Best eSIM for Cruise Ships: Top Options Compared

TL;DR: To pick the best eSIM for a cruise ship, think about where you need internet most. GigSky offers plans that work both at sea and in port. Red Bull MOBILE eSIMs provide data at sea starting from €5 for 250 MB. Holafly is good for unlimited data during port visits, with plans from €3.79. Airalo helps you connect in many ports around the world, with global plans starting at $8.50 for 1 GB. Specialist cruise eSIMs often cover your UK number and help you avoid high charges.

Imagine you’re sailing the open seas, far from land, and suddenly you get an urgent message from home. Or perhaps you need to check your bank account while docked in a foreign port. If you live between countries or travel often, staying connected and keeping your main phone number active is key. But cruise ship internet can be costly and unreliable. Getting an eSIM (digital SIM) for your cruise trip can help you stay in touch, manage your life abroad, and stop you from facing huge roaming bills. Let’s look at the best options.

Which are the Best eSIM Providers for a Cruise Ship?

Different eSIM providers offer various options for cruise travel. Some are great for using the internet while your ship is at sea, while others work best when you are in port. Choosing the right one depends on your needs. Below is a quick comparison of top providers that offer solutions for cruise travelers:

Provider	Best For	Starting Price (Approx.)
GigSky	One simple plan for data at sea, in ports, and on land, across many ships and places	Free 100 MB trial
Red Bull MOBILE	Lower-cost data for lighter use at sea, on ships that use Telenor Maritime	From €5 EUR
Holafly	Unlimited data when you are in port in covered areas	From €3.79 EUR
Airalo	Flexible local, regional, or global data for port visits, works only on land networks	Global plans from $8.50 USD

Note: Prices and plan details might change based on where you are, the money you use, and any special deals. Prices might also show up in different currencies from provider to provider. Always check the provider’s website for the most current information before buying.

GigSky eSIM: What Does it Offer for Cruises?

GigSky is one of the most useful choices if you need mobile data both when your ship is at sea and when it stops in port. They sell “Cruise + Land” plans that let you switch between special sea networks offshore and local mobile networks in many places on land. They also have “Sea-Only” packages according to GigSky.

When you are out at sea, the GigSky eSIM connects using the ship’s mobile network, often called “Cellular at Sea.” Then, when the ship gets to a covered port, it automatically switches to a network on land. It is good to know that cruise lines usually turn off their sea network when they get close to land. This means there might be a short time when you don’t have signal before the land-based network starts working.

One important tip: a “Cruise + Land” plan might start working as soon as you set it up if your ship is in a country covered by the plan. So, it is best to keep this eSIM line turned off until you actually need to use it.

GigSky is good for: travelers who want a single prepaid eSIM plan that works for sea days, in ports, and for time spent on land.

Red Bull MOBILE eSIM: Is it Good for Cruises?

Red Bull MOBILE offers special eSIM plans for cruise ships through Telenor Maritime. Their “Cruise-Only” plans currently start from €5 for 250 MB of data, which lasts for 30 days. A larger 1 GB plan costs €15. They also have “Cruise & Land” options, which begin at €6 for 250 MB or €18 for 1 GB. You can check how much data you have used and buy more directly through the Red Bull MOBILE app.

Whether this eSIM works depends on if Telenor Maritime operates on your specific ship and route. It is a good idea to check if your vessel is covered before you buy a plan, rather than just assuming it will work for your whole cruise as Red Bull MOBILE suggests.

Red Bull MOBILE also sells regular data plans for land, with prices that change based on the country. Their sea-based plan starts working once your ship is too far from land networks, while their land plan handles your internet needs during port visits.

Red Bull MOBILE is good for: travelers who need a small amount of prepaid data while at sea and want to avoid buying a more expensive WiFi package from the ship.

Holafly eSIM: Does it Work on Cruise Ships?

Holafly provides eSIMs specific to certain cruise routes, like those for Europe, the Mediterranean, the Caribbean, and Alaska. Prices start from €3.79 EUR for some cruises in Europe, and many plans offer unlimited data in the countries they cover.

However, these plans are mainly made for use when your ship visits a port, not for when you are sailing on the open ocean. Holafly states that its cruise eSIMs work on land and might connect close to the coast. But they do not promise coverage once your ship is in deep water as noted on their FAQ.

The list of countries covered can be different for each plan. For example, Holafly’s European cruise plan covers 16 countries, but its Mediterranean, Caribbean, and Alaska plans cover fewer countries specific to those routes. Also, some private ports might not be covered, even if the country around them is.

Holafly is good for: travelers who want unlimited phone data when their ship is in port and plan to use the ship’s WiFi for sea days. Keep in mind there’s usually a 1 GB daily limit for using your phone as a hotspot.

