Unlimited internet pricing help.

[Gappleby]

I’m looking at the available plans for a 14 day cruise and I’m a bit confused.  For the social media plan it appears that the price is complete for the entire trip.  For the Unlimited wifi and Premium unlimited wifi it appears they are pricing at $273 and $331 PER DAY, respectively, so 14  days times $273 ($3,822) or 14 day times $331 ($4,634) for internet use.  Is this correct?  I’ve included information from the NCL site below.  Thank you for any insight you can provide.

 

The unlimited social media wifi plan -  unlimited use throughout the cruise – save up to 15% when booking online.  Need to Know:  • Price displayed [$162.50] is based on daily rate per length of cruise days. • Can be used only on one device at a time. • This package does not include email access or web browsing. 

 

Unlimited wifi package – unlimited use throughout the cruise | save up to 15% when booking online.  Need to Know:  Price displayed [$273] is per day use. Total cruise rate will be calculated based on the number of cruise days. • Can be used only on one device at a time. 

 

Unlimited premium wifi package - unlimited use throughout the cruise – save up to 15% when booking online.  Need to know:  Price displayed [$331] is per day use. Total cruise rate will be calculated based on the number of cruise days. • Can be used only on one device at a time. • Please note that some on demand content may not available. • Live streaming channels are based on your subscription package and location.

[don't-use-real-name]

$273-$331 per day - something is not right here --- $25 to $30 a day would be what is expected depending on plan.

14 day cruise at $25 = $350 ----- at $30 = $420

 

LINK:

https://www.ncl.com/onboard-packages/internet-packages

 

 

Edited July 5, 2019 by don't-use-real-name

[snirpville]

Based on the link posted above, unlimited wifi is $25.50 US per day if you book in advance so $357 for a 14 day cruise.

 

Not sure why you would see the numbers you posted. Is this when you log in to MyNCL? If so, they may be having website issues again.

[BirdTravels]

The package prices are shown below (less any advance booking discount available at the time you book the package)

 

[Gappleby]

Thank you.  I was logged in to my NCL account.  I think I'm getting a deal being charged $273 for a 14 day cruise if I purchase in advance.  That's only $19.50/day.

[Joanne G.]

7 minutes ago, Gappleby said:

Thank you.  I was logged in to my NCL account.  I think I'm getting a deal being charged $273 for a 14 day cruise if I purchase in advance.  That's only $19.50/day.

When I log into my NCL account for my 14-day cruise next year, I see $294 for the unlimited package.   Not as good as your deal for some reason, but not bad.  

 

It's confusing.  I have the 250 minute package as a perk.   The information in previous threads here on CC is that I can only get credit for those minutes with an upgrade is if I do it onboard, and the credit is worth $125.    If that's true, then onboard I would be charged  $29.99 per day, or about $420, and then I would be credited $125 for my perk minutes, netting out to $295.   Or, I can pay $294 in advance and not get any additional credit for my perk.  I end up with the same cost.  Have I got that right?  I would rather pay in advance and be done with it rather than going through the steps on board to make sure I get credited for my perk minutes.

 

I do have to chuckle at these NCL perks.  I haven't been on NCL in years, and I picked the cruise for the itinerary,   The price was good even without the perks, but I was pleased to get them.  Then I discover that the unlimited drink package costs me $277 in tips.  😲 And the free internet time is to about 18 minutes a day.  Not a lot!    I am waiting to see if there is a catch with the $50 per port excursion credit, as that's a significant amount on an itinerary with 12 ports.  I have already learned from these boards that I need to make excursion reservations over the phone to get the credit rather than booking online.  OK, I can do that, but I wouldn't know that without CC.  

 

[adam_s_allen]

16 minutes ago, Joanne G. said:

  If that's true, then onboard I would be charged  $29.99 per day,

When you click on the link in post #2 it says that cruises 13 days or longer will have a lower rate. I'm not sure what that rate is though.

 

As for the $50 port excursion it's only per cabin not per person, and if you don't use it for any given port you lose it. It's not all that great of a perk, but it's better than nothing if you get it in a take all free.

