What does free Wi-Fi on NCL include?

[Sigyn]

I'm looking at NCL cruises for spring break for my family next year and it says they have free Wi-Fi. I've had trouble figuring out exactly what free Wi-Fi means on NCL. Is there a certain amount of minutes free, certain types of website (no streaming, for instance) you can visit, a certain number of people in our cabin who can access Wi-Fi at once, etc? Thanks in advance for any insight you can share. I'm sure I'm looking at the wrong place on the NCL site, but I'm stumped. 

[shof515]

Internet Package (Free WiFi)
Internet package is based on number of nights.
75 minutes per person for 3-6 Day Cruises.
150 minutes per person for 7-11 Day Cruises.
300 minutes per person for 12+ Day Cruises.
Offer will be applied to the 1st and 2nd guest in the stateroom.
Internet package is per person. Two logins per stateroom.
Can be used only on one device at a time.
Package is limited to number of minutes and doesn’t allow streaming.
Internet package is not available at Great Stirrup Cay or Harvest Caye.
Internet package includes activation fee.

 

https://www.ncl.com/about/terms-and-conditions/promotions

[MsTabbyKats]

So, to be clear, if I book a 12 day cruise: I will get 300 minutes.  My husband will get 300 minutes.

Correct?

[genealogyfan]

If I recall, the free number of minutes is per cabin, not per person. You can only use one device at a time.  4 years ago, when my friend and I shared the free "150 minutes" we each had to log in and log off (to stop the minutes) and use the internet

 

This most recent cruise we were on, I purchased the unlimited internet. We found out, that anytime one of us wanted to use the internet, the other person had to "logoff/disconnect" from the wifi. It was a pain, and I wish both devices could be used at the same time.

[GaryWT]

We upgraded to unlimited for $109. each.  There is a second upgrade for streaming. Worked out ok, could use my phone or iPad but not at the same time.  My wife could do the same.  Friends stayed with the 150 minutes but forgot to log out one day so all the minutes got used up. 

[Stevio]

58 minutes ago, genealogyfan said:

If I recall, the free number of minutes is per cabin, not per person. You can only use one device at a time.  4 years ago, when my friend and I shared the free "150 minutes" we each had to log in and log off (to stop the minutes) and use the internet

 

This most recent cruise we were on, I purchased the unlimited internet. We found out, that anytime one of us wanted to use the internet, the other person had to "logoff/disconnect" from the wifi. It was a pain, and I wish both devices could be used at the same time.

That was the old days ...

shof515 above (post 2) has what they are offering on the current "free at sea" with the salient points being...

 

Internet package is per stateroom, two logins per stateroom. Each login can only be used on one device at a time. Package is limited to number of minutes and doesn’t allow streaming

 

However you still need to log out to stop the minutes expiring and it is still a pain. But two people can now use the wifi with their respective log ins at the same time, and there is nothing to stop you loaning/ donating your login and time to someone else.

Edited September 27, 2022 by Stevio
spacing

[UKstages]

then main thing to remember is that NCL does not excel at providing internet services. (some of its competitors do.) i've long ago given up on purchasing or upgrading the internet on NCL cruises. it is a very poor value and the quality sucks... especially during spring break cruises when a third of the ship's passengers are likely to be tweens and teenagers, all of whom often stay glued to their phones throughout the day... and night. this causes enormous problems with internet reliability and leaves very little bandwidth for other passengers.

 

the "free" minutes you will get are good for occasionally checking email and that's about it. you'll be frustrated trying to visit most websites.  download your email and read it offline. then go back online to send once your replies are written. remember to log off each time when done or your minutes will be consumed without actually using them.

 

don't bother upgrading to the so-called premium "streaming" version of NCL's internet. it's unreliable and barely faster than the free version.  

 

if you have a port-intensive itinerary, and that itinerary includes ports that are available for free on your cell phone plan (usually canada and mexico) or a nominal $10 charge (bermuda, most european  countries), supplement your free internet minutes with strategic use of your cell phone.

