Glad WiFi on the cruise was so expensive

General Discussions Forum
1

We just got back from a Celebrity Beyond cruise, and the WiFi prices were crazy high—several hundred dollars for the 6-day trip. So we decided not to get it at all.

Instead, we played card games, Bananagrams, and even used a Steam Deck with pre-installed games. We hung out in the pools at night when it was quiet and spent time on the balcony just watching the ocean. It was so relaxing.

It reminded me of vacations from when I was a kid—no tech distractions, just enjoying the moment. Even when I did pick up my phone to browse the Celebrity app, it felt more like flipping through a brochure and didn’t have that constant online buzz.

Long story short: being offline the whole time made the trip better. Without news or social media, moments that could’ve been boring were just peaceful. Not saying I agree with the insane WiFi prices, but I’m glad we skipped it.

Would you go without WiFi on a cruise?

2

The original post nailed it. Cruises are way more enjoyable when you disconnect. It’s like a reset for your brain. No doomscrolling, just actual relaxation.

3

Totally agree. The best part of a cruise is how it forces you to unplug. You don’t realize how nice that is until you come back to land.

4

Yep, disconnecting from everything is my favorite thing about cruises. It’s the perfect escape.

5

Being offline is a huge perk of cruising. I’ve got a 35-day cruise coming up and won’t get WiFi except in ports. It’s going to be so refreshing.

NCL’s free WiFi minutes were nice, though—enough to check in but not enough to waste time online.

6

@Vesper
That’s the best approach. Enjoy the time offline!

7

$700 for WiFi? Is that really what Celebrity charges? That’s insane.

Edit: Okay, I misread. Several hundred dollars isn’t quite $700. Still ridiculous, though.

8

We’ve been long-time cruisers, and honestly, skipping the WiFi might be the way to go. Last time we had the whole package, and it just wasn’t worth it. Next time, I think we’ll pass on it entirely.

9

Ashwin said:
We’ve been long-time cruisers, and honestly, skipping the WiFi might be the way to go. Last time we had the whole package, and it just wasn’t worth it. Next time, I think we’ll pass on it entirely.

If your itinerary has lots of ports, it’s definitely not worth it. Half the time, you’re not even on the ship.

10

Ashwin said:
We’ve been long-time cruisers, and honestly, skipping the WiFi might be the way to go. Last time we had the whole package, and it just wasn’t worth it. Next time, I think we’ll pass on it entirely.

Yeah, Celebrity does let you text each other through their app without WiFi, but the notifications were hit or miss. It was tricky at the buffet—trying to figure out where my girlfriend was while holding food and drinks. We got the hang of it after a few days, though.

11

@Zorion
Pro tip: pick a default seating area in the buffet on day one. Saves so much hassle, especially if you’re with kids.

12

My brother and I did something similar on our last cruise. We had WiFi but used it minimally. Played board games and did the silly activities onboard. Felt like being kids again. Would absolutely do it the same way next time.

13

One of my favorite things about cruises is being unreachable in the middle of the ocean. It feels like the way life is supposed to be.

14

I’m dreading the WiFi on our next cruise. We’re bundled into it and really need a digital detox. Too bad it’s included with the package we got.

15

We do get WiFi since we have teens with us, but I totally get your point. Unplugging is amazing.

16

Last year, we did a Queen Mary 2 crossing. Didn’t pay a dime for WiFi, and it was the most peaceful trip ever.

17

It’s wild that Royal Caribbean is so much cheaper for WiFi compared to Celebrity, even though they use the same tech.

I might try using GigSky instead for the Celebrity cruise coming up.

18

Ray said:
It’s wild that Royal Caribbean is so much cheaper for WiFi compared to Celebrity, even though they use the same tech.

I might try using GigSky instead for the Celebrity cruise coming up.

Same here. I’ve got a transatlantic cruise in January and will probably go with GigSky. NCL’s WiFi prices are just not worth it.

19

As retirees who cruise often, we’re not really trying to escape work or anything, but being offline just makes the experience better. It’s like a mini reset every time.