The thought of your upcoming cruise ship vacation may be exciting enough to make you forget about planning for internet access when cruising the high seas. But don’t worry, we've got your back.
Internet access remains a necessity during your cruise, just as it is in everyday life. The most common way to get it is by paying for your cruise ship’s WiFi network, but this option is often expensive.
For one, the internet infrastructure at sea is completely wireless, which costs more than land-based fibre connections, and cruise operators have no choice but to pick this option.
There’s also excessive demand from passengers, so cruise ship operators often charge high fees to take advantage of this demand. Passengers seemingly have no other option after all.
However, there’s an alternative option. Instead of paying for WiFi, you can buy an eSIM that connects you to land-based networks as your cruise ship nears the coast or docks at the port of various countries.
What is an eSIM?
An eSIM, or “embedded SIM” is a digital version of a SIM card. It’s a programmable chip embedded in your smartphone, enabling you to add cellular profiles without inserting any physical SIM card.
Since eSIMs debuted in 2016 and gained global traction, many companies have sprung up to offer eSIM-based cellular roaming services. That is, you can buy and install an eSIM that’ll connect you to domestic mobile networks when visiting different countries. Thanks to these eSIM providers, you can enjoy seamless internet access when taking a memorable cruise.
eSIM providers to choose from
1. Airalo
Airalo is one of the world’s largest eSIM providers with millions of users. It’s renowned for offering eSIM plans with widespread global coverage, including a single plan that works in 137 countries.
With Airalo, you can purchase an eSIM package covering your cruise region, such as Latin America, North America, Europe, and Asia. If your cruise traverses multiple continents, the global plan will serve you best. As an Airalo subscriber, you’ll enjoy speedy internet access from local networks as your cruise ship nears its various ports of call.
An Airalo plan is easy to purchase, and you can activate it conveniently from the mobile app. It’s a cost-effective alternative compared to paying for cruise ship WiFi.
2. Gigsky
Gigsky differentiates itself by offering eSIM packages specifically for cruise travel. Its flexible cruise packages range from 512 MB to 10 GB.
With GigSky, you wouldn’t worry about accessing the internet during your cruise vacation. Its data plans are cost-effective compared to paying for cruise line WiFi or local data plans in each port of call. You can conveniently download the GigSky app, then purchase and activate your eSIM plan from any location.
3. Holafly
Holafly is one of the best eSIM providers, renowned for offering unlimited data access at reasonable costs. It’s not exactly unlimited, as the eSIM remains subject to the fair usage policies of domestic networks in various countries, but you wouldn’t have to worry about accessing the internet when you have a Holafly eSIM.
You can choose a Holafly eSIM plan covering the Caribbean, the most popular cruise ship destination. Other regional plans cover North America, Latin America, Europe, Asia, etc.
The price for a Holafly eSIM depends on the duration of your cruise. A good thing about this eSIM provider is that you can choose a specific number of days, rather than the 7, 30, 60, 90, or 180-day periods that other eSIM providers impose.
4. Nomad
Nomad offers cost-effective eSIM packages for short periods, making it perfect for 3 to 5-day cruises. It offers eSIM plans covering many regions across Asia, Europe, North America, Oceania, and, most importantly, the Caribbean.
Nomad plans range from 1 GB to 20 GB, with pricing depending on the data size and duration. New users get a 1 GB bonus, which is a nice freebie to have during your cruise. You can buy and activate a Nomad eSIM seamlessly from the mobile app.
Using eSIMs on cruise ships
An eSIM is the best alternative if you don’t want to pay for WiFi during your cruise. If you’re on a budget or just need an excuse not to have potentially distracting 24/7 WiFi access, an eSIM can save you considerable money.
eSIM providers offer different packages covering select countries. You can buy an eSIM that unlocks network access in a few proximate countries or one that covers a whole continent. Some eSIM providers even offer plans that cover all continents.
When booking a cruise, you’ll see the list of expected port calls, i.e., the destinations where your cruise ship will dock to allow passengers to visit tourist attractions. You can use this information to decide which eSIM package to buy, ideally one that covers all port call locations.
If you can’t find an eSIM covering all port call destinations, you’ll likely find one covering at least most of them. Many eSIM providers recognize the increasing demand from cruise travelers and have created packages serving the most popular cruise destinations, so you’ll most likely find a suitable package.
Benefits of using an eSIM on cruise ships
I’ve highlighted cost savings as the main benefit of choosing an eSIM package over your cruise ship’s WiFi. But that’s just one benefit.
Onboard WiFi can be unstable when too many passengers connect simultaneously. Hence, even if you pay for WiFi or have it given as part of your cruise package, an eSIM is a good alternative to have.
Another consideration is that when you disembark the ship during port calls, your WiFi access cuts off and leaves you dependent on land-based networks.
Instead of buying a traditional roaming package from your mobile carrier to access foreign networks, an eSIM package is a more affordable alternative. You’ll get more data with less money by choosing an eSIM from Airalo, GigSky, Holafly, or many other providers.
The drawback of eSIMs is that they don’t include phone numbers for calling, as offering this feature incurs legal and technical challenges that’ll make eSIM packages more expensive and require stricter checks to purchase.
However, the cost-effective data packages make eSIMs worthwhile compared to traditional roaming packages and WiFi during your exciting cruise.
