carnival cruise wifi fee

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Reviewed: Carnival Cruise Wi-Fi Service (Speed, Reliability, Cost, and More)

Not that long ago, internet on a cruise was largely a luxury. While someone might buy access to be able to work remotely from the ship or buy a few minutes to check email, broad access by many people on the ship wasn’t common.

What a difference a few years can make. Now, having wi-fi access is nearly a necessity.

The good news is that cruise lines — including Carnival — offer wi-fi access across their fleets. So what can you expect? We recently put Carnival’s wi-fi internet access through the paces to give you all the details on what we experienced with the service.

In This Article...

What Wi-Fi Packages Are Available on Carnival?

Like other cruise lines, Carnival offers different tiers of service, all at different price points. Each tier offers different access, from just being able to login to social media, all the way to full web access at faster speeds. Here’s a run-down of what’s offered:

Social Plan: Gives access to social media sites like Twitter and Facebook, WhatsApp, and Snapchat, along with airline websites. However, it doesn’t include most websites (including email), streaming, or wi-fi calling or FaceTime.

Value Plan: Gives email access, what’s included in the social plan, as well as broad access to the rest of the web — all at faster speeds than the Social plan. However, Carnival says it still doesn’t support video/music streaming, FaceTime, or wi-fi calling.

Premium Plan: Carnival’s highest tier of service, it offers everything in the other two tiers, with faster speeds (Carnival says up to three times faster than the value plan). It also allows Netflix, giving you the ability to stream shows. However, the cruise line says it doesn’t support video or music streaming with other services like Hulu. (See below for more details — including our experience — on streaming) .

How Much Does Wi-Fi Access Cost on Carnival?

What you pay for access will depend on when you purchase and how long you want access. Typically, Internet access is sold for the length of the entire cruise based on a per-day cost. There is a discount if you buy service before the cruise compared to the onboard price . 

The prices below are what’s seen on Carnival’s website as of now:

How Do You Access the Internet Once on the Ship?

The sign-in process is straightforward. Below, we outline the process for accessing the internet, which you’ll need to do on any device you used to access the wi-fi.

• Open up your wi-fi connection settings and connect to the ship’s service. In our case, it was named “Carnival Radiance Wi-Fi”. You’re will be the name of your specific ship.
• Open up a browser and go to “CarnivalWiFi.com”
• Enter your folio number (found on your room keycard) and birthdate, and click “Log In”
• Click “Let’s Go!” on the next screen to enable access.

At this point you should be connected and can then surf the web as normal.

How Fast Is Carnival’s Wi-Fi Service?

For our cruises, we’ve tested the fastest Premium plan of service on Carnival. Speeds will vary, but doing multiple speed tests across cruises, it seems to show speeds between 6-12 Mbps. On this specific test, it returned a ping of 50 ms, a download speed of 19.8 Mbps, and an upload speed of 8.55 Mbps: 

Those numbers likely mean little to most people, but for a cruise ship, they are pretty good. (Keep in mind, however, that speed will vary. We’ve been on other ships with slower speeds or in locations where speeds are slower.)

In layman’s terms, surfing the web felt like it does over a cell connection. You wouldn’t confuse the speed with broadband you have at home or the office, but it wasn’t noticeably slow, either. 

If you had to use the connection every day to surf the web, it may feel slow by modern standards. As well, if you’re doing something data-intensive like downloading TV shows, the speed may feel slower.

Using the wi-fi for normal browsing or streaming felt plenty fast for us.

Do I Have to Buy Access For Every Device? Can I Share Access?

It’s likely you’re traveling with other people that want access to the internet. In that case you have two options. First, you can buy more than one package, giving access to multiple devices at once. Or, you can simply share access on different devices.

Carnival’s basic plans allow you to login to the wi-fi from separate devices, but you can only use one device at a time. So one person could connect with the wi-fi on a laptop and when finished, another person could login to have access on their phone. If you don’t need access every moment of the day, it’s an easy way to save some money by sharing.

To transfer access between devices, you simply follow the login procedures as normal. It will notify you that the account is already in use and ask if you want to switch devices. Simply confirm the switch and you’re good to go on the second device.

Can I Stream Movies/TV on Carnival’s Wi-Fi?

Whether you can stream on your cruise may be hard to say. Here’s the issue: Carnival says that its fastest Premium plan supports Netflix, but not other video/music streaming services. 

Our experience, however, is that you can actually stream at least some of those services that are supposedly no supported .

During one cruise aboard Carnival Vista, for instance, we were able to access and watch YouTube videos. We also streamed Amazon Prime videos multiple times with no issues. The picture was nice, and there was minimal buffering. When trying to stream Showtime , however, we encountered an error and weren’t able to watch.

On another cruise, we were able to stream music over Spotify , despite Carnival’s website specifically mentioning this as not supported.

Bottom line is that yes, you can stream in at least some cases. The better option, however, is to go ahead and download any shows you want to watch ahead of time. That way you don’t have to worry about wi-fi service at all. Even if you are able to stream, there might be points where a slow connection makes the show appear choppy or pixelated. Downloading before boarding makes this a non-issue.

