All you need to know about the WiFi options on P&O Cruises so you can decide what package is best for your needs – or if you need one at all!
In today’s connected world, WiFi is one of those things that is a must-have for many people.
If this is you too, you’ll be pleased to know that P&O Cruises make it easy to stay in touch with family, friends and keep up to date with your social media while on board their ships.
You don’t even have to worry about missing the latest episode of whatever TV series you are currently streaming or binging.
That said, unfortunately WiFi is not included in your cruise fare. However, P&O offer two different WiFi packages that you can purchase depending on your requirements.
At a Glance – P&O Cruises WiFi packages
There are two WiFi packages you can choose from when onboard P&O ships.
- My WiFi – Essential (for social media, email and web browsing)
- My WiFi- Ultimate (with a faster connection for music and video streaming)
Before getting into the details of the two packages there are a few things to be aware of and take into consideration before you part with your cash.
Things to know before purchasing a WiFi package
While being unconnected may send a shiver down your spine it doesn’t actually mean you are uncontactable. If there are any emergencies at home, your family and friends can easily contact the ship to get a message to you.
You can also still use the My Holiday webpage to personalise your cruise without purchasing a package. P&O provides limited free WiFi so you can connect to this page.
Tip | The My Holiday web page (often confused as an app) is where you can personalise your cruise holiday. You can use this to make reservations at restaurants, order room (or should that be cabin) service, book entertainment venues and more. You’ll also find information about the ship on these pages.
WiFi is only for use on board the ship you are cruising on. If you get off the ship while in port, you can use your own mobile data if available or local WiFi.
One final thing to be aware of is that the signal strength can vary. On land, these signals are transmitted by cables while at sea they have to go via satellites.
They can be impacted by location and weather conditions. So, don’t expect the same super speedy and reliable connections you can get on land.
How much is WiFi on P&O Cruises and what is included?
If you do decide to purchase a WiFI package, you have two options to choose from.
The first is for light users, those that just want to be able to keep in touch with people or check in on their socials. While the other package is more suitable for heavier users, those that like to video chat or use streaming services.
My WiFi – Essential
£12 per day with a cruise plan or £18 per day without.
If you just want to keep in touch with family and friends or keep your socials up to date, then the Essential package is a good option. It allows you to use messaging apps such as What’s App, share photos and update your social channels and use email.
You can also browse the web. Handy if you want to have a quick search for what to do in port before you dock.
My WiFi – Ultimate
£18 per day with a cruise plan or £24 per day without.
The Ultimate WiFi package gives you everything in the Essential package plus a few extras.
It also comes with a faster connection. If you like to video chat or stream music or movies, this is the option for you.
You can find out more about both WiFi packages on the P&O website.
Do you really need WiFi?
You might be thinking now, well of course I need WiFi! Why are you even asking?
But before diving in and purchasing a WiFi package it is worth having a quick think about if you really need it and if you do how much you will realistically use it? It might not be as much as you think. You are on holiday after all!
Hopefully you’ll be enjoying yourself so much you won’t want to be on your phone or tablet a lot. It can also be a good opportunity for a break from social media and being connected all the time.
Not having a WiFi package doesn’t mean you won’t be able to get online all cruise either. There are other ways to connect.
When the ship is docked in port you may be able to connect to the local network and, if your mobile phone package/contract allows, use your own data allowance.
For example, my provider allows you to use data in Europe just like you are at home. For regions outside Europe there is a small daily charge. If you don’t need to be online all the time, this is a good option and doesn’t cost you any extra.
When I cruised the Norwegian Fjords, I was off the ship for the whole day in three of the four ports. I was able to use my own data allowance to send a few messages and photos to family and friends. So, the package wasn’t really worth the cost on this particular cruise.
Tip | Make sure you put your phone in airplane mode while onboard. Expensive charges can rack up very quickly and you don’t want to end up with a huge surprise bill at the end of your cruise.
Buying a WiFi Package
You can buy a WiFi package for the duration of your cruise or ad hoc per day.
If you want to keep in daily contact with friends and family or update your socials regularly then buying WiFi for the length of your cruise means you will always be connected while onboard.
Both packages are available to buy for the duration of your cruise before you join the ship. You can also buy at any time once onboard. You’ll just be charged for the remaining days of your cruise.
Alternatively, if you just want to be able to check in every so often, buying per day will be a better option. You then get access to WiFi for 24 hours. Access can be bought on the ship and will be charged to your onboard account.
On my last two cruises with P&O, I purchased a day’s WiFi access on the two sea days. This gave me a chance to send a few messages and check social media without the cost of having to buy a week’s worth of WiFi.
It worked well for me as I could use my mobile data (with no extra charge from my provider) while in port.
The Last Word
It’s never been easier to stay connected while you are cruising. However, WiFi packages are not cheap, particular if you purchase one for your whole cruise.
So, it pays to think about how much you will really use your devices so you don’t end up spending more than you need to.