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Can you buy Wi-Fi while on the cruise?

Daily plans are available for purchase on board. On board: Turn on your device's Wi-Fi feature and access the Wi-Fi settings to receive instructions on how to purchase our plans. What kind of plans do you have? Pricing is based on cruise-long plans and are subject to change without prior notice.



Yes, almost every modern cruise ship offers Wi-Fi packages that you can purchase either before your trip or once you are on board. In 2026, most major lines (Royal Caribbean, Celebrity, Carnival, Princess) have upgraded to Starlink Maritime, which provides significantly faster and more reliable internet than older satellite systems. You typically choose between a "Basic" package (good for emails and social media messaging) and a "Premium" or "Stream" package (which allows for video calls and Netflix). Prices vary but generally range from $15 to $35 per day, per device. Many lines offer a discount if you purchase the package for the entire duration of the cruise before you sail. It is important to remember that cruise Wi-Fi is still a satellite connection; while Starlink has made it much better, you may still experience "dead zones" in remote areas or during heavy storms. Also, "per device" usually means you can only use one device at a time; if you want to use your phone and laptop simultaneously, you'll need a multi-device plan.

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Daily plans are available for purchase on board. On board: Turn on your device's Wi-Fi feature and access the Wi-Fi settings to receive instructions on how to purchase our plans. What kind of plans do you have? Pricing is based on cruise-long plans and are subject to change without prior notice.

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If you're not able to wait for ports of call (or don't have international data on your phone), it might be worthwhile to pay for a Wi-Fi package. Although prices have decreased over the years, it can still be pretty costly to purchase Wi-Fi for your cruise.

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The price of Wi-Fi on a cruise ship can range from $15 to $30 and more per device per day. On luxury cruise lines or even some premium lines there is free Wi-Fi included in the cost of the cruise fare.

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Cruise ships have cellular service that you can connect to. However, it's usually considered international roaming and means you'll be charged high rates to access. You likely know that instead of using a cell signal, you can hook your phone up to wi-fi and use the Internet to make calls, send texts, and surf the web.

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Can you use WhatsApp on a cruise? Yes, but bear in mind video calling services such as Skype or messaging services like WhatsApp will use your onboard data if you're connected to the cruise ship's Wi-Fi.

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If you use WhatsApp, Facebook Messenger, or WeChat, you may be able to use them whenever you have a Wi-Fi connection. Other suggestions are dependent on the cruise line you are traveling. Guests can use the following apps for texting: Shipmate (available in Apple and Google Play Stores)

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Royal Caribbean's VOOM internet is the gold standard when it comes to cruise ship Wi-Fi, with the fastest speeds out there. Some Cruise Critic forum members report speeds of up to 24Mbps, which, believe us, is fast! With Voom, there's not much you can't do. Need to upload pictures to Facebook or Instagram?

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To use your cell phone on your cruise, you have two options — either connect to the ship's cellular service or connect to the ship's wi-fi. Both will cost you extra. For traditional cell service, today's modern cruise ships use providers such as “Cellular at Sea” or “Wireless Maritime Services”.

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It's possible to send and receive text messages at sea on a cellular signal, as long as you have a signal through your ship's roaming network. (Just make sure you turn on data roaming in your settings.)

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How to prevent roaming charges while at sea
  1. Turn off your phone. The easiest, but by no means the nicest, is to turn off your phone. ...
  2. Use airplane mode. Many of us can't go more than a few hours without our phones, so it's more likely you will opt for these other options such as using airplane mode. ...
  3. Use the ship's wifi.


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Is WhatsApp free on a cruise ship? By default, WhatsApp is not free on a cruise ship. You need to be online, and most cruise lines charge for internet access, unless you have a special fare that includes WiFi access.

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How to Use Your Cell Phone on a Cruise Ship
  1. Download the Ship Mate app. ...
  2. Check what your cell phone provider offers. ...
  3. Decide if you want a data, messaging, or calling plan. ...
  4. Consider buying a Wi-Fi package onboard. ...
  5. Know how to post to social media via text. ...
  6. Download the Connect@Sea app.


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Data use onboard a cruise ship is ridiculously 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 and don't want to be smacked with a hefty bill upon returning home. Even in port, the rates get pretty high.

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When the ship is sailing on international waters, you will be able to use the WMS network for incoming and outgoing calls, SMS, and Data services (email and web surfing). Once in port, you can connect to local roaming networks as permitted by your home carrier.

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Can you bring snacks, like candy, on a cruise? Shelf-stable snacks like chips, pretzels, protein bars or any other items packaged in sealed wrappers are permitted on every major cruise line.

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To avoid unwanted charges, your safest bet onboard your cruise ship is to switch to airplane mode, reactivate your wireless feature and log in to the ship's Wi-Fi network. (Note: Switching to airplane mode will turn off wireless until you manually reactivate it.)

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