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Does T-Mobile Work On A Cruise Ship? (The Ultimate Guide)

Does T-Mobile Work on a Cruise?

Whether you’re planning a relaxing cruise to the Caribbean or an exciting adventure to Alaska, you may be wondering if your T-Mobile phone will work onboard. The good news is that T-Mobile does have coverage on most major cruise lines, so you can stay connected with friends and family, surf the web, and stream your favorite shows while you’re away.

In this article, we’ll take a closer look at T-Mobile’s cruise ship coverage, including which lines it works on, what speeds you can expect, and how to make sure your phone is ready to go. We’ll also provide some tips for staying connected on a cruise, even if you don’t have T-Mobile.

So whether you’re a loyal T-Mobile customer or you’re just looking for the best way to stay connected on your next cruise, read on for all the information you need to know.

T-Mobile is a major wireless carrier in the United States. It offers a variety of plans and services, including data, text, and voice. But what about cruise ships? Does T-Mobile work on a cruise ship?

The answer is: it depends.

T-Mobile’s coverage on cruise ships varies depending on the cruise line and the ship itself. Some cruise lines have agreements with T-Mobile to provide coverage on their ships, while others do not. And even on ships that do have T-Mobile coverage, the signal strength and data speeds can vary depending on where you are on the ship.

In this article, we’ll take a closer look at T-Mobile’s coverage on cruise ships. We’ll discuss which cruise lines have T-Mobile coverage, what the coverage areas are, what the data speeds are like, and what the costs are. We’ll also provide some tips on how to get the best possible coverage on your cruise ship.

T-Mobile’s Coverage on Cruise Ships

The following is a list of cruise lines that have agreements with T-Mobile to provide coverage on their ships:

Carnival Cruise Line
Holland America Line
Princess Cruises
Royal Caribbean International
Norwegian Cruise Line
MSC Cruises
Celebrity Cruises
Azamara Cruises
Cunard Line
Seabourn Cruise Line

What are the coverage areas for each cruise line?

The coverage areas for each cruise line vary depending on the ship. For example, Carnival Cruise Line’s ships have T-Mobile coverage in the Caribbean, the Bahamas, and Mexico. Holland America Line’s ships have T-Mobile coverage in the Caribbean, Europe, and Alaska. Princess Cruises’ ships have T-Mobile coverage in the Caribbean, Europe, and Asia. And Royal Caribbean International’s ships have T-Mobile coverage in the Caribbean, the Bahamas, and Alaska.

What are the data speeds like on cruise ships?

The data speeds on cruise ships vary depending on the cruise line and the ship itself. In general, the data speeds are slower on cruise ships than they are on land. This is because cruise ships are often in remote areas where there is less cellular infrastructure.

The following is a list of the average data speeds on cruise ships for each cruise line:

Carnival Cruise Line: 1-2 Mbps
Holland America Line: 1-2 Mbps
Princess Cruises: 1-2 Mbps
Royal Caribbean International: 1-2 Mbps
Norwegian Cruise Line: 1-2 Mbps
MSC Cruises: 1-2 Mbps
Celebrity Cruises: 1-2 Mbps
Azamara Cruises: 1-2 Mbps
Cunard Line: 1-2 Mbps
Seabourn Cruise Line: 1-2 Mbps

What are the costs of using T-Mobile on a cruise ship?

The costs of using T-Mobile on a cruise ship vary depending on the cruise line and the ship itself. In general, you can expect to pay around $10 per day for unlimited data, text, and voice.

Using Wi-Fi on a Cruise Ship

In addition to T-Mobile, most cruise ships also offer Wi-Fi. The costs of Wi-Fi on a cruise ship vary depending on the cruise line and the ship itself. In general, you can expect to pay around $10 per day for unlimited Wi-Fi.

How can I connect to Wi-Fi on a cruise ship?

To connect to Wi-Fi on a cruise ship, you will need to:

1. Open your device’s Wi-Fi settings. 2. Select the network name that matches the cruise ship’s Wi-Fi network. 3. Enter the password that is provided by the cruise ship.

What are the costs of Wi-Fi on a cruise ship?

The costs of Wi-Fi on a cruise ship vary depending on the cruise line and the ship itself. In general, you can expect to pay around $10 per day for unlimited Wi-Fi.

How do I make sure my device is compatible with the cruise ship’s Wi-Fi?

To make sure your device is compatible with the cruise ship’s Wi-Fi, you will need to check the cruise ship’s website. The website will list the devices that are compatible with the cruise ship’s Wi-

T-Mobile is one of the largest wireless carriers in the United States, and its service is available in most parts of the country. However, when you’re on a cruise ship, you may be wondering if you’ll be able to use your T-Mobile phone.

T-Mobile does not have its own network on cruise ships, so you won’t be able to use your T-Mobile phone to make calls or send texts without incurring roaming charges. However, many cruise ships offer Wi-Fi, and you can usually connect to the ship’s Wi-Fi network using your T-Mobile phone.

The cost of using the ship’s Wi-Fi will vary depending on the cruise line and the length of your cruise. However, it’s usually a relatively inexpensive way to stay connected while you’re on vacation.

If you’re concerned about the cost of using the ship’s Wi-Fi, you may want to consider bringing your own mobile hotspot. A mobile hotspot is a device that creates a Wi-Fi network that you can connect to with your phone, tablet, or laptop. You can purchase a mobile hotspot from a variety of retailers, and they typically cost around $100.

Once you have a mobile hotspot, you can connect to it with your T-Mobile phone and use your phone as you would normally. You’ll still be subject to roaming charges, but you’ll be able to use your phone more freely than if you were relying on the ship’s Wi-Fi network.

If you’re not sure whether T-Mobile will work on your cruise ship, it’s best to contact the cruise line before you leave. They can tell you what kind of Wi-Fi is available on the ship and whether or not you’ll be able to use your T-Mobile phone.

Other Options for Staying Connected on a Cruise Ship

In addition to using the ship’s Wi-Fi or a mobile hotspot, there are a few other ways to stay connected on a cruise ship.

Use a landline. Many cruise ships have landlines that you can use to make calls and send texts. The cost of using a landline will vary depending on the cruise line, but it’s usually a more affordable option than using your phone’s cellular data.
Use a VoIP app. A VoIP app (Voice over Internet Protocol) allows you to make calls and send texts over the internet. You can use a VoIP app with your phone’s data connection or with a Wi-Fi connection. Some popular VoIP apps include Skype, Google Voice, and WhatsApp.
Use a messaging app. If you don’t need to make calls, you can use a messaging app to stay in touch with friends and family. Some popular messaging apps include WhatsApp, Facebook Messenger, and WeChat.
Use social media. If you’re just looking to stay up-to-date on the news and what’s happening in the world, you can use social media. Most social media platforms have apps that you can use on your phone, so you can stay connected without having to use your phone’s cellular data.

Tips for Staying Connected on a Cruise Ship

Here are a few tips for staying connected on a cruise ship:

Plan ahead. Before you leave for your cruise, make sure you know what your options are for staying connected. Find out if the ship has Wi-Fi and what the cost is. If you’re planning on using your own mobile hotspot, make sure you have a device that’s compatible with the ship’s Wi-Fi network.
Use Wi-Fi whenever possible. Wi-Fi is usually the most affordable way to stay connected on a cruise ship. However, the speed of the Wi-Fi connection can vary, so you may experience some lag when you’re streaming videos or using other data-intensive applications.
Consider using your own mobile hotspot. If you need to stay connected all the time, you may want to consider bringing your own mobile hotspot. A mobile hotspot will give you a more reliable connection than the ship’s Wi-Fi network, and you can use it anywhere on the ship.
Be mindful of your data usage. When you’re using your phone on a cruise ship, you’re subject to roaming charges. Be mindful of your data usage so you don’t get charged extra.

By following these tips, you can stay connected on your cruise ship without breaking the bank.

Staying connected on a cruise ship is easy if

Q: Does T-Mobile work on a cruise?

A: Yes, T-Mobile does work on most major cruise lines. However, there may be some areas where coverage is limited, such as in the middle of the ocean or in remote areas.

Q: What is the best way to use my T-Mobile phone on a cruise?

A: There are a few different ways to use your T-Mobile phone on a cruise. You can:

Use it as a regular phone. You can make calls, send texts, and use data just like you would at home. However, keep in mind that you will be charged roaming fees for any calls, texts, or data that you use outside of the United States.
Connect to the ship’s Wi-Fi network. Most cruise ships offer Wi-Fi networks that you can connect to for a fee. This is a great way to stay connected to the internet and use your favorite apps and services.
Use a mobile hotspot. If you have a T-Mobile hotspot device, you can use it to create a personal Wi-Fi network that you can connect to with your other devices. This is a great way to stay connected to the internet and use your favorite apps and services without having to pay for the ship’s Wi-Fi network.

Q: How much does it cost to use my T-Mobile phone on a cruise?

A: The cost of using your T-Mobile phone on a cruise will depend on how you use it. If you make calls, send texts, or use data outside of the United States, you will be charged roaming fees. These fees can vary depending on the destination and the amount of data that you use.

Q: What are some tips for using my T-Mobile phone on a cruise?

Here are a few tips for using your T-Mobile phone on a cruise:

Turn off data roaming. This will help you avoid incurring roaming charges.
Connect to the ship’s Wi-Fi network. This is the most affordable way to stay connected to the internet.
Use a mobile hotspot. This is a great way to share your internet connection with other devices.
Be aware of your data usage. Roaming charges can add up quickly, so be sure to keep an eye on your data usage.

Q: What if I have other questions about using my T-Mobile phone on a cruise?

If you have other questions about using your T-Mobile phone on a cruise, you can contact T-Mobile customer service for assistance.

T-Mobile does work on a cruise ship, but there are some limitations. The service may be spotty in some areas, and you may not be able to access all of the features that you would have on land. However, you should be able to make calls, send texts, and use data for basic tasks. If you’re planning on taking a cruise, be sure to check with T-Mobile to see what their coverage is like in the area you’ll be visiting.

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Complete Guide to Using Your Phone on a Cruise (Carnival, Royal Caribbean & More)

At this point, it’s beyond the debate of taking a cruise without bringing a phone. Phones are so much more than a simple device to call or text. Now they are our social lives, our entertainment devices, our cameras, and more.

And on the cruise ship they do all that, plus they are useful for the cruise line’s app, which features schedules, maps, and more, all right on your phone.

Of course, while it’s a good idea to put the phone down for a while and enjoy your vacation, it’s also reasonable to wonder if your cell phone will work on a cruise.

The good news? Yes, you can use your phone on a cruise . This includes major cruise lines like Carnival, Royal Caribbean, and Norwegian and more.

The bad news? It might be expensive, and there are several details you need to know about how your phone uses cell service at sea — or the shipboard wi-fi — before you get started.

Below, we’ve outlined what you need to know about using your phone to call, text, and browse the web. In addition, we’ve added some specifics for certain cruise lines.