[tony s]

You do get plenty of frustration for free as Wi-Fi slow and erratic.

[Sigyn]

4 hours ago, shof515 said:

Internet Package (Free WiFi)
Internet package is based on number of nights.
75 minutes per person for 3-6 Day Cruises.
150 minutes per person for 7-11 Day Cruises.
300 minutes per person for 12+ Day Cruises.
Offer will be applied to the 1st and 2nd guest in the stateroom.
Internet package is per person. Two logins per stateroom.
Can be used only on one device at a time.
Package is limited to number of minutes and doesn’t allow streaming.
Internet package is not available at Great Stirrup Cay or Harvest Caye.
Internet package includes activation fee.

 

https://www.ncl.com/about/terms-and-conditions/promotions

 

Thanks, this is what I needed!

 

3 hours ago, GaryWT said:

We upgraded to unlimited for $109. each.  There is a second upgrade for streaming. Worked out ok, could use my phone or iPad but not at the same time.  My wife could do the same.  Friends stayed with the 150 minutes but forgot to log out one day so all the minutes got used up. 

Ack!!!!

[PATRLR]

4 hours ago, shof515 said:

Internet Package (Free WiFi)
Internet package is based on number of nights.
75 minutes per person for 3-6 Day Cruises.
150 minutes per person for 7-11 Day Cruises.
300 minutes per person for 12+ Day Cruises.
Offer will be applied to the 1st and 2nd guest in the stateroom.
Internet package is per person. Two logins per stateroom.
Can be used only on one device at a time.
Package is limited to number of minutes and doesn’t allow streaming.
Internet package is not available at Great Stirrup Cay or Harvest Caye.
Internet package includes activation fee.

 

https://www.ncl.com/about/terms-and-conditions/promotions

 

2 hours ago, Stevio said:

That was the old days ...

shof515 above (post 2) has what they are offering on the current "free at sea" with the salient points being...

 

Internet package is per stateroom, two logins per stateroom. Each login can only be used on one device at a time. Package is limited to number of minutes and doesn’t allow streaming

@Stevio I'm not following you.  What you state to be a salient point in shof515's post, I can not find in shof515's post nor can I find on the NCL page.  

My reading of the page is that both people in the room on a 7 night cruise each get 150 minutes for 300 total.

Edited September 27, 2022 by PATRLR

[genealogyfan]

8 hours ago, Stevio said:

That was the old days ...

shof515 above (post 2) has what they are offering on the current "free at sea" with the salient points being...

 

Internet package is per stateroom, two logins per stateroom. Each login can only be used on one device at a time. Package is limited to number of minutes and doesn’t allow streaming

 

However you still need to log out to stop the minutes expiring and it is still a pain. But two people can now use the wifi with their respective log ins at the same time, and there is nothing to stop you loaning/ donating your login and time to someone else.

I was just on a cruise on Sept 2 and we were told by the Internet specialist, when one of us was logged in my account for unlimited wifi under our cabin,  the other person in my cabin couldn't be on and vice versa at the same time. I would have to log off, if my friend wanted to use the unlimited wifi I purchased as an upgrade on their device.

Edited September 28, 2022 by genealogyfan

[UKstages]

50 minutes ago, genealogyfan said:

I was just on a cruise on Sept 2 and we were told by the Internet specialist, when one of us was logged in my account for unlimited wifi under our cabin,  the other person in my cabin couldn't be on and vice versa at the same time. I would have to log off, if my friend wanted to use the unlimited wifi I purchased as an upgrade on their device.

 

the operative words here are "to use the unlimited wifi I purchased as an upgrade on their device." once you upgrade to a purchased plan, if you attempt to share that plan, then, yes, you can only be logged into one device at a time.

 

what's being talked about elsewhere are "free minutes" doled out on a person to person basis. the same principle would apply, by the way; you can only be logged in on one device, but every person who has a plan can be logged in (to some device or other, one device at a time) simultaneously, because they are on different plans.

[Rob_H]

Also, access to cruisecritic.com, and ncl.com, is free with the onboard wifi.  You do not have to log in, and do not have to consume your minutes to see them.