Can I Make FaceTime Calls on the Wi-Fi?

Yes. On our trip we tested FaceTime calls from an iPhone with the Premium plan. There were no issues connecting and the picture was clear.  Audio had no issues.

Bottom line: FaceTime was able to be used, even though Carnival says on its website that it’s not supported.

Can I Text Message Over Carnival’s Wi-Fi?

For most of us, we message a lot more than we actually make calls on our phone. In this case, during our tests we noticed that texting iPhone to iPhone using iMessage seemed to work with no problems. We were able to send and receive messages when connected to wi-fi, including messages with pictures.

However, when messaging to an Android phone, our messages had trouble going through. In the end, we ended up just emailing the person we were trying to text as we couldn’t send the text. (This might also have been due to settings on our phone, which is possible.)

In that case, messaging apps like WhatsApp might be a better option. We didn’t test any messaging apps on our cruise, but they are specifically mentioned by Carnival as being supported on its wi-fi service.

Can I Make Wi-Fi Calls over the Internet?

When you don’t have cell service, but do have wi-fi, many phones allow you to make and receive calls over the internet.

Carnival specifically says it does not offer “cellular-network-dependent wi-fi calling” with its service. In fact, we tested it and weren’t able to make or receive calls. 

You may be able to make calls through apps like WhatsApp, but traditional calling wasn’t available.

Do I Have to Buy Wi-Fi Access to Use Carnival’s HUB App?

If you’re about to sail, you’ve likely seen mention of downloading the HUB app to use on the ship. This app is extremely useful on the cruise, and you can use it to access everything from dinner menus to ship maps to tracking your onboard spending account.

The good news if that you don’t have to purchase wi-fi access to use the app. All the features can be used without buying an internet plan. You are able to connect and get data from the app at no cost. 

If you want to chat with others on the ship, then you can do so through the HUB app for $5 for the length of the cruise.

Can I Use a VPN?

Some people need to use a virtual private network (VPN) when working or simply use one for more privacy online. Carnival says they do not support VPNs on their ships.

According to the FAQ on their website: “VPN connections are not supported. Discuss your VPN limitations with your company’s IT department if you are planning to work while sailing. We are not able to change your settings on board.”

In reality, when we used our VPN service to connect, it was no issue at all . 

Can I Work or Do School Work With the Wi-Fi?

Of course, one major reason to sign up for Internet is to be able to work from the ship. These days, many people opt to take a “working cruise” and enjoy themselves while also being able to complete work back home. So is that possible on a Carnival cruise?

In our opinion, it depends on the type of work or school work you’re doing. Have something where you need to be live on Zoom with perfect clarity and reception? That might be tough to manage. Need to make an informal video call? That should be fine. Simply need Internet access to access documents, submit an assignment, or send some emails? That’s no issue at all.

In other words, access to work that requires a reliably fast and solid connection and are internet intensive could have issues (you are at sea, after all). However, less-intensive tasks should be perfectly feasible.

Is Carnival’s Wi-Fi Worth It?

For a 7-day cruise, you’ll pay about $150 for the Premium plan — or nearly $22 a day. That’s a sharp price to pay for online access. So is it worth it?

In our eyes, it depends on what you need access for. If you simply want to stay connected, check email occasionally and text some friends, then paying that much seems too high to us (that’s where the cheaper Social and Value plans are nice). However, if you have work obligations or things going on back home that you simply can’t miss, then by all means, hop online.

One thing to note is that many ports of calls offer wi-fi service in some shape or form . There may be restaurants that offer wi-fi to customers or ports of call that offer access for a cheaper fee than what’s on the ship. You can also access the internet with a day-pass so you don’t have to pay for access the entire week.

This way, you can still stay in touch back home without spending as much money.

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Would the premium service allow you to play games on your phone?

Yes, that should be no issue.

does wireless travel router work on carnival ?

i was on rcl’s symphony and worked just fine. all my fam were able to connect

Never tried.

My work laptop doesn’t connect directly to cruise wifi but if I don’t through a router or create my own wifi hotspot through phone then it works. Google pixel phones can turn cruise and airplane wifi into hotspot similar to travel wifi. I have shared plane wifi with family member by turning hotspot on and same can be done on cruises.

If you want to share internet with other devices you can either hotspot your phone or bring a travel router

I’ve personally tried the hotspot and it didn’t work.

It works with certain phone. My Google pixel can turn wifi into hotspot but my Motorola can’t. I don’t know about iphone however.r

This response is solely related to internet on Carnival cruise ships…

I suspect Tanner has taken one Carnival cruise and thinks his experience is the norm for all Carnival ships. The article is missing a fleetwide perspective. Some of the information is useful, but some of it is not so good.

Yes, Carnival has invested in improving its internet experience on its newer ships, however the older ships still have the worst in the industry bandwidth. The Carnival Vista is one of their newer ships, so it will have faster internet. I have had decent internet on the Carnival Vista, Horizon, and Mardi Gras. I expect the same on the Celebration when I sail in 2023. These are all newer ships. My experience on 14 other Carnival ships was less than enjoyable. Granted some of my earlier cruises were before smartphones were a thing. And as mentioned, they are making improvements. Those improvements are obviously a work in progress.

