Photo courtesy of Silversea Cruises
Starting in January 2016, luxury line Silversea Cruises will give free Wi-Fi to every guest on its traditional and expedition cruises.
It's the latest salvo in the cruise industry race to provide free, reduced-cost or lightning fast Internet to passengers, who expect to connect anywhere, anytime, even in the middle of the ocean. Such expectations mean that Wi-Fi is a necessity today and can no longer be milked for profits.
Silversea's program will offer at least one hour of free Wi-Fi per guest every day. The free Wi-Fi is unlimited for those in higher-level suites.
"By offering truly free Wi-Fi to all guests regardless of the suite reserved, Silversea is once again setting the standard for all-inclusive luxury," said Kristian Anderson, Silversea's senior vice president of sales and general manager for the Americas. "Because we know how important it is for travelers to stay informed and connected, we're delighted to enhance the all-inclusive Silversea experience with this new benefit."
The unlimited free Wi-Fi will go to guests in the Owner's, Grand, Royal, Silver and Medallion suites on the line's ocean ships. It's a little different on the expedition ships, which have different suite categories. On the Silver Explorer, the Internet is unlimited in the Owner's, Grand, Silver, Medallion, and Expedition suites. On Silver Galapagos, it's in the Silver, Deluxe Veranda, and Veranda suites, while on Silver Discoverer, it's for Medallion, Veranda, and Vista suites.
Silversea's ships feature stem-to-stern Wi-Fi, in port and at sea. It is accessible on personal devices in public spaces and suites, or on the computers in the Internet cafés on all ocean ships and the Silver Explorer.
Several of Silversea's competitors also have started offering free Internet access, but not across the board.
Regent Seven Seas Cruises earlier this year began offering free wireless Internet to most guests. It's unlimited for guests in top-tier suites - the Regent, Master, Grand, Seven Seas, Horizon, Mariner, Navigator and Voyager suites - while those in Penthouse and Concierge suites will get 200 free minutes during a seven-night cruise and up to 500 minutes for 16 or more nights. Regent also offers free unlimited Wi-Fi for Gold-level Seven Seas Society Members. Internet is still pay-as-you-go in the lower Veranda and Window accommodations.
Crystal Cruises last fall started offering free Internet to guests on their second and subsequent voyages. The luxury line offers up to 60 minutes per guest, per day.
Regent's upper-premium sister line, Oceania Cruises, this winter will add free Internet access to guests in higher-category accommodations. Those booked in Owner's, Vista and Oceania suites will receive free unlimited Internet access, while those in Penthouse suites or Concierge-Level staterooms will receive blocks of free Internet time based on cruise length, from 200 minutes for a seven-night cruise and to 500 minutes for 16 nights or more.
Oceania estimates that about half of its passengers will get free Internet. The complimentary Internet roll-out will be staggered across the fleet and begin Oct. 25 on Nautica, Nov. 3 on Marina, Nov. 4 on Regatta, Dec. 2 on Riviera, and Jan. 4, 2016, on Insignia.
Luxury line Seabourn offers free Internet to guests in the Wintergarden, Signature and Owners suites.
Meanwhile, free Wi-Fi is available on most river cruises, including AmaWaterways, Avalon Waterways, Scenic Cruises, Tauck, Uniworld and Viking River Cruises.
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