Crystal to extend free WiFi to all guests

Crystal Cruises has extended free wi-fi service to all guests, although there will be daily caps on free usage. Previously, free wi-fi was limited to members of Crystal’s past guest club, called the Crystal Society.

Crystal president Edie Rodriguez announced the change on a Baltic cruise filled with top producing Crystal travel agents this week. Starting August 30, all guests will be credited with one free hour per day, with those in Penthouse suites qualifying for 90 free minutes a day.

“While some travelers like to ‘unplug’ on vacation, many of our guests wish to stay connected while traveling,” Rodriguez said. “Amenities like free Internet go a long way to help those efforts.”

Free is rapidly becoming the new Internet standard for luxury-level accommodations at sea. For example, Royal Caribbean International’s new Royal Suite Class will bring complimentary Internet to all suite guests on Royal’s newest ships — except for junior suites — when it debuts in May 2016.

For Crystal passengers who find the free Internet allocation isn’t enough, extra time is available at 74 cents a minute or through volume package. A bundle of 10 hours for $220 reduces the metered rate to as low as 37 cents a minute.

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Tom Stieghorst covers cruising at Travel Weekly magazine.