That said, I must concur with Jon about the Carnival Paradise. I have been on that ship 4 times in 2022, and internet is dismal. Don’t expect to be able to stream video. Lily didn’t mention which ship she was on, but I suspect it was one of the smaller and older ships.

The most useful advice I can share is about when to purchase an internet plan for an upcoming Carnival cruise. If it is a newer ship, I suggest buying in advance to save 10% or 20% (depending on the current offer). If it is a older ship, wait until you are on the boat. Yes, you will pay full price. If the internet is usable, you will soon forget about the higher cost. However, if internet is unusable, head to the guest services midway through the cruise (or whenever you see short lines). Make your complaint, and it is very likely they will refund a portion of your internet plan, in my experience typically 50%. This is only an option if purchase the plan while on the ship. If you prepaid for the plan, you will need to complain to customer service when back on land. Getting any type of refund from in this case is hit or miss, usually miss.

One final piece of advice on internet. Based on where you are at on the boat can affect the signal you have. The closer you are to a wifi access point, the better the signal. On the smaller boats, the closer you are to the middle of the ship, the better signal strength. Larger boats have more wifi access points. Don’t confused signal strength with bandwidth. I try to book aft view balcony rooms, signal strength is not very good there.

The nice thing about cruise ships is there are lots of places to sit and do your surfing. That is, if there is sufficient bandwidth to do so. Just bring a headset so you don’t annoy others.

“I suspect Tanner has taken one Carnival cruise and thinks his experience is the norm for all Carnival ships.”

Incorrect. In the past few months, I’ve sailed both the oldest (Ecstasy before it was retired) and newest (Celebration) Carnival ships. Celebration did have faster internet ~10-12 Mbps, but Ecstasy was still a solid 5-7 Mbps during my test. Vista, covered in the article was ~9 Mbps. So yes, there seems to be a correlation between faster service on newer ships, but I still found the service on the oldest ship to be solid.

My experience on a recent Falll 2022 Western Caribbean cruise on the Carnival Paradise was vastly different than yours. For most of the cruise, the Internet was not available. Wifi and their internal Mobile App worked and I could check in to restaurants etc; just couldn’t access the Internet. One time while in Port at Roatan I experienced 10MBS Down and 2MB Up for a few hours then Internet disappeared again from their WiFi. A few times while cruising when Internet access did work, I was experiencing 178KBPS Down!! Small Pic uploads to facebook either took 20 minutes or longer or would often time-out. I had the so-called “Premium Plan”. I called Guest services 4 times and hung up after 25 minute wait/hold times. I transferred my WiFi to another device thinking there could have been an issue with one of my devices but I experienced the same sad performance. I used the Post-Cruise Survey to relay my sad WiFi experience. I will never again purchase their expensive WiFi again.

I just got off a Carnival cruise, had “premium” internet – and on the first night, they changed their network configuration and I was suddenly unable to connect to my work. I begged them for five days to please fix their network – it was definitely their network, as I got the same error from three different clients on two machines we had with us – and the error would have been easy for them to correct – but they refused to even discuss it. I was told by guest services “I’ll check into it” but nothing happened. All they would have had to do is look at their server logs and they’d see what they had done. I was unable to do my work for the entire week. I have been cruising Carnival for years and never had this issue (well, once but they fixed it in 3 hours), but this was a nightmare. All they had to do was look at their server logs, and most likely update their digital certificate/time clock, but instead they kept asking me “which URL is not working, we will see if we can connect”. I told them half a dozen times its not a URL, its a *program*. I hope this turns out to be an isolated incident – if it happens again, my cruising days are over.

I feel your pain as I experienced similar sad performance on the Carnival Paradise but it won’t end my cruise days, it will just end my purchase of any of their WiFi plan packages.

With a 680millisecond ping time for the “premium” service, that means there’s such a huge latency (delay/lag), that anyone you’re with on a Teams or Zoom call will already be on the next sentence or paragraph before the video catches up with you. Disgraceful, Carnival to charge so much money for such subpar performance.

Do you have to have the premium to access YouTube? Or will one of the other plans work?

We’d suggest the highest level plan to offer the best experience in streaming anything.

Good idea. The social plan doesnt even allow email access.. 🙁

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Carnival Internet Package: What To Know Before You Go

Are you dreaming of sun-soaked days, tropical drinks, and endless ocean vistas on your upcoming Carnival cruise, but the thought of being cut off from the digital world is giving you anxiety? I know the feeling!

We’re here to help you pick the perfect internet package that will keep you connected no matter where you are on the ship.

From streaming your favorite shows to sharing your exotic adventures on social media, our guide will help you find the ideal plan that fits your needs and budget, so you can stay online and on course throughout your voyage.

Table of Contents

How Much Is WiFi On A Carnival Cruise?

Carnival Cruise Lines offers three wifi package options on board. The prices range from $12.75 to $22.00 per day. The price varies depending on when whether you pre-book it and how much internet access you need.

Unfortunately, you can’t just purchase these packages on a day-by-day basis. Carnival Cruise line requires passengers to buy the internet package for the entire duration of the cruise.