One thing to keep in mind is that internet and cell phone service are regularly being updated on modern cruise ships . As time goes on, you can expect your access to improve.

In This Article...

How to Use Your Phone on a Cruise

First things first, you have to understand that there are no cell towers in the middle of the sea. Meanwhile, even the strongest cell towers with the best range in perfect conditions can only extend about 30-45 miles. In other words, after the first hour or two of your cruise, you’ll be too far away to pick up any reliable cell signal.

So what do you do in the middle of the water?

To use your cell phone on your cruise, you have two options — either connect to the ship’s cellular service or connect to the ship’s wi-fi . Both will cost you extra.

Cellular Service on Ships For traditional cell service, today’s modern cruise ships use providers such as “Cellular at Sea” or “Wireless Maritime Services”.

For the vast majority of plans, these services are considered international roaming plans by your cell phone company, and you will be charged accordingly for use. That said, if you want to (or need to), you can simply make a phone call or send a text as you would back home — you’ll just be charged significantly more than usual.

Keep in mind that sometimes data service isn’t available through this method. For data, you’re better off using a wi-fi plan (discussed below).

Cell providers offer packages you help cruisers better budget. For example, AT&T offers a couple of cruise ship packages, starting at $50 for a package of minutes and texting. Other carriers will have something similar.

Just be warned of high prices. On AT&T’s $60 plan, it includes only 100 minutes of phone calls, and a $1 per minute overage cost.

In other words, if you use the ship’s cellular service, it’s considered international roaming and will cost you quite a bit of money. This applies to any carrier you have.

Luckily, there is a cheaper way to use your cell phone on the ship — wi-fi.

Cruise ships have cellular service that you can connect to. However, it’s usually considered international roaming and means you’ll be charged high rates to access.

Wi-Fi Service to Use Your Phone on Ships (Recommended) You likely know that instead of using a cell signal, you can hook your phone up to wi-fi and use the internet to make calls, send texts, and surf the web. Some apps like WhatsApp also let you make calls, chat, and even chat via video. You can use these features while a cruise ship.

Today’s cruise ships all come equipped with wi-fi, but there is a charge for passengers to use it. For example, Carnival offers three levels of service — Social (~$15 per day), Value (~$20 per day), and Premium (~$21 per day) — which all offer different speeds and access.

Wi-fi allows you to connect just like you were at home. This includes doing things like making calls from within communication apps like WhatsApp, iMessage, texting, and surfing the web.

Just like at home, you can hook up to the ship’s wi-fi and use your phone as normal. Just keep in mind that you will want to ensure any calls you make are over wi-fi or else they will be considered international roaming calls if connected over the ship’s cellular service. (For that reason, we suggest setting your phone to airplane mode once you get on the ship and then just connect through wi-fi.)

One other thing to know is that different cruise lines and even different ships within a cruise line may offer different online experiences. Some ships are updated with the latest technology while others can have slower service or more limited options of what you can do regarding video calling or streaming.

More details on specific ship wi-fi plans are featured later in this article.

Read more about using internet/wi-fi on a cruise

We’d recommend accessing the ship’s wi-fi with your phone to use it as you would back home. This gives you the ability to access the internet, send messages, use apps, and even make calls with some plans/cruise lines.

Using Your Phone in a Port of Call

While most of your time is spent on the ship, there will be large chunks of the day spent in port. You might wondering about using your phone during this portion of your cruise.

Cellular Service in Ports of Call In port (and off of the ship’s cellular or wi-fi service), you phone will work just as if you had taken a flight to another country. That is to say you will be reliant on international cellular services.

The good news? Cell phone companies offer short-term international plans that are surprisingly affordable and provide calls, texts, and data.

In addition, many companies — such as T-Mobile — include calling in Mexico and Canada (home to several popular cruise ports) automatically in their plans. You can use the phone exactly as you would at home for no extra charge.

Below, we’ve charted out the cost for some international plans offered by cell phone companies. Remember that these prices could change, so you’ll want to contact your provider before heading out on your cruise.

You can read more about international service from the major carriers below:

https://www.att.com/international/day-pass/
https://www.verizon.com/plans/international/international-travel/travel-pass/
https://www.t-mobile.com/cell-phone-plans/international-roaming-plans

Understand that this is only for service while onshore in a port. When you are on the ship and in the middle of the ocean, you will need to use the ship’s wi-fi or cellular service. It may be worth it to use just one service or another instead of paying for both during your cruise.

When in port, you’ll be connecting to international towers. Phone companies have international plans (sometimes you can simply pay for a single day pass) that allow you access just as you would have at home.

Wi-Fi Service to Use Your Phone in Port Want to save some money? Then you may be able to skip dealing with international plans altogether and just connect to wi-fi hotspots in port. In fact, it may even be free.

To be sure, your wi-fi plan from the ship won’t work in port (unless you are at a private island; sometimes ships extend service to their islands.) But many ports of call offer wi-fi service.

Sometimes there is service sold that will cover the port area. Other times spots like restaurants or shops will offer free wi-fi service to customers as a perk for shopping there.

Either way, it’s a cheaper and easier way of using your phone in port if you are fine with having access on a more limited basis.

Many ports have wi-fi service at shops or restaurants that can get you access while you’re there. It’s an easy way to check in back home if you don’t need constant access.

Using Your Phone on a Carnival Cruise

As mentioned above, we recommend using the ship’s wi-fi to use your phone . This will allow you to make calls (you may have to use an app like WhatsApp to do so), send messages, email, and browse the web.

To access Carnival’s wi-fi, you’ll have to sign up for one of three packages :

Social (~$15 per day) — Offers access to social media sites like Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, WhatsApp, Snapchat and more. It also provides access to airline sites. However, it doesn’t include access to most of the web, nor does it support in-app calling, streaming services (Netflix, Spotify, YouTube), or Skype.

Value ($20 per day) — Offers everything in the Social package, with the addition of popular news, weather, banking, finance, and entertainment sites. However, it still doesn’t allow streaming or Skype/FaceTime calling.

Premium (~$21 per day) — Offers the fastest speeds on the ship and full web access. While Carnival’s website says this plan doesn’t support video streaming (outside Netflix) or FaceTime calls, we’ve personally done both with this plan. If you are a heavy phone user on your cruise or want to make video calls, then you’ll likely want the Premium package.

You can purchase a plan at a discount before your cruise starts or you can simply purchase when you are on the ship. Note that shipboard prices are higher than what’s shown here.

Read more about Carnival’s internet service here .

Using Your Phone on a Royal Caribbean Cruise

Just like with Carnival and other major cruise lines, we think you’ll be best off connecting to the ship’s wi-fi in order to use your phone on a Royal Caribbean ship.

The cruise line offers VOOM internet access across its fleet, which is touted as one of the fastest wi-fi services of any major cruise line. With it, you can hook up your phone to wi-fi and make calls (via wi-fi), text, use apps, and browse the web.

Prices are not set in stone, but vary between around $15-25 a day. Discounts are available for ordering online ahead of time.

Read more about Royal Caribbean’s Internet service here .

Using Your Phone on a Norwegian Cruise

Norwegian offers two different levels of wi-fi access on their ships that allow you to connect with your phone. From there, you can use wi-fi to send messages, talk, and send email to keep in touch.

First is the Unlimited Wi-Fi Package ($30 per day) that includes access to things like Facebook, Twitter, and Snapchat, along with the rest of the web. This includes apps like WhatsApp, iMessage, and FaceTime, allowing you to keep in touch. However, it doesn’t allow streaming services.

Second, there is the Unlimited Premium Wi-Fi Package ($40 per day), giving you full access to the web and streaming services — including YouTube, TikTok, and Netflix. With this level of service, making calls, sending texts, and video chats are no issue.

You can read more about NCL’s internet service here .

Using Your Phone on Other Cruise Lines (Disney, Celebrity, Princess, and Others)

As you can see, the easiest way to use your phone on a cruise is to use it to connect to the ship’s wi-fi. While we’ve spelled out more details for Carnival, Royal Caribbean, and Norwegian Cruise Line, this method will work on any ship you sail.

Through the wi-fi offered on your cruise ship, you should be able to connect and use your phone just as you would on land. This includes web browsing, messaging, and calls through wi-fi. Just keep in mind that you might have to upgrade to the highest-tier service in order to get full benefits of the internet like streaming and video calls. In our experience, lower-tier wi-fi plans are slower, meaning choppier connections on things like video calls.

Have more questions about using your phone on a cruise? Let us know in the comments below.

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Hey Tanner: Thanks for the great article. We are going on Norwegian to the Panama Canal. My cruise buddy has Verizon and wants to make a voice call to her husband. He does not know how to use WhatsApp or FaceTime. Can they make regular voice calls using the ships Wi-fi? We understand that she can call him from ports with her Verizon Travel Pass, but she is concerned about sea days. Thanks!

Typically phones have a “call over wi-fi” setting. I’ve used it before and it worked well, but usually I use Facetime to call back home.

Tanner – I will going on a Norwegian cruise and would like to use WhatsApp for audit calls. I don’t need to make any viedo calls. Can I get by with the Unlimited plan or do I need the Unlimited Plus?

My advice is to always go with the fastest plan just because in general speeds are slower on cruises (getting better in some cases with Starlink).

But it looks like voice calls don’t require that much bandwidth. My suggestion is if you only want access for these calls, then opt for the cheaper plan and test it out. If it’s not enough, then you can always upgrade.

Tanner, my brother in – law just started his job on a cruise ship – they are provided only 5 gigabytes per month for phone use – he uses what’s app – what can advise him to do to get more gigabytes ? Approximate cost ?

I’ll be perfectly honest: the Royal Caribbean cruise was fantastic except for the beverage package issue, gratuity, and the cell service/internet packages. For the price of the cruise, surely you could include water, tea, coffee, and fountain soda. Those are cheap! I did know ahead of time that 18% gratuity was added to everything, yet for some reason I bought the gratuity package. Then would forget and add tip above the 18% plus the gratuity package. I know I’m responsible, but still felt taken advantage of. AT&T charged me 100.00 within 3-4 hours (started before we even left port). Then cut off service to “protect” me. So I pay another 100.00 for their “international data plan”- which is NOT 10.00 a day. Then I pay 75.00 for better internet speed through Royal. Guess what- 275.00 and I STILL couldn’t use my phone half of the time. I felt nickeled and dimed to death between just getting a bottle of water and checking my work email. And now that I’m home, my phone has ZERO internet. Sigh. FYI: This was my first cruise, but I did research the best I could ahead of time. I didn’t even think about the cell issue. But really- RC is first class.

Do you know if you can get reception on the ship from an island nearby if you are docked at a tender port, or is that still too far away? I have a virtual doctor visit the day I’m in Grand Cayman that I really don’t want to cancel and I would rather use my international phone plan then waste my limited ship wifi minutes.

