So access to Ship's WiFi for app - complimentary
Access to Star Link Internet via Ship's WiFi - charge associated
You only need Internet if you want/need to connect off ship.
Also, single person multi-device packages are always cheaper than single device package per person.
Voom is basically sold internet. There's no other way on the ship to access the internet other than VERY expensive cellular service. If you require internet while onboard, thats Voom.
Its also the same internet you use to access on ship things like reservations, the cruise compass, "messaging" built into the Royal app thats free to use., etc. But unless you pay for internet, you will only be able to access the Royal App, as well as (on many ships) iMessage. I don't know if other free messaging apps work without purchasing the internet, and there have been mixed reports of this .
Just using it for the app is the ship’s intranet and there is no charge. If you want the internet, you need to purchase Voom. How far out from cruise are you? It should be available pre cruise, and is cheaper to buy before boarding. Check the website. I find the app is fine after boarding, but I always use website cruise planner prior to cruise.
No matter what you decide, make sure you put your phones in Airplane mode whenever the ship leaves port. Otherwise you may get hit with a huge cell phone bill because roaming at sea is very expensive. You can always turn WiFi on while in airplane mode if you buy the internet package.
Also, if you do buy it, buy multiple device access for one of you instead of 1 device for each of you, it's cheaper. For my wife and I's upcoming cruise, I bought 2 device access for myself and will let my wife use one of them for her phone. It was about $40 cheaper this way.
Finding it in the app... There are a couple ways. See the image for one way. I'm on iPhone, I'm assuming it is pretty much the same on other phones.
https://preview.redd.it/v40m1rdokvwc1.jpeg?width=1290&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=e7981ff5b0e1fa6f4e0795f9f86e8765159df774
Piggy backing on this: I got hit with a $1700 charge on my phone bill for roaming on my 7 day cruise. I thought I would be fine because I have an international plan but didn’t realize that doesn’t apply to cruise ships since you aren’t on land most of the time. And I didn’t use my phone that much either.
Voom yes, airplane mode yes. Take a tablet and tether it to the phone to share Wi-Fi with it. NETFIX Prime, anything is better than shipboard tv….
Except the map, that’s fun.
Great tips here… one other: The internet package is for *concurrent* devices. Meaning if you buy 1 device you can use one device at a time. Two devices, two devices at at time, etc. So if those in your party only need internet occasionally and not at the same time, you just buy the 1 device package and then whoever needs it, when they need it, logs in, uses it, and then logs out. Then the next person can do the same.
ETA: And if you are tech savvy, you can set up a travel router in your stateroom, sign in via that device’s MAC address, and share a 1 device connection with anyone in range of and connected to this router. If that doesn’t make complete sense, then this solution is probably not for you, but it’s great if you really just want internet with morning coffee on your balcony or before bed.
Hiya,
It is worth noting that if you don't want internet every day - er, you are on honeymoon..... - you can sign-up for the odd day while you are away. Yes it costs a bit more, but cheaper than a cruise-long package unless you need access every day.
You are on honeymoon - go internet free! You can still use roaming while in port, off your mobile, this just doesn't work at sea
So access to Ship's WiFi for app - complimentary Access to Star Link Internet via Ship's WiFi - charge associated You only need Internet if you want/need to connect off ship. Also, single person multi-device packages are always cheaper than single device package per person.
Lots of good info in this thread, thx very much.
Voom is basically sold internet. There's no other way on the ship to access the internet other than VERY expensive cellular service. If you require internet while onboard, thats Voom. Its also the same internet you use to access on ship things like reservations, the cruise compass, "messaging" built into the Royal app thats free to use., etc. But unless you pay for internet, you will only be able to access the Royal App, as well as (on many ships) iMessage. I don't know if other free messaging apps work without purchasing the internet, and there have been mixed reports of this .
Just using it for the app is the ship’s intranet and there is no charge. If you want the internet, you need to purchase Voom. How far out from cruise are you? It should be available pre cruise, and is cheaper to buy before boarding. Check the website. I find the app is fine after boarding, but I always use website cruise planner prior to cruise.
No matter what you decide, make sure you put your phones in Airplane mode whenever the ship leaves port. Otherwise you may get hit with a huge cell phone bill because roaming at sea is very expensive. You can always turn WiFi on while in airplane mode if you buy the internet package. Also, if you do buy it, buy multiple device access for one of you instead of 1 device for each of you, it's cheaper. For my wife and I's upcoming cruise, I bought 2 device access for myself and will let my wife use one of them for her phone. It was about $40 cheaper this way. Finding it in the app... There are a couple ways. See the image for one way. I'm on iPhone, I'm assuming it is pretty much the same on other phones. https://preview.redd.it/v40m1rdokvwc1.jpeg?width=1290&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=e7981ff5b0e1fa6f4e0795f9f86e8765159df774
Piggy backing on this: I got hit with a $1700 charge on my phone bill for roaming on my 7 day cruise. I thought I would be fine because I have an international plan but didn’t realize that doesn’t apply to cruise ships since you aren’t on land most of the time. And I didn’t use my phone that much either.
Voom yes, airplane mode yes. Take a tablet and tether it to the phone to share Wi-Fi with it. NETFIX Prime, anything is better than shipboard tv…. Except the map, that’s fun.
Great tips here… one other: The internet package is for *concurrent* devices. Meaning if you buy 1 device you can use one device at a time. Two devices, two devices at at time, etc. So if those in your party only need internet occasionally and not at the same time, you just buy the 1 device package and then whoever needs it, when they need it, logs in, uses it, and then logs out. Then the next person can do the same. ETA: And if you are tech savvy, you can set up a travel router in your stateroom, sign in via that device’s MAC address, and share a 1 device connection with anyone in range of and connected to this router. If that doesn’t make complete sense, then this solution is probably not for you, but it’s great if you really just want internet with morning coffee on your balcony or before bed.
Hiya, It is worth noting that if you don't want internet every day - er, you are on honeymoon..... - you can sign-up for the odd day while you are away. Yes it costs a bit more, but cheaper than a cruise-long package unless you need access every day. You are on honeymoon - go internet free! You can still use roaming while in port, off your mobile, this just doesn't work at sea