Royal Caribbean International claims its VOOM internet connection is the fastest at sea.
Previously, I had a taste of it on short preview sailings aboard the line's Anthem of the Seas and Harmony of the Seas, but never before had I been able to test in on a full cruise.
Over the Christmas holiday in the Caribbean, my wife and I both put the Freedom of the Seas' access through its paces over eight days, and we were pleasantly surprised by the results.
The high-speed product was originally available on mostly just the Quantum- and Oasis-class ships (i.e. Quantum of the Seas, Anthem of the Seas, Ovation of the Seas, Oasis of the Seas, Allure of the Seas and Harmony of the Seas). In order for it to work, a dedicated Medium Earth Orbit (MEO) satellite directed its connectivity beam right at each vessel.
There was no sharing that could potentially bog it down.
Now, every ship in the Royal Caribbean fleet touts VOOM, and it's available in two tiers, either "Surf" or "Surf and Stream". As the names imply, Surf is ideal for simple web browsing while Surf and Stream dials it up to facilitate the likes of FaceTime, Skype and even Netflix-at least in theory.
We opted for the fastest connection which, with my discount as a Diamond member of the Crown & Anchor Society, came to a little over $17 per day for one device. Otherwise, it would've been closer to $20 per day. Admittedly, the full price is getting a little steep for a service that I believe should be and is by some lines-albeit at slower speeds-offered for free.
As a travel journalist, I need at the very least a relatively stable connection, and speed is usually a luxury at sea. VOOM managed to provide both pretty consistently. 98 percent of the time it worked flawlessly but, when it didn't, it seemed to cut out entirely.
The connection was strongest inside the ship's public venues and cabins. Our stateroom was actually where we did most of our internet testing. Our cabin balcony was where access was the weakest, and access also seemed to slow some in port. It's possible nearby ships caused some interference.
Otherwise, Royal Caribbean's VOOM is indeed an impressive internet connection, and I would attest that it is very likely the fastest overall I have experienced at sea. Of course, Carnival Cruise Line's is a very close contender. Although it's not as quick as either, Viking Cruises' complimentary access is unbeatable for the price.
I await the day when some balance between the two exists. Internet should be available on all ships for free, with perhaps a high-speed option that can be purchased for a nominal premium.
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