We’re traveling on Cunard next month. Their website says that even if a phone is in airplane mode but connected to the ship wifi, voice call charges will still be incurred by the cell provider. That doesn’t make sense. Are they just saying that to protect their “assests”?

Never heard that before. I’d likely just take them at their word and plan around it.

If I purchase the cruise plan through AT&Tfor 100$ Do I still have to purchase the wifi on princess as well?

Does regular wi-fi calling (Not WhatsApp) work on Carnival social plan?

That I don’t know. I haven’t personally tested it.

I have straight talk, would I still be able to call or txt since it’s a pay as I go an each month. We will be on Carnival Horizon in October.

Well at sea you won’t have service, but you can hook up to the wi-fi and use your phone that way.

If I purchase the International Plan on Verizon, will it connect to the ship’s tower? I am going on Carnival Horizon in March 2023 to the southern Caribbean (Aruba, Bonaire, Dominican Republic). If I’m signing up and paying for this plan, I want to make sure I actually have coverage my entire cruise (on and off the ship). Can you help?

I’m not sure how the service works on the ship (I personally use wi-fi). You’ll need to contact your carrier to ask as it’s their plan.

GOING TO BAHAMAS AND ORLANDO FLORIDA. WHEN IN FLORIDA AND I AM OFF THE SHIP CAN I USE THE PHONE TO CALL AND TEXT WITHOUT BEING CHARGED MORE THAN MY NORMAL BILL. I WONT BE ON THE SHIP USING THE PHONE ONLY FOR PICTURES. I AM GOING ON NCL AND I AM A VERIZON CUSTOMER

Depends on your plan, but likely not. Most of the time, however, you can get a short-term international plan for cheap:

https://www.verizonwireless.com/solutions-and-services/international-travel/

everyone gives info for making calls, etc. what about getting calls???? have a disabled son and I need contact with him each morning around 6 am Central. how do I arrange that?

The best idea we can suggest is to sign up for the Internet package and use a program like WhatsApp to talk.

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Your Cell, Texts & Wifi On A Cruise: This Is What You Need To Know

By: Author Elaine Warren

Posted on Last updated: October 14, 2023

Categories LEARN , ONBOARD EXPERIENCE , Pre-Embarkation , Technology & Communication

How to use your phone, text or wifi on a cruise without spending a small fortune. Stay connected to family and friends on and off the ship! Plan ahead with this handy guide.

Photo of man in lounge using cell phone on a cruise while watching the ocean.

When you’re traveling on land, particularly if you remain in your home country, you probably don’t give more than a passing thought as to whether your cell phone will have service, whether you can still text your family and friends throughout the day, or whether you can search up answers to the burning questions of the day with a few finger taps. But all of those things that you take for granted on land, change significantly once you step on a cruise ship.

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Suddenly, you may encounter issues with using your cell phone to call and text, and also with accessing wifi on a cruise – whether by phone, tablet or computer. And, if you want to maintain any type of digital connection to the world outside of the ship, or even with your travel companions sailing on the same ship, you’re going to need to do some planning in advance. Particularly if you want to stay in touch without breaking the bank, wasting large amounts of time, or tearing your hair out. So read on to find out what you need to know.

The Reality of Digital Communication At Sea Today

I have vivid recollections (or flashbacks) of the dinosaur age of technology for guests on cruise ships. I was so mercifully glad to be able to get away on a long awaited family vacation. And I felt lucky that I had only a modest amount of work tagging along with me. Just a few hours at most and one possibly two conference calls. Hah!

I got an early start, bright-eyed and bushy tailed. Wanting to avoid the wait list for one of the ship’s shared computer terminals (which was the sole guest option for accessing the internet). I thought I would knock out an hour or two and be done in time to catch the tail end of a late breakfast.

Many hours later, I was still sitting there. Knuckling through an excruciatingly slow connection that dropped too many times to count. The gaps between actual connections lasting longer than the intermittent connections themselves. Growing frustration and anger at the pitiful cruise wifi as various family members and friends wandered by to check on me — on their way to dinner. I wracked up a significant internet bill (charges assessed by the hour/minutes) and wasn’t even able to finish the project.

And as for those conference calls. The special cruise package offered by my cell carrier that I had been so pleased to find and sign up for – a total bust. I was never able to connect once in 2 weeks – except when I was on shore and tracked down a landline. That was around 2008/2009.

Wifi on a cruise ship | photo of ship's internet computer lounge

Cruise Ship Computer Center Circa 2008

Fast forward 10 years, and things have improved so vastly from those earlier days. Can you expect the same level of internet service and communication access that you have at home? No. But when compared to how things were in the past, improvements are marked and stunning. Now, on cruises, you should be able to access wifi anywhere on the cruise ship, including your cabin. You no longer have to seek out the computer lab and fight other passengers for access. Kick back with your laptop and beverage of choice in the privacy of your balcony or any other cozy spot you desire.

As for texting, you have a variety of options for texting with your travel companions for little to nothing. And, if you’re willing to pay a bit more, you can have access to social media and streaming. And most cruise lines offer some version of an “unlimited” package. No more anxious clock watching!

As for cell service, that can still be somewhat hit or miss. I have pretty much abandoned trying to use my own carrier for cruise ship service because it so very rarely works. But I’ve travelled with others who had much better luck and were completely satisfied with their carrier’s service and packages.

Cell Phones On Cruise Ships

As a general matter, you will have the ability to use your cell phone on a cruise ship. The primary issues are whether your carrier offers service at sea and the costs. When you are on a cruise and trying to figure out cell service, you will have other considerations besides your geographic location in the world. You have to determine whether your carrier offers coverage with your cruise line and specifically with your individual ship.

And, assuming that you have a carrier that offers coverage for your specific cruise, you will need a special plan for the charges. Otherwise, the default would be very high rates akin to international roaming charges. But note that your cellular calls at sea aren’t typically included in a standard international plan.

Photo of happy woman using cell phone on a cruise ship.

In theory, AT&T, Verizon, Sprint and T-Mobile all offer cruise ship coverage. But, just as with being on land, your actual success with getting service can vary as between the different carriers. You will need to decide before you leave on your cruise whether you want a cruise package. Generally, you can not apply the plans retroactively.

Related Content: 9 Best Travel Power Strips For That Next Fantastic Cruise

AT&T Cruise Ship Packages

AT&T provides coverage while at sea. But International Day Pass and/or Passport packages do not apply to cruise ships. Only AT&T cruise packages will cover usage aboard cruise ships. And, only certain cruise ships are covered. You can find a current list of included cruise ships at att.com/cruisehips.

Cruise ship package rates apply only when you are more than 12 miles from port. Once within the 12 mile zone, standard roaming rates for that country apply. If you sail on a non-qualifying ship, any cellular use will be billed at pay-per-use rates.

If you do procure a cruise package, your usage on shore may also be included. Certain ports in Canada, Mexico and most Caribbean countries will be covered.

Packages last for 30 days and automatically expire. Even though your cruise may last less than 30 days, no proration is available.

Plan Options

AT&T offers three different options for cellular coverage on cruise ships: (1) Talk & Text, (2) Talk, Text & Data, and (3) Pay-Per-Use Calling. Packages are available on a per-line basis. Each device must have its own package.

The Talk & Text plan costs $50 and includes 50 minutes of talk. Additional minutes are $2.00 each. You have unlimited texts, but standard domestic messaging rates apply to any text, picture, and video messages received.
The Talk, Text & Data plan costs $100. It includes unlimited talk and text and 200MB of data. Additional data costs $2.00/MB. Standard domestic messaging rates apply to any text, picture, and video messages received.
AT&T also offers pay-per-use rates for those who do not have a cruise package, sail on a non-covered ship or whose plan expires. The cost is $3.00/minute for calls. Texts are .50 each for regular messages and $1.30 each for picture or video messages. Data is $6.14/MB.

AT&T cruise package allowances and overage rates for usage on-ship only apply when “Cellular at Sea”, “Nor-18,” or “901-18” displays on your device.

Sprint Cruise Ship Packages

Sprint offers cruise packages for specific cruise lines and ships. You can find a search tool on the Sprint website that allows you to determine whether your specific cruise is covered.

On covered ships, coverage will be included as part of Sprint Global Roaming at the following rates: $2.50/minute talk, $.50/recipient text, $60/100MB data, and $100/250MB data.

T-Mobile Cruise Ship Packages

T-Mobile offers cruise packages for specific cruise lines and ships. You can find a search tool on the T-Mobile website that allows you to determine whether your specific cruise is covered.

T-Mobile ONE and Simple Choice Plan customers receive the following rates on cruise ships: $.50/sent text and $5.99/minute talk. Customers on other plans must activate these rates by adding the Word Class Service to each line.

T-Mobile does not offer cellular data for cruise ships.

Verizon Cruise Ship Packages

Verizon offers coverage at sea. But, once you’re within 12 miles of a port, the roaming rates for that country apply. Verizon Pay as You Go is only available on specific cruise lines. The charge is $2.99/minute for talk and $0.50 for texts sent or received. Verizon does not offer cellular data service on cruise ships while at sea.

For time in port, Verizon offers TravelPass and your normal plan will be extended for $10 per day per line and works in most Caribbean destinations.

Controlling Cell Phone Costs

You can control or limit your additional costs by managing the cellular data that you use on board. Note that some apps consume more data than others, so you may want to carefully monitor or disable data hogs. Take a close look at any games that have heavy graphic and require an internet connection. And any apps that center on navigation, weather or news.

Streaming content requires a substantial amount of data. If you intend to stream, you should use a cruise ship wifi package for that rather than rely on your cellular data.

Turn off data roaming and international data roaming. Only turn back on when on shore and if you have a suitable plan.

What Cruise Passengers Need To Know About Data & Internet Access

Whether or not you plan to access the internet using your cell phone or sign up for an internet plan through the cruise ship, you will need to get a handle on data.

Wifi vs. Cellular

Both wifi and cellular data allow you to connect to the internet wirelessly. Typically, wifi allows you to connect using a router based system while a cellular data plan allows you to connect using your carriers cell phone signal. Both versions will connect, but they involve differences in speed and cost. (And also security).

Wifi on a cruise | photo of woman texting on cell phone

Typically, cellular data access covers a wider range (which can be measured in miles), but can be slow. While wifi access will have a range with much narrower scope (think of the router in your home or a coffee shop – a limited number of feet/yards), but can be significantly faster.

For more explanation of the difference between cellular access and wifi access, check out this explanation from PC Mag .

Both Wifi and Cellular Require “Data”

Whether you connect to the internet using a wifi connection or your cellular data plan, you are still consuming “data.” The significance of this fact may not be readily apparent when you’re cruising around town because most cell plans only charge you extra or impose caps on the use of cellular data. If you’re able to connect to the internet through a wifi connection – whether on your phone or a tablet – usually there is no additional or noticeable charge.

