We just got back from a Celebrity Beyond cruise, and the WiFi prices were crazy high—several hundred dollars for the 6-day trip. So we decided not to get it at all.
Instead, we played card games, Bananagrams, and even used a Steam Deck with pre-installed games. We hung out in the pools at night when it was quiet and spent time on the balcony just watching the ocean. It was so relaxing.
It reminded me of vacations from when I was a kid—no tech distractions, just enjoying the moment. Even when I did pick up my phone to browse the Celebrity app, it felt more like flipping through a brochure and didn’t have that constant online buzz.
Long story short: being offline the whole time made the trip better. Without news or social media, moments that could’ve been boring were just peaceful. Not saying I agree with the insane WiFi prices, but I’m glad we skipped it.
The original post nailed it. Cruises are way more enjoyable when you disconnect. It’s like a reset for your brain. No doomscrolling, just actual relaxation.
We’ve been long-time cruisers, and honestly, skipping the WiFi might be the way to go. Last time we had the whole package, and it just wasn’t worth it. Next time, I think we’ll pass on it entirely.
Keir said:
We’ve been long-time cruisers, and honestly, skipping the WiFi might be the way to go. Last time we had the whole package, and it just wasn’t worth it. Next time, I think we’ll pass on it entirely.
If your itinerary has lots of ports, it’s definitely not worth it. Half the time, you’re not even on the ship.
Keir said:
We’ve been long-time cruisers, and honestly, skipping the WiFi might be the way to go. Last time we had the whole package, and it just wasn’t worth it. Next time, I think we’ll pass on it entirely.
Yeah, Celebrity does let you text each other through their app without WiFi, but the notifications were hit or miss. It was tricky at the buffet—trying to figure out where my girlfriend was while holding food and drinks. We got the hang of it after a few days, though.
My brother and I did something similar on our last cruise. We had WiFi but used it minimally. Played board games and did the silly activities onboard. Felt like being kids again. Would absolutely do it the same way next time.
As retirees who cruise often, we’re not really trying to escape work or anything, but being offline just makes the experience better. It’s like a mini reset every time.