Avoid using the Wi-Fi and USB charging stations onboard a cruise. There are multiple public places, including cruises which offer you free Wi-Fi. However, these networks are most vulnerable to hackers. These networks in foreign establishments may even be unsafe as these may be set-ups for mining data.

Cruise ship Wi-Fi is generally as safe as a public Wi-Fi network at a Starbucks or an airport, which is to say it has inherent security risks that travelers should manage carefully. While cruise lines like Royal Caribbean and Carnival use encrypted networks and modern satellite technology (like Starlink in 2026), these are still "open" environments where many users are connected to the same access points. The primary risks include "Man-in-the-Middle" attacks, where a hacker could theoretically intercept data, or "Evil Twin" hotspots that mimic the ship's official Wi-Fi name to steal credentials. To stay safe, you should always use a VPN (Virtual Private Network) to encrypt your traffic, even if it slightly slows down your connection. Avoid performing sensitive tasks like mobile banking or accessing private medical records while on the ship's network. It is also wise to disable "Auto-Join" for Wi-Fi and turn off file-sharing services like AirDrop or Bluetooth when not in use. While cruise lines have internal security teams to monitor their networks, the sheer volume of users makes personal vigilance and the use of multi-factor authentication (MFA) essential for protecting your digital identity at sea.