The difference becomes more important, however, when you are cruising around the ocean on an actual cruise ship. Depending on your cell phone carrier, you may not be able to access cellular data at all. And, for those carriers that permit it, the costs can be substantial.

Likewise, if you decide to access the internet using a wifi plan sponsored by your cruise ship, you’ll discover key limitations on data usage. Rather than distinguishing the method of how you’re connecting to the internet, most cruise plans seem to focus on the type of internet usage that you’re doing. So some plans may allow only activities that require low data consumption (thus no streaming). While other cruise lines may offer tiered packages that permit high data consumption at the upper tiers. Or, alternatively, they may offer packages that charge based on the total amount of data consumed regardless of the type of usage – surfing or streaming.

Where Does Wifi Calling Fit In This?

Wi-Fi Calling allows you to call or message (SMS) from almost anywhere that you have a wifi connection, which is great if you’re in an area with limited or no cellular network coverage. Generally, a wifi call will not count against plan minutes for those who don’t have an unlimited plan. Also, for newer model phones, wifi calling can be available in airplane mode.

Depending on your carrier, wifi calls to US numbers can be free, even while traveling internationally. And, wifi calling consumes only a limited amount of data – about 1 MB/minute of data for voice calls.

For more details on using wi-fi calling, check out this explanation from CNet .

You can also use wifi calling over the cruise ship’s wifi provided you sign up for the right internet package. Specifically, you’ll want one that’s sufficient to support VoIP and streaming.

How Much Data Do You Need?

In order to decide whether to get an unlimited plan or a cheaper plan that may have data caps, you need to have some idea of how much data you are likely to use. For your planning purposes, here’s a list of common internet activities and the approximate data usage associated with them:

10 emails (a mix of ones with and without attachments) = 0.5-1.5 MB
10 minutes web surfing = 2.5 MB
uploading/downloading 5 photos = 25 MB
10 minutes streaming music = 9 MB
Streaming video (standard definition) = 500-700MB/hour

Tips for Conserving Data Usage

Turn off all automatic updates in the Play Store and App Store (check all devices – phones and tablets)
Turn off all automatic downloads for email, music, apps and updates
Pause auto synchronizations and cloud backups
Stop apps set for automatic background refresh
Turn off automatic uploads for photos (to Google Photos, IOS photo stream, or AMZ photos)
Disable location services
Turn off auto software updates
Check social media settings – disable or downgrade any auto image preview and video autoplay.

Cruise Ship Wifi & Internet Access

Wifi and internet access is readily available on most major cruise ships. But in most instances you will have to pay for it.

Why would you want or need internet access while on your cruise vacation? Possibly you need to stay in touch with folks at work? Or, perhaps you want to stay in contact with family and friends back home. Whether just checking in, or because you like to keep up a steady engagement in your social media accounts. And, access to wifi on a cruise can also facilitate your ability to stay in contact with your family members and travel companions while on board ship.

Today, on many ships you will find packages offering “unlimited” access in some form and at a relatively reasonable price. While some luxury cruise lines offer free or included internet. For example, Regent Seven Seas, Hapag Lloyd, Silversea and Crystal cruises all include wifi access with your cruise fare. On most large mainstream cruise lines, however, you will have to purchase access for an additional fee. Here’s the basic lowdown on internet packages for mainstream ships:

Carnival Cruise Wifi

Carnival offers three different internet packages . Prices are discounted if purchased prior to sailing.

Social Plan

This is a limited plan for folks who only want to have access to their social media accounts. It supports most of the popular social networks such as Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, WhatsApp, Pinterest and Snapchat. You’ll also have access to the major airline sites. It does not support access to streaming surfaces, VoIP or email. Cost: $6.80/day when pre-purchased; $8.00/day on board.

The Value plan includes access to the same networks as the Social plan, plus other regular websites such as news, sports, banking, etc. It does not support streaming or VoIP. Cost: $10.20/day when pre-purchased; $12.00/day on board. For this plan, you can also purchase a 24 hour pass onboard for $16.00.

Premium Plan

The Premium plan includes all of the same access as the Social and Value plans but it provides a 3x faster connection. This plan also supports Skype, WiFi calling and FaceTime. It does not generally support streaming services. However, three Carnival ships are “Netflix enabled” which allows use of the Netflix app with your personal account. Those ships are Vista, Horizon and Sunrise. Cost: $14.45/day when pre-purchased; $17.00/day on board. 24 hour pass for $25.00

Key restrictions & limitations:

You can use multiple devices on a plan, but only one device at a time can connect to Wi-Fi
Access to certain sites such as mature or violent content is blocked
VPN connections are not supported.

Royal Caribbean Wifi

Royal Caribbean offers two primary types of Voom packages . Costs vary depending on how many devices you want to include in your package. Note that Royal Caribbean frequently runs specials for packages purchased prior to sailing, as well as additional discounts for bundles that include internet and drinks and other combinations.

The Voom Surf Voyage Package covers basic internet usage. You can text on messenger services, browse the web and send emails using high speed internet.

The VOOM Surf + Stream Voyage Package lets you message and video chat on messenger services, browse the web, send emails and post on social media, and video chat live. Plus stream your favorite videos, movies, music and shows.

When purchased pre-cruise, the VOOM Surf packages start at around $13/day for 1 device and the VOOM Surf + Stream package start around $18/day for 1 device. Note that the number of devices refers to how many devices can be connected at one time. You can switch between multiple devices on a 1-device plan. Packages are available for up to four devices.

Celebrity Cruise Wifi

Celebrity offers high speed internet access fleetwide (except Galapagos) through its XCelerate service. It offers two unlimited package levels: Surf which allows basic internet access and Stream which allows VoIP and streaming. Packages are priced for the entire cruise and can support up to 4 devices. The package price increases with the number of devices. Currently, for a 7 to 9 day cruise, a Surf package costs about $129 for 1 device and the Stream package costs $265 for 1 device.

Disney Cruise Wifi

All Disney Cruise ships offer internet access through Connect@Sea. All access and packages are based on MB usage. You can purchase different buckets of megabytes, or you can use a pay as you go plan. If you buy a package, you cannot get a refund for unused minutes. A package of 100 MB costs $19, 300 MB costs $39 and for $89, you can purchase 1000 MB. Or, you can use the pay as you go plan for $0.25 per MB. Guests sailing in Concierge class have access to some amount of free internet.

MSC Cruises Wifi

MSC Cruises offers five options for purchasing internet access. Prices may vary somewhat based on destination and sailing:

Unlimited – This package allows you to connect 1 device. You receive full web browsing, access to popular social networks and chat APPs, and you can check email. It has unlimited MB for the duration of your cruise. The regular price is $199.90. The pre-purchase price is $159.90.
Premium – This package offers the same scope of coverage as the Unlimited plan, but it has a cap of 6,000 MB. You can connect up to 4 devices on this plan. So, it can be a great choice for families. The regular price is $159.90, and you can find pre-purchase discounts up to 20%.
Standard – This package is designed for limited internet users. It includes 3,000 MB for up to 2 devices. The regular price is $99.90 with up to 20% discount for pre-cruise purchases.
Chat/Social – This package is designed for teens or other guests who only want to access social media and chat. You can connect one device for up to 1,500 MB. The regular price is $49.90 and it can only be purchased onboard.
24 HR – This day pass can only be purchased onboard. It is $44.90 for 1 device and 500 MB.

For more insights into MSC cruise wifi, check out our review of MSC Seaside .

Norwegian Cruises Wifi

Norwegian Cruises offers four different internet packages . Prices below are for standard price onboard purchases. You can receive a 15% discount if you purchase a package prior to sailing. (Note that NCL also offers an option for free internet minutes as an option in its “Free at Sea” promotions. Number of free minutes varies based on length of sailing.)

Unlimited – This package provides unlimited web surfing, email access (no VPN), social media access, all apps. No streaming allowed. One device permitted at a time. Packages are purchased and priced for the duration of the cruise. $29.99/day.
Unlimited Premium – In addition to the basic wifi services included in the Unlimited WiFi package, this Premium package includes VPN email access and streaming. $34.99/dy
Unlimited Social Media – This package provides access to major social media sites. You can view, post and upload videos and also chat on all popular messenger platforms. No access to web browsing or email. May connect 1 device at a time. $14.99/day.
250 Anytime Minutes – This package provides 250 minutes of internet access that you can use at any point during the duration of your cruise. $125 total package price.

Holland America Wifi

Holland America offers a 3-tiered package system that is priced per day with discounts if purchased for the length of the cruise.

Social – A limited access plan that provides access to most popular social media websites and apps, including Facebook and WhatsApp. $14.99 per day.
Surf – This package allows you to surf the internet, visit your favorite sites, and check email. $24.99 per day.
Premium – This package provides all of the above service plus it allows audio/video calling and streaming. (However, the actual internet speed available at any point in time may limit the ability to stream.) $29.99 per day.

Discounts available when you purchase for the length of cruise may vary. But, as an example, a package purchased onboard for a 7 day cruise runs $69.99 for Social, $99.99 for Surf, and $139.99 for Premium. A package purchased for a 12 day cruise would typically be $99.99 for Social, $149.99 for Surf, and $199.99 for Premium.

Princess Cruises Wifi

Princess has different types of internet access and packages depending on which of its cruise ships you are sailing. It’s top line offering is MedallionNet Wifi which is offered on a growing number ships. You can find the most current list and the roll-out schedule on the MedallionNet page. MedallionNet provides unlimited wifi access throughout the ship. You can text, post photos, video chat and stream. Packages start at $9.99 per day.

On some ships, Princess offers PrincessConnect which has three packages:

Social – A limited access plan that provides access to popular social media websites and apps such as Facebook, WhatsApp, Instagram, Twitter and WeChat. Approx. $14.99 per day.
Surf – This package provides access to the entire entire. But it does not permit streaming or Skype. Approx. $24.99 per day.
Premium – This package provides full internet access including streaming and Skype. Approx. $29.99 per day.

Finally, ships that do not offer PrincessCONNECT or MedallionNet have minute based pricing that varies. Princess makes specific pricing available to guests when they log in to the Cruise Personalizer for their sailing. Some representative pricing: 120 minutes for $69; 240 minutes for $99; 460 minutes for $159; and 680 minutes for $199.

What About Wifi Access When You Are Off The Ship?

Whatever wifi package you may purchase through the cruise ship, it won’t work while you are on shore. But you still have options.

First, your regular cell phone carrier may offer service on land. (see above). Second, you will likely find internet cafes or other establishments that offer free or low cost wifi. It is very common to find restaurants offering free wifi, but you can also sometimes find free or cheap wifi at the beach. Particularly if it is affiliated with a resort. And, more surprisingly, on several recent cruises we have also found that there are excursion operators who offer free wifi on tour buses.

Whenever you are accessing wifi through relatively public facilities, be cautious about transmitting any personal information.

