Phone plans on your cruise: Everything you need to know

Learn how to stay connected to friends and family while cruising. Get tips on choosing our best cruise ship packages and how to use your phone while vacationing abroad at sea.

Is an onboard cellular network available, and should I bring my phone on a cruise?

Mobile phones have become almighty powerful tools, indispensable in our daily lives.

We suggest you consider bringing your trusted mobile phone along on a cruise for several important reasons. It can come in handy quite often, even if you prefer to have it turned off most of the time to immerse yourself fully in vacation mode.

If you want to discover how to use your phone on a cruise or in port, find out about options to access Wi-Fi®, and how to save money, we encourage you to read on.

So, the good news is that most cruises today offer Wi-Fi and onboard cellular network. The bad news—it may end up being very expensive unless you plan ahead and add an AT&T CruiseSM packages.

But first, let’s review why having a phone on board with you is important.

Mobile phones can be handy on the cruise ship because you can use the cruise line’s app to access schedules, maps, and more; post and stay connected via social media, while content creators can document their adventures on shipboard. And for those who want to stay in touch with friends and family back home, the phone will allow you to do that easily.

Now let’s check out the AT&T Cruise packages.

  1. On board the ship: The cellular service offered on board the ship is considered international roaming and can be very expensive. To avoid high per-minute talk and per-MB charges, cell providers offer packages to help cruisers better budget themselves. AT&T offers AT&T Cruise Basic* for $60 for 100 minutes of talk, text, and data. Another solution is pay-per-use for using your cell phone on the ship when Wi-Fi is available. Instead of using a cell signal, just connect your phone to the ship's Wi-Fi and use the internet to make calls, video chat, send texts, and surf the web. The Wi-Fi on board comes with a certain charge, and you have different speed tiers to choose from.
  2. Onshore: If you want to use cellular service, we recommend researching our plans, AT&T offers affordable short-term talk, text, and data plans. Another great option is purchasing an eSIM—a convenient way to get wireless service. Also, buying a traditional, local SIM card is a low-cost solution. If you prefer to rely on Wi-Fi, some ports offer complimentary Wi-Fi around the port itself, as do some local restaurants and shops. Also, AT&T includes Mexico and Canada** in their domestic Unlimited plans—so if those are among your cruise’s destinations, you can use the phone in port just like back home–for no extra charge.

Factors to consider when choosing a cruise phone plan

To avoid overpaying for cellular services, and make sure you pay only for what you need during the cruise, here are some suggested things to research before committing to a specific phone plan during your cruise:

  1. First, consider how long your cruise is going to be.
  2. Next, it’s important to evaluate the amount of data needed. The best way to do it is to check your usage report to see how much data you’ve been using in the past month or two and use that information to estimate your needs for the cruise duration. Also, it’s advisable to pay attention to the times you use your phone the most—is it when you’re on Wi-Fi or cellular data? And let’s not forget how important it is to factor in what activities you do on your phone when using cellular data (sending messages or emails uses less data than streaming HD movies, music, or downloading material).
  3. Consider where you’ll likely use your phone during the cruise—on board the ship or in port. This way, you can plan what coverage areas you’ll need.
  4. And finally, research the services of the specific cruise line and ship you’ll be vacationing on—different cruise lines and even ships within a particular line may offer different connectivity experiences. Some ships are equipped with the latest technology, while others can have slower or restricted service, affecting video calling or streaming.