[mking8288]

24 minutes ago, Joanne G. said:

When I log into my NCL account for my 14-day cruise next year, I see $294 for the unlimited package.   Not as good as your deal for some reason, but not bad.  

It's confusing.  I have the 250 minute package as a perk.   The information in previous threads here on CC is that I can only get credit for those minutes with an upgrade is if I do it onboard, and the credit is worth $125 ... 

 

As just noted by adam ... this January (2019) on the Escape - the unlimited internet prices for 14 days (non-streaming) was/is $24.99 per day or $29.99 per day for the premium plan with streaming & VPN support - it's lowered by $5 per day compared to shorter cruises of 13 days or shorter.  Upgrade credit was/is $125 for those with 250 (not really) "free" minutes to trade-up ... but not valid for the social media only plan.  ****

 

It can only be done onboard - the above prices hasn't been raised in a "while" on NCL's timeline and I fully expect them to increase it at any given moment, without advance notice.  It appeared that those prices you are seeing is for the newer prices/projected increases calculated already by "finance" or accounting.  

 

We did the West Caribbean 14 days out of NYC and there were many port days - we sticked to the 250 minutes + 80 minutes to use while at sea, when we don't pick up land-based (roaming) cellular towers for much faster & superior 4G/LTE and sometimes HSPA+ signals ... used about 2.5 GB worth of cellular data among 4 devices, our net costs billed by Google Fi was under $30 out of pocket, far less than using ship's satellite data - which we "metered" & monitored usage with care to not run out & keep some minutes for last minute use and ICE (In Case of Emergencies) at sea.  

 

**** For shorter cruises (regular pricing) - it's currently (still) $29.99 per day for unlimited use and higher at $34.99 per day for unlimited PREMIUM streaming & VPN enabled.  If you purchase in advance, a discount is given but then you will (most likely) be forfeiting the option of the credit to trade-up & combine the early discount.  

 

On a side note: the free Cruise "Norweign App" on iOS and Android only uses & connects to ship's WiFi inTRAnet, it does not use or access the inTERnet.  Use of the optional, one-time flat fee-based WiFi calling & Texting module on the App - also - do NOT use any WiFi inTERnet minutes, each ("MAC" address) registered & activated device just pay a one-time flat fee.  

 

Confusing, huh.  

[don't-use-real-name]

Yupp - a snake oil and shell game all rolled into one of the same captive at sea internet service.

But it does beat running up your own flags and pennants on the rigging or waiting for the sea horse pony express !

 

Darn internet - can't live with it and can't live without it !

 

It would appear that plans with discounts purchased pre-cruise can not be combined with on board packages.

Latitudes promo minutes can not be use to reduce the cost of on board packages.

Only perk 250 minute programs can be used to reduce the on board packages.

 

Side note if you need hard printed copies of documents - each page costs $0.50 - - - and if printing from your

stateroom device the printer is at the Internet Café - best you hurry to retrieve your copies before they are

trashed or someone uses them as scratch paper ! Suggest you be at the Café machine when printing - you

can use NCLs machines. Need airline tickets boarding passes - use the airline apt on your smart phone - no

hard copy printed passes necessary.

[pcakes122]

1 hour ago, Joanne G. said:

It's confusing.  I have the 250 minute package as a perk.   The information in previous threads here on CC is that I can only get credit for those minutes with an upgrade is if I do it onboard, and the credit is worth $125.    If that's true, then onboard I would be charged  $29.99 per day, or about $420, and then I would be credited $125 for my perk minutes, netting out to $295.   Or, I can pay $294 in advance and not get any additional credit for my perk.  I end up with the same cost.  Have I got that right?  I would rather pay in advance and be done with it rather than going through the steps on board to make sure I get credited for my perk minutes.