In the past, you had the option of buying it just for the days you needed, but that is no longer an option.

Either way, you get 15% off if you purchase before you go on board. Cut-off for pre-purchase is 11:59 PM EST the day before embarkation.

Let’s take a closer look at the package options Carnival Cruise Line offers guests…

Carnival Cruise Internet Plans and Prices

Carnival offers three Wi-Fi packages onboard, the Social, Value, and Premium Packages.

The pricing is as follows:

The Social Plan : This is the most basic plan Carnival offers, costing $12.75 if you purchase before boarding. If you purchase while on the ship, the price is $15 per day.

As the name suggests, the Social Package gives you access to popular social media apps and websites. These include Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, Pinterest, Linkedin, Facebook Messenger, WhatsApp, TikTok, and Snapchat.

Most other sites and apps are blocked.

The Value Plan : With the value package, you have access to most websites and can check email, news sites, and all the social media sites offered in the Social Plan. However, streaming sites like Netflix and Hulu won’t work. The value plan also doesn’t support video or Skype calling.

Anything that requires a lot of upload speed won’t work on this plan.

The Value plan starts at $17.00 per day with the pre-booking discount, or $20 per day if you book it on board.

Now the Premium Plan : This plan includes everything in the Social and Value Plans plus streaming apps and video calling such as Zoom and Skype.

The Premium package starts at $18.70 per day with the pre-booking discount, or $22 per day if you book onboard.

It’s important to note, however, the reliability of all these packages can vary greatly and Carnival does not offer any refunds for weak or poor connections.

How Do You Access The Internet Once On The Ship

Connecting to the internet on a Carnival cruise ship is pretty straightforward. To get connected, get on your device, go to the Wi-Fi settings, and select ‘Carnival WiFi’ from the list of networks. There may be some variability in the name, as it may be named after the ship you’re on, but it would still be called ‘Carnival (Ship Name) WiFi.’

Once you click on the network it will open a browser. From there, follow the prompts to get connected.

If the webpage isn’t popping up, you can also type in carnivalwifi.com on your browser and it’ll take you to the same page.

If you have trouble connecting or bad connection, go to guest services. They may help you or connect you with technical support.

Do I Have To Buy Access For Every Device? Can I Share Access?

There is no need to buy access for every device but you can only use your Carnival WiFi package on one device at a time.

You can move between devices freely as the packages aren’t locked into a single device.

Meaning, if you want to use your laptop and phone, you can, but not at the same time.

Also, if multiple people in your cabin want to be online at the same time, they will each have to purchase a plan.

How Fast Is Carnival’s Wi-Fi Service?

Carnival doesn’t state on its website the internet speeds they offer. This is likely because there is a lot of variability depending on where the cruise ship is sailing.

It will, of course, also depend on the package you purchase.

However, we have found from various reports that the speed is considered ‘reasonably good’ for a cruise.

There are times when streaming the web will seem sluggish and there are times when the speed will be quick and efficient. It isn’t very consistent the whole trip.

The connection can be considered slow by modern standards, and if you plan on working or downloading large files, you may experience problems.

If you just want to stay connected, check email, and post a couple of selfies here and there – you will be just fine.

It’s also important to keep in mind that Carnival does not offer a refund if the speed isn’t up to your standards. As long as you have internet and can access the sites they promise, regardless of the speed, they have held up their end of the bargain.

Do I Have To Buy Wi-Fi Access To Use Carnival’s HUB App?

You may have heard of Carnival’s HUB app . It offers real-time info and features like restaurant booking, excursion booking, messaging with other passengers, and more.

You don’t need an internet connection for the HUB app, as it runs on the ship’s internal network. But, no browsing or social media comes with it.

Also, you will want to download the app before boarding the ship if you aren’t purchasing an internet package.

Is There Free WiFi On Carnival Cruise Ships?

Carnival Cruise Line does not offer free Wi-Fi . To stay connected with your loved ones and friends, you must buy an internet package.

These plans range from basic social media access to a more expensive premium plan. Prices depend on data usage, speed requirements, length of voyage, etc.

You can buy a plan before or while on board the ship. The service is available everywhere on board, including private balconies and cabins .

Is Carnival WiFi Worth It?

Carnival WiFi packages could be an awesome addition to your getaway, but whether or not they’re worth it can depend on a lot of variables.

For example, a standard Social Package for a 7-day cruise will cost you $89.25 and the Premium would set you back $131.25

It really depends on how much you plan on using your internet while at sea. Depending on where you sail to, when the ship is in port you’ll likely have a 4G or 5G connection available.

Plus, when you go on excursions, you won’t need internet access.

So it comes down to how many days you’ll really need the internet while on the ship and how often you think you’ll use it.

Can I Make FaceTime Calls On The Wi-Fi?

If you purchase the Premium Package, you will be able to FaceTime while on the cruise. You won’t be able to FaceTime (or use any other video call app) with the Social or Value package.

Keep in mind, although the premium plan supports FaceTime, the connection won’t be as reliable as the one you have at home. There may be areas on the ship that have better reception.