Texting On A Cruise Ship

As with internet service and cell service, you can also usually have the ability to text on a cruise ship. There are generally three methods for doing so with differing cost implications:

Using your cell plan for texting
Texting using cruise wifi
Exchanging texts using the ship’s messaging app

Text Using Cell Plan

If you have cellular service available on board through your regular carrier, you will also likely have the ability to text. However, any charges will be specified by your carrier. See above. Generally, you probably won’t have any “unlimited” texting on such a plan like you might be used to at home. Instead, you will have some type of per text charge. Most likely for outgoing text messages. And, at 50 cents a pop – a typical charge – this can add up quickly.

Text Using Cruise Wifi

One of the best alternatives to using your regular cell carrier for texting is to use a third party app over wifi. These apps are typically free. A great free option is WhatsApp. It’s available for both iPhone and Android. However, if you don’t already have an account, you will need to download the app and set up the app prior to leaving home (or at least while you are on land).

While the third party apps like WhatsApp are free. Meaning there is no charge for the app itself. Nor is there any charge for sending or receiving individual messages. But, you will need access to the cruise ship’s wifi which typically requires some type of paid package.

Using WhatsApp as an example, you can send regular narrative messages, text photos and videos, and to some extent, you may be able to have a video call.

If you want to communicate with your travel companions, this is a great convenient way to do so, provided they all have wifi access.

Some folks may be turned off by WhatsApp due to its connection to Facebook. Here are some recommendations for potential alternatives. (But note, the only one that we can confirm has successfully enjoyed widespread usage on a variety of cruise ships and destinations is WhatsApp.)

Using the Zello Walkie Talkie App on a Cruise Ship
The Best WhatsApp Alternatives
11 Alternatives to Whatsapp that Actually Respect Your Privacy

Text Using Cruise Line App

Most of the major cruise lines now have some type of app that can facilitate digital communication. These have also greatly improved in recent years. The cruise line app can keep you apprised of what’s going on aboard the ship at any given moment. It can facilitate registering for the cruise and making reservations for dinner or show.

Most cruise lines that offer a proprietary app will include some type of messaging service within the app itself. You can use this service to communicate with other passengers. You cannot, however, text with people who are not on your cruise.

While the app will require access to cruise wifi, usually you are not charged for wifi for using the cruise line app. Meaning if all of you are using cruise wifi for is to access the cruise line app, you do not need a package to do so. However, some of these proprietary messaging services have a charge. Also, the official cruise line app and/or the messaging service itself may only be available on certain ships.

Note that all of these cruise line messaging services will only work while you are actually on the cruise ship. Once you are on shore or on a shore excursion, you will not be able to use it.

Here’s an overview:

Carnival offers an onboard chat feature through its Carnival HUB app. It costs $5 per user for chat service during your sailing.

Celebrity allows you to chat free of charge with other guests on ships that feature the Celebrity App . This feature is currently known to be available on the new Celebrity Edge, and also on Constellation, Equinox, Millennium, Reflection and Summit.

The Disney Cruise Line Navigator App has an onboard chat feature. This complimentary chat feature offers both one-to-one chat and group chat features. You can also control access by your kids using the permissions feature.

HOLLAND AMERICA

Holland America has a free mobile app that includes a complimentary chat service available while onboard select ships. Visit the Holland America Line Navigator page for the most current ship information.

The MSC for ME app includes a free chat service . You may use this service without an internet package. For an additional fee, you can also use the Family & Friends Locator service. MSC for ME is available on the Meraviglia, Seaside, Seaview and Bellissima ships.

The Norwegian app is available fleetwide as of July, 2019 , and it’s free to download. For an additional fee, you can access a calling and messaging service through the app. The one time NCL fee is currently $9.95 per device. This service allows unlimited messaging with other passengers who have the app and group chats. You can also place international calls through the app (to supported countries) for a flat rate of $0.79 per minute. You can also call staterooms and a variety of onship extensions.

The Princess@Sea app has a free messenger service . You can communicate with other guests onboard from your mobile device once connected to the ship’s wifi.

On Princess ships with the new Ocean Medallion Technology, you will be able to chat for free with your shipmates as well as enjoy many other new features. (For more details, check out this post explaining how Ocean Medallion is transforming the guest experience .)

ROYAL CARIBBEAN

Royal Caribbean’s new app service is not yet available fleetwide. Check this list for the specific ships with access.

Royal Caribbean is actively developing group chat and one-to-one chat features. They are currently available on a limited basis on select ships. Check out this post for more information about the cruise line’s current plans in this area.

Avoiding or Minimizing Unwanted Charges

At the end of your cruise, you don’t want to end up with lots of expensive charges that you didn’t realize you (or your family members) were racking up. You can end up with unpleasant surprises in two ways: on your cell phone bill and/or on your shipboard account. To avoid that unpleasantness, review these tips.

Your Shipboard Account

Let’s start with your shipboard account. If you have signed up for an unlimited cruise wifi package, you shouldn’t encounter any problems. To the extent you are able to access the internet, you won’t have any additional ship charges. But, if you have any package that’s less than unlimited (or no package at all), be aware of the following:

If you have a certain number of minutes – either purchased or as some type of perk – don’t assume that you’ll lose access once those minutes run out. It is very likely your access will continue unabated and not necessarily with any obvious warning. Meaning that all of the minutes used after the initial package runs out will be assessed at a more expensive non-package rate.
If you have a package with a set number of minutes or volume, be sure to log off once your session is completed so that you don’t inadvertently continue to consume time.
If you are assigned a password for your internet account, take a photo of it on the devices with which you plan to use it to facilitate easy log in and log out.

Your Cell Phone Carrier

As for your cell phone carrier, be aware of the following:

For any incoming or outgoing texts via your regular carrier (as opposed to an app), you may have a per text charge. This includes any texts exchanged with travel companions. A typical charge is 50 cents per outgoing text. If you and/or your family members are prolific texters, this could get expensive very easily.
International roaming will kick in when you are about 12 miles from port. So, if you signed up for a cruise cell package with your carrier, those rates won’t apply when you are close to shore even though you are physically still on the ship. Instead, you will incur additional fees at whatever international rates your carrier charges. Check the network that’s displayed on your phone before making any calls when if you spot land on the horizon.

Bonus: Sanity-Saving Housekeeping Tips For Phones & Tablets

Smartphone and tablets add a great deal of convenience, efficiency and entertainment value to everyday life. But, you need to take care of a few housekeeping items when you board a cruise ship to avoid those blessings becoming stealth curses.

Beware Automatic Clock Resets.

When you are on land, it is great not to have to remember the specifics of different time zones, or try to recall who does/doesn’t follow daylight savings time. On a ship, that ability can create major problems because the GPS systems that allow your phone to auto reset to local time everywhere in the world don’t seem to work right at sea. And, they don’t necessarily have any correlation to “ship time”.

Turn off all alarms .

Even if you disable automatic time resets, turn off all of your regular alarms. As noted above, the auto time can get really screwy when you are on the ocean. And, even if the clock seems to be right when you go to bed, time gremlins seem to come out to play at night while you sleep. To avoid you and everyone else in your cabin being blared awake at 3:00 in the morning, turn off the alarm on your phone or other electronic devices. Also be aware that even if you set the auto reset on your phone to manual, this change may somehow mysteriously reset itself without warning. This happened to me repeatedly on a recent cruise with a Samsung Galaxy 10+. Either bring a non-GPS travel alarm clock, or use the ship’s wake up call service.

Bring back up power source.

Your battery consumption may increase significantly compared to your typical consumption at home. In addition to using whatever power saving measures your phone may have, also carry a portable battery/charger. Even if you never run into consumption issues at home. Many things can substantially increase your power consumption. For instance, if you are using your phone or tablet as a camera or shooting videos. Or, if your device is constantly trying to access a wifi network and failing.

Related Content: These Are The Cruise Accessories You’ll Absolutely Love!

Safeguard downloaded content.

Be aware that your previously downloaded content may become inaccessible when you’re traveling. Either because of locality restrictions, or because some unexpected Amazon quirk wipes everything out. The quickest and easiest way to prevent that is to turn off wifi on the primary device you use for viewing content while you are at or near home and don’t alter it until you are back home. That way your device will not register that you have left the country (as it would if you connect to wifi).

Note that the locality issue can kick in with content downloaded from any and every service – Amazon, Netflix, Hulu, etc. Meaning that certain movies and televisions have restricted viewing rights outside the U.S., or in specific countries. And these restrictions may apply even to content that you actually purchased. It can be extraordinarily frustrating to take the time to download hours of content for all family members and then not be able to use it when you most need it.

Also, regardless of any regional restrictions, downloaded content on an Amazon tablet may be at risk of disappearing if you’re connected to wifi. This is not a travel issue. It can happen at anytime. When you are at home and can easily download for free again, it’s not that huge a deal. But when you have limited or no access to wifi that will allow free downloading, it is so very sad. This has happened to us many times. All downloaded videos disappeared from multiple devices at the same time. Without any warning. (I believe that this is related to automatic software updates, but have never been able to confirm that as fact.)

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Can You Use T-Mobile on a Cruise Ship?

By Alice Nichols

The answer is yes, depending on the cruise line, destination and type of ship.

T-Mobile has partnered with several major cruise lines to provide its customers with coverage while they are at sea.

T-Mobile Coverage On Cruise Ships

T-Mobile has partnered with Carnival Cruise Lines, Royal Caribbean Cruise Lines, MSC Cruises and Costa Cruises to provide its customers with access to their mobile service while they are on board their ships. Customers must have one of the latest T-Mobile plans in order to take advantage of this coverage as well as a compatible device.

The type of coverage that customers can expect varies depending on the cruise line and location but generally speaking it includes text messages and voice calls as well as access to the internet via Wi-Fi hotspots. Customers should be aware that while they are at sea they will not be able to access services such as streaming video or audio as these require more bandwidth than is available on the ships.

Roaming Charges for T-Mobile Users

T-Mobile does not charge its customers for roaming when they are using their services on a cruise ship but customers should be aware that there are additional charges for using certain services such as international calls or data roaming in certain countries. Additionally, some cruise lines may also charge an additional fee for using their internet and phone services.

In conclusion, it is possible for T-Mobile users to use their service while on a cruise ship depending on the type of ship, destination and plan. Customers should be aware that there may be additional charges for certain services such as international calls or data roaming in certain countries.

9 Related Question Answers Found

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Check out Cell Phone Plans on a Cruise Ship: Comparing AT&T, Verizon, & T-Mobile

How much does it cost to use your cell phone on a cruise ship? We compared the plans, cost, and services from the three largest cell phone providers.

The cost depends on your cell phone carrier and how much data you plan to use. Some cruise travelers have been shocked by their cell phone bills after returning from a cruise, when they realized they were being charged for data usage throughout the voyage.

For this reason, we recommend putting your cell phone in airplane mode and using the ship’s Wi-Fi once you leave port. However, some people prefer the convenience and simplicity of using a cell phone carrier’s cruise plan.