You need to verify all of this with someone who is onboard a 14-day NCL cruise now.  I can only speak for a 7-day cruise (my usual), but I take the WiFi perk and then I wait until Day 2 onboard to upgrade to the BEST package (Unlimited Premium) and it usually costs me about $80-$90 total for the cruise.  (On the first day I just use free minutes I get for being Platinum Plus and some other free minutes I get from the casino.)  So what you are calculating sounds like ALOT to me.  Someone onboard can verify directly with the internet manager.  (Definitely wait until Day 2 to upgrade - I am certain that is a savings!)

[Joanne G.]

11 hours ago, mking8288 said:

 

As just noted by adam ... this January (2019) on the Escape - the unlimited internet prices for 14 days (non-streaming) was/is $24.99 per day or $29.99 per day for the premium plan with streaming & VPN support - it's lowered by $5 per day compared to shorter cruises of 13 days or shorter.  Upgrade credit was/is $125 for those with 250 (not really) "free" minutes to trade-up ... but not valid for the social media only plan.  ****

 . . . . .Confusing, huh.  

Thanks to all who responded.  I think I got it now.  If the onboard price of the unlimited package for a 14-day cruise is $24.99, that would be $349.86 total.  If I upgrade to that onboard, I would get $125 credit for the perk, resulting in my cost being $224.86.  That is less than the $294 that shows up in my NLC account for pre-purchase.  So, I am back to thinking I should wait until I get onboard to upgrade.   The difference from my earlier assumption is the new information that the onboard per-day price for a 14-day  cruise is less than the onboard per-day price for shorter cruises.   Geez, I am an accountant and this has had me scratching my head! 🙄

 

An alternative would be to disconnect for a while and make do with my perk plus additional 30 Latitudes minutes.   Maybe that's what I should do . . . . 

[Joanne G.]

It gets worse - LOL!  On another thread, the advice is that I should use my 30 Latitudes minutes on day one, and then do the upgrade on day 2, which would be prorated for 13 rather than 14 days.  OK, that would be a savings, but we will be in port in Le Havre, France, on day 2, and I will be focused on that, not internet minutes!  

 

I kind of resent it when companies offer perks and discounts, but then make them hard to use!  And it's not just NCL.  Oh well, my cruise is almost a year away, so I have time to figure out what I want to do.  

[tikruizer]

Hi:

Anyone knows if the 250 minute package works as the social media package, the unlimited wifi or unlimited premium wifi ?

Thanks

[Zippeedee]

13 hours ago, Joanne G. said:

It gets worse - LOL!  On another thread, the advice is that I should use my 30 Latitudes minutes on day one, and then do the upgrade on day 2, which would be prorated for 13 rather than 14 days.  OK, that would be a savings, but we will be in port in Le Havre, France, on day 2, and I will be focused on that, not internet minutes!  

 

I kind of resent it when companies offer perks and discounts, but then make them hard to use!  And it's not just NCL.  Oh well, my cruise is almost a year away, so I have time to figure out what I want to do.  

You can do the upgrade yourself online in just a few minutes. It is only a couple of clicks. Do it while you are eating breakfast and then go enjoy France!

[Tatka]

3 hours ago, tikruizer said:

Hi:

Anyone knows if the 250 minute package works as the social media package, the unlimited wifi or unlimited premium wifi ?

Thanks

 

Honestly I’m not sure what works as unlimited premium WiFi ...

We had it on our March 29th 14 day cruise.

$358 for 14 days.

it worked fine for browsing , posting photos, some YouTube, but as streaming of tv and such it almost never work.

Fortunately I didn’t have to work on this cruise, but going by the fact it was slower than on RCCL older ships and VPN didn’t work on RCCL ships, I highly doubt VPN would work either.

[CruisingNole]

Other cruiselines offer highspeed wifi, unlimited, fast enough to stream video, for as little as $8/day. NCL as usual, is a joke.

[gtaylor]

20 hours ago, CruisingNole said:

Other cruiselines offer highspeed wifi, unlimited, fast enough to stream video, for as little as $8/day. NCL as usual, is a joke.

Which lines/ships offer that?

 

gary

[CruisingNole]

8 minutes ago, gtaylor said:

Which lines/ships offer that?

