Internet and telephone on board

Internet connection

MSC has decided to invest in the satellite internet capacity offered on board MSC ships for both our guests and crew members. In practice, this means that the internet bandwidth available is more than quadrupled. The new satellite internet connection has been designed to be simple with a choice of 3 different package selections to suit different needs and number of devices (smartphones, tablets, laptop etc). All packages are available for the entire cruise or for just one day at a reduced price. The package price is also derived from the length and type of ship cruise. We will prepare an offer individually according to the ship and your cruise. 

What is satellite internet and how does it work?

When you are at sea, there is no way to connect to the internet using a broadband high-speed connection as is available on land. Our satellite internet that is available on board works through a connection between the ship and communication satellites in orbit.

Why is satellite internet slower than a normal terrestrial connection?

Internet data must travel a great distance between the antennas on the ship and the nearest satellite in orbit. During the connection, any number of obstacles or things can interfere with or block the signal. For example, storms and large objects such as steep mountains near the ship or tall buildings in ports. This interference can result in the internet responding slowly or temporarily not responding at all.

Why is satellite internet more expensive than a regular terrestrial connection?

Providing on-board internet connectivity via satellite involves a significant investment in cutting-edge technology. The fees charged to those who use satellite internet service will cover the significant cost of providing the service.

Where is the satellite connection available on board?

Satellite access is available in all public areas of the ship and in most cabins, including all MSC Yacht Club suites. All you need is a mobile internet device (smartphone, tablet, laptop, etc.) and satellite internet.If you do not have access to a personal computer or mobile device on the ship, it is possible to use the ship's internet café.

Is the price for satellite internet the same on every ship?

Yes, our package prices are the same for all our guests on every ship. The price of the internet package depends on the length of the cruise.

Details of the Internet, what is Mb?

MB stands for "megabyte", which means 1 million bytes. It is a measure of the amount of information sent or received over the Internet.

What happens if I use up all the Mb in the package?

If you have purchased a Surfer or Streamer package and you use up all your free MBs, you can purchase additional MBs to continue accessing the Internet.

Do you also offer a "minute package" with satellite internet access?

All our packages offer satellite internet access for either 1 day or the entire cruise. If you only want internet access for a short period of time, you can use the internet cafe where you pay a fixed amount for the first 10minutes and then with a per minute rate.

Can I change my internet package for another one?

Yes, it is possible to change from a one-day package to a full cruise package. You can also upgrade to a more comprehensive package either for one day or for the entire cruise. If you purchase a full cruise package and then decide to switch to a more comprehensive one-day package, you will revert to your original profile when that package expires.

Telephone connection

You may need to contact family, business or friends by phone during your cruise. It is necessary to have international calls with your operator - so called ROAMING. If you are planning a cruise outside the EU, make sure your operator has international calling for the whole world.

During port stops you can make calls on your international tariff - today, tariffs within the EU are quite affordable.

Telephoning during the cruise

Please note that when you leave port, your phone may be pinned to the ship's satellite network if you have set it to auto-dial. If you make a call via satellite connection - you will be charged the highest possible foreign tariff and the price of the call is high, as if you were calling from Cuba or Brazil, for example, about 80-100 kc/minute.The connection to the satellite network may occur even when the ship is just leaving the port. We recommend that you turn off the automatic network selection or do not make any calls from the ship.

Our recommendations

Turn off automatic time selection on your mobile phones. Thanks to the activation of the satellite network, the current time on mobile phones is confused. This bad information can cause you to miss your boarding time;