New Internet Packages Testing on the Disney Fantasy
Shifting to Starlink Service Onboard DCL?
There were several reports this morning, including from Scott Sanders of the Disney Cruise Line Blog, that the Disney Fantasy is testing new WiFi packages onboard. We’ve also now heard from listeners on other sailings using WiFi “speed test” apps that it appears Starlink may have been quietly rolled-out fleet-wide on Disney Cruise Line in the past several months. If true, the speeds and capabilities of Starlink are a huge addition to the fleet, and something that guests have been demanding for quite some time. This move would also finally bring DCL’s onboard Internet in closer parity to other cruise lines, like Royal Caribbean. Where DCL seems to continue to be out-of-step with other lines is their Internet package pricing - more on that below.
The “Old” WiFi Packages Onboard
Some may recall WiFi and Internet pricing onboard that was tied to how many KBs or MBs of data your device consumed. As smartphones increasingly made their way onto ships with more and more capabilities, guests were understandably annoyed at this pricing scheme. A modern smartphone could quickly and easily consume even a top-tier WiFi package under this scheme in less than a few hours - or even in a few minutes.
In recent years, DCL shifted to a new pricing scheme based on speed, rather than amount, of data that passengers needed or wanted. Under these packages there were three pricing tiers starting at $18.00/day with a limited "Stay Connected" package, to $28/day for a “Basic Surf” package with increased speeds and capabilities, to $42.00/day for "Premium Surf" for the most demanding needs.
None of these packages offered long-form streaming from services like Netflix, YouTube, or even Disney-owned platforms like Disney+ or Hulu. Even “Premium Surf” was inconsistent in its ability to support voice and video calling from popular apps like What’s App, Skype or Zoom.
Out With the Old and in With the New
The new packages being tested on the Fantasy reduce the WiFi offerings down to two tiers - "Internet" and "Internet + Streaming."
The lowest tiered "Internet" package seems to blend some of the features across the old "Stay Connected" and "Basic Surf" plans, but takes the minimum per day cost up $6 to $28/day.
The "Internet + Streaming" package now supports long-form video streaming, but similarly increases the cost of the former "Premium Surf" package by $6 to $48/day.
Great Move With Poor Pricing?
The increased speeds and seeming shift to Starlink are certainly welcome for those who need to stay connected. It's unclear if/when these new packages might roll out to other ships, although we’re seeing evidence Starlink was implemented fleet wide already. It’s also notable that some have even started to move beyond just Starlink in favor of meshed services that combine multiple kinds of technologies.
That said, the new pricing seems high. For comparison, Royal Caribbean's top-tier Voom package (which equals the features of DCL's new top-tier “Internet + Streaming” package) costs about $25.99/day. That’s the same as DCL’s new entry-level "Internet" package on DCL. That’s before accounting for Royal Caribbean frequently discounting its VOOM package if purchased in advance. It will also be interesting to see if DCL starts including its top-tier package for those sailing Concierge, or continues to offer more limited inclusive options for those sailing in its most premium stateroom category.