I’ve covered cruising for almost two decades, and I’ve watched onboard internet transform from a luxury afterthought with a few workstations in an onboard café to an expectation nearly every passenger has from the time they step onboard.
I’ve also made my share of mistakes along the way, including one memorable moment watching my data charges climb dramatically somewhere in the middle of the North Sea. Trust me, a little planning goes a long way. Here are a few things to keep in mind.
1. Understand What Your Cruise Includes
Before you book your cruise, it helps to understand what internet access, if any, comes with your fare. Internet access varies greatly from one cruise line to the next, and even from ship to ship.
Some lines charge by the day, others sell tiered packages based on speed or usage and a few older vessels still charge by the megabyte. Then there’s the other end of the spectrum: lines like Viking build WiFi right into their all-inclusive fare, meaning you step aboard with connectivity already taken care of. There are no add-ons or surprises.
If WiFi isn’t included in your fare, buy your internet package before you leave home. Many lines offer a pre-cruise discount, sometimes 20% or more.
A newer option worth knowing about is eSIMs designed specifically for connectivity both at sea and on land. OneRoam, for example, covers more than 210 cruise ships and ports in 150-plus countries. If you’re used to using eSIMs while traveling, it might be worth considering.
2. Turn On Airplane Mode the Moment You Board
This is the mistake that keeps on giving. When a ship leaves port, your phone goes hunting for a signal. If it can’t find your carrier, it may latch onto a maritime satellite roaming network, and those charges can add up very fast.
The fix is simple: the moment you board, switch your phone to airplane mode, then reconnect manually to the ship’s WiFi. If you’re unsure about your plan, call your carrier before you leave home and ask specifically about cruise or international roaming packages.
3. Manage Your Expectations On Speed
Even as satellite technology has improved — many ships now use Starlink, a satellite-based internet service developed by SpaceX — cruise ship WiFi is not as fast as your home broadband. You’re sharing bandwidth with hundreds or thousands of fellow passengers, and speed can slow down during peak hours, bad weather or in remote stretches of ocean.
Use the connection for essentials: checking email, messaging family and looking up port information. Download your movies, podcasts and books before you leave home.
If you need to work remotely, keep in mind that most ship WiFi isn’t reliably fast enough for video calls or large file transfers.
That said, technology is improving fast. My brother-in-law has found Starlink coverage on Royal Caribbean so reliable that he and his wife now cruise regularly while he works from the ship. Royal Caribbean typically charges between $20-$30 per device, per day for its VOOM internet service. Prices vary by the number of devices, the type of package and when you purchase it.
4. Protect Yourself On Public Networks
Ship WiFi is a public network, and the same cautions apply as at any coffee shop or hotel. A VPN (Virtual Private Network) encrypts your connection and keeps your personal data, banking apps and passwords protected from anyone snooping on the network. That said, some cruise ship internet systems don’t play well with VPNs — I’ve run into this myself — so install one before you go but know that it may not always work at sea.
On port days, be skeptical of free WiFi networks on the dock or in port towns. Some fake hotspots, which might be named something like “Free Port WiFi,” exist specifically to intercept your data. Stick to your ship’s verified network or use your cellular data in port with a short-term international plan.
5. Small Habits Make a Big Difference
A few practical tweaks before you sail can save both money and headaches. Check your WiFi package carefully. Some plans only cover one device at a time, meaning you’ll need to log out of one before switching to another.
Turn off background app refresh and disable cloud services like Google Photos and Dropbox, which can consume large chunks of your data allowance. Use WiFi calling through apps like WhatsApp or iMessage to stay in touch without extra charges. And if you’re traveling with family, coordinate. Buying a multi-device package together is often cheaper than purchasing separately.
Staying connected at sea is easier than ever. A little preparation means you can enjoy the trip on your own terms, whether that means staying connected or signing off the moment you set sail.
Need a hand planning your trip? Here are the sites and services we rely on most, from booking tools to travel products we love.
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