The cost and reliability of mobile phone service on a cruise ship is a big concern for you if you need to be connected to work, family or friends back home. The mere concept of venturing into the vast ocean without the comfort of nearby mobile phone towers can be a bit scary, so let me take you through the process and give you the best answer to your problems.

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Depending on your ship’s location, you may or may not have mobile signal through your carrier. Service may not be available, technically, but you can use your mobile phone on a cruise.

If you can connect to the ship’s Wi-Fi and are able to make calls with your phone via Wi-Fi, you’ll be able to make calls.

Mobile providers’ cruise or international plan rates can be very high though. All major carriers, including Telstra, Optus & Vodafone offer international data plans. If mobile service is available during your cruise, you will likely receive an automated pop-up or text message to your phone the first time you have your cellular data turned on during the cruise. The message will briefly explain the plan and its charges.

We recommend contacting your mobile phone carrier before your trip to proactively understand the charges you’ll incur if you use your phone abroad, because plans vary depending on what country you’ll be in.

Ask your carrier if the plan includes talk and text, web-browsing, etc., and how many GB of data are included per day, per week, or per month. Lastly, ask if the prices vary for connecting while at sea versus while on land in the ports you’re visiting because it might be two separate charges.

When you're in port, your mobile signal typically switches to a local carrier from the country or island you're visiting. Some destinations might be included in your mobile plan - once again, check before you leave home. Or better still download Airalo, an app that will install an eSIM on your mobile.

What the hell is an e-Sim?

An eSIM is like getting another SIM card for your mobile, however there’s no physical SIM - it’s a digital SIM. It all just downloads onto your phone via an App. For example, I use Airalo. I can download and install a digital data pack from 200+ countries/regions and be connected anywhere in the world, the second I land by plane or ship. There are 20 million+ people around the world using Airalo.

This also saves time at airports or shipping ports buying those fiddly SIM cards that you know you’re overpaying for.

Plus, it’s so much cheaper than paying Telstra $10 a day for international roaming. Let me show you. I’m quite often in Bali and I can buy 2GB of data for $12.50 that is valid for 15 days. Or 10GB of data for $34.50 that is valid for 30 days. When I’m in a villa or hotel or restaurant, i’m usually using their wifi, however if i’m on the street, i’m still connected with my eSIM. It’s brilliant - and no fiddly SIM cards to be swapping over.

They also have global eSIMs that cover calls and data in 137 countries for $42.50 that includes 2GB data, 20 mins of calls, 20 SMS and is valid for 15 days. Or if you need it for longer, like 30 days, you can pay $56.50 for 3GB data, 30 mins calls and 30 SMS. If you were paying $10 a day via your local carrier, 30 days away would be $300.

One last example, if I was going to Japan for a few weeks, I could get 3GB data for $13.50, or 5GB data for $18.

If you want to give it a try on your next trip, click the button below and once its downloaded use the code STEVE6836 to get $5 off your first eSIM.

Once you’ve downloaded and installed your eSIM, you don’t have to install another one when you go to another country. All you do is just top it each time for the country you want.

Download Airalo here and use the code STEVE6836 to get AUD$5 off your first eSIM

Keep in mind eSIMs only work on land, not at sea. So let’s get back to while you’re at sea.

Can I Send or Receive Text Messages At Sea & How Much Will It Cost?

It's possible to send and receive text messages at sea, as long as you have a signal through your ship's Wi-Fi network. If you are trying to connect through your mobile carrier, make sure you have Airplane Mode turned off and data roaming turned on in your settings.

Texting through your mobile carrier while cruising costs less than a voice call; prices are usually in line with standard, international "pay as you go" rates.

As mentioned above, many carriers offer discounted international packages, where you can either prepay a flat fee for a set amount of text messages and/or data to use overseas or pay a flat daily fee for unlimited text messages and data. Check with your specific provider for details.

On the flip side, you have no control over incoming text messages, so if you receive any while you are using your phone via the ship's signal, you will be charged.

Alternatively, turn off your mobile data and use your phone's Wi-Fi to send and receive text messages, such as iMessage on an iPhone. You can also use messaging apps like WhatsApp, which will function using your ship's Wi-Fi network. Some cruise apps, like Disney Cruise Line’s Navigator, allow you to text to family and friends back home without paying for a Wi-Fi plan if you’re connected to their free network.

How Much Does It Cost To Use The Internet On My Phone If I'm Roaming At Sea?

Data use on a cruise ship is very expensive, especially because it tends to add up quickly. Always remember to put your phone in Airplane Mode or turn off data roaming before you head out to sea if you don't want to be hit with a hefty bill upon returning home.

Mobile carrier rates can be high in ports as well. Most carriers, however, offer special plans or travel passes for an additional fee that allow you to use your domestic plan allowances while in port.

Bear in mind that there might be a limit to how much data you can use per day while in port; you'll be charged an overage fee each time you exceed that limit. If your plan doesn't include international data and you don't want to purchase a travel pass, look for complimentary Wi-Fi at a local restaurant, coffee shop, museum or similar attraction, or a bar.

