Royal Caribbean’s VOOM Internet service is billed as “The Fastest Internet at Sea.” That’s good news because gone are the days where having Internet service was considered a luxury. Today, it’s a necessity. And even if you want to disconnect while on a cruise (which is a good idea) there are still times where you’ll want access to hop online.
Whether it’s checking in for a flight, sending a quick email back home, or checking in with work while you are sitting on the balcony, there is no shortage of reasons you might need access. As the public becomes more dependent on Internet access, cruise lines have made real strides to offer online access to their guests.
If you’re taking a cruise, then you might be wondering exactly how the service works, how fast it really is, and how much it costs. Having sailed the line countless times, here’s what we can tell you…
In This Article...
Price of Royal Caribbean’s VOOM Internet Service
First things first, if you are planning to get online during your cruise, then expect to fork over some considerable money.
While we appreciate the complexities that are involved in accessing the Internet from the middle of the ocean aboard the ship, the price of the VOOM service is still considerably more than you would pay for service on land.
While rates may vary based on your specific cruise, expect to pay $20-25 per device, per day. We can’t tell you exactly what you’ll pay because Royal Caribbean often changes prices depending on the specific trip. As well, there are often discounts that can factor in as well.
For instance, on a recent cruise, we saw a price of $25 per day for the first device and $17 per day for additional connections. This assumes you bought a package for the full length of the trip. Booking wi-fi before the cruise, we paid around $17 for the first device.
What if you just want to hop online for a single day or just for a few minutes to check email? There are time blocks available for purchase, as well as a daily rate that is higher than the multi-day package rate. In this case, it was $28 for a 24-hour pass.
Remember: For the biggest savings you can pre-purchase an Internet package through the Royal Caribbean Cruise Planner. The cruise line usually offers a discounted rate on Internet packages if booked ahead of time. We’ve seen this often at 10-25% off the onboard rate.
Signing Up/ Logging In to Access the Internet
The sign-up process for Royal Caribbean’s VOOM service is relatively simple. First, passengers enable wi-fi on their device and then select the ship’s service from the list of available connections.
Then, you will open up a new browser window. If you don’t see a login prompt to connect, then simply open a window and go to “Login.com”. From there, it should walk you through the steps to sign up for access, including creating a username and PIN.
You should continue to have access to the Internet throughout the rest of the trip, but if the connection drops or you disconnect, then simply make sure you are connected to the Wi-Fi network and then visit “Login.com” again to sign-in.
During our trip, it seemed to help if we accessed the login page via a new private window, which cleared out any prior cookies from our browser.
If you have trouble accessing the Internet, there is a help-desk available on the ship.
Testing the Speed of Royal Caribbean’s VOOM Service
How fast is Royal Caribbean’s Internet? Following a recent upgrade to SpaceX’s Starlink service, it appears that speeds have improved dramatically.
Before Starlink, we commonly encountered speeds of 3-5 Mbps on the ship for its then fastest connection. For reference, many home broadband connections range between 20-100 Mbps (you can test your current connection speed here.)
And after the initial rollout of Starlink, we found similar speeds as well, leaving us unimpressed with the hype about the service. However, it seems those low speeds were an aberration.
Taking a cruise in late 2023 — well after the full rollout of Starlink across the fleet — the speeds were blazing. We frequently tested the VOOM speed and consistently reached 40-60 Mbps, making it just as fast as our home internet.
We used the service extensively during our cruise, morning, day and night and across different devices and around different spots on the ship. The speed was solidly in the 40-60 Mbps range and doing everything from checking email to streaming video was solid. The slowest speed we encountered was around 15 Mbps.
Note that we haven’t checked the speed on every sailing and every ship. It could be that larger ships with more passengers connecting could lead to slower speeds. But the move to Starlink has seemed to lead to a significant speed increase.
Reliability of the Internet Connection
It can be frustrating to try to access the web, only to have issues with the internet connection. Unfortunately, you may run into some issues with the reliability of VOOM at times.
For instance, during the first day of one trip we took, the weather was bad, which has an impact on the connection. We had issues accessing websites and the service seemed to come and go. In fact, we had a similar issue during a morning storm later on in the cruise. There were also other times here and there that the connection seemed to be hit or miss for short spurts. Often it was resolved by logging out and logging back in.