Are There Blocked Websites On The Carnival Internet Packages?

Even with the premium package plans, there are websites you won’t be able to access.

Gambling and adult websites are blocked on all plans. Gambling isn’t legal everywhere and it creates a lot of legal issues in International waters, so it’s easier to block the sites altogether.

Likewise, Carnival is a family-friendly cruise and to make sure no children accidentally access any inappropriate sites, adult-content sites are also blocked.

Can I Stream Movies or Music on Carnival’s Wi-Fi?

On the Premium Package, you technically can stream movies and music. Sites like Netflix, Amazon Prime, and YouTube are available while onboard.

However, some customers have stated that certain streaming sites can be a hit or miss.

meaning you may be able to access Netflix perfectly fine on the Wi-Fi, but encounter issues and buffering on Hulu.

We honestly recommend downloading shows you want to watch before going on your cruise. That way you won’t have to worry about the speed of the Wi-Fi and can even opt for a cheaper Wi-Fi package.

Can I Use A VPN On Carnival?

I always opt for a virtual private network (VPN) when I travel for security and privacy online.

However, carnival states they don’t support VPN’s while onboard. They state: “VPN connections are not supported. Discuss your VPN limitations with your company’s IT department if you are planning to work while sailing. We are not able to change your settings on board.”

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Value Wi-Fi Plan

Surf all your favorite sites, including e-mail, news, sports, weather, banking and finance. Note: Does not support Skype calling or music/video streaming (such as Spotify or Netflix).

Save up to 15%  when booked prior to sailing versus onboard pricing.

Cut-off for pre-purchase is 11:59PM two days before embarkation. Additional restrictions apply.

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Carnival Cruise WiFi Internet Packages Prices

Read our review about Carnival cruise Internet Access prices and Carnival Cruise Line's new WiFi rates, unlimited Internet package and WiFi cost. All Carnival Cruise Lines ships provide the Internet via a satellite connection. Onboard access is facilitated through Internet Cafe and shipwide WiFi coverage. Passengers can use (without any restrictions) their personal laptops, iPhones, smartphones and other WiFi-equipped devices on the Fun Ships.

In late-December 2018 was signed a contract with Speedcast (the world's largest global satellite comm provider) to improve fleet connectivity at sea. By this contract, Carnival increased the fleet's bandwidth in order to provide the highest-quality Internet at sea. Utilizing a total of 40 mini-satellites, Carnival now has the world's largest maritime satellite network. Specifically for Carnival, Speedcast developed the TrueBeam system, which constantly looks for weaknesses that would impact the satellite signal and instantly reroutes it to avoid interruptions. Such interruptions could be weather (“rain fade”), overcrowded networks and line-of-sight blockage.

Carnival cruise WiFi rates, Unlimited Internet

Carnival ship's Wireless Internet Service is a Wireless 802.11b card compatible (standard). Onboard, VPN access is restricted to connections of types different then IPsec or PPTP connections.

Unlimited Internet package

Since July 2015, Carnival offers “massively popular, faster, cheaper and all-round brilliant Internet packages” that initially cost just US$5 per day. The “Social” Internet plan allows connecting only to social networks - Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, LinkedIn, Pinterest, Snapchat and other similar websites. Discounted plans are available for the entire voyage.

• Carnival's unlimited Internet access plans (connected 24/7) are now available fleetwide. These plans can be used on all personal devices (and the ship's Internet Cafe) anytime throughout the voyage - until debarkation. Once purchased there are no refunds.
• In May 2016, Carnival Australia introduced faster and cheaper Internet and social media Internet packages on the Australia-based ships Legend and Spirit . The improved internet access offers increased bandwidth and speed. The “value package” (cost AUD 30 per day) offers unlimited Internet. The faster “premium package” (cost AUD 50 per day) allows Skype video calls. The new "social media package" (cost AUD 15 per day) offers unlimited access to Facebook, Instagram, Snapchat, Twitter.
• Additional discounted plans for Internet access are available for the entire voyage. The new packages follow the company's 2015-launched "Selfies at Sea" phone app. Available for download (free of charge) at Android and Apple stores, the new mobile app collates a series of photos taken on the ship into a mini-movie which can be shared on social media channels.

NEW Carnival cruise ship Wi-Fi plans

In 2017, Carnival updated the cruise ship WiFi service fleetwide, introducing the option to pre-purchase both WiFi and Internet packages online.

Starting April 19, 2017, the company offers pre-purchasing internet plans (first introduced on Carnival Fascination and Carnival Vista , fleetwide rollout by mid-summer 2017). The option is available via "Manage My Booking’ (tab at Carnival.com) where customers can select a package for the itinerary duration.

Carnival's new Wi-Fi plans can be purchased (at discounted rates) by fully booked customers for either the entire itinerary or for a day (24-hour period). Daily packages are also available for shipboard purchasing.

In December 2023, CCL increased the Social Plan's onboard price from US$15 to $18 per person per day. The Value Plan now costs US$23 (up from $20), while the Premium Plan is priced at US$25 (from $22).

