The biggest yachts can be considered ocean-sailing mansions, but do they come with WiFi?
You can get WiFi on a yacht – in fact, many boats and ships offer internet connectivity – but there are many different ways to accomplish it. The most common method to obtain WiFi on a yacht is through a satellite system, but you can also rely on cellular hotspots to generate internet access.
Read on to learn more about yachts and the amenities they often come with.
Origin Of The Name
The term ‘yacht’ is extremely broad and can be used to describe a vast number of vessels. These vessels can range from the minute and rather plain, to the enormous, and extremely advanced.
‘Yacht’ is a Dutch word in origin and was originally used to describe small, light, and agile ships piloted by the Dutch navy. Today, the term is used to describe any ‘pleasure vessel’ that is at least ten meters in length.
However, it isn’t just the size that makes a yacht, a yacht. The vessel in question must also boast fine aesthetic qualities – any yacht over twenty-four meters in length will be classed as a ‘large’ yacht.
It’s at this point the terminology takes on an air of grandeur, with bigger and broader vessels climbing the naming tiers. For example, once you leave the large yacht ranks, you transition into superyachts, then mega-yachts, and finally, giga-yachts.
To fit into the final category, a yacht must be at least ninety meters in length, and they often look more like ocean-faring nations than simple ships. They come equipped with state-of-the-art technology, sumptuous interiors, and eye-watering price tags.
Reportedly, the most expensive yacht on the planet is The History Supreme, a thirty-meter superyacht built using ten-thousand kilos of solid gold. It’s allegedly worth almost five billion dollars and is likely the most extravagant mode of transport in history.
Equipped But Expensive
These super-, mega- and giga-yachts might be dramatically expensive, but what home comforts do they tend to come with? These days, the first thought in people’s minds is whether or not they’ll be able to get online.
As we’ve stated above, almost every yacht will come with WiFi as standard, achieved in a few different ways. The most valuable vessels will use satellite systems to connect to the internet and distribute WiFi and internet across the board.
However, some can use cellular connectivity, but it’s not as reliable or effective. Ultimately, the internet is an extremely important tool to have aboard a ship, as it ensures communications, weather reports, and shipping information is readily available.
Some manufacturers have created advanced marine-based internet systems that fluctuate between satellite and cellular to offer more stable connections.
If you want to get access to satellite-based internet, it’ll come with a hefty price tag, even for entry-level systems. For example, global satellite internet systems can cost around three-thousand dollars, which includes everything you need to get started.
Although, that’s not where the bulk of the cost comes from. Reportedly, it can cost as much as $1.50 per minute to use the internet, and the speeds are apparently extremely slow.
Therefore, if you used the internet for an hour, it would be ninety dollars. If you were at sea for a week and remained connected the entire time, you’d be left with a fifteen-thousand dollar bill.
If you’ve got the money to spend on a yacht, chances are you’ll have the money to pay your internet bill. Although, it’s likely to cost less when you charter a yacht, as opposed to outright ownership.
It’s the cheapest way to see the world by yacht, but it is still dramatically expensive. You’ll be offered exclusive packages that boast a lot of extras, but it can be anything up to a million dollars a week to charter the finest yachts.
You charter yachts in most places of the world, but they’re easier to get a hold of in key tourist destinations. These include the Caribbean, South America, and the Meditteranean.
While they’re often crewed on your behalf, you’ll need to also pay for the food, fuel, taxes, and any port or marina fees. It can quickly become a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity where cost is concerned, so it’s best to take a trip with a few other people.
Luckily, the biggest yachts can legally carry up to twelve passengers, a fact that comes in handy when splitting the bill comes in.