship.

Because you don’t want to be totally out-of-reach on your vacation, you need to know about the Disney Cruise internet packages, the Disney Cruise Wave Phones, and access to Wi-Fi on the ship if you want to be prepared.

I’ve pulled together the most comprehensive guide to internet access on Disney cruises, including all you need to know about the Disney cruise internet package and Disney Cruise Wi-Fi.

So, if you’re ready to learn how to get on the internet while on a Disney Cruise, let’s get started.

Table of Contents

Is there wi-fi on disney cruises, disney cruise wi-fi package costs, disney cruise wi-fi packages explained, are there other ways to access the internet on a disney cruise, how do i get free internet on a disney cruise.

• How to Minimize Data Usage on a Disney Cruise?
• My #1 Hack to Get Free Wi-Fi on a Disney Cruise

More Disney Cruise Wi-Fi Hacks

• What is a Disney Cruise “Wave Phone”?

Yes, there is Wi-Fi on Disney Cruises!

There are multiple plans for usage of the onboard internet through Connect@Sea, which can be accessed by as many devices as you want, that will be charged to your room. 

Using the Wi-Fi for anything other than the Disney Cruise Line Navigator App (an app which allows you to send messages to members of your travel party while onboard, access your schedule, and view the locations of things onboard the ship and other items of note) is subject to the fees described below.

• Pay As You Go which costs $0.25/MB
• Small Package which costs $0.19/MB for 100MB 
• Medium Package which costs $0.13/MB for 300MB
• Large Package which costs $0.09/MB for 1,000MB
• Concierge guests traveling in Category S, T, and V Staterooms receive 100 free MB
• Concierge guests traveling in Category R Staterooms receive free Wi-Fi access for the length of the cruise

Disney Cruise Wi-Fi is called Connect@Sea and all packages are purchased onboard when you sign-on for the first time. You cannot downgrade or get a refund for unused data, so plan accordingly.

I’ve grabbed as much information about which Connect@Sea package you should get depending on what your usage might be.

Pay-As-You-Go

Get this Disney Cruise WiFi package if you’re not sure you’ll be online very much, especially if everyone that you want to communicate is onboard with you. No streaming movies, though, just basic service, because the bill will be bigger than you think if you go all-out.

If you start with this, you can add one of the other packages later. However, it’s a good idea to really see how much you’re going to use the internet before making a choice, because you won’t be able to downgrade later and you will not be credited if you don’t use the MB purchased.

I’d recommend this package for the person that just wants to check in at work once or twice while cruising. Not to download a bunch of stuff, but to periodically make sure the ship back home is still sailing.

If you’re planning to post a few pics of your time on the ship on Instagram or Facebook, this is the package you want. Allows a little more flexibility for those times you want to show the world what fun times you’re having.

Supposedly, this is the plan you want if you plan to stream movies and really do some heavy surfing. But, those MB are chewed-up quick, so I wouldn’t recommend planning to watch the streaming service all that often. Besides, there are plenty of other things to do on your cruise 😉

There is no longer public computer terminal access on Disney Cruises.

Access to the internet is only allowed through your own personal devices via the above mentioned Wi-Fi plans.

There’s no way to get free internet all the time, unless you are concierge guests traveling in a Category R Stateroom .

However, all guests receive 50MB of data free on the first day of the Disney Cruise.

To get the free 50MB of data on the Disney Cruise, you simply sign-on to the Wi-Fi following the handy instructions left in your room. Simple as that.

Once that data is used up, though, you will be asked to select a plan.

How to Minimize Data Usage on a Disney Cruise

Listed below are a few tips on how you can minimize your data usage so you can maximize the time you have before you have to worry about spending extra money on the internet packages onboard your ship.

• Download the Disney Cruise Line Navigator App and use it for everything you can
• Log out of everything when you’re done surfing. Don’t let anything be running in the background
• iCloud Backup (look in Settings > iCloud > Storage & Backup) *this is a big one and you need to remember to turn this back on if you want backups of your awesome trip photos when you get home
• My Photo Stream (look in Settings > Photo & Camera) 
• Background App Refresh (look in Settings > General > Background App Refresh)
• Software Updates (look in Software Update > Edit > Preferences > Advanced > Uncheck Auto Update)
• Automatic Music/Apps/Updates Downloads (look in Settings > iTunes & App Store)
• Location Services (look in Settings > Privacy)
• Fetch New Data, change to Fetch Manually (look in Settings > Mail, Contacts, Calendars > Fetch New Data)
• Auto-Updates (look in Settings > Play Store)
• Wi-Fi Updates (look in Settings > Play Store)
• Background Refresh Apps (look in Settings > Application Manager > Select App > Force Quit)
• Auto-Sync 

My #1 Hack to Get Free Wi-Fi on Disney Cruise 

It’s not really free Wi-Fi, so let me clarify. What you can do is use iMessage on an Apple device to send and receive BLUE messages. Those are only the messages that go between two Apple products. This is reported to be because iMessage is a backdoor that Apple uses that acts as push notifications on both ends, keeping Disney from being able to charge for the Wi-Fi usage.

In order to use this method, simply put your iPhone in airplane mode and turn on the Wi-Fi. When you send messages to another iPhone, you should not (in theory) be charged for internet usage.

• Take a Walk: It’s easy to find free Wi-Fi when you’re in port. Usually just going a few blocks can get you to a store or restaurant that’s looking to attract customers (you) looking for Wi-Fi.
• Your Data Plan: When you’re in port or even near land, within a reasonable distance, you should switch over from Wi-Fi to your phone’s data plan. The only thing about this is that roaming rates will apply if you’re outside the range of your carrier’s limits.
• Maximize Speed: The internet on Disney Cruises is, like the internet on any cruise, notoriously slow. So, if you’re planning to check emails or do anything that you’d like to see load quickly, you should wait until off-peak times. That may be 1am or before 10am, but if it’s your priority, give it a try.
• Push Notifications: Like with iMessage, you can recieve free push notifications. So, if you have push notifications set up, you can receive them (not respond) without incurring charges.

What is a Disney Cruise “Wave Phone”?

Disney Cruise Wave Phones are phones that are left in your stateroom that you can use to call other rooms, text other Wave Phones onboard (and at Disney’s Castaway Cay ), and contact the Cast Members onboard for things like room service and other needs.

It is similar to a hotel room phone, but it also gives you the functionality of text and it’s mobile.

You are not tied to the room with the Wave Phone. Additionally, you are provided with two phones at no cost but, for an additional fee , you can request additional Wave Phones for your party. 

If you are ready to head to your Disney Cruise and want to surf the internet along with the waves, you have to have this guide to Disney Cruise Internet in your back pocket. Now go get out on the waves and enjoy your cruise!

What can I expect for Disney Cruise Wifi Speed?

I wouldn’t expect blazing wifi speed on your cruise. It will likely be fast enough to adequately check email while sipping a drink somewhere or do basic web browsing, but don’t expect to comfortably stream Disney+ movies . (PS – you don’t need to anyways, there are plenty of Disney shows to watch in your room!)

Disney Cruise Line Information

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How Does Internet Access Work On Disney Cruise Line Ships?

Social Media and the need to have access to the internet on our mobile devices at all times has become a way of life for the majority of us. In fact, most people can do the bulk of their jobs right from their phones if they’ve got a decent internet connection.

While most of the world now offers free WiFi, there is still one major vacation destination that has not caught up with the times and the ever-booming trend of offering free WiFi: Cruising. It is so hard to stay connected to the internet while you are on a cruise ship out in the middle of the ocean without spending an exorbitant amount of money on your cell phone bill.

Let’s look at how the internet currently works aboard the Disney cruise ships .

• Wireless Internet
• Cell Phone Usage

WIRELESS INTERNET SERVICE

For assistance with the internet, visit the Connect@Sea desk, which is located in the Promenade Lounge (Deck 3) on the Magic & Wonder , and on Deck 4 near the midship elevators on the Dream & Fantasy . See rates below (subject to change).

Using the onboard WiFi, you can connect anywhere on the ship and chat, post pictures on social media or simply stay connected while at sea.

Due to the technology involved and satellite connectivity, the onboard internet service will be slower than you may be accustomed to and may at times be interrupted or unavailable. This is particularly true on at-sea days when there are more people onboard the ship who are accessing the service.

You can share a single Connect@Sea package. Just login to your account on any device that you want to use to access the Internet. Multiple devices can use the same package simultaneously. The combined usage is tracked on one meter, which can be monitored via the browser window.

The most important thing to remember is that when you are finished using the internet, you need to go to the page displayed in your browser and log out every time. If you or another member of your party forgets to log out when they’re done browsing, your device will use up all of the data you purchased in record time.

WIRELESS INTERNET PRICING

• Pay as you go – $0.25 per megabyte
• Small package – 100 megabytes for $19 ($0.19 per megabyte)
• Medium package – 300 megabytes for $39 ($0.13 per megabyte)
• Large package – 1,000 megabytes for $89 ($0.09 per megabyte)
• Concierge guests in Cat S, T and V will get 100 free megabytes of internet. 
• Concierge guests in Cat R will get free internet for the length of the cruise.

Internet plans can be used interchangeably on laptops and desktops throughout the ship. Please note, however, that plans cannot be upgraded once purchased, and a credit will not be issued for unused plan minutes, so make your purchases wisely. Prices are subject to change at any time without notice.

DISNEY WISH INTERNET

Internet service on the Disney Wish is completely different from Disney’s other cruise ships. Below are the details on the three plans that are currently available. You can choose to purchase the internet daily or for your entire voyage, but there is no discount when you pay for the entire cruise at once. We should also note that the pricing below is for one device only; there are additional charges to add more than one device.

STAY CONNECTED

Stay connected on social media with DCL’s most affordable internet plan. With this plan, you can:

• Post text and pictures on popular websites and applications like Facebook, Facebook Messenger, Twitter, Instagram, Snapchat, Pinterest, Linkedln, and Tumblr

Note: This plan  does not support surfing the web, accessing email, or video streaming .

The pricing on this plan starts at $10/day.

Enjoy all the benefits of the Stay Connected plan – plus, full web access. With this plan, you can:

• Surf the web, read the news, check the weather, and visit your other favorite websites
• Send and receive emails Post text and pictures on popular websites and applications like Facebook, Facebook Messenger, Twitter, Instagram, Snapchat, Pinterest, Linkedln, and Tumblr

Note:  This plan does not support long-form video streaming platforms such as Netflix and Hulu.

The pricing on this plan starts at $20/day.

PREMIUM SURF

Experience faster connection speeds and access to music platforms such as Pandora, Spotify, and Apple Music – plus, all the benefits of the Basic Surf plan. With this plan, you can:

• Enjoy faster connection speeds
• Make video phone calls on platforms FaceTime, Zoom, and more
• Listen to your favorite music streaming platforms like Pandora, Spotify, and Apple Music
• View short-form on platforms like YouTube, Snapchat, and TikTok
• Send and receive emails

The pricing on this plan starts at $30/day.

HOT TIP: On embarkation day, each stateroom gets a 50 megabyte internet package for free, but you can only sign up for it through the DCL app on the day you board the ship, so don’t forget! It’s only valid for one free package per stateroom.

CELL PHONE USAGE ON A DISNEY CRUISE

You can direct dial, receive phone calls, or text anywhere in the world right from your stateroom. Ship-to-shore rates apply and will be posted in your stateroom.

Cell phone service is also available through most major providers (Verizon, AT&T, Sprint, T-Mobile, etc.) The ship must be 12 miles out to sea before you can access cell service. NOTE THAT SERVICE IS LIMITED TO THE STATEROOMS. Common areas will not have cell access.

