Disney Cruise Line is raising the price of their day-based internet packages across their fleet of ships.
Disney Cruise Line Internet Packages
Disney Cruise Line changed their internet packages last summer to move from a data-usage pricing structure to a day-based pricing structure. That structure remains in place, however, the prices are increasing. The updated pricing is as follows.
Stay Connected
Guests can select this package to access social media for either $18 per day, purchased by the day, or $16 per day for the length of the cruise. This is an increase of 50-60% based on last year’s pricing of $12 per day, or $10 per day for the length of the cruise.
Basic Surf
Basic Surf includes social media and access to the web and email for $28 a day, purchased by the day, or $24 per day for the length of the cruise. This is an increase of 16-20% based on last year’s pricing of $24 per day, or $20 per day for the length of the cruise.
Premium Surf
The highest tier of internet packages includes social media, web and email access, video streaming, and music streaming for $42 a day, purchased by the day, or $34 per day for the length of the cruise. This is an increase of 13-16% based on last year’s pricing of $24 per day, or $20 per day for the length of the cruise.
Scott Sanders of Disney Cruise Line Blog reported the roll-out of the new pricing structure.
The new pricing rolled out at the end of July and culminates with today’s Disney Fantasy departure. The rollout for each vessel is as follows:
- Disney Magic – 7/31/23
- Disney Wish – 7/31/23
- Disney Dream – 8/1/23
- Disney Fantasy – 8/5/23
Notably missing is the Disney Wonder, which according to Sanders, should be updated to the new internet plans during an upcoming dry dock.
If a guest purchases a plan mid-voyage, they will only be charged for the remaining days. “Days remaining” change at midnight, so purchasing at 11:55 pm will still charge for the full day.
What are your thoughts on the price increases to the onboard internet packages? Let us know in the comments.
Pearl Castaway Club Arrivals
Disney Cruise Line guests are usually required to select a port arrival time to limit overcrowding at the terminal, but recently, Pearl Castaway Club members checking in online noticed they were not required to select one.
Pearl members are instead allowed to arrive anytime at the port, as long as it is at least one hour before all aboard time. Pearl members who had already checked in even found that their boarding group number was moved to #2 – an earlier time — or they were told they no longer needed to select an arrival time.
The Pearl Castaway Club tier for guests who have sailed on 25 or more sailings launched earlier this year with the start of the Silver Anniversary at Sea. Before that, the highest tier was Platinum, for guests who have been on 10 or more sailings.
This boarding privilege also used to be available to Platinum Castaway Club members. After cruising returned in 2021, though, Disney Cruise Line required and enforced the port arrival time for all guests, regardless of their Castaway Club tier. This helped manage the number of individuals that were in the terminal at the same time.
The Disney Cruise Line website still states Pearl members can “select port arrival times and complete online check-in 40 days prior to sailing” (other tiers can select between 33 and 38 days prior). It’s possible the perk is being tested or the site simply hasn’t been updated yet.
For the latest Disney Parks news and info, follow WDW News Today on Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram.