# Can you chat for free on Princess Cruises ships?

Staying connected at sea is a huge concern for modern travelers. Call us **<a href="tel:[phone]">[phone]</a>** Whether you’re checking on kids in the kids’ club, messaging friends in another cabin, or updating family back home, cruise communication has become just as important as food, cabins, and ports. If you’re sailing with Princess Cruises, you might be wondering: **Can you chat for free on Princess Cruises ships, or do you need a paid WiFi package for everything?**

The short answer is: **yes, some forms of messaging and in-app chat can be free**, but there are important distinctions between **Princess free chat within the Princess app** and **messaging over the internet** using services like WhatsApp, iMessage, or Facebook Messenger. Understanding how onboard WiFi chat, MedallionNet messaging, and the Princess app work will help you stay in touch with your travel companions more easily and avoid surprise charges.


## Understanding Princess free chat vs paid internet

When people ask if messaging is free on Princess Cruises MedallionNet, they often mix up **two different systems**:

1. **Ship systems (Princess app / MedallionClass features)** – internal tools that connect you to other guests and crew on the ship.
2. **Internet-based apps (WhatsApp, iMessage, social media)** – apps that require an internet connection just like on land.

Princess Cruises ships are known for their **MedallionClass technology** and **MedallionNet WiFi**. While MedallionNet is a paid internet service, many basic functions in the Princess app are accessible **without buying a full internet package**, especially for **onboard-only features**.

This means there’s a difference between:

* **Chatting with people on the same ship via the Princess app or OceanNow features**, and
* **Messaging friends and family back home on your favorite chat apps**, which generally requires a WiFi plan.

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## Is messaging free on Princess Cruises MedallionNet?

MedallionNet itself is the **brand name for Princess Cruises’ shipboard WiFi**, not a chat app. It provides the internet connection that allows you to:

* Browse the web
* Send emails
* Use WhatsApp, iMessage, Facebook Messenger, and other social apps
* Stream content, depending on the package you purchase

In most cases, **using MedallionNet to access third-party chat apps is *not*** completely free; you typically need to **purchase a WiFi package** or have WiFi included in your fare or promotion. Cruise communication that uses outside apps such as:

* WhatsApp
* iMessage
* Facebook Messenger
* Telegram

will usually be treated just like normal internet usage through MedallionNet. If you want to use those services freely at sea, you’ll want to look at your voyage’s specific WiFi options and bundles.

However, even when you don’t buy a full MedallionNet package, the **core Princess app services for onboard use** are often accessible at no extra charge. That’s where **Princess free chat-style features** come in.

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## How to use the Princess app for free onboard chat

Princess has invested heavily in its MedallionClass app and the use of the **OceanMedallion** on its ships. Within that ecosystem, guests can often use certain app features **without an internet package**. These include things like:

* Viewing your itinerary
* Checking daily activities and dining information
* Locating your cabin or ship map
* Certain messaging or “finding fellow guests” tools, depending on the ship and app version

To use the Princess app for free onboard chat-style communication, you’ll generally follow steps like these:

1. **Download the Princess app before your cruise**
Make sure you have the app installed and updated at home using your regular internet connection. Create or log into your Princess account.

2. **Connect to the ship’s network once onboard**
When you’re on the ship, go to your phone’s WiFi settings and connect to the **Princess or MedallionClass network**. You don’t always need a paid plan just to access the app itself.

3. **Open the Princess app and log in**
After connecting to the onboard network, open the app. You should be able to access many core features without being prompted to purchase a full internet package.

4. **Use the app’s communication tools**
Depending on your sailing and ship setup, the app may allow you to:

* See your travel companions’ profiles if their bookings are linked
* Communicate with people in your group
* Access messaging to coordinate plans, meet up for dinner, or check on kids or teens (if they’re set up in the system)

While exact features can vary, **this type of ship messaging is typically designed to work as part of the onboard system, without requiring you to buy MedallionNet for general internet access.**

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## Staying in touch with family on Princess ships without WiFi plan

Many guests want to know how to stay connected **inside the ship** without paying for full-blown internet. Here are some practical ways to use Princess free chat and other tools:

1. **Link reservations and profiles**
When bookings are linked, it’s often easier to see fellow guests in the app and use built-in communication tools to keep track of each other.

2. **Agree on check-in points and meeting spots**
Even with good ship messaging, it’s wise to set backup plans:

* Daily “check-in time” at a specific lounge or café
* A Plan B meeting place if someone’s phone dies or they have trouble with the app

3. **Use the cabin phone for internal calls**
Cabin-to-cabin calls onboard are typically part of the ship’s internal phone system. If someone doesn’t have their smartphone handy, they can still reach you through your stateroom phone.

4. **Use the Princess app’s location and messaging features (where available)**
On many MedallionClass ships, you can see the approximate locations of family or friends who have given permission. This feature is especially handy for keeping track of teens or groups who split up to enjoy different activities.