Disney recommends that you contact your cell provider prior to sailing. They can advise what is needed to arrange for access. Pricing varies depending on your wireless provider and international roaming fees will be billed to your account. (These charges vary and can take up to 90 days to appear on your statement.)

About Post Author

Jackie Gailey

Senior Editor at The DIS and DCL Fan | Disney Vacation Club Member | Thrilled to have been a ’13/’14 Disney Parks Moms Panelist (now planDisney) | Lover of all things Disney; the Magic of Disneyland, Walt Disney World, and Disney Cruise Line | ºoº

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Disney Cruise Line WiFi Packages & Pricing Vital Info

Picture this: you're lounging on an outdoor deck of a majestic Disney Cruise ship, salty breeze in your hair, nothing but ocean surrounding you. Suddenly you realize you forgot to send one last important work email before leaving for vacation and need to connect ASAP. But does Disney Cruise Line have WiFi?

Hold onto your Mickey ears because navigating the digital waters is as much a part of the Disney Cruise experience as spotting Captain Mickey. Read to the end because we have a great money-saving Wi-Fi tip for you while in ports during your Disney Cruise from our experience sailing with them and traveling all over the world, accessing Wi-Fi. 

Embark on a journey with us through the world of high-seas WiFi with Disney.

Disclosure: This page has affiliate links, meaning we may earn a small commission if you click the link and proceed with a purchase  at no cost to you . We recommend cruises, experiences, products, and services we personally use. As Amazon Associates, we earn from qualifying purchases.

Is There Free Internet Access On Disney Cruises?

We know you might be thinking, “I'm here for the magic, not the megabytes!” But in reality, those megabytes might make or break your cruise. We know being connected has made a difference for us while on Disney Cruise ships as we check in with clients as small business owners or stay connected with family as needed.

Luckily, DCL offers free onboard internet for minimal texting. 

You can access your regular cellular carrier’s service for mere minutes after the ship deports from its port of embarkation in the United States, assuming the local cellular carrier is receiving service along the coast in that area. But you should connect to the onboard Wi-Fi after you lose cell service as you sail away from your port of embarkation or get connected before the Sail Away Party. 

Once on DCL’s Wi-Fi network, free texting is possible via iMessage or WhatsApp. That’s usually how we text message family and friends at home while we sail. WhatsApp works for iPhone and Android users in a similar fashion while onboard. You can also chat with other guests for free via the Disney Cruise Line Navigator App.

However, photos and videos will not be sent through iMessage without purchasing the mid-level or higher internet plan; only plain text and emojis will reach the receiving party on complimentary Wi-Fi. 

Note that complimentary WiFi is included in Concierge-level bookings. The package type differs depending on room type and can range from Basic to Premium .

Use the Disney Cruise Line Navigator App for Texting and Cruise Activities While Onboard 

Using the app is complimentary to all guests regardless of whether or not you purchase an internet package. 

If you have not already done so, be sure to download the Disney Cruise Line Navigator app and log in on your mobile device before your cruise. If you’re boarding the ship from Port Canaveral , we know from experience that there is Wi-Fi in the port that you can access while waiting to board the ship. You can also access the Navigator app while you wait to book things as if you are onboard.

DCL’s Navigator app is also great for cruise planning and a fun vacation countdown before your trip. It’s also useful for checking into your cruise before you board. It remains a helpful tool during your holiday. 

Think of the Disney Cruise Line Navigator app as your in-cruise digital director. It’s where you obtain details about daily events, dining rotations, and the ship’s deck plan. It’s also where you can do things like book excursions and activities, make reservations for adults-only dining at Palo , Enchanté , or Remy’s (depending on your ship), and spa treatments before or during your cruise.

The app is completely free to access and use as long as you’re connected to the guest wifi, which is called something like “DCL-GUEST.”

You Need the DCL Navigator App for Childcare Communication 

If you check any children into childcare on any Disney Cruise Line ship, you will need the Navigator app to communicate with the team there. 

Don’t Let your Cell Phone Battery Die

For this reason and more, we recommend that you bring a portable phone charger with you. You don’t want to be tethered to a phone cord that needs to be plugged into a wall when you’d rather be at the adults-only pool when your child is enjoying the cruise at the Imagineer’s Lab! 

Trust us: You’ll be grateful you have a wonderful, lightweight, small portable charger, like Clutch. It charges iPhones, Android phones, and AirPods too! 

Must-have Portable Charger for your Cruise

This portable charger is incredibly compact and lightweight. It charges Androids and iPhones. We even use it to charge AirPods. More than that, it's a lifesaver when our phones are our lifeline!

Use code “SOMETIMES10” for a discount .

Can You Browse the Internet With the Disney Cruise Line Navigator App?

Unfortunately, the Navigator app is only for cruise-related information. While it technically uses a network to function, you won’t be able to browse the web with it fully.

However, you can send and receive free text messages to other passengers onboard in the app. We especially love chatting with each other this way while at sea because we adore the little Disney character emojis that are only available through the app. Sometimes I text Dan a bunch of Disney character emojis “just because” with no words. They’re a lot of fun! 

How To Connect To DCL Wi-Fi on Disney Cruise Line

Once you’re on the Disney Navigator app while onboard your cruise, you’ll see the option to connect to the internet on the ship’s Wi-Fi network. Click to connect, open the app, and sign into your account if you’re not already logged in. 

Adding a Wi-Fi plan onboard is easy once you’re in the Navigator App. You have the option to purchase Wi-Fi for the length of the cruise or per day, per device. You can also add more devices to one plan for 20% off. 

Put Your Phone in Airplane Mode While Cruising

If you don’t plan on using your cellular carrier roaming data while cruising, we recommend putting your phone in airplane mode when you cruise. This will ensure that you can connect to available Wi-Fi networks but won’t be charged by your cell provider for roaming data. 

Putting your phone in airplane mode is kind of like telling it to use Wi-Fi, but don’t try to connect using cell towers. Conversely, if you want to use cellular data, do not put your phone in airplane mode because cellular data won’t work in airplane mode.

How to Easily Sign Up for Disney Cruise Line WiFi Once Onboard

Internet plans for DCL voyages are fairly straightforward. Here are three easy steps to signing up for onboard Disney Cruise Line WiFi:

◆ STEP 1: From the Disney Cruise Line Navigator app, select “Connect to Internet.” A new browser should open with the available internet plans. Choose the package you need by determining what you want to use it for.

• Complimentary Wi-Fi (no purchase necessary): free texting and messaging on iMessage and WhatsApp and within the DCL Navigator App
• Stay Connected Package: good for browsing social media 
• Basic Surf Package: appropriate surfing the web, checking email, sending and receiving photos 
• Premium Surf Package: the way to go if you need to stream videos or music, send emails, send and receive photos, 

◆ STEP 2: Decide if you want it for the full cruise or a 24-hour period. There is a bit of a discount per day if you want to buy it for the duration of the cruise.

◆ STEP 3: Input the number of devices you want to use it for.

There’s an internet plan for every need aboard your cruise. Need to post and share that adorable selfie with Captain Mickey? No problem – go with the Basic Surf plan. Need to check and reply to work emails? Sign up for Basic Surf for that, too, as well as being able to check things like any documents on Google Drive. 

If you want to be able to watch YouTube videos, which require faster connection speeds, go with Premium. 

Disney Cruise Line Wi-Fi Packages are Per Device

Beware that a Disney Cruise Line WiFi package is per device, not per stateroom. 

If you need to use Wi-Fi during your cruise but don’t want to spend an arm and a leg to connect multiple devices at once or pay a premium for the highest package, we recommend connecting one device to check email as needed and bring along a Wi-Fi hotspot to connect in international ports with your computer or iPad. 

We love our Solis Wi-Fi device that we travel with for this reason and talk more about it here in this post. 

Disney Cruise Line Internet Packages and Cost 

You can select an onboard Disney Cruise Line WiFi plan based on your usage needs, how many days you want Wi-Fi, and the number of devices that will use the package. Pay, then connect.

It’s important to know that the internet packages offered by Disney Cruise Line are categorized by bandwidth per day, not by time, like on other cruise lines (like Celestyal Cruises or Star Clippers , for example). 

In other words, if you buy a package for the day, you don’t have to worry about reaching a megabyte threshold. You’ll be able to use the level of Wi-Fi speed you purchase for the entire day regardless of how many megabytes of data you do or do not utilize. 

Complimentary Internet from Disney Cruise Line

The free internet often isn’t enough for most cruisers, especially not in this need to be connected day and age. Let’s explore all your WiFi package options while away at sea with all your Disney friends.

There also used to be a free 50 MB offer when you first boarded the ship, but they no longer offer this to guests. This is partially because they no longer offer Wi-Fi per MB.

Stay Connected Package

➜ $16 a day for your full voyage, or $18 per day for 24 hours

The Stay Connected package should really be called the Social Media plan. It offers a convenient solution for sharing your Disney Cruise experiences on popular social media platforms such as Facebook Messenger, Twitter, Instagram, Snapchat, Pinterest, LinkedIn, etc. It’s also the cheapest package and the most affordable plan.

However, the Stay Connected package has its limitations. While it permits most social media browsing, it does not support access to email, online browsing, or streaming games or videos, including short-form videos. 

One advantage of the Stay Connected plan lies in its flexibility. Guests can initially choose a package; if it doesn't meet your connectivity needs, you can easily upgrade to a more comprehensive option. 

Basic Surf Package

➜ $24 per day for the full voyage or $28 per day for 24 hours

For a little bit more bang for your buck, the benefits of the Basic Surf plan include the capability to access email, surf the web, send and receive photos, and check the weather. Of course, you can also access all your favorite social media sites. 

We’ve had people report they can make video calls through Facebook Messenger on this plan too. 

One point to note is that video streaming is not included in the Basic Surf Package. Not even YouTube shorts or TikTok. The Premium plan is the way to go for those looking to access nearly all of the wonders of the web you’re used to, including music or video streaming.

Premium Surf Package – Best Overall Value

➜ $34 per day for a full voyage, $42 for 24 hours

With this internet plan, you will get the fastest connection speed.

You may think that you would get something close to 5G internet speed capabilities as the top-tier internet package. And while the Premium Surf package offers the fastest connection available with Disney Cruise Line, it’s still nothing like fast internet at home. 

With it, you can make calls via Facetime or other video chat apps, listen to Spotify or Apple Music, surf the web, and view short-form videos like TikTok. However, you’ll have to survive without any of your streaming networks. This plan still does not support long-form video streaming platforms such as Netflix. 

Planning any Zoom or video call meetings for work is too risky. If it's a meeting for which you need reliable, fast internet, it's best not to schedule it during your cruise if you don't need to because the internet is too inconsistent. That's true of most cruise ships' connectivity, no matter the cruise line.

Tips and Tricks for Purchasing Wifi on a Disney Cruise

If opting for a 24-hour package, it’s a full 24 hours. Meaning that if you sign up at 9:00 am on Tuesday, your plan will expire at 9:00 am on Wednesday, the following day. 

Add more devices to your package and get a 20% discount. You can also opt to share a plan across devices.

If you don’t need internet access for the entire voyage, you can purchase it at any point during your cruise. In this case, you’ll be charged the discounted voyage rates for the remaining days. 

If you are sharing an internet plan across more than one device instead of buying a plan for multiple devices, you need to remember to log out of the internet when you're done using it so you can log in on another device. Otherwise, your other devices cannot access the internet using the same package.