 

gary

 

RC Oasis class. Pricing is dynamic but when purchased in advance it’s never more than $14 day. I’ve paid as little as $8. 

[mking8288]

Carnival is rolling rolling out their newest & fast/superior MedallionNet WiFi among its Princess fleet, currently on 6 ships & 7th one scheduled for next week, and several more by the end of 2019 - benchmarked to reach/exceed 100 Mbps d/l and 60 Mbps u/l - better than many land-based broadband connections.  

https://www.princess.com/ships-and-experience/ocean-medallion/medallionnet/

https://www.princess.com/ships-and-experience/ocean-medallion/medallionnet/

 

Priced as low as $10 per day for unlimited usage when purchased in advance for the duration of the cruise.  Their Platinum & Elite cruisers get more free minutes per person vis-a-vis NCL.  Typical prices are a little higher, obviously but easily 50% less than what NCL is currently charging for its "sluggish" satellite speed.  DW's friends sailed Princess on a regular basis & they vouched for it ... also, they would spend money when sailing Royal ships but refused to get ding by NCL ... were on the Getaway T/A this Spring, enough said. 

 

[BirdTravels]

1 hour ago, CruisingNole said:

RC Oasis class. Pricing is dynamic but when purchased in advance it’s never more than $14 day. I’ve paid as little as $8. 

RC Last Month (and the service on the Harmony was terrible... worse than NCL)

Edited July 8, 2019 by BirdTravels

[CruisingNole]

6 hours ago, BirdTravels said:

RC Last Month (and the service on the Harmony was terrible... worse than NCL)

 

That’s the onboard price. When purchased in advance, I’ve never seen surf + stream cost more than $14.

 

You must have some bad luck when it comes to WiFi. NCL didn’t even make this list.

 

https://www.travelweekly.com/Cruise-Travel/Study-says-Viking-has-best-WiFi-at-sea

 

 

[Joanne G.]

I paid $102 for unlimited wi-fi (no streaming, no Skype) on a 10-day Carnival cruise last month. On the other hand, I paid $159 for the equivalent of about an hour a day on a 7-day Princess cruise in April.   Both were advanced purchases for the same level of service.  And those lines share a corporate parent.  It’s anyone’s guess why such a difference.   🤔

[don't-use-real-name]

It is because they can - at sea a captive audience to whatever they provide and rate charged.

 

Only way to get better service is having diplomatic immunity and using a satellite*** phone.

 

*** satellite phones are a restricted item for guests on board NCL.

 

So you are back to square (buoy) one using sea horse (pony express) wireless telegraph service !

[CarnivalCruiser32]

On 7/5/2019 at 11:36 AM, Gappleby said:

I’m looking at the available plans for a 14 day cruise and I’m a bit confused.  For the social media plan it appears that the price is complete for the entire trip.  For the Unlimited wifi and Premium unlimited wifi it appears they are pricing at $273 and $331 PER DAY, respectively, so 14  days times $273 ($3,822) or 14 day times $331 ($4,634) for internet use.  Is this correct?  I’ve included information from the NCL site below.  Thank you for any insight you can provide.

 

The unlimited social media wifi plan -  unlimited use throughout the cruise – save up to 15% when booking online.  Need to Know:  • Price displayed [$162.50] is based on daily rate per length of cruise days. • Can be used only on one device at a time. • This package does not include email access or web browsing. 

 

Unlimited wifi package – unlimited use throughout the cruise | save up to 15% when booking online.  Need to Know:  Price displayed [$273] is per day use. Total cruise rate will be calculated based on the number of cruise days. • Can be used only on one device at a time. 

 

Unlimited premium wifi package - unlimited use throughout the cruise – save up to 15% when booking online.  Need to know:  Price displayed [$331] is per day use. Total cruise rate will be calculated based on the number of cruise days. • Can be used only on one device at a time. • Please note that some on demand content may not available. • Live streaming channels are based on your subscription package and location.

Thank you for asking this! I saw this too and I was like "??? so is it 273 per day or for the whole voyage?" really confusing. Maybe because it's so early for me (over a year out) they didn't proofread