Norwegian Cruise Line Tests New Internet Packages
by Daniel McCarthyLooking ahead to a possible fleetwide rollout, Norwegian Cruise Line is testing new internet packages on current Escape and Getaway sailings.
Called “Freestyle Choice Plans,” the new option allows guests to choose from among three options—including one starting at just $35 per cruise.
That option, called Social Chat, allows unlimited access to social media sites and text messaging for $35 for seven days. The second, called the Basic plan, offers Social Chat options as well as unlimited internet access and email, and costs $189 for seven days. And the Premium plan gives a guest everything in Basic along with streaming and VPN access, at $245 for seven days.
Currently on other ships in the fleet, Norwegian offers a number of different internet options.
Its unlimited package, Ultimate Cruise Plan, grants guests unrestricted internet access for $29.99 a day for sailings of 12 days or less and $24.99 per day for sailings 13-days or longer. Norwegian also offers a time plan where 100 minutes costs $75 and 250 minutes costs $125.
A Norwegian spokesperson told TMR that the cruise line is testing the packages “based on feedback from our guests, which includes demand for social-media-only packages.” There is no timetable for the rollout, however, as it is still in “very early stages of testing.”
If Norwegian decides to change its internet packages fleet wide it will join Carnival Cruise Line, which is already offering social-media only packages. Carnival allows access to Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, Pinterest, Linkedin, Facebook Messenger and WhatsApp for $5 a day.