Airalo eSIM: What are the Options for Cruises?

Airalo does not currently offer dedicated data plans for use at sea. However, their local, regional, and global eSIM plans can be very useful for when your ship stops in different ports. Airalo covers more than 200 locations worldwide. They offer regional options for places like Europe, Asia, Latin America, the Caribbean, and North America.

Their “Discover Global eSIM” plan starts from $8.50 USD for 1 GB of data over 7 days and works in 170 countries according to Airalo. You can also find plans with more data or even unlimited data. If your cruise stays in one area, a regional or local plan might offer better value.

Many Airalo plans can be refilled with more data through their app, and some can even renew automatically when your data is low. It is always a good idea to check the specific coverage for each port, as global and regional country lists might still have some gaps. Airalo connects to land-based partner networks. It might keep working for a short time when you are near the coast, but it is not a reliable choice for internet during open-water sea days.

Airalo is good for: travelers who want flexible data in several ports and do not need to connect to the internet while at sea.

How Can You Choose the Best eSIM for Your Cruise?

Choosing the right eSIM for your cruise trip means thinking about your internet needs. With many different options, it is helpful to follow a few key steps to make the best choice. This will help you keep your home number active and stay connected without unexpected costs.

• First, decide when and where you really need to be online.
  • Think about whether you need data when the ship is at sea. If you only need mobile data when you are in port, a regular travel eSIM might be all you need.
• Check for your exact ship.
  • Coverage for eSIMs that work at sea can be different even for ships run by the same cruise company. Always check your specific vessel.
• List every port.
  • Make a list of all the countries, islands, areas, and private cruise stops you will visit. Check each one individually for coverage.
• Estimate how much data you will use.
  • Sending messages and emails uses much less data than watching videos, making video calls, or uploading many photos.
• Compare eSIM data with the ship’s WiFi.
  • eSIMs that work at sea are good for normal phone use. The ship’s onboard WiFi might be better if you use a lot of data or have several devices.
• Look into hotspot limits.
  • Some providers limit how much data you can share with other devices each day, even if your phone plan says it has “unlimited” data.
• Read the rules for activating the eSIM.
  • A plan that covers the country you start from might begin working before your ship even leaves.
• Check your UK phone company’s rates for sea travel.
  • Your usual roaming plan might not cover satellite or ship-based networks, which can be very expensive. Ofcom warns about high costs if you don’t check.

How Does Internet Work on a Cruise: At Sea, Near Coast, or in Port?

During a cruise, how you connect to the internet changes depending on where your ship is. Understanding these differences can help you use your eSIM wisely and keep your phone number active while abroad.

There are three main ways to get online during your cruise:

• Land-based eSIM: This type of eSIM connects to regular phone towers on land. It works well when your ship is in port or close to the shore. However, it will stop working once the ship moves too far out to sea.
• Maritime eSIM: This special eSIM connects using satellites to a network installed on your ship. Providers like GigSky and Red Bull MOBILE offer this on certain ships.
• Ship WiFi: This connects any of your devices (phone, tablet, laptop) to the ship’s satellite internet. It’s usually best for heavier internet use, but the speeds and data limits can vary a lot between different cruise lines as P&O Cruises mentions.

Switching between these different ways to connect is not always smooth. For example, GigSky stops offering sea coverage when the ship is within 12 nautical miles of land. On the other hand, P&O’s Telenor Maritime network might start working from just two nautical miles offshore. The exact distance depends on your ship and the network it uses.

Also, your regular UK SIM card might automatically connect to the ship’s network. This can often lead to much higher costs than your normal roaming fees. It is always a good idea to check with your mobile phone provider before you travel to avoid surprises.

How Do You Install and Use an eSIM on a Cruise Ship?

Using an eSIM on a cruise ship needs a bit of preparation to make sure you stay connected and avoid unwanted charges. Especially when you’re trying to keep your home phone number active and manage your connectivity between countries, these steps are crucial.