 

But you have to be really, really patient.  Both are super slow (and cruisecritic.com won't include images). Each page takes minutes to load.  So be sure to be doing something else (like reading a book) at the same time.

 

BTW if you have back-to-back cruises the minutes roll over to the next cruise (anything left from the first cruise can be consumed on the second cruise).

[Stevio]

13 hours ago, PATRLR said:

 

@Stevio I'm not following you.  What you state to be a salient point in shof515's post, I can not find in shof515's post nor can I find on the NCL page.  

My reading of the page is that both people in the room on a 7 night cruise each get 150 minutes for 300 total.

 

Uncertain what you are not following. My post you quoted was a response and update to a quote from genealologyfan.

 

The free at sea WIFI is applicable per cabin.

 

The per cabin benefit is for the first two people only, with two logins per stateroom, that can each be used for one device at a time

 

And you are correct that a 7 night cruise qualifies for 2 x 150 min as per screenshot of current terms below where it seems clear that packages are per person.

 

 

Edited September 28, 2022 by Stevio
spacing

[genealogyfan]

9 hours ago, Stevio said:

 

Uncertain what you are not following. My post you quoted was a response and update to a quote from genealologyfan.

 

The free at sea WIFI is applicable per cabin.

 

The per cabin benefit is for the first two people only, with two logins per stateroom, that can each be used for one device at a time

 

And you are correct that a 7 night cruise qualifies for 2 x 150 min as per screenshot of current terms below where it seems clear that packages are per person.

 

 

I’m wondering if my friend (in the same cabin as me) got screwed with his free 150 minutes. I purchased on my account the unlimited wifi. When we asked about my friend using the free 150 minutes for his device, we were told since I bought the unlimited, the free 150 minutes wasn’t available to either of us. They made it sound like it was per cabin.

 

The unlimited internet was per device, so only one of us could use our device one at a time.

Edited September 28, 2022 by genealogyfan

[UKstages]

15 hours ago, Rob_H said:

BTW if you have back-to-back cruises the minutes roll over to the next cruise (anything left from the first cruise can be consumed on the second cruise).

 

can you explain this in more detail? i just completed a back-to-back and did not find this to be the case. 

[Rob_H]

1 hour ago, UKstages said:

 

can you explain this in more detail? i just completed a back-to-back and did not find this to be the case. 

 

When you start a package, minutes are consumed.  At the end of a cruise, any remaining minutes are normally lost.

 

If, however, you are on the same ship b2b, you can log back in and the remaining minutes will be available, plus a new package for the new cruise that you can start later (wait till the first is fully consumed).  Even works if the second cruise is sailaway rate with no new minutes. 

 

We've done this many times this year, many back to backs, with no problems.  Only works if the second cruise is on the same ship.

 

[Stevio]

10 hours ago, genealogyfan said:

I’m wondering if my friend (in the same cabin as me) got screwed with his free 150 minutes. I purchased on my account the unlimited wifi. When we asked about my friend using the free 150 minutes for his device, we were told since I bought the unlimited, the free 150 minutes wasn’t available to either of us. They made it sound like it was per cabin.

 

The unlimited internet was per device, so only one of us could use our device one at a time.

 

Sorry, never upgraded on NCL so never thought about it before...

 

On the internet package upgrade page for my upcoming cruise there is a basic unlimited Wi-Fi for one device at £152....... and for two at £335... But there is also the unlimited "Wi-Fi upgrade for guests 1 and 2" at £148 per person.

 

Perhaps that means you convert all of your stateroom package minutes for one log in if only one pays, or perhaps they sold you the wrong package?

 

Personally I am taking your experience to heart and therefore am going nowhere near the offer select button in case it happens to me.

 

I hanker after the old days (a couple of years ago), when both the wife and I could each log in to use our free Latitudes minutes and then start the separate free at sea packages.

 

Could be worse MSC lock on to your device IMEI number, when they say "one" device they mean it.

 

Edited September 29, 2022 by Stevio
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