Disney Cruise Line Wi-Fi FAQs

Can you share an internet plan on a disney cruise.

You can share a single package as long as you log out of the Wi-Fi on one device and into it on another. If you want to use the same Disney Cruise Line WiFi package on multiple devices simultaneously, make sure you opt for that number of devices when you sign up and pay for a WiFi package. 

Is The Internet Fast on Disney Cruises?

Accessibility and internet speeds on DCL ships are limited, so don’t expect perfection. Whether you opt for the very minimal free internet or a paid plan that allows for increased data, it's easy to share your journey with the world while aboard but don't get frustrated when it's not what you're used to at home.

The onboard internet access will likely be slower than you are used to and may occasionally be interrupted or unavailable due to the technology involved in bringing it onboard and satellite connectivity. It also varies per DCL ship; though “fast” is subjective, the internet speed and connectivity vary depending on which ship you’re on and where you are in the world. This is especially true when the ship is enjoying a Day at Sea, and more passengers are using the service.

So is it perfect? No, but for many, having connectivity is a must, no matter the quality, so it's better than nothing.

The fastest internet we’ve experienced at sea with any of the various cruise lines we have sailed with is any cruise ship with Starlink satellite internet. Disney Cruise Line does not currently use Starlink, unfortunately. 

Is There Wi-Fi on Castaway Cay?

Access to Wi-Fi on Castaway Cay, Disney's private island, requires the use of your Disney Cruise Internet Package. We were surprised to find out that though the island is Disney's, free internet access in Castaway Cay does not exist as it does on the ship as we walked around in the sand trying to message each other from a distance.

Where Can I Get Help With the Internet on a Disney Cruise?

If you can't connect when you're onboard, head to Guest Services. Here you’ll be able to get help signing up for plans, choosing the best plan, and getting help with any troubleshooting issues.

Can You Use Your Cell Phone On A Disney Cruise?

You can use your cell phone on any Disney Cruise, such as Disney Fantasy, Disney Dream, Disney Wish , Disney Magic, Disney Wonder….and soon-to-be Disney Treasure! While at sea, your phone will connect to maritime network providers such as AT&T and Verizon, allowing you to make and receive calls just like you would ashore from your stateroom and public spaces. 

However, beware that making calls or texting at sea through your cell provider will likely incur additional charges for international roaming. It's wise to check with your service provider about rates if you don’t like surprises. 

Here is more information for Verizon and AT&T for using their networks at sea. 

In addition to roaming charges, Disney charges ship-to-shore rates for “ Cellular at Sea ,” which are posted in each stateroom.

If you choose to enable roaming and attempt to use your cell phone’s network at sea, your network should kick in when the cruise ship is at least a dozen miles or so away from the shore.

How to Get Wi-Fi in Ports if You Don’t Have an Internet Plan: Solis Hotspot

The best option is to bring your own internet Wi-Fi hotspot on the trip to use when you’re in ports. We do this for every trip, especially traveling to international ports.

We love our Solis Wi-Fi hotspot for many reasons, including: 

• It’s small and lightweight – it fits in your pocket.
• Multiple devices can connect to it, not just one. We connect computers, iPads, iPhones and more.
• The day passes are affordable and convenient to activate. It can cost just $6 per day for Wi-Fi.
• Not only can you connect on the ship as soon as the hotspot can receive signals from land, but you can also bring it off the ship to connect to the internet during excursions without having to incur roaming charges from your cell provider. As long as you’re in airplane mode and connected to the wifi from your hotspot, you’re good to go! 

The hotspot doesn’t work well in Castaway Cay, which makes sense because Wi-Fi on the entire island is weak, and cellular service is also weak there, which means that a hotspot won’t work well either. But in ports in the Caribbean, Canada, Europe, and Asia, this is 100% the way to go. 

Read this next:

• Disney Cruise Line Embarkation Day: Vital Port Canaveral Info

Disney Cruise Line Check-in Process Online: Everything to Know

• Palo Brunch vs. Dinner on Disney Wish: Which Wins?

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How to Connect at Sea using Disney Cruise Wifi

Taking a cruise, but still need to connect to the real world? Take heart, Connect at Sea allows you to plug into your Disney cruise wifi. Here are some important details along with how to use it.

What is Connect at Sea?

Connect at Sea enables you to access the Disney Cruise internet service. From here, you can do whatever you need to whether that’s Facebook (or any other social media platform), Email or just surfing the web.

Enable all of your devices or just one. It’s up to you how much you need, or want, to remain connected. Be warned, though. Disney Cruise wifi is not cheap.

All Disney cruises have wifi. Plus, each Disney cruise ship has a Connect at Sea helpdesk. Stop by and pick up a brochure for current data rates or for any help you need connecting to the internet. Check your Navigator to see where they are located and the hours it is staffed.

Disney Connect at Sea prices

Either pay as you go or buy an internet package.

Disney Cruise Wifi Cost

As of November 2019, wifi on the pay-as-you-go package is 25 cents per megabyte. If you are not certain how much wifi you will use, this could be a good starter. You have the option of purchasing a package at any time.

A small data package of 100MB is available for $19. This would be the optimal choice for someone that still wants to stay connected by checking email every so often.

The medium package provides 300MB for $39. If you plan on posting your vacation photos to Facebook or Instagram, this plan may be for you.

If you need to do more data-intensive work, the 1000MB plan at $89 would be your best choice. Data can be shared, so if there are several of you that want to stay connected, this plan may be sufficient.

Do I need to buy a data package?

Absolutely not! In fact, neither my husband nor I purchased any data. We completely unplugged on this vacation.

It was great not having Little K ask if she could watch YouTube. She was told no internet from the start and just dealt with it.

Is there anything for free?

Yes! Actually, you can get 50MB of Disney Cruise Line wifi for free. There is a catch, you have to claim this data before midnight on embarkation day (your first day on the ship).

Here’s how to get it: – Turn Airplane mode on – Turn wifi on – Select DCL-Guest Wifi – Once in your browser, type dclguest.com – If it’s Day 1 on the cruise, you will see the option for 50MB free, plus the data packages

What is DCL-Guest?

DCL-Guest is the network name for the Disney Cruise Line internet. Besides connecting to this for data usage, there are a few onboard uses of it too.

Disney Navigator App 

The Disney Navigator app works with the ship’s Wifi. No data is needed. Download this while you are still at home to avoid any data charges. See Disney Cruise Embarkation tips for more information.

The Navigator app tells you everything about your cruise. From where you are having dinner that night to where you can find Disney character appearances. Use this app for anything pertaining to what’s happening on the ship.

In addition, there is a chat feature that lets you text anyone once you have their chat id. Truthfully, this is a little clunky, but once it’s set up, it does work.

iMessage usage

Speaking of texting, anyone with an iPhone can use iMessage to chat with anyone else that has an iPhone, whether onboard the ship or not. You must be connected to DCL-Guest. This is a completely free feature on a Disney cruise.

This enabled me to keep in touch with family and friends back home without using any data as most of them have iPhones. Pictures, however, would not send nor could they be received. Text only.

iMessage texts to non-iPhone users will not go through. Both users must be on iPhones for this feature to work.

Personally, I thought this was great. We didn’t have to purchase an internet package, yet I could still text my family and best friend.

Get free wifi in Disney ports of call

While I never paid for wifi on the Disney cruise ship, I did connect to the internet a couple of times in port for free.

Many of the town squares or shopping areas have free internet. Just look for a sign with internet information and connect. I was able to download all my emails and browse through them looking for anything important.

Take advantage of it where ever you can.

Some restaurants and bars also have free wifi. Think Starbucks.

Use this time to your advantage if you are just shopping around in the port and have a few moments to use their internet.

Does Castaway Cay have wifi?

Unlike other ports of call that have free wifi, Castaway Cay does not. You need to use the internet package you purchased or the wave phones provided (see below). 

The Navigator app still works on this island, though, so you can stay up to date on what’s happening throughout the day.

Helpful Disney Cruise wifi tips

If you have purchased a Connect at Sea package or are using the free 50MB, turn off all background downloads or updates. This prevents your data from being used up faster.

iPhones on iOS 13 and higher have a low data mode that automatically restricts any background work such as transferring to iCloud.

Simply tap the ‘i’ next to DCL-GUEST in your wifi settings and click the slider for the low-data mode. Everything else is taken care of in the background.

Another good rule of thumb is to log off the wifi once you are done using it. This will also help prevent any accidental background data from using your megabytes.

DCL Wifi Wave Phones

Disney provides each stateroom with wave phones that can be used onboard or at Castaway Cay.

This is yet another option of how to stay in touch with members of your party, especially if you don’t have an iPhone that can utilize the free iMessaging.

Wave phones allow you to:

• Send and receive text messages
• Access the stopwatch and calculator

If you drop your child off at a kids club, you need to have a way to be contacted and the wave phone is a perfect choice. Plus, this saves on any Disney cruise wifi you may have purchased.

But, be careful to not lose or damage them! There is a $250 fee that will be charged to your stateroom if it’s not turned in on debarkation day.

Carrying your phone on a cruise

Ok, this just may be me, but I hate carrying around things. I gladly check bags on a plane just so I can feel lighter and not have to deal with carrying anything in the airport.

Since I didn’t want to lose my phone on the cruise, I purchased a small, cross-body bag to hold just my phone .

I didn’t need to carry anything else because my Disney Key to the World Card (which acts as your room key and a charge card) was in a lanyard around my neck .

Here’s a few you may consider:

Connect at Sea with Disney Cruise Wifi Summary

Although I didn’t purchase any data, I’m glad my iPhone let me ‘Connect @ Sea’ with people back home by using iMessage.

The free wifi on Disney Cruise was just enough for me, but I know this won’t work out for some people.

Everything else piled up, such as the 1,000 emails I had once I got home, along with all my Facebook notifications. But, in the end, it was worth it to disconnect completely. I was present for absolutely everything – even watching Descendants 1, 2 or 3 before bed with my daughter. Although I now know the words to most of the songs, I wouldn’t change a thing.

Have you ever completely disconnected for a week? Was it worth it? Let me know in the comments!

For other Disney Cruise information, check out the following: – How to organize your Disney Cruise Stateroom – Disney Cruise Embarkation Day Tips

Please PIN this! Thank you.

Christine is a Disney World annual pass holder and overall Disney expert and fanatic. She often visits the Disneylands around the world naming Disneyland Paris her favorite. To continue reading, click more about me .

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What ship were you on? The Fantasy , in an outside cabin did not offer the wave phone that you speak of. We just got off the ship July 16. Was there something that you had to do to get the iPhone to work? I couldn’t do anything other than the DCL App..Castaway Cay, the app definitely DID NOT work. I have Verizon and the wife has AT&T, we both have iPhones (granted only 10’s), but we couldn’t get ours to work without me tapping into the International feature on my phone.

Yes, we were on the Fantasy. It was Christmas 2019, so just before everything shut down. I did some research on your questions. It looks like the wave phones are ‘paused’ because they are high-touch items. I will go ahead and mention that in my post. Now, the question of whether iPhones work or not is a little harder. I read several forums where people said iMessage worked fine, some people said it did not work for them, and others said it worked for a couple of days, then it stopped working. So, I am not sure what to think! At that time, I had an iPhone XR. I had no issues using iMessage with DCL_GUEST wifi to keep in touch with those back home – just couldn’t send pictures. There was a forum where people said last month (June 2022) that it worked perfectly fine for them, but they heard that Disney was upgrading its internet in July. I wonder if you happened to be in the time period some upgrade was happening. It’s frustrating that it works for some people, but others it does not and I can’t begin to think why that would happen. Sorry that it didn’t work for you! If anyone else has any comments related to this, please let me know!

