Do cruise ships block websites?

Are Websites Blocked or Filtered? As you might expect, there is some blocking and filtering of websites while on the ship's wi-fi. Of course, if you buy a lower-tier plan that doesn't allow full access to the Internet (such as Carnival's Social plan) then you won't be able to access the full Internet.



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Most cruise ships provide internet, apart from a handful of very basic expedition ships in off-the-beaten-track locales. Baseline connections are fine for checking email, posting to social media and checking in for your flight.

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Luckily, some cruise ships do provide users with the ability to use a VPN through a paid plan. Norwegian Cruise Lines have expressly stated that users on their Unlimited Premium Wi-Fi package can use VPNs, in addition to a variety of other features. This same option is not available for users on lower tiers, however.

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Passengers must pass through an airport-style detector and they will have a digital photo taken. Most cruise lines employ former police or military personnel to process boarding checks, and scent dogs may be present to check for drugs, which are among many items prohibited on board.

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Cruise ships have cellular service that you can connect to. However, it's usually considered international roaming and means you'll be charged high rates to access. You likely know that instead of using a cell signal, you can hook your phone up to wi-fi and use the Internet to make calls, send texts, and surf the web.

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In general, you can expect streaming to be allowed if you purchase the top-tier wi-fi package. But even though Netflix is largely allowed, it's no guarantee that it will work well. While the technology has advanced, Internet on a cruise can still be spotty.

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To use your cell phone on your cruise, you have two options — either connect to the ship's cellular service or connect to the ship's wi-fi. Both will cost you extra. For traditional cell service, today's modern cruise ships use providers such as “Cellular at Sea” or “Wireless Maritime Services”.

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If you're not able to wait for ports of call (or don't have international data on your phone), it might be worthwhile to pay for a Wi-Fi package. Although prices have decreased over the years, it can still be pretty costly to purchase Wi-Fi for your cruise.

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Royal Caribbean's VOOM internet is the gold standard when it comes to cruise ship Wi-Fi, with the fastest speeds out there. Some Cruise Critic forum members report speeds of up to 24Mbps, which, believe us, is fast! With Voom, there's not much you can't do. Need to upload pictures to Facebook or Instagram?

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Out at sea, there are no cell towers. That's why cruise ships utilize at-sea providers like Wireless Maritime Services or Cellular at Sea. Guests can use their mobile devices and ship-to-shore services. However, sending and receiving texts and using your phone can be very expensive using these services.

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While every cruise ship might have Wi-Fi available, you will not have the same reliability that you're used to on land. To start, the internet onboard relies on satellites while you're out at sea. Cruise lines team up with maritime communication companies to provide Wi-Fi on their ships.

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Luckily, some cruise ships do provide users with the ability to use a VPN through a paid plan. Norwegian Cruise Lines have expressly stated that users on their Unlimited Premium Wi-Fi package can use VPNs, in addition to a variety of other features. This same option is not available for users on lower tiers, however.

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If you want to watch Amazon Prime, Hulu, Disney+ or other streaming services on a cruise, the best way to do so is to download the show you want to watch ahead of time. All the major streaming services allow downloading at least some of their library for offline viewing.

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Make sure to put your phone on airplane mode to avoid expensive roaming charges. Cellular rates at sea can sneak up on you, and you can easily rack up a $500 roaming bill. Even if you're not actively on your phone, most are still using data, so make sure to set yours on airplane mode to avoid roaming charges.

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For most people, the best piece of advice is to put your phone on airplane mode before your ship sets sail out of port. This prevents your cell from trying to stay connected, thereby eliminating roaming charges. Of course, this also stops you from making and receiving calls and text messages.

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Data use onboard a cruise ship is ridiculously expensive, especially because it tends to add up quickly. Always remember to put your phone in airplane mode or turn off data roaming before you head out to sea and don't want to be smacked with a hefty bill upon returning home. Even in port, the rates get pretty high.

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