This article will compare Verizon, AT&T, and T-Mobile’s cruise plans to help you choose the best option for your needs.

With Wi-Fi plans starting around $18 a day on most cruise lines, it’s usually the more economical way to stay connected through your personal devices. This is especially useful if you have Wi-Fi calling enabled.

This comparison is for cell phone use on a cruise ship, not when in international cruise ports.

Below is the basic breakdown comparison for using these cell phone providers on board a cruise ship.

AT&T: Voice: $3/minute (cruise package for $100 – unlimited Talk) Text: .50/text, $1.30 for images and video messages Data: $2.05/MB (1GB data with $100 cruise package)

T-Mobile: Voice: $5.99/minute Text: $.50/sent message (potentially free to receive) Data: Not available on board

Verizon: Voice: $2.99/minute Text: $0.50 per text sent, $0.05 per text received Data: $20/50MB

AT&T offers two cruise package plans . They each are a one-time charge with benefits that will last for 30 days.

AT&T Cruise Plus: Cost: $100 Unlimited Talk Unlimited Text 1GB of Data Overage of $10 per 100MB of data

AT&T Cruise Basic Cost: $60 100 minutes of Talk (Overage: $1/minute) Unlimited Text 100MB of Data Overage of $10 per 100MB of data

These cruise package plans will be activated once your cruise ship is away from shore and will display as “Cellular at Sea, wmsatsea, 901-18, or NOR-18” once you are connected.

Pay-per-use rates

For cruisers who would rather pay as they go, the cruise ship rates with AT&T are $2.05/MB of use. This does not require having a cruise package plan.

What cruise ships will allow me to use AT&T plans?

There are 175 cruise ships that will facilitate the use of AT&T cell phone plans. Usage of these plans still also requires a compatible device with domestic postpaid wireless service.

You can find the full list of ships here , but here are the cruise lines that are on the list:

Bottom Line

Cell phone rates on cruise ships can vary widely, so it is important to compare your options before you sail. I prefer to use T-mobile’s international perks for use in foreign ports and the cruise ship’s Wi-Fi when on the ship. This has worked well for me. But AT&T’s cruise ships plans can be attractive for those who want to use their cell phone provider instead.

However you decide to stay connected while at sea, make sure you know exactly what you are being charged so you don’t rack up a huge cell phone bill.

Read more: 5 ways to save money on cruise ship Wi-Fi

Do you want to learn more? click on the link

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Frugal Traveler

Standby Cruising: A New Option for Bargain Seekers

Are you a flexible traveler? Holland America’s standby cruises may be for you. The cost: $49 a day, excluding fees, taxes and extras. The catch: It might be a hair-raising, last-minute scramble.

A large cruise ship is situated in the middle of a calm, peaceful bay, surrounded by snow-capped mountains.

By Elaine Glusac

Elaine Glusac is the Frugal Traveler columnist, focusing on budget-friendly tips and journeys.

In February, Barb McGowan took a seven-day cruise on Holland America Line, visiting the Bahamas, Turks and Caicos, and the Dominican Republic for just $343, or $49 a day, excluding taxes, port fees and extras. By comparison, Holland America currently lists a seven-day Caribbean itinerary in October from about $700.

The catch: She had just 48 hours’ notice.

Ms. McGown, a 64-year-old from Naples, Fla., who runs a restaurant franchise, took one of the line’s new standby cruises , which are aimed at travelers who live near departure ports and intended to fill ship vacancies.

“I look for deals, and this was an especially good experience,” Ms. McGowan said, praising the food and entertainment. “I was impressed enough to put down a deposit on a future cruise.”

A way to keep ships full

Holland America introduced its standby program last August to maximize ship occupancy, knowing that cancellations are inevitable. So far, the rest of the cruise industry has not followed its lead.

“If cancellations are within a week or two of sailing, it’s difficult to resell that space in the open market,” said Dan Rough, the vice president of revenue management at Holland America.

In the same way that airlines oversell seats, cruise lines may compensate for cancellations by overselling staterooms. Filling in with standbys, however, reduces Holland America’s reliance on overselling, which runs the risk of bumping passengers to distant departures or potentially offering generous cash incentives to coax volunteers to cancel.

Though the company does not heavily promote the new practice, it has attracted a following among the thrifty by dangling a bargain rate — $49 a person, whether sharing a cabin or traveling solo, before taxes and fees — on a web page that lists available departure dates to attract flexible travelers. Standbys should expect an inside cabin, according to the company, though ocean-view and veranda cabins have been assigned. (The company declined to say how many standby cabins it has offered.)

“Forty-nine dollars per person, per day is pretty exceptional,” said Colleen McDaniel, the editor of CruiseCritic.com , a website that reviews cruises, noting that the price covers all meals and entertainment. “You can’t find a cheaper rate at a land resort for what’s included.” (In 2023, the average nightly rate for a hotel room in the United States was nearly $156, according to STR, a data analytics firm that monitors the hospitality industry.)

To participate, travelers choose an itinerary from the standby list on the website — current embarkation ports include Boston; Fort Lauderdale, Fla.; Montreal; Quebec City; San Diego; Seattle; Vancouver, British Columbia; and Whittier, Alaska — and pay for the trip in advance by calling Holland America or booking through a travel adviser.

There are no refunds for standby cruisers who want to back out. However, if the gamble fails to pay off, and the cruise line cannot offer a cabin to someone on the standby list, it issues a refund.

The company says standby offerings are added on a rolling basis and usually lists itineraries within two to three months of departure. Current offerings include seven-day sailings in Alaska’s Inside Passage from April through September and seven-to-11-day trips cruising the coast of New England and Canada’s Maritime Provinces between May and October.

Proximity is a bonus

Standby cruisers don’t learn of their acceptance or denial until a week to two days before departure, complicating transportation arrangements.

“Last-minute airfare could offset the savings on a cruise,” wrote Crystal Seaton, the owner of Road to Relaxation Travel , a travel agency based in Raleigh, N.C., in an email. Though she has not booked a client on a standby sailing yet, she surmised that it is intended for travelers who can drive to a port.

“We were lucky; we found out Tuesday we were going on a Friday 3 p.m. sailing,” said Sheila Valloney, 66, of Clermont, Fla., who with her husband spent nine days aboard a Holland America ship in the southern Caribbean in February by going standby.

Before being cleared, she reserved a parking spot near the ship dock in Fort Lauderdale, which would have set her back about $6 if she canceled. She also kept their vacation clothes ready to go at the last minute for the three-and-a-half-hour drive to port.

Booking a refundable airline ticket — or at least one that guarantees a credit in loyalty points or cash in the event of cancellation — is one way travelers who must fly can take advantage of the deal.

For her standby sailing, Ms. McGowan drove 90 minutes from her home to the ship in Fort Lauderdale. But her travel companion was coming from Indiana, so when she joined the standby list a few months before the departure date, she booked her friend a Southwest Airlines flight using frequent flier points that would be refunded if the last-minute cruise didn’t come through.

Avoiding extra charges

Once on board, charges for extras like cabin upgrades, Wi-Fi, alcohol and shore excursions can inflate the bill, though the thriftiest travelers try to avoid them.

Ms. McGowan sprang for the $17.50-a-day charge for an upgraded drink package (basic nonalcoholic drinks are included in the cruise) and took one shore excursion, focused on coffee growing, which she deemed a good value at $89.

On their Caribbean cruise, the Valloneys asked around for recommendations for good beaches, where they went to relax on port days, and waited until they were on land to check emails, in order to avoid paying for Wi-Fi on the ship.

“We didn’t miss it at all,” Ms. Valloney said. “For beverages, we would wait until happy hour, when it was buy one, get one free.”

Will other companies follow suit?

To date, no other cruise lines have adopted standby programs.

Princess Cruises said it did not plan to offer cabins on a standby basis, but noted that it already offers last-minute deals , which tend to run about $50 to $60 per passenger per day. For example, a seven-day Alaska sailing from Vancouver to Anchorage departing on May 8 is listed at $399 a person in a double-occupancy cabin.

Several other major cruise lines did not respond to inquiries about potentially adopting standby programs, though operators like Royal Caribbean and Norwegian Cruise Line also offer last-minute deals on their websites.

“We would be surprised to see many mainstream cruise lines begin to adopt a similar model” to the standby system, wrote Kimberly Coyne, the head of sales and content strategy for Cruiseline.com , a cruise review site, in an email. She said the standby fares might be financially unsustainable for cruise lines and cited the potential that travelers might become too accustomed to late-booking deals.

More ways to save

With the recent surge in cruise bookings, companies are discounting less, said Ms. McDaniel of CruiseCritic.com.

She identified more reliable ways to get a deal compared with going standby, such as booking during “ wave season ,” a sales period that generally runs January through March, or taking a repositioning cruise, in which a ship relocates from one region to another seasonally. A repositioning itinerary might sail in the fall from Alaska to the Caribbean via the Panama Canal.

“It’s not unusual to see a repositioning cruise at less than $75 per night,” Ms. McDaniel, said, noting that other expenses such as an airline itinerary into one city and returning from another may cost more than a standard round-trip ticket.

Repositioning cruises tend to stop at fewer ports and add more shipboard enrichment programs, such as lectures and activities like cake decorating classes and craft spirits tastings.

“For a lot of people the ship is the destination and this is the perfect activity for people who like to be on the ship,” she said.

Follow New York Times Travel on Instagram and sign up for our weekly Travel Dispatch newsletter to get expert tips on traveling smarter and inspiration for your next vacation. Dreaming up a future getaway or just armchair traveling? Check out our 52 Places to Go in 2024 .

Come Sail Away

Love them or hate them, cruises can provide a unique perspective on travel..

Cruise Ship Surprises: Here are five unexpected features on ships , some of which you hopefully won’t discover on your own.

Icon of the Seas: Our reporter joined thousands of passengers on the inaugural sailing of Royal Caribbean’s Icon of the Seas . The most surprising thing she found? Some actual peace and quiet .

Th ree-Year Cruise, Unraveled: The Life at Sea cruise was supposed to be the ultimate bucket-list experience : 382 port calls over 1,095 days. Here’s why those who signed up are seeking fraud charges instead.

TikTok’s Favorite New ‘Reality Show’: People on social media have turned the unwitting passengers of a nine-month world cruise into “cast members” overnight.

Dipping Their Toes: Younger generations of travelers are venturing onto ships for the first time . Many are saving money.

Cult Cruisers: These devoted cruise fanatics, most of them retirees, have one main goal: to almost never touch dry land .

Holland America Line

T-Mobile on HAL ships

By The-Inside-Cabin , December 9, 2022 in Holland America Line

The-Inside-Cabin

I recently switched to T-Mobile from ATT - I will have my first cruise on HAL in Jan with T-Mobile.