Another cruise to Alaska aboard Royal Caribbean saw the Internet completely down for almost a day. When we went down to talk to the staff, we found an entire line of other passengers already there with the same complaint.
On the other hand, our most recent cruise where we saw significantly faster VOOM speeds via Starlink had almost zero issues with connectivity or speed. It was nearly flawless (there was a time or two where the service seemed down momentarily, but then came back quickly).
Bottom line: Don’t be surprised if the connection has some issues occasionally (you are at sea, after all), especially if you run into bad weather. For the most part, however, we found the service reliable.
Can I Stream With VOOM?
These days, streaming is a major part of everyone’s lives. The good news is that yes, you can stream with the “Surf+Stream” package.
We’ve tested various streaming services via the VOOM connection. According to Netflix, the absolute minimum required speed to access its service is 0.5 Mbps, with 3 Mbps recommended for standard definition streaming, and 5 Mbps recommended for HD streaming.
In our tests, streaming shows worked well. The same can be said for streaming on Max, YouTube, and other streaming services we’ve tried.
Note that Royal Caribbean used to offer a simpler (and cheaper) “Surf” package that only allowed web browsing. With the move to Starlink, that seems to have gone away, and the only package offered is “Surf+Stream.”
If you do sail a ship that has both options, you’ll want the faster “Surf+Stream” service to watch video online.
Are There Dead Zones for Service Around the Ship?
You likely know that in your house there may be spots — like the corner of that one bedroom — where for whatever reason your wi-fi just doesn’t work. With a huge ship there may be dead zones for wi-fi service, but we’ve never encountered them.
Yes, there may be spots where the signal strength declines some (from a full three bars to two), but that’s never seemed to impact the speed of service. In fact, whether in a cabin, a dining room, the theater, or anywhere around the ship, we’ve been surprised at how consistent the wi-fi signal is onboard.
Keep in mind we haven’t visited every ship and every nook and cranny. Still, it seems you get a reliable connection no matter where you go.
Can I Use One VOOM Account for Multiple Devices?
One of the big drawbacks of the service is that for a considerable price, you only get the ability to connect one device. So if you want to hook up with your laptop and your traveling partner wants to connect their phone at the same time, then you need to pay for two devices. This costs considerably more.
As a workaround, if you don’t need full-time access you can simply use multiple devices, with only one connected at a time. So you can login on your laptop and browse. When you are done, your spouse can then sign-in on their phone using the same account.
It will inform you the device limit has been reached and ask if you want to connect the new device. If you do, then the new device will login and knock the other device offline.
What About Using Video Chat Services Like FaceTime?
Want to get in touch back home? VOOM allows services like FaceTime and other video calling. During our cruises we’ve been able to use FaceTime on our iPhone. The call quality did depend on the Internet connection. Some calls were choppy here and there, while others were crystal clear. The most recent cruise with the fastest connection made called flawlessly.
Overall, it was easy to talk to people back on land using the service.
Can I Message and Make Calls on my Phone via Wi-Fi?
Yes. While connected, we used WhatsApp to both message and make calls through the app. It worked flawlessly, and the voice calls were crystal clear. Other messaging apps or wi-fi calling should work as well. We also used iPhone’s iMessage and had no issues.
Can I Use a VPN With VOOM?
For privacy or work, some people connect to the internet via a VPN. We do too. Using the VOOM service, we had no issues using a VPN while on the ship and were able to easily connect.
Does the Internet Work on CocoCay?
One perk of the VOOM service is that Royal Caribbean has setup service to where you can connect while on their private island, CocoCay. If you’re buying a wi-fi package, this essentially gives you an extra day of service since normally you can’t use the ship’s internet when in port.
We tested the connection while visiting the island and had the same positive impression as we did following the full implementation of the Starlink service. Speeds were blazing fast, even with two ships in port during the day. While there was some variance, they were generally in the 30-60 Mbps range. As well, the connection was solid.
So if you wanted to make a video call back home to make your family jealous of where you were visiting, that would be no problem.
Can I Work or Attend School With the Service?
Generally we are hesitant to say that a passenger would be able to work or attend classes online using a cruise ship’s internet connection. Reliability can be spotty and speeds can be slow.
Following the rollout of Starlink and our recent experience on a cruise to The Bahamas, we’ve changed our tune for Royal Caribbean’s VOOM service. During this most recent cruise the connection was solid with no hang-ups or dropped connections.
