We’re excited to announce that GigSky now offers mobile data service on many cruise ships. You can eplore our new Cruise + Land and At Sea Only eSIM plans here 👉 gigsky.com/data-cruises

How to Stay Connected at Sea

To make sure you have a smooth experience using GigSky at sea, follow these steps:

• Turn off Airplane Mode so your device can connect to the ship’s cellular network.

• Keep your Wi-Fi off - this ensures your phone uses the Cellular at Sea network for GigSky data.

  • Don’t worry - your Ship app will still be accessible even with Wi-Fi turned off.

• If your Cruise + Land plan includes coverage in your home country (e.g., the U.S. or Canada), remember that your plan may activate immediately once the eSIM is downloaded. To avoid using your plan’s data before you travel, simply keep your GigSky eSIM turned off until you board your ship.

What to Expect on Your Voyage

• No service near shore: Cruise ships turn off their cellular networks within 12 nautical miles (22 km) of land to prevent interference. Expect brief connectivity drops as you approach or depart from ports.

• Automatic switching: Once the ship is farther from land, your GigSky eSIM will connect to the Cellular at Sea network - and when you return to port, it will automatically switch to a local network, if covered by your plan.

• Intermittent connections: Cruise ships turn off their cellular networks within 12 nautical miles (22 km) of land to prevent interference, so passing close to islands or coastlines can cause temporary interruptions.

• Weather & terrain effects: Storms, mountains, or cliffs can block satellite signals - particularly in extreme northern or southern regions.

• Crowded networks: As service resumes offshore, data speeds may slow briefly as a high number of devices reconnect at the same time - this usually clears up in about 20 minutes.

Technical Notes

• Most ships provide GSM (2G), UMTS (3G), and LTE (4G) service. If your phone is set to 5G only, switch to 4G/LTE to connect.

• Typical data speeds: 700 Kbps to 4 Mbps.

• Latency: Depends on satellite type:

  • Starlink: Low latency (80–90ms)

  • VSAT: Higher latency (up to 700ms)

• VISA complimentary plans do not include cruise coverage, but they will work when you dock in supported destinations.

Plan Details & Availability

Get ready to stay connected from sea to shore!

Check out gigsky.com/data-cruises for current pricing, ship compatibility, and available coverage areas.

Smooth sailing — and seamless connectivity — from GigSky!