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Most major cruise lines like Carnival, Royal Caribbean, Norwegian, and more provide cell service and Wi-Fi to their guests. However, it is essential to know how your phone uses cell service at sea or the shipboard Wi-Fi before you get started. While on a cruise, passengers may wonder if they will be able to use their cell phone to stay connected with the outside world.
What to Expect on a Cruise: Using a Cell Phone
For most people, the best piece of advice is to put your phone on airplane mode before your ship sets sail out of port. This prevents your cell from trying to stay connected, thereby eliminating roaming charges. Of course, this also stops you from making and receiving calls and text messages. If that isn't an option for you, check with your service provider to see if they have a cruise package.
Can I use the ship's Wi-Fi on my cellphone?
Every major cruise line and ship will offer wi-fi service, usually costing about $15-25 per day. Some cell providers also have cruise packages that are designed to work on the ship. By paying a set amount ahead of time, you can get service on the ship without worrying about your bill. There are no data plans available on cruise ships with T-Mobile.
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As of this article's publication, Verizon offers a cruise data plan for $20 per month for 50MB on select cruise ships and offers pay-as-you-go rates for calls and texts. AT&T provides 30 days of unlimited calls and texts plus 200MB of data for $100. Because these rates may change at any time, do your research before committing.
Using Your Phone on a Carnival Cruise
Instead of using a cellular network, Wi-Fi calling only requires you have an internet signal to use. Both Carnival Cruise Line and Royal Caribbean are rolling out high-tech connectivity systems across their fleets, with some ships in each fleet already offering some of the fastest Internet at sea. Before you leave for your vacation, look at where your cruise calls and then contact your service provider. Roaming is included in many plans in those countries on both AT&T and Verizon.
Perfect Day at CocoCay, The Bahamas
Cruise versus land-based roaming charges differ, with land-based reception often the less-expensive option. If you plan on using your phone at sea, some service providers have cruise-specific plans available for when you're at sea. These plans charge a premium for use through the ship's satellite connection.
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You can still use Wi-Fi and Bluetooth while your cell is in airplane mode, so make sure they're switched on. Wi-Fi packages are available on cruise ships, but they tend to be expensive. The cheapest Wi-Fi package from Carnival Cruises costs $12.75 per person per day, which can add up. Unfortunately, on top of being expensive, Wi-Fi on cruise ships tends to be unreliable and slow.
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If you want to avoid extra charges from your mobile phone service provider, put your smartphone on "airplane mode" sometime between boarding and when the ship sets sail. Even if you're not actively using your phone, your smartphone is constantly utilizing data in the background, racking up charges you're not even aware of. Cruise ship cell service can be expensive, and travelers need to consider the costs and value of using their phones while at sea. While some people may find the convenience of staying connected to be worth the cost, others may prefer to disconnect and enjoy their vacation without worrying about roaming charges. In conclusion, cruise ships do have cell service and onboard Wi-Fi, but it can be expensive. It is recommended to turn off cellular data and roaming and connect to the onboard Wi-Fi to avoid any unexpected charges.
Internet and Wi-Fi Availability
Whether it's for navigation, translation, or finding a restaurant, most of us rely on our cell when we're on vacation even more than during life at home. But don't start Googling with abandon as soon as you step off the ship, as international roaming charges cost a pretty penny. A - Yes, you may use your personal or company issued wireless device while onboard.
In our experience, lower-tier wi-fi plans are slower, meaning choppier connections on things like video calls. For the vast majority of plans, these services are considered international roaming plans by your cell phone company, and you will be charged accordingly for use. That said, if you want to (or need to), you can simply make a phone call or send a text as you would back home — you’ll just be charged significantly more than usual. For instance, AT&T offers a $100 plan that gives you 200MB of data and unlimited talk and text on most cruise ships. You’ll want to get in touch with your provider for more details of their specific plan. Alaskan cruises stop in ports like Juneau, Ketchikan, and Skagway.
To be sure, your wi-fi plan from the ship won’t work in port (unless you are at a private island; sometimes ships extend service to their islands.) But many ports of call offer wi-fi service. In addition, many companies — such as T-Mobile — include calling in Mexico and Canada (home to several popular cruise ports) automatically in their plans. You can use the phone exactly as you would at home for no extra charge. St. Croix is nicknamed “The Garden of the Antilles,” and for good reason. Virgin Islands, this sprawling tropical oasis is a paradise of towering emerald mountains, dense tropical rainforests, and windswept coastline kissed by turquoise waves. For the best views, head to Point Udall (also the easternmost point in the United States) and follow the path up to the summit.
A fan-favorite destination you can visit on Florida cruises sailing from all of the state’s major cruise ports, Perfect Day at CocoCay is a popular option for families, couples and solo travelers. One thing to note, however, is that even if the map above shows service, it could still be spotty. For example, we personally use Mint Mobile, which is a discount carrier that’s part of the T-Mobile network. During a recent cruise our phone did not have coverage in some ports. However, we noticed that passengers with major carriers seemed able to connect. Since you are traveling within the United States, that means your cell phone plan likely offers some service while in port.
Be sure to weigh your onboard and roaming data needs against your budget. (That Instagram account isn't going to update itself.) Are you planning a working trip? You'll have to account for email and file exchanges along with possible calls.
For that reason, we suggest turning your phone into airplane mode while you are aboard the ship (wi-fi will still work when the phone is in airplane mode). When you are on shore in Alaskan ports, then you can use your phone as normal without having to worry about overages. Unfortunately, we have heard horror stories of people being surprised by high bills on their cell plans after cruising. Since the Alaskan Passage is a relatively small area compared to the open ocean, there might be spots that you can pick up cell service while you are at sea.
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