Meanwhile, the speeds of upwards of 60 Mbps were plenty fast for the vast majority of people. With that, you could attend Zoom meetings, watch lectures, upload large files or anything else you might need.
If that’s going to be the experience across the fleet, then working or going to school online should be no issue.
Have more questions about the specifics of using the VOOM service? Let us know in the comments below.
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This is an absolute lie. I am currently on a cruise, and I cannot even access a low/grade video, let alone play a game, download anything important, (heaven help you if you have to upload anything), or listen to Apple Music. It was 454.00 for 3 devices, and I cannot text my grandkids. So, my advice; don’t cruise if you need internet. Hotels everywhere have free internet. You’re much better off booking a vacation to where you’d like, unless of course you like a soda now and again or you need internet access. Truth.
Hi,
I’ll be aboard the Icon of the seas on its Maiden voyage Jan 23. Do you know if I will be able to connect to my work vpn while aboard the cruise?
We had no issues on a recent cruise (not aboard Icon) connecting via our VPN, so it should be ok.
My wife and I are traveling on Wonder of the seas with RC in a week. We have the option of us both doing 1 device. Or I can do 2 devices under just me which is cheaper. If I do 2 devices under my name will my wife be able to have access as well under my 2nd device?
Yes, she will just need your login info.
You don’t mention anything about data limits. How much are you limited to, or is it unlimited? Royal Caribbean doesn’t mention anything about it as well. Guess a phone call is required to get straight answers.
I’ve never seen anything about data limits. It’s likely not going to be an issue unless you’re downloading massive files one after another. So if you stream a few movies during the cruise, that’s likely ok. But if you’re downloading the Library of Congress, they might notice and ask you to stop.
I know this is a late response to this 2018 article, but wanted to give you some info about the StarLink network. The strength of your download speed is dependent on which satellite you’re ship is closest to – in other words, regardless of RCCL’s contract, if there is not a SL satellite overhead, there won’t be SL service. When this article was written, the StarLink web was just getting started. Finally this year, Elon has announced the network will be completed “in 2023”. Ironically, I live in Cape Canaveral, among many SpaceX workers, and no one I know is using the service locally.
We’ll be on the ALLURE from 9/3-10. My wife purchased the “Surf only” package (1phone, and an Android). Will she be able to do text messaging or be able to use FB messenger?
Should be able to do so. I normally recommend always getting the fastest package, even though it may cost more. In general speeds are slower than we are all used to, so skimping here can be a pain.
Dear Tanner, do you have some update on the latest’s SL performances on Royal fleet?
I Mean, I have some business that requires some Video calls / streaming and I`m afraid to not be able to do them while cruising… Don’t see the average 3-5Mbps you commented enough to those services…
I sailed a ship with Starlink equipped (Allure OTS in late 2022) and to be honest, I saw zero difference in connectivity.
Just want to make sure I understand correctly. If I am sailing with my husband and two children, I can by the package for just one of us with 4 devices and we can all share? That is significantly cheaper than buying the package for all of us, but want to make sure that this is allowed.
Yes, you can buy a four device package and all be on the wi-fi at once.
Hi, I’m thinking of cruising on Explorer of the Seas with Royal Caribbean. I’m going to need to possibly have an ethernet connection (wifi may be an option but not sure yet) for some zoom meetings I’ll have to do for work while there. Curious if you know what the speeds are now with Voom since this article was written and if they have the option to connect via ethernet in staterooms or somewhere else on the ship. Just not sure I can completely rely on cruise internet to get me through a bunch of zoom meetings. Thanks for your input.
Jose — I’ve never seen an option to connect via ethernet. And even if there was, you’re still relying on a satellite signal at sea. Royal Caribbean has moved to Starlink which is said to offer faster speeds, but on the ship we sailed with the service in November, we noticed no difference. At that point, service was in the 5-10 Mbps.
I will say that I’ve never used Zoom at sea, but have made video calls. The experience varies from perfectly smooth to very choppy, depending on the signal at that point. I’d think a schedule of full-fledged group video calls might be a big ask in my experience.
Jose, expect a 4 second delay when on any sort of “real-time” communication program at sea (like Zoom). There is quite a bit delay added between the ship and the satellite, then another delay added between the satellite and the Earth.
Patience is needed.
