Remember where you heard this first: Keep watching for free Internet on cruise ships.
The industry took another step in that direction this week when Crystal Cruises, near the top end of the luxury spectrum, threw WiFi into its all-inclusive packaging. Right now, it's for Crystal's First Society members (repeat cruisers) and it's possible because the cruise line recently completed a multi-million dollar upgrade.
The genie, as they say, is out of the bottle.
In this age of digital and satellite communication, cruise lines have realized how vital it is for their passengers to be able to "stay in touch" through their variousdevices. In fact, they've realized what a plus it is when you're the cruise line that makes it easiest and least costly…as in free.
Similarly, coffee shops and department stories and supermarkets and restaurants and any number of public places become more attractive when they offer free Internet. You can say the cruise line was slow in falling in line, but you need to realize the dominoes, as they say, are bigger.
Thousand of dollars on land can be millions at sea. That Crystal can offer 60 minutes of wireless service a day everywhere on its ships, to repeat customers who are two-timers or fifty-timers, means the cruise line has found a way to cover the cost. It may be more repeat customers, or it may be the one-timers who will pay 75 cents a minute to be online.
One day, it says here, the mass-market cruise lines will be…in the same boat.
Celebrity Constellation
5 nights
February 22, 2014
Fort Lauderdale (return): Key West, Cozumel
Inside: $249
Cost per day: $49
www.celebritycruises.com