Carnival Cruise Internet Plans (2024 Cost and Speed Test)
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With Carnival’s various WiFi packages, you can easily keep in touch with friends, check your email, or post your vacation snaps online.
We’ll cover everything you need to know about Carnival Cruise Internet plans and WiFi pricing. We’ll also give you tips for getting the best deal on the cruise ship WiFi!
Carnival Cruise Internet Plans and Prices
Carnival Cruise Line offers three internet packages ranging from $15.30 to $21.25 per person per day.
You can get a 15% pre-cruise discount on all of Carnival’s WiFi packages when you purchase before your cruise. Once you are on board, you will pay full price for their internet.
Social WiFi Plan
The Social WiFi plan provides access to the most popular social media sites and major airlines to check flight status. The social WiFi plan offers low-speed internet access and starts at $15.30 per person per day, while the price is $18 per day when purchased onboard.
The social plan allows access to popular social websites and applications like Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, Pinterest, LinkedIn, Facebook Messenger, WhatsApp, Snapchat, and popular airline sites.
It does not support email, video, and music streaming services like Netflix, Hulu, Spotify, Pandora, iMessage, Skype, or video calling.
Value WiFi Plan
The Value WiFi plan is a good option if you need more speed and want to stream music or videos. It offers medium-speed internet access and starts at $19.55 per person per day, and onboard pricing is $23.00 per day.
You can purchase a 24-hour Value WiFi package for $25.
The Value package provides faster WiFi speeds and access to social media, email, and web browsing. However, you cannot stream video calls without upgrading to the Premium package.
Premium WiFi Plan
The Premium WiFi plan is faster than the Value package, with faster speeds and access to streaming and video calling. Premium WiFi offers fast internet speeds and starts at $21.25 per person per day, and onboard pricing is $25.00 per day.
You can also purchase an onboard 24-hour plan available for $35.00.
According to Carnival Cruise Line, Premium WiFi is up to three times faster than the Value plan. You’ll get access to social media, web browsing, email, social media, and video calling.
We tested the Premium WiFi Plan with Netflix, Hulu, Amazon Prime, and Disney Plus.
It also supports Zoom and Teams video calling. You’ll need the Premium Internet package to video call for work.
Do You Need a WiFi Package for The Carnival Hub App?
You can use the Carnival Hub App without purchasing a Carnival internet package. You’ll need to connect to the cruise ship’s WiFi to utilize the app, but it is free.
You can connect to the Carnival Hub App in airplane mode so you don’t incur roaming fees.
The Carnival Hub App offers various features to enhance your cruise experience. It allows you to manage your onboard spending account, book excursions, make dining reservations, and purchase Carnival drink packages, among other services.
The app can be downloaded from Google Play and the iOS App Store. With the Carnival Hub App, you have access to a range of functionalities, including:
- Purchasing gifts, WiFi, spa services, shore excursions, drink packages, and more.
- Making dinner reservations.
- Completing Online Check-In.
- Chatting with other guests or crew.
- Viewing ship maps.
- Reservingshows, spa services, shore excursions, and specialty dining.
- Viewing food and drink menus through QR scans.
- Ordering food for delivery, which is particularly convenient for poolside lounging days.
The app makes your cruising experience smooth and enjoyable.
Editor’s Tip
Download the app before you get on the ship to see and book shore excursions and dining reservations, view daily activities, and see your ship’s deck plan.
How Fast is the Internet on Carnival Cruise Ships?
In 2023, Carnival Cruise Line added Starlink internet service across their fleet. Starlink is the internet service offered by SpaceX. The service uses low-earth orbit satellites instead of the previous mid-earth and geosynchronous ones. The service promises lower latency and faster internet speeds.
We put the Carnival Cruise Line’s premium WiFi plan to the test.
During a cruise on Carnival’s Mardi Gras cruise ship, I ran multiple speed tests throughout the 7-night sailing while using the Premium WiFi Plan. I average 83.1Mbps download speeds and 3.28Mbps upload speeds.
In other words, Carnival’s internet is very fast.
Sending emails, checking the news, and basic web browsing is a breeze. I could watch YouTube videos and stream movies on Netflix, Amazon Prime, and Disney Plus without issues.
How to Access Carnival Cruise Internet Plans
Accessing the internet aboard the Carnival cruise ship is a smooth process. Here’s how you can get online:
- Start by selecting the WiFi network of the ship on your device. It’s usually named after the ship, like “Carnival Celebration WiFi.”
- Launch any web browser and navigate to “CarnivalWiFi.com.”
- You’ll need to enter your folio number and birthdate for verification. Once entered, click on the “Log In” button.
- A confirmation screen will appear. Click “Confirm” to proceed.
Once these steps are completed, you should be successfully connected to the internet. Enjoy browsing just as you would on a regular land-based connection.
Do I Have to Buy the Internet Package for Every Device? Can I Share My Internet Plan?
Purchasing Carnival’s internet access for the whole family can become costly. However, a cost-effective workaround allows multiple devices to share a single internet plan.
Carnival Cruise Line offers the flexibility of using one internet package across several devices, though only one device can be connected at a time.
Imagine one person using the WiFi on their smartphone. Once done, another person can utilize the same internet access on their laptop. This sharing strategy efficiently reduces expenses. But it only works if you don’t require a constant WiFi connection during your cruise.
The switching process is straightforward. Connect the new device to the ship’s WiFi network. You’ll receive a prompt asking if you want to switch devices. Selecting “confirm,” the new device will be connected to the WiFi.
Editor’s Tip
It’s important to remember that confirming this switch will automatically disconnect the previous device from the internet. This feature can be particularly useful for parents wanting to limit their children’s screen time, helping everyone enjoy the vacation experience more fully.
Is Carnival’s WiFi Worth It?
Carnival’s WiFi is worth it if you need to stay connected on your cruise vacation.
Choose the Social package or Value plan if you want to browse social media and post the occasional vacation photo.
You can save money using free WiFi at the ports of call. But public WiFi is less secure than the cruise ship’s internet service.
The most significant benefit of Carnival Cruise’s internet plans is sharing internet access with your travel buddies. On our last trip, we saved more than $145 by sharing the Carnival WiFi packages between two people.
The internet plan was well worth the price because we could all use and share internet access.
To purchase the Carnival WiFi packages or the premium plan, visit https://www.carnival.com/internet-plans
Carnival Cruise Line WiFi Tips and Tricks
Here are some streamlined tips for using the Internet on a Carnival cruise:
- Pre-Purchase WiFi Plan for Savings: Buy your WiFi plan before your cruise to enjoy a 15% discount. Prices are higher once you’re on the ship.
- Shared Access on Multiple Devices: The plan allows internet access on multiple devices, but only one device can be connected at a time. It’s a great way to save money on your Carnival cruise.
- Switch Users Without Disrupting Others: If you try to log in while the plan is in use, you’ll get a prompt asking if you want to disconnect the current user. This feature ensures you don’t interrupt someone else’s session, like a video call. It’s also useful if you want to manage your kids’ internet usage.
- Download Entertainment Beforehand: For a better viewing experience, download movies and TV shows before your cruise. Streaming services like Netflix may have slow loading times and reduced video quality on the ship.
- Assistance with Internet Issues: If you encounter any difficulties with your internet connection, guest services are available to assist in connecting your device.
- Avoid Roaming Charges: Keep your phone on airplane mode while using WiFi to prevent roaming charges on your cruise vacation.
These tips will help you enjoy a seamless and cost-effective internet experience during your Carnival cruise.