With pPre-purchasing Wi-Fi prior to boarding, the Social Plan costs $15.30 (previously $12.75), the Value Plan costs US$19.55 (up from $17), and the Premium Plan costs US$21.25 (up from $18.70).

NOTE : On November 2, 2018, Carnival raised the price of its basic internet plan by 60%. The new price for the "social media package" was US$8 per day ($6,80 per day if pre-purchased prior departure). Day plans for this package are not available - must be purchased cruise-long package. The old price for the social media package was US$5 per day ($4 per day if pre-purchased).

WiFi package cost USD 12 per day, with a discount price of US$10,25 (if pre-purchased prior departure). Premium WiFi package cost USD 17.70 per day ($14,88 if pre-purchased).

For both WiFi plans are available 24-hour / daily rates, respectively, $16 and $25.

• "Social Package" (cost US$8 per day) offers access to the most popular applications and websites, including Facebook (and Facebook Messenger), Instagram, Twitter, Pinterest, Linkedin, WhatsApp, plus the most popular airline websites. The Social plan doesn't include Snapchat, Facetime, iMessage, in-app calling or access to any other apps or websites.
• "Value Package" (cost US$12 per day, or US$10.25 if pre-purchased) offers access to all websites and apps, including e-mail, news, banking, sports, weather, all social media. The Value plan doesn't support music and video streaming or Skype calling (bandwidth-intensive services).
• "Premium Package (cost US$17.70 per day, or US$14.88 if pre-purchased) offers the fastest possible Internet connection. Depending on the coverage, speeds can be up to 3 times faster compared to the "Value Package". The Premium plan includes all apps and websites, plus streaming services and Skype video calling.

Booked passengers can upgrade from one plan to another and are also allowed to use multiple devices per plan (including the ship's onboard computers), but only on one device at a time. All the new Carnival WiFi plans do not include video streaming (Hulu, Netflix, Amazon Prime) and don't support WiFi Calling (voice calls via the ship's Wi-Fi network) and Facetime (Apple's video telephony) services. Printing services on the ship are provided at no charge.

Cruise Internet package prices

Note: The above-listed Internet package plans are currently offered not on all ships in the fleet, but only on Dream, Glory, and Magic. The Breeze was excluded from this indeed small list. The line's official excuse is the slow satellite connection speeds at sea.

Carnival cruise Internet access, packages

All Carnival Internet access charges are billed directly to the guest's onboard S&S account. These packages are transferable between the terminals in the Internet Cafe and guests' personal Internet devices. Carnival Internet packages are called "Time Plans" and can be used anytime throughout the sailing until debarkation. Instructions on creating an account and pricing information will be provided (Internet Cafe/ personal device) once you connect to the ship's Wi-Fi network.

• IMPORTANT: All minutes don't have to be used in a single session. All unused minutes will be lost. Plan upgrade for a pre-selected package is not available.
• activation fee (one-time charge) US $3,95 (applied to each user on her/his first login only).
• 480 min package $159 ($0,33 per minute)
• 240 min package $89 ($0,37/min)
• 120 min package price $59 ($0,49/min)
• 45 min package $29 ($0,64/min)
• Internet per minute cost ("Pay As You Go") $0,75/min.
• the cost of printing (per page in the Internet Cafe) $0,50.
• (additional) CruisE-mail® cost $3,95 for each sent message (no additional charges for received messages). This is the Carnival's personalized e-mail service for guests who either don't have or are unable to access their own e-mail.
• The above Internet prices are for all the Carnival cruise fleet.
• Internet account information (instructions and pricing) are present on-screen in the Internet Cafe, and also on your personal Internet device once you connect to the Carnival WiFi on the ship. Carnival Internet prices are identical, whether the guest uses the Internet on the Cafe's terminals or on their own laptops or other WiFi devices. All Internet access charges are billed directly to the guest's "Sail & Sign" accounts.
• Carnival Internet Time Plans are transferable between the Internet Cafe's computers and the guests' personal devices. There is no refund for unused minutes. Upgrading a pre-selected cruise Internet package is not permitted.

iPhones/Blackberries Internet access - either by using the cellular network (at the international data rates of their carrier) or the Carnival WiFi access (at the same time plan rates).

Cruise ship laptop rentals are available on Dream, Magic, Breeze, and Vista - a limited number of laptops for rent for $9/day or complimentary with the 480 or 240 min plans. A $50 deposit will be charged on your S&S card (refunded upon returning the device, optional insurance for $10/day). On all other ships in the fleet, laptops are also available for rent - $10/day, complimentary with Time Plans, $50 deposit, optional insurance $10/day.