A few questions:

The T-Mobile website lists the following HAL ships as working with T-Mobile

image.png.8a4df777e2e163d8ae5a69082c375568.png

This is obviously not a current list as the Amsterdam and Prinsendam are no longer with HAL. I suspect

T Mobile will work with Cellular at Sea on any HAL ship - Please confirm.

ATT has no charge for incoming SMS text and charges 50 cents for outgoing without media and $1.30 for a SMS text with a photo attached. T-mobile says outgoing texts are 50 cents but doesn't address texts with photos. Does anyone know what T-Mobile charges for outgoing SMS texts using cellular at sea with photos. I called T- Mobile and they didn't know but assumed it was 50 cents cuz that's what is says (I know that sending imessages and WhatsApp are different and that's not my question)

ATT does not charge for phone calls that ring on the ship but go to voice mail. Tmobile is less clear. Some people on the Tmobile forum - say they have had mixed results - some set their phones to autoforward all calls to voice mail to prevent this possibility. What are other people experiencing?

ATT sells a cruise ship package with unlimited phone calls for $100 a month - T-Mobile doesn't offer any cruise ship packages and charge $5.99 a minute for phone calls. I know about wifi calling, using airplane mode and turning off data roaming when necessary - don't need any info about those subjects..

We have the Magenta MAX plan

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1 minute ago, The-Inside-Cabin said: I recently switched to T-Mobile from ATT - I will have my first cruise on HAL in Jan with T-Mobile. A few questions: The T-Mobile website lists the following HAL ships as working with T-Mobile This is obviously not a current list as the Amsterdam and Prinsendam are no longer with HAL. I suspect T Mobile will work with Cellular at Sea on any HAL ship - Please confirm. ATT has no charge for incoming SMS text and charges 50 cents for outgoing without media and $1.30 for a SMS text with a photo attached. T-mobile says outgoing texts are 50 cents but doesn't address texts with photos. Does anyone know what T-Mobile charges for outgoing SMS texts using cellular at sea with photos. I called T- Mobile and they didn't know but assumed it was 50 cents cuz that's what is says (I know that sending imessages and WhatsApp are different and that's not my question) ATT does not charge for phone calls that ring on the ship but go to voice mail. Tmobile is less clear. Some people on the Tmobile forum - say they have had mixed results - some set their phones to autoforward all calls to voice mail to prevent this possibility. What are other people experiencing? ATT sells a cruise ship package with unlimited phone calls for $100 a month - T-Mobile doesn't offer any cruise ship packages and charge $5.99 a minute for phone calls. I know about wifi calling, using airplane mode and turning off data roaming when necessary - don't need any info about those subjects.. We have the Magenta MAX plan

We have T mobile and only use our phones while in port. We keep them in airplane mode onboard. We haven't done any international calling

We also couldn't get correct Info from customer service so didn't want to use it at sea. We have Magenta 55+ and I guess we could have called someone while onboard or sent a photo and tested and checked if/what they charged, but my understanding is using cellular at sea adds their fees (roaming / data charge) even if T-mobile "works" with the ship. I dIdn't think data is part of their ship plan.

After a few years of good service we just ordered my DW updated phone that was supposed to arrive days ago to the store. Tracking says the address was not found because the sales person typed the store"s address wrong. Phone is in transit and customer service online chat said they need to call courier to reroute phone and callme back (cickets). When I called the dealer/store, they said there is nothing they can do as phone is sent back and we would need to come in and reorder/repay for a phone. Two different responses and no real answers (like my response here 🤷‍♂️ )

When you turn off airplane mode, does it give you a welcome text (like in Countries) for Cellular At Sea and give rates? I assume adding photos would charge some type of data rate in addition to text cost on ship, even with unlimited data plan at home.

Just now, REOVA said: We also couldn't get correct Info from customer service so didn't want to use it at sea. We have Magenta 55+ and I guess we could have called someone while onboard or sent a photo and tested and checked if/what they charged, but my understanding is using cellular at sea adds their fees (roaming / data charge) even if T-mobile "works" with the ship. I dIdn't think data is part of their ship plan. After a few years of good service we just ordered my DW updated phone that was supposed to arrive days ago to the store. Tracking says the address was not found because the sales person typed the store"s address wrong. Phone is in transit and customer service online chat said they need to call courier to reroute phone and callme back (cickets). When I called the dealer/store, they said there is nothing they can do as phone is sent back and we would need to come in and reorder/repay for a phone. Two different responses and no real answers (like my response here 🤷‍♂️ ) When you turn off airplane mode, does it give you a welcome text (like in Countries) for Cellular At Sea and give rates? I assume adding photos would charge some type of data rate in addition to text cost on ship, even with unlimited data plan at home.

We get a welcome text from the country but nothing about Cellular at Sea. We have unlimited data and texting. No extra charge for uploading photos.

2 hours ago, REOVA said: When you turn off airplane mode, does it give you a welcome text (like in Countries) for Cellular At Sea and give rates? I assume adding photos would charge some type of data rate in addition to text cost on ship, even with unlimited data plan at home.

With ATT I would get a text like this each day when I connected to Celluar at Sea. Does T Mobile send out something similar?

I have T-Mobile. Just got off the Oosterdam. When on the ship always keep in airplane mode. I had the surf internet, and was able to make phone calls via the what’s app app over ships internet. Not a great connection, but it did work. When in port , you have data , calls at 25 cents a minute. You can buy a day pass for faster data for the day at I believe $5. Have been very satisfied with T-Mobile.

I switched to T-Mobile (Magenta Max) just before my trip to Rome in October and a B2B2B to Tampa on Carnival Pride. I did NOT try to use the phone on the ship except for what was included in my purchased wi-fi plan. So only photos I sent were via FB.

I'll have wi-fi on the Rotterdam TA (booked HIA) but on the following two 5-night sailings, I don't have wi-fi. Would be nice to know if I can use my phone on those sea days to send w/o incurring extra charges. Typically, I'll just wait until the next day while in port.

T-Mobile: Welcome to The Caribbean! Your plan includes coverage that gives you unlimited data On Us now at faster speeds up to 256Kbps, plus unlimited texts at no extra cost. Calls are $0.25/min. Want high-speed data and unlimited calling? Get an International Pass: t-mo.co/intl-pass1. Enjoy your stay!

travelers07

Hi all! Have loved T-Mobile and used since they started the Simple Global plan. Have recently been adding the international mobile pass for 30 days- faster speed and no cost for phone calls. The first time I use the international data, I have gotten the offer for the add on with choices. Cost for 39 day pass was $50. Been working for me.

Here is the text after I purchase the pass-

T-Mobile: Welcome to Canada! Your plan includes coverage that gives you 5GB/mo. of high- data On Us, plus unlimited calls and texts to and from the US at no extra cost. Enjoy your stay!

I looked back through my texts and found one while on the Zaandam in July. Sometimes I forget to turn airplane mode back on and this is what I get from T-Mobile.

Caution- Airline/Cruise Ship is NOT covered in your T-Mobile plan! Data is $15/MB+ tax, $.50/text. It adds up quickly- dial #763# to disable data and switch to Wi-Fi to browse the internet or check emails.

I then quickly turn back to airplane mode so can’t say how the charges add up.

Good luck with the new plan. Always a learning curve with new technology!

7 hours ago, REOVA said: When you turn off airplane mode, does it give you a welcome text (like in Countries) for Cellular At Sea and give rates? I assume adding photos would charge some type of data rate in addition to text cost on ship, even with unlimited data plan at home.

A few years ago we had a late night in port and I went to bed without switching my phone back to airplane mode. About 2 am I woke up when I heard a text message come through on my phone saying "Welcome to Cellular at Sea" . Thank goodness I got the alert and got the phone switched off ASAP!

It is fun looking back through my old text messages welcoming me to so many countries!

Curious what you are doing since you will be out of the country for more than 3 months. Know there was a lot of discussion about this on the zoom calls. We also have t Mobile and use it very rarely but it seems that once you are out of the country for 3 months they will threaten to stop service. Best advice we could get from stores and customer service was to suspend service on my phone for two months and only use m wife's and then suspend hers for the final two months and begin to use mine. Have you gotten any other advice?

We actually switched to T-Mobile after talking to some HAL staff on the Prinsendam (who all had T-Mobile). But we do always leave our phones in Airplane Mode with Wifi enabled. We also buy (or get free) onboard WiFi/Internet. We can than text from our phones which is free since it goes through the Internet and not Cellular at Sea. As to phone calls, it depends on the cruise line. On some cruises we can make VOIP phone calls using WiFi. WhatsApp is a decent option (for connecting with folks) over the Internet. Since we have not been on HAL for some time (HAL cancelled our last 3 cruises) we do not know if HAL's onboard Internet blocks VOIP options.

T-Mobile works in over 200 countries so we use it when ashore (or close enough to land to connect to a land tower).

No way do we turn off Airplane Mode, when at sea, as we do not want to take a chance on the device connecting to the ship's Cellular at Sea system and perhaps doing things in the background at a great expense. While it is possible to manually shut down all the background stuff on a device, it is a little complicated and one always wonders if they forget to turn something off. You can find nightmare stories about folks who inadvertently ran up bills of hundreds and even thousands of dollars because they turned off airplane mode and their devices did things in the background (such as upgrading apps).

4 minutes ago, Fred321 said: Curious what you are doing since you will be out of the country for more than 3 months. Know there was a lot of discussion about this on the zoom calls. We also have t Mobile and use it very rarely but it seems that once you are out of the country for 3 months they will threaten to stop service. Best advice we could get from stores and customer service was to suspend service on my phone for two months and only use m wife's and then suspend hers for the final two months and begin to use mine. Have you gotten any other advice?

I have thought about this just in case I do a longer cruise. I did the VOV in July/August and was out of US about 7 weeks. Should have been just fine but I got a warning when I got back. Can’t find the text now but it was something about too much international usage and they could cut off my plan if it continues.

Since my daughter lives in Germany I sure don’t want to lose my plan! In researching this, I found that people who seem to know said it is based on cellular service and not WiFi. Suggestion was to use more cellular in US since that is what T-Mobile looks at to compare. So now when I am home I sometimes turn off WiFi and use cellular. I really don’t know if this will help but cellular is free and it can’t hurt.

I like your suggestion about 2 phones. I travel solo now since my DH passed away last year, but I do still have 2 phones with service. I keep one turned off but is available if needed. Is that too paranoid? 😊

Keep us informed with any other ideas please!

Just to confirm- What’s App works on HAL and Princess- assuming you have WiFi coverage. In fact, What’s App is what I use to talk, text, or video with my daughter in Germany when I am in the US. She tells me that is the preferred method at least in her area or other places she travels in Europe. Works on WiFi or cellular. Keep in mind- cellular rates are charged according to your plan.

5 minutes ago, travelers07 said: Just to confirm- What’s App works on HAL and Princess- assuming you have WiFi coverage. In fact, What’s App is what I use to talk, text, or video with my daughter in Germany when I am in the US. She tells me that is the preferred method at least in her area or other places she travels in Europe. Works on WiFi or cellular. Keep in mind- cellular rates are charged according to your plan.

