Explorer can you get wi fi? If so how much?

[pennib]

Hello all. We are on our first Marella cruise  at the end of February having done lots of cruises with other companies. What is the position with getting wi fi on Explorer? We have just got back from 4 weeks on P&O Azura and the wi fi on her is beyond awful so you have to rely on getting some at a bar on an island. Any idea of what the cost is for this on the ship?

thanks

[cinnamon]

It is possible to buy Wi-Fi but I don’t know how much it costs I’m afraid. You can order it on the internal service ‘Navigate’. 
we’ve just used 4G in each port, just remembering to turn off Roaming as we depart each day. It was only our Sea Day yesterday that left us without for about 36 hours. 
Tonight we’re docking already for tomorrow, so other than 4 hours this evening we’ll have had 4G use for about 35 hours. 

[pennib]

Thanks very much for the info. Enjoy the rest of your cruise

[ferretktf]

In the Navigate App if you go into the WiFi it gives you the prices before you commit to buy.

 

From memory - back in October when i last checked (I did not check on the NY cruise), Wifi was around £12 a day i think - but the usage is capped (to prevent people streaming netflix etc)

 

You are able to buy packages by the hour, day or remainder of the cruise.

[pennib]

Thanks again. Sounds like the system that P&O used to do a few years back until they realised they could make more money by charging outrageous prices for a system that doesn’t work. I take the view that if I can do emails at 45000 feet on Emirates flying to Dubai why is it apparently so difficult for cruise ships.

[cinnamon]

Spoke to another guest  last night. He paid £50.00 for the week but said the speeds were dreadful. Was better off with 4G in port. 😏

No good in the Caribbean of course. 

[bluewater2111]

I guess it's just the days when you are at sea, and to use free wifi you'd presumably have to leave the ship and find somewhere as my network won't cover the Caribbean. 

I am unsure what to do if/when we go. I am with giffgff.

[ferretktf]

Have a look at this for the Caribbean … Vodafone SIM card that works throughout the Caribbean (not sure how far out at sea though)

 

https://www.sims4travel.com/plans/?c1=55

 

I was planning to get this when I was intending to book the Caribbean this Spring (now on hold due to the situation)

[bluewater2111]

Thanks for this, I'll take a look but at the moment still playing the waiting game.

[bluewater2111]

Or I found this:

https://www.transatel-datasim.com/caribbean-islands/

 

[ferretktf]

I did initially look at the local caribbean sims but they are considerably more expensive. Found the other link from a Tripadvisor forum post.

Your link is just 1GB for $22 as opposed to 25GB for £35 (or 100GB for £40) 

Edited January 18, 2022 by ferretktf

[bluewater2111]

Thank you, I'll have a look for something in-between, doubt if I would use 25gb

[Chickenbalti]

To be honest save your money. I think it’s expensive and not very reliable. 

[bluewater2111]

I know....It's just I would like to keep in touch with my daughter and make sure my cat is ok 🙂

 

We have no idea if we are allowed to leave ship in the Caribbean, I don't want to rely on the ship's expensive and patchy wifi 

[Kirstylou2022]

We paid £25 for 3 days or a certain number of gb which I can’t remember (but it’s whatever runs out first). It didn’t last the 3 days but it was mainly for my day at sea when I wanted to be in contact with son, daughter and dad. Connection was pretty good - even for FaceTime calls. Not sure it’s any good for downloading though.

[pennib]

Thanks very much for the info. Enjoy the rest of your cruise

[pennib]

Don’t worry, Bluewater, we have recently returned from the 28 nighter on Azura around the Caribbean and there wasn’t one island that refused people to land. Some said that you had to take a ship’s trip and some confined you to the cruise terminal but others were fine about walking round on your own.

have a great time.

[bluewater2111]

Thanks that's reassuring.