Carnival cruise Internet cost-cutting tips

• before the sailing convert your email settings to basic (less graphic intense)
• if you're planning to work online while sailing, discuss VPN limitations with your firm's IT specialist (Carnival will not be able to change settings onboard).
• packing checklist: WiFi-enabled laptop/mobile devices, power supply (for each of your devices), data cables, headphones.
• You can connect to a free WiFi when the ship is at call ports - ask some from the crew where. There's also free WiFi on the ship, but it's relatively slow (public areas offer much better connection / stronger signals than cabins).
• phone calls from a Carnival ship cost $2 per minute (the charge through "Cellular at Sea" is $2,50 per minute). And remember:
• 1 - the satellite Internet is a lot slower than the high-speed connection onshore (your data must be transmitted over a slow signal to a satellite 22000 ml above you, then the satellite bounces your data back down to the exchange). Tip: the onboard Internet speed is much better in the early morning (5 to 8 AM) and also around dinner times (6 to 10 PM).
• 2 - the onboard Internet access is not guaranteed at all times (satellite communications are subject to disruptions due to weather patterns/location)
• 3 - (some excerpts from forum reviews) "extremely slow", "slower than dial-up", "minutes are eaten pretty quickly", "because of the connection sometimes not everything is sent".
• 4 - Verizon text message prices on cruise ships (international messaging): sent ($0,25 text, $0,50 data) and received ($0,20 text & $0,25 data).

Carnival's WiFi Internet technology

The line's owner Carnival Corporation started rolling out the WiFi@Sea Internet across technology not exclusively to Carnival Cruise Lines ships, but to all its brand lines fleets. The new technology features a hybrid connectivity (satellite and land-based data) system. It combines bandwidth with several available for pre-purchasing Internet plans, different levels of pricing and also new Internet packages.

The process of implementing the new system started in 2014. Carnival Corp's largest brand - the Carnival cruise line - was the first that moved from the traditional pay-as-you-go Internet (USD 0,75 per minute, or discounted Internet packages) to pay-per-day packages. The cheapest is the "social" package priced US$5 per-day allowing access to popular websites and apps. Next is the "value" package US$16 per day (with restrictions for some intensive websites). The third "premium" package costs US$25 per day (with full web access and guaranteed fast speeds).

The new Carnival "cruise WiFi" system is first-of-its-kind in the passenger shipping industry It's an enhanced (high-speed) hybrid wireless network service to be rolled out to all ships in the fleets of all 9 Carnival brand lines. The new system is expected to encourage the interest in ship cruising among the new tech-savvy generation. The new plans already show better penetration and higher usage rates. The new system allows a greater number of mobile devices, while the new Internet pricing is easier to understand.

This unique system integrates land-based, strategically located antennas (installed along the cruise itinerary routes), advanced satellites (over 31 satellite systems) and cruise port Wi-Fi connections, forming the Carnival's "smart hybrid" network. The system gives cruise passengers the highest possible strength of signal and bandwidth capacity. The new network provides Internet connectivity speeds 10 times faster than previously offered by Carnival.

All system upgrades, hardware changes, and new Internet equipment installations were done during the ships' dry-dock refurbishments .

In February 2018, Carnival Corporation partnered with SES Networks to provide the industry's biggest bandwidth to a mobile shipboard platform (first introduced on Regal Princess ). The new technology broke all previous myths about connectivity limitations at sea. The fastest cruise ship internet remained affordable (priced at USD 10 per day). The technology combines the SES Networks satellites with the MedallionNet and provides bandwidth of minimum 1,5 gigabits per second to the vessel. The tests were done on February 26, 2018, while Regal Princess was docked at the private island Princess Cays Bahamas . During the tests was reached Internet speed of 2,6 gigabits per second. Regal Princess is one of the "Medallion-class" Carnival Corporation ships linked to the company's MedallionNet.

Carnival cruise ship Internet Cafe

The Internet Cafe is open 24-hours, as a venue, it features private PC terminals (Windows XP) for web browsing, chat, and e-mail services. For guests convenience, there is an Internet Cafe Manager for assistance. Here passengers can browse through the following Carnival's "free of charge websites": Carnival.com, GoCCL.com, JohnHealdsBlog.com, CellularAtSea.com, and BarclayCardus.com (Carnival World MasterCard).

All these websites can be accessed without purchasing an Internet plan. At the PC terminals, you can't edit MS Office documents, but most files can be viewed (in their "read-only" mode).

Carnival WIFI, Fun Hub website and HUB app

The Fun Hub Carnival website can be accessed through Wi-Fi enabled devices. Guests must connect to the Carnival WiFi network and open an Internet browser. Fun Hub is also accessible at the complimentary Internet café locations with 24-hour access. Currently available on Carnival Breeze, Dream, Magic, Sunshine and Vista, the Fun Hub locations allow passengers free access to informative websites updated daily.

The Fun Hub site details ship’s numerous activities, including:

• daily events, youth programs, entertainment options
• food and beverage offerings, venue descriptions, sample menus
• itinerary and weather information
• latest news, sports scores
• key shipboard personnel' biographies
• ship announcements
• deck plans and maps
• frequently asked questions.

A filtering option assists in planning guests' day. FunHub is available free of charge on any Internet Café Fun Hub computer or Wi-Fi device. Internet access to sites that are outside the Fun Hub is also available wirelessly and through all Fun Hub locations. Charges will apply.

In August 2015, Carnival announced that the HUB app, offering passengers free access to onboard account balances, daily schedules, deck plans, dining info, and an innovative “chat” feature, had been so well received (following the successful trial period on Carnival Breeze) that it was scheduled to debut on all Carnival vessels by summer of 2016. Next in line, ready to welcome the HUB app, are Carnival Conquest, Carnival Glory, Carnival Pride, and Carnival Sunshine, by the end of 2015.

