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Last winter, I enjoyed a week-long cruise to Antarctica, where I interacted with penguins, observed whales, and sailed past majestic icebergs. Yet, one of the most surprising experiences was sharing Instagram Stories from the ship, thanks to incredibly fast Wi-Fi.

Advancements in technology have made it easier for cruise passengers to stay connected in unexpected locations. While some travelers prefer to disconnect from their routines during a cruise, many find it important to stay in touch with family and friends onshore.

However, Wi-Fi isn’t the sole option available. Here’s what you should know.

Is Wi-Fi Available on Cruise Ships?

Most cruise ships now provide Wi-Fi, and the quality has seen significant enhancements recently. In the past, passengers often dealt with slow connections, frequent disconnections, and even total outages, according to Theresa Scalzitti, chief operating officer of Cruise Planners.

Previously, users might find themselves roaming the ship to locate a good signal, but changes have occurred as many cruise companies have started using SpaceX’s Starlink.

Carnival Corp., which manages Carnival Cruise Line, Princess Cruises, Holland America Line, and others, completed Wi-Fi installations across their entire fleet in May. Other companies, such as Royal Caribbean Group, are also implementing similar upgrades.

Typically, Wi-Fi is offered in various package tiers.

Carnival presents three plans:

◾ The Social Wi-Fi Plan at $15.30 per person, per day, allows access to social media platforms like Instagram and Facebook as well as major airline websites.

◾ The Value Wi-Fi Plan, for $19.55, speeds up access to the sites included in the Social plan, along with email usage and further browsing options.

◾ The Premium Wi-Fi Plan allows for speeds up to three times faster than the other options, facilitating video chats and streaming for $21.25.

On the other hand, Norwegian Cruise Line provides two packages: the Unlimited Wi-Fi Package, which covers web browsing, email, and messaging for one device at $29.99 per day, and the Unlimited Premium Wi-Fi Package for $39.99, enabling video and audio streaming. Additional devices can be added for an extra fee.

According to Scalzitti, whether to buy Wi-Fi depends greatly on individual preferences. For instance, remote workers may find it essential, while others may choose to disconnect while at sea and reconnect only in port to save on costs.

Is Cell Service Available on Cruise Ships?

Surprisingly, yes. Like Wi-Fi, mobile phone service on cruise ships allows guests to use their cell phones much like they would on land, though there are some significant differences.

WMS, a leading provider, establishes cellular networks on cruise ships. Their Cellular at Sea service employs satellite connections to enable voice calls, internet access, and messaging — including SMS.

This service enhances communication between Android and iPhone users, ensuring green text messages appear instead of blue ones as they do on Wi-Fi. “Wi-Fi isn’t reliable for that,” noted Pramod Arora, president and CEO of WMS.

Passengers might also utilize Wi-Fi calling on their devices, though this option tends to be less secure and generally lower in quality compared to cellular calls.

WMS has roaming agreements with 400 cellular providers globally, available on 200 cruise ships across 25 different lines. As soon as the ship sails far enough from shore, devices connect automatically to the network— provided roaming is activated and airplane mode is switched off.

Pricing plans can vary. For instance, Verizon offers a $30 Cruise Daily Pass, which includes 50 minutes of calls, unlimited texts, and 0.5 gigabytes of data (with an overage charge of $1.99 per minute) for a 24-hour period. However, this pass applies only when aboard the ship, and standard international rates will apply once passengers land.

Passengers can enroll in this service through their mobile carriers either before or during their cruise, although exploring options in advance is advisable.

Travelers who expect to use their devices extensively for “data-heavy” tasks like streaming videos might find Wi-Fi to be a better alternative, according to Arora.

Can I Use a Foreign SIM or eSIM on a Cruise?

Travelers might consider using foreign SIM cards or eSIMs to avoid hefty roaming charges, as many modern phones have done away with physical SIM slots. WMS provides a data-only eSIM for users whose mobile operators lack a roaming agreement, and this can also be used on land.

That said, the cost differences might not be as pronounced as they used to be, as cellular providers increasingly adopt more cost-effective daily pass plans.

for global service. “If you can access a charge of $10, $15, or $20 per day from your domestic provider, then the eSIM companies must offer similar rates to remain competitive, right?” stated Arora.