Single Day Internet Pass

[MommaNeedsACruise]

I will be sailing on Rhapsody of the Seas next week and wanted some clarification on the singe day (24h) internet pass. My teenage son wants to pre-purchase the Voom Surf + Stream package for $17.99/day. Our cruise is very port intensive and only has one sea day. I’m trying to convince him to disconnect a little and purchase the single day plan (maybe 1 or 2 sporadic days). Is it my understanding from reading other posts that you can purchase a single day pass and actually get more than 24 hrs. The example I read stated “purchase on Day 2 at 2pm and you will have internet access until Day 3 at 11:59pm.”  Anyone have any experience with this as I read it on an old post from 2022. Thanks for your assistance.

[steveru621]

You get 24 hours.  

 

Most ports have free WiFi/Internet, but you must sit in the terminal to get access.

 

Just be aware the price will almost double when you purchase on board.

[firefly333]

I get a credit for 2 onboard days worth which can often be some left over. I got the extra day for 19.99 but it would have been 27.99 per day if not for my discount coupon. Saw it once as high as 32.99. ..the day they cancelled a port and more wanted online. Seems sad to me to charge more if more want on that day but be prepared for dynamic pricing. But I do add a extra day often. I hate to be cut off. 

[dragontrainer]

Are there any difficulties with getting internet for the first day (boarding day)?  

 

I'm sure it's not an optimal use case for most people, but if you need internet the first day on the ship (even prior to physically leaving port) would it be safe to assume someone will sell it to you and it will work, or are they not staffed or setup for first day internet purchases?

[firefly333]

12 minutes ago, dragontrainer said:

Are there any difficulties with getting internet for the first day (boarding day)?  

 

I'm sure it's not an optimal use case for most people, but if you need internet the first day on the ship (even prior to physically leaving port) would it be safe to assume someone will sell it to you and it will work, or are they not staffed or setup for first day internet purchases?

It's quite easy for me to buy and I'm very non tech.

 

When you go to settings to connect to the ships wifi it asks do you want to connect to the free app or do you want to connect to a internet pkg or something like that. Click on the 2nd and it shows you the price for 24 hours, or for the rest of the cruise. Click on the one you want. Click buy. Voila should now be active. 

 

Yes you can ask someone too but it's pretty easy for me.

 

If using your phone be sure and do airplane mode. I buy it on my tablet. But I connect both devices to their wifi internet. I have to see the app on my phone but use wifi on my tablet. So do it for both devices. My phone I click to connect to free app.

[reallyitsmema]

28 minutes ago, dragontrainer said:

Are there any difficulties with getting internet for the first day (boarding day)?  

 

I'm sure it's not an optimal use case for most people, but if you need internet the first day on the ship (even prior to physically leaving port) would it be safe to assume someone will sell it to you and it will work, or are they not staffed or setup for first day internet purchases?

 

There is no issue buying a Voom package or just 24 hours on boarding day but many people choose not to since they have cellular service up until a short time after the ship sails.  It looks like Rhapsody is sailing from San Juan and that is included in most US cellular plans.  If he just needs to access the internet prior to sailing, then I would check with your cellular provider to see what your coverage is for San Juan and for all your ports.

 

Voom is sold as a package for the whole cruise, a package for the remaining days of a cruise if you buy later in your cruise or in 24 hour blocks.  It is likely to be $25.99 to $30 per 24 hour period if you buy just 24 hours but have a cheaper daily rate if you buy a package.

 

If he is going to buy 24 hours here and there, understand that the time starts when he buys it.  You don't want him to buy it as you are leaving the ship for the day, buy it when you get back so he has the rest of that day and half of the next day, especially if the next day is a sea day.  If we are just buying one 24 hour period, we would never buy it as we are going to bed as it would be a waste, we always try to span two days and as many awake hours as possible.

[dragontrainer]

19 minutes ago, firefly333 said:

It's quite easy for me to buy and I'm very non tech.

 

When you go to settings to connect to the ships wifi it asks do you want to connect to the free app or do you want to connect to a internet pkg or something like that. Click on the 2nd and it shows you the price for 24 hours, or for the rest of the cruise. Click on the one you want. Click buy. Voila should now be active. 

 

Yes you can ask someone too but it's pretty easy for me.

 

If using your phone be sure and do airplane mode. I buy it on my tablet. But I connect both devices to their wifi internet. I have to see the app on my phone but use wifi on my tablet. So do it for both devices. My phone I click to connect to free app.

Much appreciated, this explanation was helpful.  I was, obviously incorrectly, under the impression you had to buy the package from a person at the kiosk/podium on the ship. I've never tried using their internet and it just didn't occur to me that it was set up as "do it yourself"; given they should make it as easy as possible for people to give them money, this completely makes sense.  Thank you!

[cruiseguy1016]

2 hours ago, MommaNeedsACruise said:

Is it my understanding from reading other posts that you can purchase a single day pass and actually get more than 24 hrs. The example I read stated “purchase on Day 2 at 2pm and you will have internet access until Day 3 at 11:59pm.”  Anyone have any experience with this as I read it on an old post from 2022. Thanks for your assistance.

 

Just to clarify and reiterate on this. He will get (exactly) 24 hours from the time he initially logs in. That 24 hrs. can extend into two calendar days but it will not extend beyond 24 consecutive hrs. If he logs in at 3:00pm on one day, he will have until 2:59pm the following day. So, he'll have service on 2 consecutive days but he will not have 48 hrs.

[JMToke]

Check with your phone carrier. I have Verizon and pay $10.00 for 24 hours on their travel pass.

[reallyitsmema]

6 minutes ago, JMToke said:

Check with your phone carrier. I have Verizon and pay $10.00 for 24 hours on their travel pass.

 

Travel passes are for ports though and not while out to sea.  

[twangster]

How did the suggestion they disconnect for a while go?

 

If your teenage child is anything like mine were, you are better off just getting the Voom pre-cruise for them especially on Rhapsody with nothing for teens to do. 

 

Thank me later.    

[FionaMG]

@MommaNeedsACruise, I completely agree with @twangster on this one. You have to bear in mind that even on a port intensive itinerary with just one sea DAY, you still have seven sea EVENINGS when your teen is absolutely going to want to be connected. Even without knowing your son, I'm pretty sure he'll be bored and frustrated in the evenings on this smaller ship if he can't connect with his friends back home.

 

In fact, I can attest to this from personal experience (even though my teen years are well behind me at a time when internet wasn't even a thing). A couple of years back, I decided to save some money by not buying an internet package. The reasoning was essentially the same as yours: port-heavy plus I would have mobile data in port during the day.

 

Well, it backfired. I felt completely lost without my browsing time when DH was in the casino in the evenings. Since then, I've always bought a full voyage package. Looking at it in purely $$$ terms, it's impossible to argue that it's worth the money but, if I have it, it enhances my overall cruise experience, whereas not having it detracts from the experience. For that reason, to me, it's worth it.

Edited August 8 by FionaMG
sp.

[JMToke]

18 hours ago, reallyitsmema said:

 

Travel passes are for ports though and not while out to sea.  

Apologies for not mentioning that part. The port intensive was stuck in my head.