Disney Cruise Line Internet Package Pricing and Information

Disney Cruise Line offers internet access to guests through various internet packages that they can purchase. These packages typically come in different tiers, offering various levels of service, from basic web browsing to more premium options that may include streaming and other high-bandwidth activities. Here’s an overview of how it generally works:

• Available Packages : Disney Cruise Line typically offers different packages, like the Stay Connected, Basic Surf, and Premium Surf packages. Each package offers different levels of service at different price points.
• Purchasing Options : Guests can purchase internet access for 24-hour periods or for the entire duration of their voyage. There are usually discounts for purchasing the full voyage package, as opposed to the daily option.
• Access and Connection : Once a package is purchased, guests can connect their devices to the ship’s onboard Wi-Fi network. They may be provided with a login or access code to authenticate their purchase.
• Bandwidth and Restrictions : Depending on the package purchased, there may be limits on bandwidth or restrictions on certain types of activities (e.g., streaming videos). Higher-tier packages usually provide faster speeds and fewer restrictions.
• Multiple Devices : Some packages allow guests to connect multiple devices at a discounted rate. This is useful for families or individuals with more than one device.
• Special Considerations : Guests should be aware that the “days remaining” for a package reset at midnight, and buying a package close to this time will result in being charged for a full day.
• Transitioning Ships : Not all ships may offer the same packages or may be in the process of transitioning to new ones, such as the situation mentioned earlier with the Disney Wonder.
• Connectivity : As with most at-sea internet services, connectivity can vary depending on the ship’s location and other factors. It may not be as fast or reliable as land-based internet.
• Customer Support : Onboard staff are usually available to assist with any issues related to internet access or to help guests choose the best package for their needs.
• Charging : The cost of the internet package will typically be charged to the guest’s onboard account, and they can settle it at the end of the cruise.
• Free Alternatives : Some ships might offer limited free access to specific websites or applications, like the cruise line’s own app, but this varies by ship and itinerary.

Please note that the specifics can vary by ship and over time, so it’s always a good idea to check the latest information directly with Disney Cruise Line or consult with the onboard staff.

Disney Cruise Line Internet Updates

Disney Cruise Line is updating the prices for time-based internet packages onboard, with the changes coming into effect on the following dates:

• Disney Magic – 7/31/23
• Disney Wish – 7/31/23
•  – 8/1/23
• Disney Fantasy – 8/5/23

Currently, the Disney Wonder does not offer these time-based internet packages, but it is set to transition to them in the near future.

The revised pricing details are:

Stay Connected Package:

• $16 per day for the entire voyage
• $18 per day for a 24-hour period

Basic Surf Package:

• $24 per day for the entire voyage
• $28 per day for a 24-hour period

Premium Surf Package:

• $34 per day for the entire voyage
• $42 per day for a 24-hour period

Guests can choose to purchase internet access either for 24-hour intervals or for the entire voyage. A 20% discount is offered on voyage pricing compared to 24-hour pricing, and an additional 20% discount is provided for adding extra devices to an internet package. If guests decide to buy a voyage plan mid-journey, they will be billed only for the days remaining. It’s important to note that the “days remaining” resets at midnight, so buying a package at 11:55 pm will result in a charge for the full day.

Cellular at Sea On Disney Cruise Line

Cellular at Sea, or shipboard cellular service, is a specialized service provided on many cruise ships, including those operated by Disney Cruise Line. It enables passengers to use their mobile phones while at sea, just as they would on land, albeit with some differences in operation and cost. Here’s how Cellular at Sea works:

• Network Availability : Cellular at Sea functions by establishing a partnership with a land-based mobile provider. When a cruise ship is in international waters, it activates its onboard cellular network, which then interacts with passengers’ mobile phones just like a regular roaming network.
• Roaming Charges : Using Cellular at Sea usually incurs roaming charges, which can be significantly higher than standard land-based charges. These charges are billed by the home mobile provider, and it’s advisable to consult with them for detailed pricing information before departure.
• Compatibility : Most modern mobile phones and providers are compatible with Cellular at Sea, but it’s wise to check with the cruise line and your mobile provider to ensure that your specific phone and plan will work on the cruise.
• Operation : When the ship’s onboard cellular network is activated, passengers can make and receive calls, send and receive text messages, and access data services, just like they would on land. However, the service may be subject to the ship’s location and other factors, and data speeds may be slower than usual.
• Connectivity : The service connects to satellites and then to land-based networks, providing coverage even when the ship is far from land. Connectivity can vary, and there may be areas on the ship where the signal is weaker.
• Turning Off Roaming : Passengers who don’t want to incur additional charges can usually turn off roaming on their mobile phones. Most cruise lines also offer Wi-Fi packages, which may be a more cost-effective way to stay connected while at sea.
• Emergency Calls : Cellular at Sea generally allows for emergency calls, although the functionality might vary depending on the cruise line and ship.
• Alternatives and Wi-Fi Calling : For those who want to avoid the roaming charges associated with Cellular at Sea, many cruise lines offer internet packages, allowing passengers to use apps for texting and calling over Wi-Fi.
• Notifications and Alerts : Some mobile providers send text alerts to notify passengers when they are connected to the ship’s network and the associated costs.
• Customer Support : If passengers have issues or questions about the service, they can typically consult with the ship’s guest services or their mobile provider’s customer support.

Cellular at Sea provides a convenient way for passengers to use their mobile phones while cruising, but it can be expensive. Checking with both the cruise line and the mobile provider, understanding the charges, and considering alternatives like Wi-Fi calling can help passengers make informed decisions about staying connected at sea.

Cellular at Sea Phone & Cruise Packages

Many of the major mobile providers in the United States and internationally have agreements to provide Cellular at Sea service. Some of these might include:

• Sprint (now part of T-Mobile in the U.S.)
• Rogers (in Canada)
• Telstra (in Australia)

Currently two major service providers offer Cellular at Sea Phone plans for cruise line guests:

AT&T Cruise Line Package & Pricing

At&t cruise plus.

This package has a $100 one-time charge and includes:

• Unlimited talk and text
• 1GB data allowance ($10 per 100MB overage charge)
• Smartphones and tablets are eligible

AT&T Cruise Basic

This package has a $60 one-time charge and includes:

• 100 minute talk allowance ($1 per minute overage charge)
• Unlimited text
• 100MB data allowance ($10 per 100MB overage charge)
• Smartphones only

Verizon Cruise Line Package

Monthly Data Package has a one-time $20 a month charge per line and includes:

Talk and Text Package is pay as you go at the following rates:

• Talk $2.99/min
• Text $.05 received and $.50 sent

The Verizon Cruise Package is available on the following Disney Cruise Line Ships:

• Disney Wonder
• Disney Magic
• Disney Dream
• Disney Fantasy
• Disney Wish
• Disney Adventure

These are some of the larger providers that may have arrangements for Cellular at Sea service. It’s essential to check with your specific mobile provider and cruise line to confirm availability, compatibility, and pricing, as not all providers may offer this service, or the terms may vary widely.

Disney Cruise Line Wi-Fi Review

Some cruise guests choose a cruise vacation specifically so they are forced to disconnect form the world and just enjoy a vacation with the family. Others like to post about their vacation for others to see. Maybe you need to be able to check video of a pet at home, be able to call parents or adult children if necessary, or you just really really have to get some work done while sailing the high seas. All of those things will require internet connectivity, which is not something that Disney Cruise Line has a stellar reputation for. During my recent (January 2023) cruise, I tested all of the various internet packages so that I could share what worked and didn’t, and how to make the internet package work for you.

Internet Purchasing Options

If it’s been a while since you last cruised with Disney, you are probably used to watching the dreaded data meter work its way toward zero, and frantically turning off the ability for any of your apps to burn through your allotment without your permission.

The good news is that  almost all ships (Wonder is still on the “old” style plans for now) have transitioned to plans that are based on speed and connectivity rather than measured data. Hooray! The bad news is, this generally means you’ll still be paying a lot for connectivity, with often not-great results. But more on that later. Let’s review each of the three new “tiers”, and what Disney claims you’ll be able to do with each.

Stay Connected

The Stay Connected package is the lowest tier available. Not to be confused with Basic, which is the next-highest tier. This is less than basic. You can expect to pay at least $12 per day, or less if you purchase for the entire length of the cruise, or more if you need more than one device to be connected at a time.

With this package, Disney says that you will be able to “Post text and pictures on popular websites and applications like Facebook Messenger, Twitter, Instagram, Snapchat, Pinterest, LinkedIn and Tumblr”. They also specifically call out “This plan does not support surfing the web, accessing email or video streaming.”

So the intent of this package appears to be posting photos and reels to make your friends jealous, or updating your skills so that you can find a new job that lets you take more cruises. But nothing else.

The Basic Surf package is the next-highest tier, and it doubles the cost of the Stay Connected plan. You can expect to pay at least $24 per day for this access, or less if you purchase for the entire length of the cruise, or more if you need more than one device to be connected at a time.

With this package, Disney says that you will be able to do everything that the Stay Connected package can do, plus: “Surf the web, read the news, check the weather and visit your other favorite websites, send and receive emails, and make audio calls.” The only activities called out as specifically not supported are “long-form video streaming platforms such as Netflix and Hulu.”

This is the package that  should allow you to do almost everything. You can call home if you have an app that will allow Wi-Fi calling. You can check your emails. You can read the news in the morning. Just no video streaming. Sounds reasonable. All for about $100 for a 4-night cruise. A little steep, but potentially worth it if it works, and if you need the safety of being able to check in at home with family or with your work.

Premium Surf

Here is where things supposedly get fancy. The Premium Surf package is the highest tier, and it triples the cost of the Stay Connected plan. You can expect to pay at least $36 per day for this access, or less if you purchase for the entire length of the cruise, or more if you need more than one device to be connected at a time.

With this package, Disney says that you will be able to do everything that the Basic Surf package can do, plus: “Make video phone calls on planforms FaceTime, Zoom, and more; listen to your favorite music streaming platforms like Pandora, Spotify, and Apple Music; View short-form content on platforms like YouTube, Snapchat and TikTok; and enjoy faster connectivity speeds.” Interestingly, Disney still calls out that you will not be able to engage with: “long-form video streaming platforms such as Netflix and Hulu.”

Odd that the top two tiers both have the same exclusion, so maybe the “Basic” tier isn’t as comprehensive as originally hoped. If you need a soundtrack to your day, or you want to be able to video chat with Grandma at home, you would theoretically need to purchase this package. And the cost is pretty steep.

Pricing Details

As discussed in the description of each tier, you can find a base price per day for a package. But then you are given options for duration and number of devices that can increase or decrease the actual final cost of your internet package.

On the first day of our cruise, I went through and grabbed pricing information for a variety of combinations. In every case, purchasing for the length of the cruise got me a 20% discount compared to the daily rate. So, I could get the Premium Surf package for $30/day instead of $36.

By the third day of the cruise, it was obvious that I needed to purchase Premium Surf for the remainder of the cruise. I assumed that this would knock down my savings, because two days had already passed. No! I was still given the 20% discount on the remaining days of the cruise, instead of the full price. So for my 5-night cruise, I could have theoretically gone without internet the first 3 days, then purchased Premium Surf for two days to catch up on all of the things, and I would have paid “just” $60.