The new HUB mobile app provides guests with an at-a-glance, convenient view of ship’s features and facilities along with updates on events taking place onboard, all free of charge. The app is available for download at Google Play Store and Apple App Store. Its innovative “chat” feature allows passengers to exchange messages with their companions using their mobile devices. A flat fee of $5 is applied for the entire cruise.

The HUB app also includes precise day-by-day schedules of hundreds of onboard events, info on beverage and food venues, Sail & Sign account balance, itinerary details, searchable deck plans and more. Recently added options provide the ability to pre-purchase Carnival’s Bottomless Bubbles and Cheers! beverage programs and upload photos displayed on the 270-sq.foot Seaside Theatre during the cruise. Additional features are to be added in the future.

Carnival Corporation launched a new WiFi@Sea system on all cruise ships sailing in the Caribbean. The global fleet roll-out continued with Alaska (2015 summer) and in 2016 extended to Europe (Baltic, Mediterranean, Western Europe) and Asia.

At the following CruiseMapper link, you can compare the onboard Internet package pricing on Royal Caribbean and NCL vessels.

Booking Procedures

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Getting There

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• Embarkation Day Check-In

Youth and Family

• Youth Programs (Under 2 and 2-11 years old)
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Things to Know

Onboard experiences.

• Fun Ship Features Quick Reference
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• Dining and Snacking Options
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Onboard Communication

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• And more things to know....

Debarkation - After Your Cruise

• Preparing to Go Home
• Post Cruise Inquiries
• View All Deck Plans

Carnival's Wi-Fi Service

To keep you connected while at sea, every one of our ships provides satellite Internet access bow-to-stern. 

As part of our focus to provide guests and crew with the best available Wi-Fi experience at sea, we have rolled out SpaceX's Starlink high-speed internet fleetwide.  

What plans are offered? Guests can upgrade from one plan to another and can use multiple devices per plan, including their smart phone or laptop. Please note that only one device can be connected to your WiFi plan at a time. Our ships feature awesome internet plans.

• This plan provides access to the most popular social websites and apps like Facebook, Instagram, WhatsApp, Snapchat, TikTok, Pinterest, X, Reddit, LinkedIn, and major airline sites.
• It excludes access to most other websites, email, video, and music streaming services (e.g., Spotify, Netflix, Hulu), cellular-network-dependent Wi-Fi calling and FaceTime services.
• Access all sites included in the Social plan with a faster connection speed. Ideal for travelers who want to stay in touch via social media, manage emails, browse, and stay updated on news, sports, and weather.
• It doesn't support video streaming or cellular-network-dependent Wi-Fi calling.
• Experience superior internet performance. This plan offers access to all sites from the Social and Value Plans at speeds up to three times faster. You can stream movies, video chat, monitor your home and browse the web seamlessly, including apps like Netflix, Hulu, Spotify, FaceTime, Zoom, and Ring where coverage allows.
• Cellular-network-dependent Wi-Fi calling is not supported.

How to purchase a plan?

Before Your Cruise : We offer guests the opportunity to pre-purchase Internet plans at a discounted rate online via the 'Manage My Booking' tab on carnival.com, send as a gift to family and friends through The Fun Shops  or call our Fun Shops department at 1-800-522-7648, Monday through Sunday, 9:00am-9:00pm ET. When pre-purchasing, guests must purchase a plan that covers the entire duration of their cruise. Plans may be pre-purchased online up to 11:59pm ET, the evening prior to the cruise departure (or up to 9:00pm ET, the evening prior to the cruise departure, if calling our Fun Shops department).  Daily plans are available for purchase on board.

What restrictions are there?

Please note that as our services are carried via satellite; there are a few limitations compared to your home network.

• Sites blocked under the Carnival Fair Use Policy (adult content, violent content, etc.) will remain inaccessible under any plan or plan upgrade.
• All plans support for usage on one device at a time.
• Netflix and Hulu are supported, with individual subscriptions required.
• iMessage is included in all plans.
• FaceTime is available with both the Value and Premium plans.
• Satellite internet speed may vary depending on location and time of day.
• VPN connections are not supported - discuss your VPN limitations with your company’s IT department if you are planning to work while sailing. We are not able to change your settings onboard.
• Pricing for plans purchased pre-cruise vary from plans purchased at time of sailing.
• There will be no refunds after the plan is activated on board.

What are some tips to improve the experience?

• Once you board, turn Airplane Mode ‘On’ and connect to Carnival Wi-Fi. By using Airplane Mode, you avoid roaming fees charged by your carrier. Airplane Mode is typically found in your phone’s Settings.
• To benefit from faster speeds, turn off background app data services and updates
• Discuss VPN limitations with your company’s IT department if you are planning to work while sailing. We are not able to change your settings onboard.
• Wi-Fi enabled laptop and mobile devices
• Power supply for each of the devices you are bringing with you
• Data cables to transfer pictures

Do you have public computers on board? We have self-service PCs that you can use for no charge and may be used with your existing internet plan. They are available 24 hours a day. 

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