I phoned Royal Caribbean to query whether it was necessary to pay for 4 devices two my own two husbands if only using one each at any given time. They said need to pay for 4 which is more than £1000 in UK. Reading above information on this usage basis, we only need to pay for one device each and switch between using the connection on our phone and laptop. Is that correct please?
Right. If you don’t need all four connected at once, then you can pay for one device and switch between them.
Hi, I’m going on Mariner of the Seas at the end of the month. I need to log into an app which requires GPS location when I sign in and out at the end of the day. If I purchase the Surf & Stream using ships WiFi and I put my iPhone on airplane mode, will my app work and give my location?
Oh, that’s a tough question. I’m not 100% sure, but it seems like the location services tie to where the signal is based. For instance, I think I remember seeing mention of my device being in Miami while online on the ship. I would count on accurate GPS positioning not working, but not totally sure.
On Day 7 on Liberty of the Seas- bought the surf+stream – haven’t seen anything above 600Kbps since day 2- average has been between 200 and 400 Kbps or about 10X slower than the promised 2-3 Mbps. My business is dead in the water because I can’t do simple functions like send documents for esignature, access my CRM application or do other basic business tasks. I can barely send an email. Max speed in our stateroom (where you might actually want to stream a movie) has maxed out at 170 Kbps-
I echo previous comments that they treat you like an IT idiot- and say things that don’t actually make sense- it might work on some of the old retired folks on this cruise but not everyone- the least they could be is honest.
Just off Mariner of the Seas. Boom was pretty bad. I had Voom Surf and Stream package. IT Rep told me Mariner is limited to 2Meg up an download. My experience was between 1.0 and 1.8 with upload being faster than download one time. Voom is different from one RCI type ship to another but RCI does not publish that disclaimer. Buyer beware!
can i connect to vpn using VOOM
That’s one that I’m not sure about. Royal Caribbean doesn’t mention anything specifically on its website and haven’t personally tested it before.
Will the Surf&Stream speeds support being able to take a Covid test for returning to the US. I’ll be on Serenade for an Alaska cruise.
I would think it should work. I was able to stream Netflix while at sea with it.
Cruising Jan 30th. I will need to log into daily Zoom calls for school. I live in Canada and have been out of country before and Zoom didn’t work. I wondered if you have any experience with this.
Thanks
Not specifically with Zoom, but according to their requirements, you need to have 3.8Mbps/3.0Mbps (up/down) for group calls. It’s less for lower quality video. So you should be able to get that. Zoom might be blocked on the “Surf” (lower tier) but should be available on the “Surf + Stream” tier.
Keep in mind that your connection speed can vary depending on location and weather.
Hi cruising Jan. 8th on symphony of the seas purchased voom will I be able to call my brother back home anytime from any port or at sea ? Also will my brother be able to call me anytime from home when we’re at a port or when we’re at sea.
Thank you
For phone calls, that will depend on the wi-fi call settings on your phone. That said, I’ve done video calls via Facetime and WhatsApp and it worked well.
hi there we are going to Alaska on Quantum of the Seas and My teen needs internet for school work. How well does it work going thru Alaska?
Haven’t personally tested it in that region. But in general, it’s much slower than at home. If they are connecting via video chat, then it might be pixelated/laggy… or it could be clear (it varies in our experience). If it’s getting to websites to submit assignments, then it should be fine.
I just experienced the worst possible internet service on R.C.’s Grandeur of the Seas. Speed measured in Kbytes instead of Mbytes, ping never less than 600 and even the end of cruise ‘deal’ cost $50 for 3 days of service. I did complain and was treated as if I were a computer novice, which I am not. They informed me that maximum speed was rated at 4 Mybtes but wifi service would be somewhat slower. Yes, 90% slower.
We have AT&T mobiles, and see that they have cruise packages in conjunction with the cruise lines. So if we purchase their $100 unlimited package for each phone, does that mean we use it on board, and don’t have to purchase VOOM? And we use our phones as usual? Adventure of the Seas on December 15.
Not entirely sure about the ins and outs of your phone’s plan. Sounds like it would work for you, however.
I am booked on Liberty if the Seas and purchased a 4 device package. There are 4 of us going. Does that mean we all 4 can log on at the same time or do I need to have a package for each?
If you booked the four device package, that means you can log on all at once. If you book the one device package, you can all four use it, but only one person at a time.