These tools allow you to coordinate onboard activities and keep in touch even if you don’t purchase a full MedallionNet WiFi package.

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## Does Princess offer free WhatsApp or iMessage?

A common question is whether **WhatsApp or iMessage** can be used for free, like on some airlines that allow limited messaging. On most cruises, however, **internet-based messaging apps are not fully free**. They typically require some level of paid internet access, whether:

* A **social media or messaging-only** plan (if offered on certain itineraries), or
* A **full internet package** such as MedallionNet bundled with your fare or purchased separately.

Even if you see a network named after Princess or MedallionNet, that’s just the ship’s WiFi infrastructure. Full use of third-party apps like WhatsApp or iMessage is almost always tied to **having internet time or a package**, not just connecting to the WiFi signal itself.

If messaging with people back home is a priority, it’s wise to:

* Check what type of WiFi packages are being sold for your specific cruise
* Look at whether your fare includes internet through a bundle
* Consider sharing a package (if allowed in your plan) among family members if one person is the main communicator

**Related Blogs:
[Can you chat for free on Holland America Line ships?](https://www.portjourney.com/blog/can-you-chat-for-free-on-holland-america-line-ships)
[Can you chat for free on Seabourn Cruise Line ships?](https://www.portjourney.com/blog/can-you-chat-for-free-on-seabourn-cruise-line-ships)
[Can you chat for free on Norwegian Cruise Line ships?](https://www.portjourney.com/blog/can-you-chat-for-free-on-norwegian-cruise-line-ships)**
## Using OceanNow to chat with Princess crew

On MedallionClass ships, the **OceanNow** feature within the Princess app is a game-changer—not just for chatting with other guests, but also for interacting with the crew. While this is not “chat” in the social media sense, it is an important part of onboard communication:

With OceanNow, you can often:

* Request food and drinks to your location
* Ask for extra towels, pillows, or housekeeping items
* Request assistance or report an issue in your stateroom
* Get help from Guest Services without standing in line

This type of **crew communication** is usually integrated into the ship’s own system, so it doesn’t require a separate paid MedallionNet internet package just to place service requests. You’re communicating **internally** with the ship, not externally with the outside world, so the system is designed to be accessible to guests regardless of whether they’ve purchased internet.

In other words, using OceanNow to chat with Princess crew for basic service requests is part of the MedallionClass experience, not a paid internet feature.


## Practical tips for cruise communication on Princess

To make cruise communication smoother and use Princess free chat options effectively, keep these tips in mind:

* **Download and test the Princess app before you sail**
It’s much easier to troubleshoot any login issues while you still have land-based internet.

* **Bring a power bank**
Using the app to navigate, message, and find family can be helpful, but it also uses battery. A small power bank helps keep your device alive all day.

* **Enable notifications (within reason)**
Allow the app to send you notifications for relevant updates, like dining changes or messages from your group.

* **Use airplane mode + ship WiFi**
To avoid roaming charges, put your phone in airplane mode at sea, then connect only to the ship’s WiFi network for app features or internet (if you’ve purchased a plan).

* **Clarify what’s included in your fare or package**
Some promotions include MedallionNet, while others don’t. Knowing ahead of time what you have can prevent surprises.

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## FAQs

**1. Is there any way to chat for free on Princess Cruises?**
Yes. Features in the Princess app related to shipboard communication—such as coordinating with your travel companions or using service requests—are typically designed to work using the ship’s internal network without requiring a full MedallionNet WiFi plan. However, using external apps like WhatsApp or Facebook Messenger normally requires a paid internet package.

**2. Is messaging free on Princess Cruises MedallionNet for apps like WhatsApp or iMessage?**
MedallionNet is the brand name for Princess’s internet service, not a separate chat platform. Using third-party apps like WhatsApp or iMessage on Princess ships usually requires you to buy some form of WiFi access or have it included in your fare. It’s not typically unlimited and free just because you are connected to MedallionNet.

**3. How do I use the Princess app for free onboard chat with my family?**
Download the Princess app before your cruise, then connect your phone to the ship’s WiFi network once onboard. Many internal features—such as coordinating with linked guests, checking daily schedules, and sometimes messaging within your group—are available using the ship’s internal system without needing a separate paid WiFi plan.

**4. Can I stay in touch with family on Princess ships without a WiFi plan?**
Yes, to a degree. You can use the Princess app’s internal tools, cabin phones for room-to-room calls, and pre-planned meeting spots. For messaging with people back home, though, you’ll generally need an internet package, as external chat apps depend on MedallionNet or cellular roaming data.

**5. Where can I get more help understanding Princess free chat and WiFi options?**
If you’d like guidance on the best way to stay connected at sea, you can research cruise tips on sites like **portjourney.com**, or speak directly with a cruise specialist at **<a href="tel:[phone]">[phone]</a>** for personalized advice on MedallionNet, onboard WiFi packages, and ship messaging options before you book.