Royal Caribbean Bans Popular Device to Dodge ‘Crazy’ Wi-Fi Fees

If you’ve ever been on a cruise, you know onboard Wi-Fi is anything but cheap. Passengers have been finding creative ways to sidestep high costs for years, but Royal Caribbean is putting a stop to one particularly popular hack. The cruise giant has officially banned travel routers – a device many savvy cruisers used to save money on internet access.

For those unfamiliar, travel routers allow multiple devices to connect to a single Wi-Fi network, effectively letting passengers share one internet package across phones, tablets, and laptops. Given Royal Caribbean’s pricing – starting at $15.99 (£12.50) per device, per day – it’s easy to see the appeal. However, the cruise line has cited cybersecurity concerns and “deliberate electronic crime” as reasons for cracking down.

Why Are Travel Routers a Big Deal?

Cruisers looking to save a few dollars often brought travel routers onboard, enabling them to split the cost of internet access. The device connects to the ship’s Wi-Fi and creates a mini-network, letting you hook up all your gadgets without purchasing multiple packages. This hack became so widespread that many assumed it was allowed – or at least overlooked.

But Royal Caribbean has always technically prohibited these devices, even if enforcement was rare. Now, it seems they’re doubling down. Passengers have reported routers being confiscated during luggage scans at embarkation. Carnival Cruise Line has adopted a similar policy, adding travel routers to their prohibited items list.

The High Cost of Staying Connected

Wi-Fi on a cruise ship has long been a sore spot for passengers. Speeds are often sluggish, especially when compared to what we’re used to at home – think less than 2MB per second in some cases. And with a single day of coverage costing around $12 (£9.40) for crew members and even more for passengers, frustrations are mounting.

One Royal Caribbean worker shared his own experience, saying $12 only got him three hours of painfully slow internet. “It gets worse when more people are online,” he explained. Unsurprisingly, cruisers have taken to social media to vent their frustration. One YouTuber advised crew members to “download a tonne of videos” before boarding, while another called the daily internet fees “crazy.”

What This Means for Your Next Cruise

If you were planning to pack a travel router for your next Royal Caribbean or Carnival cruise, think again. Both cruise lines are cracking down, and you could have your device confiscated at the port. While it’s unclear if confiscated routers will be returned at the end of the cruise, it’s best to leave them at home to avoid the hassle.

For now, the only way to stay connected is to pay for the cruise line’s Wi-Fi package – which can add up quickly, especially if you’re travelling with family. To keep costs down, consider limiting devices to one per package or downloading movies, books, and music ahead of your trip. And remember, while staying connected at sea is convenient, there’s also something magical about unplugging and fully enjoying the cruise experience.

Recommended reading: Tips for Staying Connected for Free on Royal Caribbean Cruises