I sailed on Ovation of the Sea 7/5 – 7/12/2019. I purchased Voom for one device. It worked when it felt like working. I visited the Voom desk multiple times and was told that the area we were sailing in just had bad service. I paid nearly $100 for the week and did not get my money’s worth. They advertise that they are the fastest and best at sea. That is not true. It sometimes took me 30 minutes to log on. Very frustrating. I can’t even find someone to talk to about getting some kind of a refund.
If I purchase the Voom, will I be able to use a fire stick on the Vision of the Seas? How is the internet connection on The Vision of the Seas?
On the Independence of the Seas the internet is horrendous. Not worth the price. RC has fixed the TVs so you cannot use a fire stick even if the internet was faster.
We’d highly doubt it. The connection isn’t always great and the input ports on the TV are usually disabled.
Currently on the Voyager of the Seas, off the coast of Vietnam.
The service is much better than what we’ve had on Holland America in the last couple years.
However it’s hardly “streaming” capable. I would guess that the massive use of handheld devices is causing the systems to collapse under the load. All of these devices are constantly making updates to Twitter, Snapchat, Instagram, etc and the cruise companies are still not equipped to deal with it.
Thanks for the update! It really helps other passengers.
Royal Caribbean Rhapsody INTERNET SUX! Connectivity was extremely poor and at times nonfunctional. It consistently dropped connections requiring one to constantly re-sign in. Speed tests showed under 2Mbps consistently tested over the course of 6 days in several areas of the ship which made streaming or uploading photos to social media simply impossible, never mind video calls. This indicated a switch not outputting enough POE to supply enough power to WAPS or simply not enough WAPS aboard for consistent coverage. Very disappointed that it was touted “the fastest internet at sea”. Completely useless and unmanageable. Seeking a refund.
Ah a comedian! 😉
So if I paid for 2 devices, I assume I’m just given 2 codes? We have 2 rooms and hoped each room could use 1 device. (Even though one person bought the 2-device package?)
It’s not codes, it’s just that you login to use the Internet. With two devices paid for you will be able to login with both at the same time. If you only paid for one, you would be booted off the other device when a new one logs in.
I prepaid for Voom on my upcoming cruise because they offered a discount precruise. So when I go to sign in, will they know that? I want to make sure I don’t get charged.
The system should recognize that you’ve already paid. Don’t worry though, there are staff members on the ship who are there to help people get online. If you have questions you can just talk to them to get everything sorted out.
I´m currently in Mariner of the Seas, and have been doing several speed test fom my phone (iPhone10) and my laptop (Lenovo Yoga); I´m using the “Voom Surf + Stream” service, and the speeds have have been: Ping at 628ms, Download at 0.78 Mbps and Upload at 0.65 Mbps.
Video chat is not possible. Video streaming is very very slow and poor quality.
Thank you for the update! There’s no doubt that speeds will vary from ship to ship, but those speeds are particularly slow.
I tried to stream my DirecTV on my tablet while in port in Canada, and it did not work. I also tried to watch via Bravo’s website, and I got an error message that I could not use the service due to my location. I called DirecTV and they informed me that I cannot access content from my account outside of the US. Will I be able to connect while using Voom on a Caribbean cruise? I’d like the ability to stream live TV or view on demand shows during down time.
We aren’t sure, but would guess that you would not given that you will be outside the U.S. If you have Netflix, you can download some shows to watch offline. Maybe DirecTV has the same feature?
I read that the ships use US IP addresses. Has anyone else heard or have experience with this?
We’d love to know! We did you Youtube and Netflix and didn’t seem to have any issues with being out of the country. Not sure if other programs like DirecTV might raise an issue.
Hi,
I’m going on Anthem of the Seas in 2 weeks. I teach English to kids in China over the internet live each day. I had planned on teaching from the ship. Now, I’m worried. I’ve paid for Voom streaming but 3mbs won’t work. I need at least 20.bs and a ping no higher than 100 at the most. Is there any service anywhere I can buy? Help!
That’s a tough one. I would guess that you can likely connect via Skype or a similar service, but the video will likely be a bit grainy through VOOM. You could connect to faster wi-fi when you are in port. Many restaurants and shops in ports offer wi-fi as a service to their customers.
Becky, did it work? I do the same thing and am going on my cruise at the end of the month.