I’m old enough to remember when one of the favorite aspects of cruising was unplugging and disconnecting from “real life” for a while. If the boss wanted to get a hold of you, well, sorry, I was on a cruise and my phone wouldn’t work. Wi-Fi packages didn’t exist, and news events were a complete mystery until we got back home.
But with Wi-Fi speeds at sea faster than ever, and internet connectivity simpler and easier than ever before, there’s a growing trend of plugging in instead of unplugging.
While some parents don’t mind their children having access to their social media accounts while on a cruise, others feel it’s good for them to get away from “screen time” and enjoy all of the tangible things a cruise has to offer, in addition to the experience of amazing ports of call.
A recent story about a cruise passenger wanting a discount on Wi-Fi specifically for children to stay connected online has stirred this pot once more.
According to a post by Carnival’s Brand Ambassador John Heald, a request was made for “Carnival to give a 50% social media internet discount to all children and teenagers” so they could access their favorite apps like TikTok, Snapchat, and Instagram.
Heald didn’t mince words—or his signature wit—in responding to the suggestion.
“Maybe I am once again showing that I am a megasorearse dinosaur,” he wrote, questioning why teens would prioritize their “eye phones” over the onboard fun and family time a cruise offers.
As a father to a 15-year-old daughter, he also mentioned the mental health toll of social media, suggesting it might deserve age limits like cigarettes or alcohol. The post, which he said left his “mind spinning,” has clearly resonated, racking up hundreds of responses from his loyal community.
Carnival Fans Give Honest Feedback
The feedback was pretty one-sided in the comments.
“No to the discount,” wrote Pam. “I know these kids don’t realize how lucky they are to be cruising.” Gail added “If they need to be on their phone or tablet all of the time, maybe they should just stay home.”
Another echoed the sentiment which was a theme in the replies to the post, saying, “Kids need to learn how to social act with their peers, not have their noses stuck to electronic devices all the time!”
Many of the recent features and amenities added to Carnival’s modern ships have children in mind, as the brand caters to families. Features like Bolt, a roller coaster at sea, WaterWorks, Sky Zone, and Camp Ocean are all designed to offer something for everyone.
Not all comments agreed though. John O. injected some humor: “I love all these posts about people who don’t need wifi and want to disconnect, but when the wifi only works 60% of the time there will be 3000 people going to guest services wanting a discount!”
It’s not a bad point, as I’ve seen this first-hand as well. Another user also pointed out a potential conflict with a social media ban, as smart phones are practically required on a cruise ship just to know what’s going on and checking in.
“Yet the ship wants you attached to the phone for breakfast and YTD check-in, menus, daily activities schedule, etc. So the kids think they need their phones thanks to Carnival also,” one Facebook user noted.
While offering a discount for kids to use social media on a cruise is not likely to happen any time soon, it’s important for families to realize the actual social interactions that can take place at sea.
Laura shared her approach: “My kids never needed [phones] when we were on our cruise. They met so many people and friends their ages they didn’t need electronics.”
Cost of Wi-Fi for Social Media Now
With Carnival’s social media package priced at $18.70 per day and no teen discount in sight, Heald’s post has tapped into a larger tension: connectivity versus escape.
If passengers want a discount, there is a 15% reduction in price when the package is booked before the sailing instead of on board. This brings the price to around $16.
Carnival’s website states that the “Social Wi-Fi Plan” allows access to “applications like Facebook, Instagram, WhatsApp, Snapchat, TikTok, Pinterest, X, Reddit, LinkedIn, and major airline sites.”
Read more: 10 Ways Your Phone Can Either Ruin or Enhance Your Cruise
