What to Know about Data Roaming on a Cruise? (Must-Read)

How to get internet on a cruise ship

Being on a cruise ship doesn't mean you have to be cut off from the rest of the world. If you’re taking a luxury boat trip, you’re probably not looking to go without the comforts and conveniences of your digital life. There are several ways to get internet on a cruise ship. Here’s what you should know about staying connected…

Cellular Signals at Sea

Inevitably, your phone connection is going to be suboptimal on a cruise. Signal will be from an at-sea provider subcontracted by the cruise line, likely either Wireless Maritime Services or Cellular at Sea. Your phone service will charge you roaming charges for using this signal, and the exact rate will be different depending on your carrier. You can expect them to be high, with voice calls costing around €5 a minute.

Land (and Charges) Ahoy!

Then, in the next port of call, your connection will typically switch to a local carrier with pricey roaming charges. What’s important to remember is that unless your route stays very close to shore, you’ll be outside all cellular range for most of your trip. This means you’ll either have to use onboard Wi-Fi, connect to a boosted cellular network provided by the ship - or provide your own satellite uplink.

Internet packages for cruise ships

Some cellular providers have specific cruising plans with special rates. While these might appear to be your simplest option, they rarely provide widespread coverage or significant volumes of data.

Do cruise ships have Wi-Fi?

All modern cruise ships offer Wi-Fi, but the quality and speed can be unpredictable. Larger cruise lines such as Carnival, Disney and Royal Caribbean offer their own internet packages for guests, with varying cost and performance. This might suffice for basic tasks like email and social media, but be prepared for potential slowdowns or spotty connections, especially during peak usage times. Be aware that streaming music or videos will quickly eat into whatever data allowance you’re given, and some ships may even block streaming services altogether to conserve bandwidth.

Before you set sail, contact your cruise line to find out how much Wi-Fi is per day, and if it’s worth it to buy Wi-Fi on a cruise. Enquire whether if they offer tiered packages based on your expected usage, or if social media-specific plans are available for a daily or trip-long fee. This can be a great option for those who just want to stay connected with friends and family without racking up high data charges. It's also a good idea to inquire whether certain websites or services might be restricted onboard.

How much is Wi-Fi on a cruise?

Onboard Wi-Fi may also be priced based on the amount of data you use, not a set time period. This can be dangerous, as streaming a movie or playing online games could easily lead to shocking bills. There are horror stories of unsuspecting passengers being landed with bills of up to €12,000. Before you sail, carefully estimate your data needs and pre-purchase a suitable plan if possible. To help, we have helpful articles detailing typical app data usage and costs – make sure you check them out.

Stow Your Apps!

Don't forget that even seemingly modest apps like Skype or WhatsApp can quickly drain your onboard data allowance when connected to cruise ship Wi-Fi. Many cruise lines actually restrict access to video calling and streaming services to manage bandwidth and prevent exorbitant fees. However, a select few lines like Carnival, Royal Caribbean, Celebrity, Disney, and Princess have invested in the robust infrastructure needed to support platforms like Zoom or FaceTime reliably. Planning on streaming your favourite shows? To avoid frustration and unexpected costs, pre-download them to your device in advance. Additionally, before you sail, check with your cruise line to find out their specific Wi-Fi policies and restrictions on video-intensive services. This will help you plan accordingly and choose the data package that best suits your needs.

Treasure Maps

Before setting sail, find out if your cruise line offers a dedicated app. Major brands like Carnival, Royal Caribbean, Norwegian, and Princess often provide apps packed with helpful features like maps, onboard activity schedules, restaurant reservations, and even contactless payment options. These apps often include pre-loaded content, which can significantly reduce your reliance on expensive roaming data during the trip.

Smooth Sailing with eSIM

One certain way to avoid the headaches of hefty onboard or port-of-call roaming costs is with an international eSIM card from travel experts like us. An eSIM from BetterRoaming is a fantastic addition to your cruise because it allows you to avoid expensive international roaming charges, even if you intend to remain on the onboard Wi-Fi. With BetterRoaming flexible data plans, you can pick a roaming package for the whole region that you’ll be visiting, or even worldwide, and stay connected while cruising or taking on-land excursions without the fear of a huge bill at the end of your trip.

Thanks to our worldwide network, we now offer tailor-made maritime eSIM plans. These prepaid plans cover the whole of the North Sea and the Gulf of Mexico - so you can be sure of uninterrupted signal at a great value, even at sea.