I expected that there would be a similar price break for connecting with multiple devices compared to having individual log-ins for each device. Something like $36/day for the first device and $30/day for the second, etc. But no – each device was a pure multiplication of the per-day or per-voyage cost selected in earlier steps. Two devices for a day on Premium Surf? $72.

Premium Surf Package Performance

I had a checklist of activities to attempt while using each different internet package. The first of which was running a speed test to see what I was getting for my money.

If you know anything about internet connectivity, you know that those results are really sad. Really sad. And this was the best speed I got the entire length of the cruise. It was only downhill from here. I’m showing the best of the best. Immediately I knew that most of my checklist was going to be pointless, and I questioned how the other packages would function at all if this was the speed they were giving the premium users. Ouch.

But, science. I had to run my tests anyway. The first was uploading content to Instagram, so that my followers could do important things like goad me into trying the world’s worst non-alcoholic specialty beverage. To be fair, I was generally* able to post stories, even if they included short video content. Hooray. That’s something.

* Generally is the key word here. We’ll talk about overall reliability later, but there were lots of dead zones and many many dropped connections. Many.

I wanted to test out ability to stay up-to-date with games. The Disney community and video game community have some pretty significant overlap, and Marvel Snap is one example of an award-winning game that rewards those who log in and play consistently. Don’t want to miss those log-in rewards! Once again, on the Premium Surf package, I could almost always log in. But matching and completing an entire game was practically impossible. I would lose connection to my account or the game servers at least once, and that always led to losing (or forfeiting) the game. Boo.

In order to stay connected for work, (which, to be clear, was not  a goal of this cruise. I cruise to avoid work. But science!) I needed to access Outlook, Teams, and Slack. On the Premium Surf plan, Outlook loaded about 50% of the time, and timed out the other 50%. Teams connectivity had a slightly better success rate, because it refreshed appropriately about 75% of the time. And Slack almost always kept itself updated, but really struggled with marking things as “read”.

I was usually able to load web pages, if I was patient for long enough. I successfully read almost the entire Saturday Six that posted before our sailing. I could go seek out the “lite” version of CNN if I felt like news was important. I could use google to search for trivia answers (I kid, I kid) or whatever else I needed to know, if I could wait the 30 seconds it would take to load.

Video and loading/downloading is where things really started to falter. I could view reels on Instagram, but not anything on YouTube. There was absolutely no way I could stay connected long enough to download a podcast episode or even a PDF. And I could connect to Pandora, but was never able to listen to a full song. It kept losing connectivity or buffering too.

Basic Surf Package Performance

This section is going to be nice and quick, because as soon as I tried “downgrading” to the Basic Surf plan … almost nothing worked. I was miraculously able to run a speed test, though!

Okay, so … 30% worse. But I’ll be honest, I expected this difference to be negligible when determining if tasks were ultimately successful or not. Sure, things would take longer. I’d have to stare at my phone and wait more. But probably they would still work.

WRONG. Instagram posting didn’t work. Marvel Snap didn’t work. Web surfing (including the speed test above) worked 50% of my tries. No email, no Teams, no Slack. The conspiracy theory part of my personality assumed that Disney was prioritizing Premium traffic, and when I managed to get web pages to load, I was getting lucky with my timing.

I’m sorry, but paying $24/day to maybe be able to load web pages 50% of the time, but have everything else fail … is not worth it. And the constant griping overheard any time we walked past the Guest Services desk seems to corroborate my feelings.

Stay Connected Package Performance

The Stay Connected Package … did nothing. Couldn’t run a speed test (it is a web page, after all). Could even get Instagram or Twitter (or LinkedIn for that matter) to load at all. I was paying $12/day to frustrate myself with just trying all of the things and failing. Maybe that’s a form of therapy. I don’t know. But it certainly wasn’t keeping me connected.

That’s about all I can say about this package. I ran through my checklist once in the morning, once in the afternoon, and once in the evening. And I tried it in different locations on the ship because that definitely had an impact on connectivity while using the other plans. But none of the magic trickery worked. This package was worthless.

Reliability and Troubleshooting

If you’ve made it this far in the post, you already know that connectivity and speeds are not impressive. Reliability was even worse. About 8 hours into the first full day of the cruise, while using and testing the Premium Surf package, everything just died. No posting. No surfing. Malarkey. I went to the Guest Services desk during the second dining service (an excellent time with no lines, if you need to visit that desk), and they walked me through the stereotypical IT troubleshooting steps. Turn Wi-Fi off. Turn Wi-Fi on. Turn airplane mode on, turn airplane mode off. Visit iCafe (the service that manages connectivity) and toggle the purchased package off. Toggle it back on. Restart phone. Toss it against the wall (kidding, again). They couldn’t fix it either.

Then, they had me go into iCafe (the service that manages connectivity), and totally log out of the service. Log back in. Disney magic happened, and I was back in business. That only took up 15 minutes of my cruise to figure out. They also admitted that they were having lots of Wi-Fi issues, and had been for several cruises. So there’s that.

From then on, that was the first step I tried when things stopped working. I kid you not – I had to log out of and into iCafe at least once every 2 hours for the rest of the cruise. I collected the data, because of course, and once I figured out the whole log out/log in fix, I averaged doing that “magic trick” every 90 minutes while awake. It usually kicked my Premium Surf package back into working, but didn’t make anything easier on Basic Surf or Stay Connected.

I know that many people feel like that they absolutely must be able to stay connected to the outside world during a cruise. Whether for home/pet safety, or work, or checking in with family, sometimes internet is just a must. But being forced to pay for the most expensive package, with such low speeds, and such frequent dropping, is totally frustrating in what is supposed to be an escape from frustration.

I recognize that connectivity at sea is tough. It’s a technical nightmare. Especially with that many people trying to utilize it at all times. But you should know what to expect – you’re not going to be video-calling friends or coworkers. You may not even be able to check email reliably or audio call at all. If the safety net of potentially being able to connect is worth the $30-$36/day for you, then go for it. Otherwise, you may be better off skipping the hassle completely.

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Becky Gandillon

Becky Gandillon was trained in biomedical engineering, but is now a full-time data and analytics nerd. She loves problem solving and travelling. She and her husband, Jeff, live in St. Louis with their two daughters and they have Disney family movie night every Saturday. You can follow her on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/becky-gandillon/ or instagram @raisingminniemes

5 thoughts on “ Disney Cruise Line Wi-Fi Review ”

What ship were you on and what itinerary?

I am going to be on a couple of 14-15 night cruises in a few months on the Magic and Wonder. I will NEED work connectivity. I am curious if the ship capacity, route, this specific ship technical problems, etc. are factors in performance and connectivity.

This was on the Wonder, and on a San Diego – Cabo itinerary, but I’ve heard that the Wonder had regular issues. Perhaps they’re addressed by now.

That’s good news that the Wonder has converted to the new plans!

Great review.

Maybe sometimes it also depends on route and weather. Rough seas make the satellite connection more difficult to maintain than while docked at Castaway.

Seems like ‘try if you want’ don’t be surprised if it is less than mediocre.

We had the premium package on our cruise over winter break. My kids were able to watch YouTube, but they could not play Roblox. It was slow, but workable.

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Do cruise ships have Wi-Fi? A line-by-line guide to internet access at sea

Do cruise ships have Wi-Fi? Yes, but internet access on cruise ships is both better and worse than you might expect. If you're headed on a cruise vacation and want to stay in touch with family and friends — or stream movies and music on board the ship — it is possible to stay fully connected while at sea. But you'll need to adjust your expectations if you think the connectivity will be similar to a hotel. Connectivity can be slow and spotty, although cruise lines are working to change that.

Ships rely on satellites for their internet connections at sea. The strength of the connection depends on several factors, including where you are in the world and the weather. On many lines, certain locations — such as public spaces near the center of the ship — tend to have better connectivity than other places (like your cabin).

Cruise lines are adopting new technologies to make internet access more reliable — and more affordable. Lines like Carnival Cruise Line, Norwegian Cruise Line, Holland America Line and Royal Caribbean, have installed Starlink in many vessels (fleetwide, in some cases). Starlink technology provides download speeds that range from 40 to over 200 Mbps (megabits per second) and upload speeds that come in at 8 to more than 25 Mbps.

For more cruise news, reviews and tips, sign up for TPG's cruise newsletter .

Here is an overview of what to expect from internet offerings on cruise ships and a line-by-line look at the plans and pricing available on your next cruise vacation.

What types of Wi-Fi plans do cruise lines offer?

Larger mainstream cruise lines typically have several plans available for purchase, with the cheaper plans only supporting email and texting and the pricier plans allowing streaming and Wi-Fi calling. Most upscale and luxury cruise lines offer a complimentary basic Wi-Fi plan to upgrade if you need a faster connection.

Before purchasing a plan, consider how much time you'll be online, how many devices you need to connect (a smartphone, tablet and a laptop?) and how much speed you'll need. If all you want to do is check emails or send texts, you may not need to spend additional money on an upgraded plan at all. Most cruise lines, but not all of them, let you use a one-device plan across multiple devices as long as you're only logged in to one at a time.

Note that you do not need a cruise ship Wi-Fi plan to access the free services — such as ordering food or checking the daily schedule — on a cruise line's app.

Related: Wi-Fi on cruise ships: 5 things to know about internet use on board

Pro tips for using cruise ship Wi-Fi

Before booking your cruise, look for promotions and deals that include basic Wi-Fi. If you can't get cruise ship internet included, don't wait to purchase your internet package until you're on board: It's usually less expensive to purchase Wi-Fi packages before sailing. Buying a package for the entire cruise is typically a better deal than the daily rate.

Keep your phone in airplane mode while on the ship to avoid roaming charges and other fees. Satellite roaming fees are much higher than you realize.

Related: Can you use your cellphone on a cruise?

Download apps, movies and music before your cruise. Not only can you access this entertainment on the flight to your home port, but you will be prepared should the onboard internet be slow on a sea day when you'd like to catch up on your must-watch show or listen to your favorite tunes at the gym.

To find the strongest Wi-Fi signal on the ship, download a network analyzer like NetSpot.

If you don't need to stay connected while on board, head into port and find a restaurant, bar or mall with free Wi-Fi. Ask crew members on the ship about the best places for free Wi-Fi in port; they often know. Or, use apps like WiFi Map that show you locations of nearby hotspots when you're in port.

Related: How can I get Wi-Fi on a cruise for free?

If you're struggling to upload photos on a sea day when everyone is on board and online, wait until folks are off the ship in port to try again. Early morning and late at night, when people are sleeping, are also good times to find faster connections.

Line-by-line guide to cruise ship internet access

Want to know what's available at sea before booking your next cruise? Here's a list of the available Wi-Fi plans and pricing for each of the major mainstream and luxury cruise lines. Most prices listed are per person, per day for the length of the cruise, and for one device unless otherwise indicated. Note that cruise lines can update pricing and plans at any time.

Price: Starting at $19.95 per day

Azamara 's internet access is provided by AT&T and Wireless Maritime Service. Guests on board the line's ships can choose to use one of their own devices to access Wi-Fi, such as a laptop or smartphone, or they can log in at one of the onboard Touch workstations.

You can purchase prepaid packages during the first two days of the voyage, and pricing is based on the number of minutes — or days — guests will need access to the internet. The plans are only available for one device at a time, and unused minutes are nonrefundable. Prepaid options are priced at $19.99 for one hour of usage. A one-day pass is available at $29.95 for a full day. The daily sessions will end within 24 hours of purchase.

