For some people, a cruise is an opportunity to escape from the grasp that the internet has over our daily lives. For others, the idea of a week (or longer) without access to emails and social media is a nightmare scenario.
Those people needn’t worry, because Royal Caribbean have some great Wi-Fi packages. These will help you stay connected during your voyage, whether you want to catch up on the news or stream your favourite movies from your stateroom.
And it gets better, too – Royal Caribbean is one of the early adopters of Starlink, bringing satellite internet to the fleet for some of the fastest speeds.
Royal Caribbean Wi-Fi Cost
The cost of Voom Wi-Fi packages on a Royal Caribbean ship can vary depending on a number of factors. Expect to pay around $20 to $26 per day for the package.
The pricing’s a little complicated, but first, let’s look at the internet package on offer and what you get.
Voom Surf + Stream Voyage
The Voom Surf + Steam Wi-Fi package is Royal Caribbean’s internet package. It’s a fast package that is designed to let you:
- video chat
- live stream on social media
- access streaming services to watch video content or stream music.
There used to be two Royal Caribbean Wi-Fi packages you could choose from, with a more basic ‘Voom Surf’ package on offer that was a bit cheaper.
However, since the introduction of Starlink, there is now just one Voom internet package for guests: the Voom Surf + Stream option. The Voom Surf package is no longer available.
Royal Caribbean Wi-Fi Pricing Explained
Just like the price of Royal Caribbean drinks packages, the price of Royal Caribbean Wi-Fi changes all the time. It varies depending on the ship, the sailing and when you purchase it.
On average, the Voom Surf + Stream package costs $20 per day, but it can be a couple of dollars more or less than that. That’s the price if you pay for your full cruise. If you just want a 24-hour pass, you’ll have to pay a lot more.
As a rough guide, you should expect to pay somewhere in the region of $33 for the Surf + Stream Package.
But then it gets a little more confusing, because you can save money for additional devices. If you buy a family plan for five devices, you could save even more – bringing down the average Royal Caribbean Voom cost.
If you want the best deals, pre-book your internet access before you sail. Discounts will vary depending on your sailing, so I can’t tell you exactly what it’ll cost. But booking in advance on the Royal Caribbean Cruise Planner will always be cheaper than buying it onboard the ship.
Do Royal Caribbean Cruise Ships Have Free Wi-Fi?
Generally, Royal Caribbean cruise ships don’t have free Wi-Fi access, and guests have to pay for it. The only exception is guests who have booked a Star or Sky Royal Suite Class suite, where each guest gets one free Surf + Stream package.
You can get some free internet access if you’re a loyal Royal Caribbean cruiser. Guests who reach the Diamond or Diamond Plus tiers of the Crown & Anchor Society get one or two free days of internet, respectively. Anyone who manages to reach the very exclusive Pinnacle Club tier gets free unlimited access for one device throughout their cruise.
There are some ways you can enjoy free Wi-Fi access during your voyage, including when you’re in port. You can read more about those here: How to get free Wi-Fi on a Royal Caribbean cruise.
Does The Royal Caribbean App Work Without Wi-Fi?
You don’t need an internet package for the Royal Caribbean app to work. It also won’t use your own mobile data, so you won’t have roaming charges. Just connect to the ship’s Wi-Fi to use the app for free.
It’s wise to download the app well in advance of your cruise. You can add all of your details to make checking in much quicker and easier. It also has lots of useful info, so you can familiarise yourself with your ship before you embark.
The Royal Caribbean app is a really handy tool that has different features depending on your ship. You can use it to order food, make bookings for shows and shore excursions, and book your future cruise among other things.
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Is Royal Caribbean Wi-Fi Worth It?
It’s really difficult to say whether Royal Caribbean’s Voom Wi-Fi packages are worth the cost. It’s expensive, as is any cruise line’s internet access. Now that Starlink has been introduced, the speeds are usually reliable, depending on where you are in the world.
You’ll also spend a lot of time in port on most cruises, where you can either find free Wi-Fi or use your 4G or 5G connection on your phone. There may be roaming charges, but these could be less than the cost of the internet package.
Suggested read: How to Avoid Roaming Charges on a Cruise
If you’re someone who needs to be connected at all times, then Voom is one of the faster cruise line internet services available and is easy to set up. It’s worth it if you simply must have internet access.
But if you can manage without it – and on a Royal Caribbean ship, you will be busy – then it may be better to save the money. On my latest Royal Caribbean cruise, I didn’t buy the Wi-Fi package. I enjoyed having a digital detox during the sea days, then catching up once the ship docked at each port.
How To Connect to Royal Caribbean Wi-Fi
Getting set up with a Voom package is easy. All you need to do is open your device’s Wi-Fi settings and connect to the network ‘royal-wifi’.
Open up a browser, if it doesn’t do it automatically. It’ll then take you through the steps you need to get connected.
If you’ve already pre-paid for your internet package, then it will recognise that you have a package waiting to connect. Otherwise, you’ll have to choose which one you want, and the cost will be added to your onboard account.
Usually, it’s a really easy process, but sometimes gremlins can get into the system. If you do have any issues, just head to Guest Services and they’ll be happy to help you get connected.
Royal Caribbean Wi-Fi FAQs
Normal SMS messaging doesn’t use Wi-Fi – it uses your mobile signal. So you may get roaming charges if you try. If you want to use online texting apps like WhatsApp, iMessage or Facebook Messenger, you can do this on your Royal Caribbean cruise with a Voom Surf + Stream WiFi package.
Wi-Fi calling will work on a Royal Caribbean ship, as long as you’ve paid for a Surf + Stream package. Connection speeds can vary though, even though it is generally good.
You can use WhatsApp on a Royal Caribbean cruise ship if you buy a Voom Wi-Fi package. You can send voice notes and videos through WhatsApp too, as the internet is fast enough to handle them.
You are able to use iMessage with Royal Caribbean’s Voom Wi-Fi packages. With only the Voom Surf + Stream option now available, you’ll have no trouble sending pictures or videos through the service.
You can FaceTime friends and family from your Royal Caribbean cruise if you’ve paid for a Voom Surf + Stream Wi-Fi package. The connection quality may dip depending on where you are in the world, but it’s usually pretty good.
You can use Zoom on a Royal Caribbean cruise but you’ll need to pay for a Wi-Fi package. Zoom and other video call apps only work on the Voom Surf + Stream Wi-Fi package – if you haven’t bought one, you can’t connect.
You can use TikTok on a Royal Caribbean cruise. It’s fairly reliable with the faster Starlink internet, but it may suffer if you’re in the middle of the ocean.
The Bottom Line
Voom is advertised as the fastest internet at sea, but it’s also one of the most confusing, since prices aren’t set in stone and can really vary. If the internet costs seem expensive, you might want to risk waiting until nearer to your sail date, but then they could go up even more.
The best advice is to only pay for it if you really need it. Otherwise, try to get by with your 4G or 5G signal when you’re in port, or ask the crew for tips on where to find free Wi-Fi access ashore. You’ll save a lot of money, and all those cruise photos can just be uploaded when you get home instead of live as they happen.
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Don’t miss the latest Royal Caribbean offers…
Related Posts:
- 3 Ways To Get Free Wifi on Your Royal Caribbean Cruise
- 13 Royal Caribbean Cabins To Avoid
- These 8 Drinks Are Free on Royal Caribbean Cruises
Jenni Fielding is the founder of Cruise Mummy. She has worked in the cruise industry since 2015 and has taken over 30 cruises. Now, she helps over 1 million people per month to plan their perfect cruise holidays.