If you wish to access the internet while onboard, you can connect to the ship's Wi-Fi. As I mentioned, most ships charge for Wi-Fi usage, so you'll need to compare data roaming prices against the ship's internet charges to see which is a better deal prior to sailing. The exception is small ship cruises, like expedition cruises or river cruises, which more often than not include free Wi-Fi for all guests.

Will I Be Charged For Unintentional Phone Use By My Mobile Carrier?

Do one of three things to ensure that your mobile company will not charge you to use your phone during your cruise:

1. Turn off your phone as soon as your cruise ship leaves port.

2. Put your phone on Airplane Mode if you want to use your phone without Wi-Fi.

3. Make sure your phone is on Airplane Mode and use the ship’s Wi-Fi to use your phone but only if your ship has free Wi-Fi (like on a river cruise) or if you pay for a Wi-Fi plan. If you plan to use the ship’s Wi-Fi, access the cruise line’s network separately after putting your phone on Airplane Mode.

Can I Use My Apps On A Cruise Without Being Charged Extra?

You won't pay extra for using any app that does not require data or is not connected to the internet. These include apps that download and store data locally on your mobile phone’s memory, such as some games, food diaries, and downloaded music or video players. You can test these apps before you leave for your trip by putting your phone in Airplane Mode. You also can use your phone as an alarm clock, but don’t forget to manually set the time if you change time zones during your cruise.

Using your phone to take pictures won't incur any charges, but they won't be backed up to a cloud service you normally use unless you're connected to Wi-Fi on your ship or in port. Any apps that must be connected to the internet to function, such as Facebook, Instagram, X (formerly Twitter) or Instagram -- won't work without data or Wi-Fi.

If you connect to the ship’s Wi-Fi and pay for a data plan, be careful with how much data you use; you can quickly rack up charges you don't want to pay. However, connecting to the ship’s Wi-Fi and paying for an internet plan will enable you to use all of your apps during your cruise.

Do Cruise Lines Provide Apps That I Can Use On The Ship?

Most big ship cruise lines have an app for passengers to use pre-cruise and during sailings. You can use the ship’s Wi-Fi to access them free of charge. Depending on the cruise line, you can use the app to plan excursions, check your onboard spending, reserve specialty dining, view deck plans and book future cruises.

Cruise lines with such an app include Carnival Cruise Line, Celebrity Cruises, Disney Cruise Line, Holland America Line, Princess Cruises, Royal Caribbean, Norwegian Cruise Line and Seabourn.

Some apps provide communication features like texting or calling other people on the same ship who also have the app. This feature can cost money, depending on your cruise line. Check with your cruise line to find out which app(s) offers this feature, which ships support app functionality, and if any costs are associated with using them.

Can I Use Wi-Fi On My Mobile Phone?

Yes, you can use the Wi-Fi feature on your mobile phone to connect to your cruise ship's Wi-Fi. However, you must purchase an internet package if you want to do anything other than access the free features of the cruise line’s app.

This part is really important though: Make sure you have disabled location services and auto refresh on all apps (like email apps) that aren’t in use so they don’t burn through your Wi-Fi plan needlessly if there are daily limits. If you’re an iPhone user, putting your phone on Low Power Mode helps curtail data-draining phone activities, like background app refresh.

If your phone has Wi-Fi calling capability, use it to make any necessary calls during your cruise. But be conscientious of the cruise line’s Wi-Fi package you purchased regarding data limits and overage costs, not to mention Wi-Fi quality. Many ports offer free Wi-Fi for cruisers but beware, these are open networks with limited security.

Can I Video Chat Like Zoom, Skype Or FaceTime?

Only a handful of cruise lines including Carnival, Royal Caribbean, Celebrity Cruises, Disney Cruise Line, Holland America Line and Princess -- have invested in high-bandwidth, high-speed internet capable of supporting Zoom, Skype, FaceTime and other video chat platforms. However, many cruise lines continue to convert their IT systems to include satellite carriers (the most common being Starlink) to continuously improve guests’ connectivity during an ever-evolving digital age.

Can I Use the Ship's Phone To Call Home?

Yes, you can use the ship's phone to call home. Prices are high, but can be a little less than what your cell phone company will charge you. Charges can be upwards of, or close to, $10/minute.

If you really need to make a phone call during your cruise, the best wallet-conscious bet is to wait until you're in port and use Wi-Fi calling. You can also check with your phone carrier to see if there is an international calling plan you can purchase for the duration of your trip to use in ports. An international calling plan will often significantly lower the per-minute cost of any phone calls you make while traveling, though it won't cover calls or cell phone use during sea days.

Alternative To International Mobile Plans For Cruises

If you want to connect to the internet while in cruise ports without paying for an International mobile plan, and without buying a SIM card for your phone, consider buying a hotspot. A Wi-Fi hotspot is a great alternative to mobile data plans when on land and multiple devices can connect to one hotspot. Ot as I said earlier, just buy an e-Sim from Airalo.

Once again though, most of your issues on land when you get to ports will be solved by getting an eSIM installed on your mobile. If you need calls as well as data, then make sure you check out their Global eSIMs. And remember to use the code STEVE6836 to get $5 off your first purchase.

Download Airalo here and use the code STEVE6836 to get AUD$5 off your first eSIM