• Check if your device works with eSIMs. Most newer smartphones can use eSIMs, but it’s smart to confirm this with your phone maker. For iPhone users, you can check supported models here.
• Make sure your phone is unlocked. If your phone is locked to your home UK provider, it might not let you use an eSIM from another company.
• Confirm your ship and travel plan. Double-check if a maritime eSIM works on your specific ship and look at every port where you need data.
• Buy and install the eSIM plan before you leave. Do this when you have a good WiFi connection. Also, save the instructions somewhere offline, like taking a screenshot, in case you lose internet later.
• Give clear names to your phone lines. For example, label them “UK SIM,” “Port eSIM,” and “Cruise eSIM.” This helps you choose the right one easily.
• Turn off data roaming on your UK phone line. You can also turn off your UK line completely while at sea. This greatly reduces the risk of expensive roaming charges from ship networks.
• Use airplane mode but keep WiFi on for ship WiFi. This prevents your phone from trying to connect to expensive mobile networks while letting you use the ship’s internet.
• Turn off airplane mode for a maritime eSIM. If you are using an eSIM that works at sea, you need to turn off airplane mode. GigSky also suggests turning off WiFi so your phone connects to the ship’s mobile network instead.
• Turn on your port eSIM when you get near land. Choose it as your main line for mobile data and turn on roaming if the eSIM provider says you need to.

Remember, the settings for ship WiFi and a maritime eSIM are different. Always follow the specific instructions from your provider. Do not just leave the same settings active for your whole cruise. For more general details, you can read our guide on /blog/esim-vs-physical-sim-keep-number/.

Why Should You Use an eSIM on a Cruise Ship?

Using an eSIM for your cruise offers several advantages, especially for those who need to stay reachable and manage their home phone number while traveling between countries.

Here are the key benefits:

• One plan for many covered ports: An eSIM can cover all the different ports you visit with a single plan, making things simpler.
• Data at sea on supported ships: Some eSIMs offer internet access even when you are far from land, which is great for staying connected on sea days.
• No physical SIM cards to change or store: Since an eSIM is digital, you don’t have to worry about losing tiny physical SIM cards or swapping them out.
• The choice to keep your UK number active: You can often keep your primary UK phone number working on your device while using an eSIM for data. For more on this, check out our guide on how to /uk/keep-uk-number-abroad/.
• Prepaid costs that are easier to track: You pay for your eSIM data upfront, so it’s easier to control your spending and avoid unexpected bills.
• App-based data tracking and top-ups: Many eSIM providers have apps that let you see how much data you’ve used and buy more if you need to.
• Less need for public WiFi during shore visits: You can rely on your own mobile data in port, which is often more secure than public WiFi networks.

Make Your Cruise Spending Simpler with the Wise Card

An eSIM helps travelers stay connected, and the Wise card can make it easier to handle what you spend on the ship and in different currencies in port. This Wise card automatically changes your spending into the local currency in over 150 countries. It uses the mid-market exchange rate (which is very close to what you see on Google), and you only pay a small, clear conversion fee. Plus, there are no foreign transaction fees.

The card works with more than 40 currencies, so it is perfect for trips that cross several countries. The Wise card costs a one-time fee of £7 to order. You can take out money from ATMs for free up to £250 per month. After that, there’s a 2.69% fee on any amount you withdraw above that limit. Some ATM networks that are not part of Wise might also charge their own fees.

Common Questions About eSIMs for Cruises

People often have questions about how eSIMs work on cruise ships. Here are some common concerns, especially if you’re trying to manage your connectivity across different countries.

Will a Normal Travel eSIM Work on a Cruise Ship?

A normal travel eSIM will work when your ship is in a port that is covered by the plan, or when it is close enough to a land-based mobile tower. However, it usually stops connecting once the ship is in open water, far from land. For internet access during sea days, you will need a special eSIM made for sea travel or use the ship’s onboard WiFi.

Which eSIMs Work When You Are at Sea?

GigSky and Red Bull MOBILE are two providers that offer plans designed to connect through special networks on supported ships. However, whether they work depends on your exact ship and the route it takes. Before you buy, always check the provider’s list of vessels to make sure your cruise is covered.

Is an eSIM Better Than Cruise Ship WiFi?

An eSIM can be a better choice for staying connected when your ship is in port, or for moderate phone use, like checking messages and emails. Ship WiFi, on the other hand, might be more suitable if you plan to stream videos, do remote work, make long video calls, or connect several devices at once.

Can I Keep My UK Phone Number Active on a Cruise?

Yes, usually you can. Most phones with Dual SIM capabilities allow you to keep your UK phone line active for calls and texts while another eSIM handles your data connection. However, it is very important to be careful. Your UK line could connect to an expensive ship network. To avoid high costs, you should turn off data roaming for your UK line or turn the line off completely when you are at sea. For more info on keeping your number active, read our guide on /blog/what-happens-number-move-abroad/.

How Can I Avoid High Roaming Charges on a Cruise?

To avoid unexpected maritime roaming charges, you should take several steps. First, turn off data roaming and mobile-data switching on your regular UK SIM card. Second, use airplane mode with WiFi enabled if you are planning to use the ship’s WiFi. Third, when using a special eSIM for sea travel, make sure to follow the provider’s specific settings carefully. These actions help ensure you only pay for the data you intend to use.

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