If guests buy a Full Cruise Unlimited Package, the cost is $19.95 per day. This plan can be purchased at any time during the sailing, but guests will be charged for the full length of the voyage.

Members of the line's loyalty rewards program, Azamara Circle , receive benefits and perks for internet options based on their level. Members who book a Suite or Verandah Plus category can also combine their loyalty and suite Wi-Fi minutes. Perks of membership range from a 5% savings, including 30 free Wi-Fi minutes, or 20% toward a Full Voyage Unlimited Package at the Azamara Circle Adventurer level. For Discoverer Platinum members, there's a 100% savings on Wi-Fi that provides a Full Voyage Unlimited Package, no matter the category of cabin or length of the voyage.

Carnival Cruise Line

Price: starting at $12.75 per day.

Carnival Cruise Line offers guests the option of three plans via the line's satellite providers.

The Social Wi-Fi Plan provides access to the most popular social media apps, including Instagram, Facebook, WhatsApp, Facebook Messenger and others. Prices start at $12.75 per day (per person) if purchased pre-cruise. The onboard purchase price is $15 per day.

The Value Wi-Fi plan, at $19.55 per day pre-cruise (onboard price is $23 per day), includes the Social plan features and allows guests to browse the internet and send and receive emails.

The fastest connection available (at three times the speed of the Value plan) is with the Premium Wi-Fi plan. At $21.25 (or $25 on board) per day, guests will be able to place video calls and stream music and videos.

You can also purchase a single 24-hour pass for the Value plan at $25 or the Premium plan at $35.

Celebrity Cruises

Price: Starting at $20 per day

Celebrity Cruises uses Starlink as a provider for internet service across its entire fleet, with the exception of its Galapagos-based ships.

For cabins booked as cruise-only fares, ranging from inside cabins to Concierge class, Wi-Fi can be purchased separately on board the ship at $20 per day per device for a Basic plan, which allows guests to browse the web, send and receive emails and text via messaging apps. The Premium plan costs $35 per day per device and adds the capability for live streaming, video chats and more. With either plan, there's a 10% savings when it's booked pre-cruise.

If guests choose the all-inclusive cruise price , fares include a Classic Drinks Package (with nonalcoholic and alcoholic beverages), Basic Wi-Fi access and gratuities. AquaClass cabins always have Basic Wi-Fi included in the fare; suites in The Retreat always come with complimentary Premium Wi-Fi. If you have Basic Wi-Fi included in your cruise fare, you can upgrade to the Premium Package for $9.99 daily.

Benefits of the line's Captain's Club membership include discounts of between 10% off a Wi-Fi package for Classic-level members to a complimentary Premium Package for Zenith-level guests.

Cunard Line

Price: starting at $18 per day.

All Cunard ships are equipped with Starlink technology. You can purchase internet plans in advance of your sailing or once on board by logging onto the ship's Wi-Fi and going to the line's My Voyage app.

The Essential Internet plan is priced at $24 per day when bought on a day-by-day basis or $18 per day for the entire voyage. This option allows you to browse the internet, send and receive emails and stay connected on social media platforms via text and photos.

The Premium Internet plan includes video streaming and a three times faster connection speed than the Essential plan. The cost for this option is $36 per day, or $24 per day for the whole voyage.

The pricing for either plan is for one device at a time, and these plans can be purchased at any time during your sailing. If you want to connect to the internet using two devices at once, you can purchase an additional plan with a 10% discount.

Cunard World Club members may be eligible to receive credit toward internet on the ships: $45 per person for Gold members, $80 per person for Platinum members and $135 per person for Diamond members.

Disney Cruise Line

Price: Starting at $16 per day

Disney Cruise Line previously offered varied internet plans for different ships and cruise destinations but now offers standard packages across its fleet.

Guests can choose among three different packages, starting with the Stay Connected plan at $18 per day when purchased on a day-to-day basis and $16 per day for the entire cruise. This option will provide enough bandwidth to post photos and send texts on social media sites like Facebook, Instagram, X (formerly called Twitter), Snapchat and Linkedin.

Basic Surf includes the benefits of the lower-priced plan (posting photos on social media) and the ability to surf the internet and send and receive emails. It costs $28 per day when purchased on a day-to-day basis and $24 per day for the entire sailing.

The Premium Surf plan offers the fastest connection speeds and features access to Apple Music and Spotify. It costs $42 daily (on a day-to-day basis) and $34 for the entire cruise. Guests will also be able to make calls on Zoom or FaceTime and view short-form videos on sites like TikTok and YouTube, along with other benefits like access to emails, web surfing and more.

None of the packages support video streaming on platforms like Disney+, Hulu and Netflix. Discounted pricing is available for up to four devices.

Holland America Line

Price: starting at $17.15 per day.

Holland America completed the installation of Starlink across its entire fleet in December 2023, which enhanced connectivity for the line's guests and crew. The line offers three Wi-Fi plans.

The Surf Voyage package is the most popular option at $17.15 per day per device and provides access to most social media websites and applications.

The Premium package, at $34.99 per day, per device, includes audio and messaging apps, and the ability to surf the web and check emails.

The Stream package is $45.99 per day, per device, and includes streaming capability and all the benefits of the Surf Voyage and Premium packages.

If you're considering other onboard expenses, the line's "Have it All" Premium Cruise Package is an economical way to get internet access and a Signature Beverage Package (with nonalcoholic and alcoholic drinks), specialty dining and a credit for shore excursions. The package is available on most sailings for $55 per person, per day.

Holland America's 5-Star Mariner guests receive a $30 credit toward a Wi-Fi package. Early Booking Benefits for Grand Voyages include 5,000 minutes of complimentary internet access in select suite categories.

MSC Cruises

Price: Starting at $17.59 per day

MSC Cruises offers two internet packages with a 20% discount for booking ahead of your sailing.

MSC's Browse Internet Cruise Package includes unlimited data, 24-hour internet access, chat and texts, and the ability to post photos and send and receive emails. Pricing starts at $17.59 per day per device (pre-cruise cost) and $21.99 per day if you buy it on board.

The Browse & Stream Cruise Package comes with the additional capability to video chat, stream music and movies, and post videos and live stream on social media. Pricing for this option is $21.59 per day, per device. The per-device price drops when purchasing either plan for multiple devices. Note that MSC does not let you switch from one device to another on the same plan, so make sure to sign in to your plan for the first time on the device you intend to use it on.

One-day internet packages are $29.99 per day (for Browse) and $34.99 (for Browse & Stream).

Voyagers Club members also receive discounts on internet packages. Guests sailing in MSC Yacht Club cabins receive a complimentary Browse package for two devices. It's possible to upgrade the package for an additional charge.

Norwegian Cruise Line

Price: starting at $29.99 per day.

Norwegian Cruise Line 's most popular internet plan is the Unlimited Wi-Fi Package. It costs $29.99 per day for one device. You can add a second device for an additional $15.99; discounted pricing is available for up to four devices. This package provides web surfing capabilities and access to email and social media apps (but not TikTok).

If you take advantage of the Free at Sea promotional cruise fare, you'll receive a number of free Unlimited Wi-Fi minutes, depending on the length of your sailing.

The Premium Package starts at $39.99 per day per device (add a second device for $25.99 per day). This package features Unlimited Wi-Fi inclusions, as well as streaming on Netflix, Amazon Prime Video, Hulu, TikTok and more. Discounted pricing is available for up to four devices. Guests can purchase an upgraded package before they sail or on board the ship.

Loyal cruisers and members of the Latitudes Rewards Program receive discounts of up to 25% on Wi-Fi packages based on their membership tier level. Benefits begin with a 15% discount at the Platinum level.

It's also possible to rent a laptop on the ship or surf the internet at one of the workstations in the fleet's 24-hour Internet cafe. Any internet package can be used with a laptop rental or at the onboard cafes.

Oceania Cruises

Price: complimentary to $9.99 per day.

Starlink service is currently available on Oceania Cruises ' Vista and Riviera, with a fleetwide expansion of the service to be completed by the end of 2024.

The line provides free, unlimited internet access with all cruise fares. Guests can log on to the internet throughout the ship, including in their cabins or suites or in public spaces and outdoor areas. They can also use the computers at the Oceania@Sea Internet Center on board their ships if they don't have their own device.

Two free logins are provided per cabin or suite for use on one device at a time. Plans that include access for additional devices can be purchased on the ship, and an upgrade to streaming services for movies or music is available at a cost of $9.99 per day.

Princess Cruises

Price: Starting at $24.99 per day

Princess Cruises claims the "fastest Wi-Fi at sea" with its MedallionNet technology , with download speeds of 12.6 Mbps and upload speeds of 1.9 Mbps. Carnival Corporation and Princess achieve this speed by working with SES Networks, a leading satellite connectivity provider.

With this internet access, you can check email, chat, surf the internet, FaceTime with your kids and pets, post photos and stream shows and music with speeds similar to what you might have at home.

Guests can choose from one-device to four-device packages starting at $24.99 per day that you can purchase through the MedallionClass app pre-cruise. Discounted pricing is available for up to four devices. Platinum and Elite members of Princess Cruises' loyalty program receive a 50% discount on plans that will appear as an onboard credit on the ship.

Guests can also purchase either a bundled Princess Plus or Princess Premier package, which are priced at about a 50% savings of the overall value when purchased pre-cruise through the MedallionClass app. Princess Plus includes a beverage package (with alcoholic drinks up to $15 each), Wi-Fi for a single device and crew gratuities. The cost for this plan is $60 per person, per day.

With Princess Premier, guests will receive the Premier Beverage Package (with drinks up to $20 each), Wi-Fi for multiple devices, crew appreciation, two evenings of specialty dining, a photo package and a chance to win prizes like a free onboard wine tasting, dinner at the Chef's Table or even a free cruise or cash. This package is priced at $80 per person a day.

With the latter option, you can also share the Wi-Fi availability with other passengers in the cabin who do not have Princess Premier.

Regent Seven Seas

Starlink service is currently available on Regent Seven Seas Cruises' Seven Seas Mariner and Seven Seas Grandeur , with a fleetwide expansion of the service to be completed by the end of 2024.

The line offers complimentary unlimited internet access throughout its fleet. Passengers have wireless access in most of the suites on the ships. However, bandwidth-heavy applications such as Netflix, Skype, YouTube and VPN are not included in the free plans.

One login is provided per suite for use with one device at a time. Gold and higher-level members of the Seven Seas Society and guests in Concierge Suites and higher receive up to four logins/devices per suite.

If guests are interested in streaming, they can pay for a higher-bandwidth plan at the cost of $9.99 per day.

Royal Caribbean

Price: Starting at $25.99 per day

Royal Caribbean touts its Voom internet as the "fastest internet at sea," with speeds six times faster than Wi-Fi plans you'll find on other cruise ships worldwide. However, some ships have been upgraded to Starlink service, with a fleetwide expansion of the technology to be completed by the end of 2024.

Royal Caribbean discontinued its basic Surf package and currently offers one plan — the Surf + Stream package. With it, passengers can surf the internet, send and receive emails, use messenger apps, live stream and post on social media and stream music and movies while on board the ship. The plan (for one device) starts at $25.99, and unlimited voyage packages for one device are $19.99 per day.

Passengers can receive a discount by purchasing packages that bundle a drink package with internet access.

Crown & Anchor Society members receive special discounts on pricing ranging from one day of Wi-Fi free to Diamond level members and two free days for Diamond Plus and Pinnacle members.

Related: How fast is the internet on Royal Caribbean ships? We put it to the test

Price: Complimentary to $19.95 per day

Seabourn provides complimentary, unlimited access to the internet to guests during their voyages. The complimentary Surf Wi-Fi Package provides unlimited access on one device per person. This plan includes general web browsing, email access and posting to social media accounts.

Should passengers need faster speeds and more bandwidth, the Stream Wi-Fi Package is an upgraded option that allows up to four devices and offers additional connectivity such as video streaming, internet calling and VPN/cloud storage.

Diamond-level members of Seabourn Club and guests booked in Penthouse and Premium suites receive the Stream plan on a complimentary basis. Passengers in other suite categories can upgrade for a charge of $19.95 per day.

Silversea Cruises

Price: Complimentary to $29.99 per day

All Silversea Cruises vessels feature Starlink connectivity on board. Silversea's standard internet access is complimentary in Vista and Verandah Suites, while premium Wi-Fi (the line's fastest Wi-Fi connection) is complimentary for guests booked in Medallion, Silver, Royal, Grand and Owner's Suites.

On the expedition ships, the level of internet access is also determined by the suite category, except for Silver Origin, which has complimentary standard Wi-Fi for all guests. For guests on Silversea's full world cruises or Grand Voyages, all passengers receive complimentary premium internet access for the sailing.

On all voyages — and with both types of internet access — the complimentary Wi-Fi is unlimited for two devices used at the same time.

If guests have standard internet access but want to upgrade to the premium plan, the price is $29.99 per day (covering two devices connected at the same time).

Price: Complimentary

All of Viking 's ocean ships offer complimentary Wi-Fi. Guests can connect to the internet via a personal device such as a smartphone or laptop, or they can use one of the ship's computers in the Business Center, located on Deck 1. The line relies on a VSAT satellite terminal — what Viking says is "one of the best solutions" for internet connection at sea. VSAT can provide wide variances in speed depending on weather and location.

Viking's expedition ships and river ships in Europe, Egypt and the Mississippi also feature free internet access. On Mekong River cruises in Southeast Asia, the line advises that the best option is to use the public computers on the ship to stay connected, but the internet service is limited throughout the region. Viking also asks that guests limit large uploads, downloads and streaming so that Wi-Fi is more accessible for everyone on the sailing.

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Disney Cruise Line Transitioning to Usage Type Based Internet Plans

Your wish for better internet connectivity onboard a Disney Cruise may be coming true. Reports indicate a new internet service provider and internet access plans are now available on the Disney Magic.

Guests aboard the Disney Magic in Europe are currently offered a new set of Internet options starting at $10/day (a 24 hour period). The new Internet offering are based on type of usage versus a measured data plan such as a 1GB plan. The package tiers are Stay Connected, Basic Surf, and Premium Surf.

Special thanks to DLP Town Square for sharing the details and screenshots shown below. Go check their Twitter feed as they are already tweeting from the Disney Magic’s Mediterranean cruise that departed Barcelona today.

Stay Connected

Stay connected on social media with our most affordable internet plan. With this plan, you can:

• Post text and pictures on popular websites and applications
• like Facebook, Facebook Messenger, Twitter, Instagram,
• Snapchat, Pinterest, Linkedln and Tumblr

The Stay Connected plan does not support surfing the web, accessing email or video streaming

Enjoy all the benefits of the Stay Connected plan – plus, full web access. With this plan, you can:

• Surf the web, read the news, check the weather and visit your other favorite websites
• Send and receive emails
• Post text and pictures on popular websites and applications like Facebook, Facebook Messenger, Twitter, Instagram, Snapchat, Pinterest, Linkedln and Tumblr

The Basic Surf plan does not support long-form video streaming platforms such as Netfilx and Hulu.

Premium Surf

Experience faster connection speeds and access to music platforms such as Pandora, Spotify and Apple Music – plus, all the benefits of the Basic Surf plan. With this plan, you can:

• Enjoy faster connection speeds
• Make video phone calls on platforms FaceTime, Zoom and more
• Listen to your favorite music streaming platforms like Pandora, Spotify and Apple Music
• View short-form on platforms like YouTube, Snapchat and TikTok

The Premium Surf plan does not support long-form video streaming platforms such as Netfilx and Hulu.

When selecting an option you are presented with a per cruise or per 24 hour option along with the number of devices you wish to connect using the selected plan.

As of today, this is rolling out on the Disney Magic, but guests on the Disney Dream are still offered the previous MB data plans.

Based on the external IP address of a guest I spoke with onboard the Disney Magic, when logged into the Disney Cruise Line internet package, they are connecting through SES in Maryland in the United States. SES is a provider of satellite internet to various sectors including the cruise industry .

As the sun sets, passengers post snaps of the day’s excursion, others stream live news before dinner. Below deck, a crew member video calls his daughter a bedtime story, starting his shift happy that he’s said goodnight. Not one of their screens, and the thousands of others on board, suffer from delay, drop out or poor quality. It is the difference between a five star and a four-star review. O3b mPOWER , the industry’s most advanced satellite constellation, enables this new era of guest connectivity with unrivalled performance, flexibility, resilience and scalability.

At this time, Disney Cruise Line has not made any public announcements, or updated their website to reflect any of these changes – currently they are still referencing Connect@Sea on this page . However, this very will could be a slow roll out across the fleet and culminate with the launch of the Disney Wish this summer.

Have you tried the new Internet packages onboard a Disney Cruise? Let us know what you think about the revised offering in the comments.

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22 Replies to “Disney Cruise Line Transitioning to Usage Type Based Internet Plans”

I hope it rolled out this summer on the Fantasy and Wish

The Wish will launch with these types of plans.

Still seems expensive for what you get. I enjoy no service, you actually get to meet and talk to people. I guess soon enough I will long for the day that people didn’t have their face stuffed in their cell phone all the time.

I’m curious. Can I choose different options each day or do I have to use the same plan for the entire length of the cruise?

It appears you would sign up for the length of cruise with a specific plan which I believe is upgradable, but I don’t believe you can go up/down plans during the voyage. In this case, I’d recommend going with the a la carte option and picking a plan that fits your needs the best each day. This is still new so details are just surfacing.

You can pay for 24 hours or for the duration of the cruise.

Better Internet service wound be great but these new plans are another money grab from Disney. The old plans our family could share a package with but these new plans, one is paying per device. Yeah it is similar to other cruise lines, why does DCL want to be like the others?

This must have just started yesterday. We were on the Magic from may 21st – 28th and only had the standard packages. I would have loved to have had this!

Scott… would you mind if I put the link to this article in my FB group for our November Magic sailing? It looks like this might be the wave of the future. Thanks.

I wonder which plan would be needed to use imessaging.

If you have a 1-device plan, can you connect multiple devices 1 at a time like you could with the old plans an like you can with RCL’s plans?

This is my understanding that the device limit is simultaneous devices. Simply logout of one device and log in on another. I will have a full rundown shortly once I am able to test the new offering on the Disney Wish.

Were you able to test it out? Did you post an article? If so, I missed it.

I have tested it out over 2 sailings, but I have not written up my thoughts on it yet. I made a note on my list of outstanding topics.

Any more news about this, Scott? Specifically can you log out of one device and into another?

Working on an article now.

I’ll be on the Fantasy in January if you need me to test anything.

Curious which bundle would be needed in order to use the Disney Collect, Marvel Collect, and Star Wars Card Trader apps by Topps?

Has the new Wi-Fi rolled out beyond the Magic and the Wish yet, or is it currently limited to those two ships?

Wondering the same. I’ll be on the Fantasy in 4 days and will update if there’s no new info by then.

Just got off the Fantasy. We were the last cruise with the per MB packages. They will have the new per day packages moving forward.

The info supplied by DCL uses “voyage” not “cruise”. Are they using the words interchangeably?

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Disney Cruise Internet Packages – What You Need to Know 2024

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In 2023 Disney Cruise Line introduced new internet packages.

These new Disney Cruise Internet Packages were a welcome change for the ships, which have up to now only offered expensive data usage-based options.

However, not long after these new packages were introduced, there were significant price increases.

Here I will look at what the options are and how much the Disney Cruise Internet costs.

For historical reasons, I will keep the original prices as a comparison.

What Are The Disney Cruise Internet Packages?

Disney Cruise guests can purchase Internet for either:

• A 24-hour period

As you will see from the prices below, there is a 20% discount on per-voyage pricing compared with 24-hour pricing.

If you decide to upgrade to a Voyage plan mid-voyage you will only be charged for the remaining days. However, you do need to be aware that you will be charged for a complete day no matter what time on that day you choose the Per Voyage package.

So if you change your package at 11.59 pm to a Per Voyage package you are going to be charged a whole day, even though you only had a minute of that day left.

Adding additional devices to an Internet package will receive a 20% discount.

When Does This Increase Happen?

The new internet packages are now available on all five of the Disney Cruise Ships.

Disney Wonder was the last one to be upgraded, but this happened in the dry dock just before she sailed for the Transpacific, Australia and New Zealand Cruises in October 2023.

• Disney Magic  – 7/31/23 
• Disney Wish  – 7/31/23 
• Disney Dream  – 8/1/23 
• Disney Fantasy  – 8/5/23
• Disney Wonder -10/23

There are three choices of internet package:

Disney Cruise Stay Connected Plan Cost

The old price was $10 per person per day

New Pricing

• $16/day when purchased for the full voyage 
• $18/day when purchased for 24 hours 

Stay connected on social media with our most affordable internet plan. With this plan, you can:

• Post text and pictures on popular websites and applications like Facebook, Facebook Messenger, Twitter, Instagram, Snapchat, Pinterest, Linkedin and Tumblr

The  Stay Connected  plan  does not  support surfing the web, accessing email, or video streaming

Disney Cruise Basic Surf

The old price was $20 per person per day

• $24/day when purchased for the full voyage 
• $28/day when purchased for 24 hours 

Enjoy all the benefits of the Stay Connected plan – plus, full web access. With this plan, you can:

• Surf the web, read the news, check the weather, and visit your other favorite websites
• Send and receive emails

The  Basic Surf plan   does not  support long-form video streaming platforms such as Netflix and Hulu.

Disney Cruise Premium Surf

The old price was $30 per person per day

• $34/day when purchased for the full voyage 
• $42/day when purchased for 24 hours 

Experience faster connection speeds and access to music platforms such as Pandora, Spotify and Apple Music – plus, all the benefits of the Basic Surf plan. With this plan, you can:

• Enjoy faster connection speeds
• Make video phone calls on platforms FaceTime, Zoom, and more
• Listen to your favorite music streaming platforms like Pandora, Spotify, and Apple Music
• View short-form on platforms like YouTube, Snapchat, and TikTok

The  Premium Surf plan does not  support long-form video streaming platforms such as Netflix and Hulu.

Guests can select the number of devices that they wish to add to the package.

Avoid These Disney Cruise Money Mistakes

Disney Cruise Internet Packages for Concierge Guests

Disney Cruise Concierge Guests will enjoy an internet package as part of their concierge perks.

The package varies according to the category of concierge stateroom that the guests are staying in.

All concierge guests will have the opportunity to upgrade to a higher internet package category if they wish.

Family Concierge Stateroom Category 3 Stateroom Internet Package

Guest in Family Concierge Staterooms will have the Stay Connected internet package included for 2 guests in the stateroom.

These 2 guests can pay the upgrade price for a higher package.

If any other guests in the stateroom wish to purchase an internet package they will pay full price for whichever level they want.

One and Two Bedroom Suites Category 2 Stateroom Internet Package

Guests in One and Two Bedroom Concierge Staterooms will have the Basic Surf Package included for 2 guests in the Stateroom.

If those 2 guests want the Premium Surf package they will pay the upgrade price.

All other guests in the stateroom will pay the applicable pricing for their own internet package.

Royal Suites and the Disney Wish Tower Suite Category 1 Stateroom Internet Package

All guests in the Royal Suite on all ships and the Tower Suite on the Disney Wish will have the Premium Surf Disney Cruise Internet Package included for the length of their stay.

Is There Wi-Fi on Castaway Cay?

Wanting to connect to Wi-Fi on Disney’s private island Castaway Cay ?

Castaway Cay does not have a free internet connection. You will have to use your Disney Cruise Internet Package to use the Wi-Fi on Castaway Cay.

Really though who needs it on this beautiful island? It’s one of the only places where you really can escape from reality!

What do you think of the new Disney Cruise Internet Packages?

HOW MUCH DOES A DISNEY WISH CRUISE COST?

Alison Meacham is the founder of EverythingMouse Disney Blog. For over 15 years she has shared her love of Disney Parks, Disney Cruises and Universal Orlando.  In over 30 years of Disney Travel she has spent countless months in Disney Parks and has sailed on over 45 cruises. A British native and now a United States resident she splits her time between California, Florida and the UK. And spends a serious amount of time sailing the seven seas. She helps over 200,000 people per month follow their Disney travel dreams.

Thursday 1st of September 2022

In concierge family state rooms you get 24 hours free after that you pay.

Saturday 2nd of July 2022

Curious which bundle would be needed in order to use the Disney Collect, Marvel Collect, and Star Wars Card Trader apps by Topps?

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Travel and Fun Things To Do

New Wifi For Disney Fantasy

Disney began rolling out a new hopefully improved wifi system across the fleet. Disney Magic was the first to get the update in May . The Disney Wish debuted with the new wifi. The Disney Fantasy is expected to have the updated wifi on July 30, 2022

There will be three new packages available.

• The Stay Connected  allows guests to  access social media  for either $12 per day, purchased by the day, or $10 per day for the length of the cruise. Note: This plan  does not support surfing the web, accessing email or video streaming .
• The Basic Surf  package includes  social media and access to the web and email  for $24 a day, purchased by the day, or $20 per day for the length of the cruise. Note:  This plan does not support long-form video streaming platforms such as Netflix and Hulu.
• The Premium Surf package includes social media, web and email access, video streaming, and music streaming for $36 a day, purchased by the day, or $30 per day for the length of the cruise. Note:  This plan does not support long-form video streaming platforms such as Netflix and Hulu.

You can choose to pay for 24 hours of service or for the full voyage. There is a discount to choose the whole voyage. The charge is also per device there are some savings when you add a device 10% off for 2 devices up to 15% off for 4 devices.

I have read some mixed reviews about the new system. Most are happy to have unlimited service, but many have complained that it is slow.

Are you sailing on the Wish or hoping to check out the latest menus from the ship. Every Monday I post an updated list of the current Disney Cruise discounts

Make sure you keep checking back or sign up for our newsletter for the latest Disney Cruise News and Rumours like the recent post Is Disney Cruise Line Headed to Australia?

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Starlink on cruise ships: Which lines have faster internet connections on board?

N o matter how far your cruise roams, staying connected to the internet can be as important for some cruisers as oxygen and water. Whether you're keen on live-streaming penguins from your balcony on an Antarctica cruise, catching up on your favorite TV series or hopping on a Zoom call in the middle of the Pacific, connectivity and high-speed access are now considered essentials when cruising.

In the past, cruise lines struggled to keep up with the demand for seamless connectivity at sea. In the middle of an ocean, ships had to rely on satellite systems that could be unreliable, prohibitively expensive and maddeningly slow. Satellite systems allotted only so much broadband for each ship, and every ship carried thousands of people, each with multiple devices.

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A better solution was required. Enter Starlink, the world's first and largest satellite constellation using a low Earth orbit to deliver broadband internet. Part of Elon Musk's SpaceX program, Starlink now provides many cruise ships with bandwidth that can support streaming, online gaming, video calls and more worldwide. Starlink debuted in 2019 and has quickly revolutionized how hundreds of cruise ships provide internet access, boosting connectivity and capacity as ships roam the world.

Will your next cruise offer landlike Wi-Fi speeds? Here is everything you need to know about Starlink on cruise ships.

How does Starlink work?

Compared to standard communications satellites, which orbit from 22,000 miles away, Starlink's thousands of satellites orbit the atmosphere from about 340 miles above the Earth's surface. With much closer proximity to Earth, Starlink's data connections offer stronger and faster connections and provide the opportunity for more bandwidth on cruise ships.

The coverage of the Starlink satellites is extensive and growing, with more than 5,400 satellites currently in orbit and plans in future years to reach up to 42,000 satellites in orbit at once. Traditional satellite networks have a much more limited fleet and reach, especially in some of the ocean's most remote areas. Starlink is the world's largest satellite constellation, with near-complete coverage of all the world's oceans and waterways.

The Starlink system is affixed to ships as a series of flat panels positioned on upper decks, replacing the now antiquated domes often placed near the ship's funnel and radar masts.

Related: Wi-Fi on cruise ships: 5 things to know about internet use on board

How fast is Starlink internet access?

Starlink's website estimates download speeds that range from 40 to over 200 Mbps and upload speeds that come in at 8 to more than 25 Mbps, with a latency of less than 99 milliseconds. These are wide-ranging estimates that don't factor in cruise ship-based throttling, cruise ship capacity, global positioning and the costs and challenges of outfitting a cruise ship with bow-to-stern Wi-Fi connectivity.

The industrial-strength steel frames and fireproof materials used throughout the ship make a strong, consistent signal throughout a cruise ship an industry-wide challenge. There will be patches on a ship, regardless of which line you're sailing, where you'll find a weaker signal. Signals are often at their strongest in the main public gathering areas.

Similar to traditional satellites, severe weather can be a factor in Starlink connections while at sea. Intense storms can bring temporary service interruptions or reduced speeds, while heavy rain or snowfall can cause signal attenuation, which might cause a brief loss of connectivity.

Cruises with Starlink

Here's a full rundown of all the major cruise lines sailing with the new Starlink technology. How much will the connectivity cost you? Check TPG's guide to Wi-Fi access on cruise ships.

Note: Starlink on cruises can be a white label service, depending on the line. While the cruise line might not advertise that it uses the new Wi-Fi technology, the list below will help to identify which lines are sailing with Starlink.

Azamara 's fleet features Starlink Wi-Fi at an additional cost. There is one level of bandwidth available.

Carnival Cruise Line

Carnival Cruise Line 's entire fleet features Starlink Wi-Fi at an additional cost. There are three levels of bandwidth available: Social Wi-Fi (with access only to popular social media and airline websites), Value Wi-Fi (for email, news, weather, banking and other basic websites) and Premium Wi-Fi (for streaming and high-bandwidth usage).

Celebrity Cruises

Celebrity Cruises ' entire fleet features Starlink Wi-Fi at an additional cost. There are two levels of bandwidth available: Basic Wi-Fi (for social media, email, web browsing and internet-based messaging) and Premium Wi-Fi (for streaming and high-bandwidth usage).

Cunard 's entire fleet features Starlink Wi-Fi at an additional cost. There are two levels of bandwidth available: Essential (for social media, email, web browsing and internet-based messaging) and Premium (for streaming and high-bandwidth usage).

Disney Cruise Line

Disney Cruise Line does not currently use Starlink Wi-Fi.

Holland America

Holland America offers fleetwide Starlink Wi-Fi. There are three levels of bandwidth available: Surf (for social media, email, web browsing and internet-based messaging), Premium (for Wi-Fi audio and video calls) and Stream (for streaming and high-bandwidth usage).

Lindblad Expeditions-National Geographic

Lindblad Expedition offers complimentary, basic Starlink Wi-Fi to all guests aboard their ships, with the exception of Delfin II. There are two levels of bandwidth available for purchase: Enhanced (for social media, email, web browsing and internet-based messaging) and Premium (for streaming and high-bandwidth usage).

MSC Cruises

MSC Cruises is currently rolling out Starlink throughout its fleet, with two-thirds of the line's ships currently sailing with the upgraded service. The ships in the fleet that do not have the service include MSC Opera and MSC World Europa (both will receive Starlink in the coming weeks) and MSC Armonia, MSC Bellissima, MSC Musica, MSC Sinfonia and MSC Splendida (scheduled to receive Starlink before the summer 2024 season.)

There are two levels of bandwidth available for purchase: the Browse Internet Cruise Package (for social media, email, web browsing and internet-based messaging) and the Browse & Stream Cruise Package (for streaming and high-bandwidth usage).

Norwegian Cruise Line

Norwegian Cruise Line is currently rolling out Starlink throughout its fleet this year, with select ships presently sailing with the upgraded service. Currently, the ships with upgraded internet include Norwegian Viva, Norwegian Prima, Norwegian Encore, Norwegian Getaway, Norwegian Breakaway, Norwegian Epic and Norwegian Pearl.

NCL offers two levels of bandwidth available for purchase: the Unlimited Wi-Fi Package and the Unlimited Premium Wi-Fi Package. As part of the line's Free at Sea promotion , guests can receive a limited number of Wi-Fi minutes for free.

Oceania Cruises

Oceania Cruises is rolling out Starlink Wi-Fi on all its ships and will have its entire fleet outfitted with the service by the end of 2024. Oceania Cruises offers fleetwide basic complimentary internet with a premium option available for streaming.

Princess Cruises

Princess Cruises ' fleet features MedallionNet, the only Wi-Fi network in the cruise industry that combines multi-orbit satellites — Geostationary Earth Orbit (GEO), Mid-Earth Orbit (MEO) and Low Earth Orbit (LEO/Starlink) with 5G terrestrial networks to deliver a strong connection regardless of ship location. There is one level of bandwidth available.

Regent Seven Seas Cruises

Starlink Wi-Fi can currently be found on two Regent Seven Seas ships, Seven Seas Mariner and Seven Seas Grandeur. The entire Regent Seven Seas fleet will be equipped with Starlink Wi-Fi by the end of 2024. There are two levels of bandwidth available on Regent Seven Seas: A complimentary basic package for emails and news and an upgraded package for streaming services and high-bandwidth usage that's available for a fee.

Royal Caribbean

Royal Caribbean 's entire fleet features Starlink Wi-Fi at an additional cost. There is one level of bandwidth available.

Seabourn offers fleetwide complimentary Starlink Wi-Fi. There is one level of bandwidth available.

Silversea Cruises

Silversea Cruises ' entire fleet features Starlink Wi-Fi. There are two levels of bandwidth available: Standard Internet (for social media, email, web browsing and internet-based messaging) and Premium Internet (for streaming and high-bandwidth usage). Your suite and ship class determine which option you receive at no extra charge. Upgrades in service are available for an additional fee.

Viking 's entire fleet features Starlink Wi-Fi at no additional cost. There is one level of bandwidth, though the line advises users that it can limit heavy-bandwidth usage to ensure all have equal access.

Virgin Voyages

Virgin Voyages ' entire fleet features Starlink Wi-Fi at no additional cost. The included plan allows for social media, email, web browsing and internet-based messaging. There is an upgraded Premium bandwidth option available for streaming and high-bandwidth usage for an additional fee.

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Editorial disclaimer: Opinions expressed here are the author’s alone, not those of any bank, credit card issuer, airline or hotel chain, and have not been reviewed, approved or otherwise endorsed by any of these entities.

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