We also use Facetime (for voice and video calls) with no problem. But this is only an option if both parties are using Apple devices. Whatsapp works on any phone which is always a nice backup for us.

2 hours ago, Hlitner said: We also use Facetime (for voice and video calls) with no problem. But this is only an option if both parties are using Apple devices. Whatsapp works on any phone which is always a nice backup for us. Hank

Hank on a Android Samsung phone using T Mobile is the airplane mode on when the on button is Blue in color ? TIA

5 minutes ago, mcrcruiser said: Hank on a Android Samsung phone using T Mobile is the airplane mode on when the on button is Blue in color ? TIA

Have no clue. Only use iPhones

15 minutes ago, mcrcruiser said: Hank on a Android Samsung phone using T Mobile is the airplane mode on when the on button is Blue in color ? TIA

On Samsung A12 and S10e Airplane mode is active when icon is blue

and a small airplane appears on the status line

15 minutes ago, richwmn said: On Samsung A12 and S10e Airplane mode is active when icon is blue and a small airplane appears on the status line

Thanks appreciate your help The icon is blue so it is on airplane mode & that means no info coming into the phone from the ships cell tower ,,correct ?

3 hours ago, Fred321 said: Curious what you are doing since you will be out of the country for more than 3 months. Know there was a lot of discussion about this on the zoom calls. We also have t Mobile and use it very rarely but it seems that once you are out of the country for 3 months they will threaten to stop service. Best advice we could get from stores and customer service was to suspend service on my phone for two months and only use m wife's and then suspend hers for the final two months and begin to use mine. Have you gotten any other advice?

Some people have had issues after 3 months, others haven't. If I have an issue, I will be ready with my GLOCALME Hotspot for the last month. T-Mobile was cheaper than ATT - include Apple + Netflix and Inflight wifi - plus I will save $150 a month for at least the first 3 months... https://www.glocalme.com/

ATT has cruise ship plans, which are nice if you want to make a lot of calls. My phones are unlocked - so if they hassle me to much I can switch back to ATT in a couple of hours - with an Esim - its pretty easy.

The key to avoiding roaming charges on a cruise ship - is to have DATA ROAMING OFF - then airplane mode doesn't matter. This way you can still receive SMS texts etc..

I also learned that if you swipe down when your phone starts ringing, you can see if the incoming call is via WiFi - Free or via Cell - not free - if you see T-Mobile WiFi - you should be good to go. If you see Celluar at Sea - Danger !

1 hour ago, The-Inside-Cabin said: The key to avoiding roaming charges on a cruise ship - is to have DATA ROAMING OFF - then airplane mode doesn't matter. This way you can still receive SMS texts etc..

Pete, are you able to send photos via text with data roaming off? I don't have an IPhone and I know Apple uses 2 different messaging networks. I thought sending or receiving a photo/file would use some data using MMS. SMS allows a link sent, but adding photo would need data, doesn't it?

socalcruisers2

5 hours ago, travelers07 said: Just to confirm- What’s App works on HAL and Princess- assuming you have WiFi coverage. In fact, What’s App is what I use to talk, text, or video with my daughter in Germany when I am in the US. She tells me that is the preferred method at least in her area or other places she travels in Europe. Works on WiFi or cellular. Keep in mind- cellular rates are charged according to your plan.

I used Messenger recently on a Zuiderdam- Fr. Poly trip after the antenna used for WiFi was damaged in Papeete. The cruise home was fought with connectivity problems for all onboard the ship from the bridge down, but I was able to message family in the USA and Portugal without problem. I saw no change to my phone billing. I had been on a ship premium WiFi plan before service konked out and became mostly unusable until 3 days out from San Diego

Just now, socalcruisers2 said: I used Messenger recently on a Zuiderdam- Fr. Poly trip after the antenna used for WiFi was damaged in Papeete. The cruise home was fought with connectivity problems for all onboard the ship from the bridge down, but I was able to message family in the USA and Portugal without problem. I saw no change to my phone billing. I had been on a ship premium WiFi plan before service konked out and became mostly unusable until 3 days out from San Diego

I too have Tmobile

Yes, I have also used Messenger but I am more familiar with What’sApp.

I was on Sky Princess last March and they actually sent us an email before the cruise that everyone’s WiFi was being credited because the ship would not have WiFi at sea. Can’t quite remember their wording was but we all knew it was the fault of Princess because we had no WiFi even at the dock in Ft Lauderdale.

Funny thing happened after about 5 days at sea and no outside contact- one of my table mate’s phones actually rang. This was at a table for 10 and we all just stopped and were shocked that someone from the outside world was calling! The gentleman left the table to take the call and when he returned we all wanted to know how it happened. His friend had called him using What’s App and it worked. As I found out later, several of these new apps use much less bandwidth and can actually work even on a ship with WiFi issues.

11 minutes ago, REOVA said: Pete, are you able to send photos via text with data roaming off? I don't have an IPhone and I know Apple uses 2 different messaging networks. I thought sending or receiving a photo/file would use some data using MMS. SMS allows a link sent, but adding photo would need data, doesn't it?

I was charged $1.30 by ATT for an SMS last month when I was on Wonder of the Seas. Data Roaming was off - but I was connected to WiFi -

Hmmm- I thought that pictures had to use some data - but I was connected to wifi. Here was my bill. 50 cents for text 1.30 for one with a picture.....Not sure how this actually works....but data roaming was OFF - I was connected to WIFI and Celluar at Sea - Unless - part of the surcharge for a photo text is to pay for your snippet of data or something.. I was using an Iphone

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Article updated on April 9, 2024 at 6:00 AM PDT

Best T-Mobile Plans: How to Choose and Which Ones to Pick in April 2024

T-Mobile has at least seven plans listed on its website. We try to make sense of them all.

Our Experts

CNET’s expert staff reviews and rates dozens of new products and services each month, building on more than a quarter century of expertise.

When it comes to wireless plans, T-Mobile has plenty to choose from. Like all of the major US carriers, T-Mobile offers a wide variety of different options all under the promise of "unlimited" talk, text and data. Unlike its rivals, however, the carrier doesn't have just three main plans to pick from. Looking at its website for a couple of lines and you'll quickly find seven different plans:

Essentials Saver
Magenta Max

All offer unlimited talk, text and data but all also have different prices, features and perks (and this list isn't even including promotional plans). Which ones should you consider? Let's break it down.

Read More: Our Guide to the Best Cell Phone Plans

T-Mobile's 5G network
Plan includes 50GB of regular high-speed data in the US as well as the ability to use phones as a hotspot
Hotspot is limited to "3G speeds"
Canada and Mexico data are at even slower "2G" speeds
Everyone needs to be on the same plan

Essentials Saver for 1 or 2 lines, Essentials for 3 or more

Best t-mobile plan for most people: essentials saver or essentials.

The Essentials and Essentials Saver plans are virtually identical in all but name and both options include unlimited talk, text and data with 5G access. Because of some T-Mobile promotions, however, this pick is a pick complicated.

In short, if you need two lines, Essentials Saver is your best pick, while those looking for three or more lines may want to go with regular Essentials.

With either choice you get 50GB of high-speed data, though both options lack perks like international roaming (beyond 2G-like speeds in Canada and Mexico), the inclusion of taxes and fees in the sticker price or streaming perks like bundled in Netflix, Apple TV Plus or Hulu subscriptions. Those on this plan also won't necessarily get T-Mobile's best offers for upgrading devices.

All the deals also require that you set up AutoPay and paperless billing. And unlike its rivals, T-Mobile doesn't offer any options to "mix and match" plans so everyone would have to be on the same main option here.

A single line of Essentials Saver is $50 per month while two lines will run $80 a month. A similar offering from Verizon (Unlimited Welcome), by comparison, costs $110 per month while plans from AT&T (Value Plus VL) runs $51 for one line or $102 a month.

Three lines will also run $90 at T-Mobile for its regular Essentials thanks to a promotion, compared with $120 at Verizon (for Unlimited Welcome) and $114 at AT&T (for Value Plus VL). The four-line option is now back to $100 at T-Mobile thanks to that promotion, compared with $120 at Verizon and $124 at AT&T.

You may need to click "see more plans" and then "explore Essentials Saver plan" on T-Mobile's site to get this option to appear, though lately it has been listed alongside its regular plans.

T-Mobile has a strong 5G network
Taxes and fees are included in the sticker price
Solid perks include Netflix and international data
Magenta plans can be harder to find on T-Mobile's website
The best new device upgrade deals are limited to pricier options like Go5G Plus

The upgrade pick for those who want perks like Netflix and faster international data

T-mobile magenta, magenta max (1 or 2 lines), go5g and go5g plus (3 or more).

For most people, T-Mobile's Magenta and Magenta Max options are the better pick when it comes to looking for perks for one or two lines. They're cheaper than the Go5G options and have most of the same features, except with a lower monthly rate ($70 for one line on Magenta, $120 for two lines; $85 for one line on Magenta Max, $140 for two lines).

You get less hotspot and international data with a Magenta plan compared with a Go5G option, and Magenta Max users also don't get the same ability to upgrade to a new device after two years while taking advantage of T-Mobile's best device deals.

Similar to what it has done with the Essentials plans, thanks to T-Mobile offering a free third line on its Go5G options those plans become cheaper and a better value compared to the Magentas if you need three or more lines.

Among the benefits of Magenta and Go5G ($75 a month for one line, $155 a month for four lines) are unlimited international data (albeit at slow "2G speeds") when traveling in over 210 countries, an hour of in-flight Wi-Fi on several airlines , T-Mobile Tuesdays weekly giveaways, the bundling of Netflix's Standard with Ads plan (which is $7 a month) and six free months of Apple TV Plus.

Its pricier Magenta Max and Go5G Plus ($90 a month for one line, $185 a month for four lines) plans keep the Netflix Standard with Ads plan, include a full subscription to Apple TV Plus, ups the hotspot data from 15GB on Go5G to 50GB per month on Go5G Plus, adds 5GB of high-speed international data and gives you unlimited Wi-Fi on a host of flights including those from American, Alaska Airlines, Delta and United. Go5G Plus also has 15GB of high-speed data in Canada and Mexico, compared to 10GB on Go5G and 5GB on Magenta and Magenta Max.

Unlike its Essentials plans discussed earlier, T-Mobile also includes taxes and fees with the pricing of its Magenta and Go5G plans.

Like the Essentials offerings, however, you can't "mix and match" lines, so everyone in your family would need to be on the same plan. That said, if only one line needs perks like faster international data, you should consider Magenta (if you only have one or two lines) or Go5G (if you need three or more lines), with the MaxUp or PlusUp $15 per line add-on. This will let your other lines get a cheaper rate while allowing you to bolster your international data to tap into the Go5G Plus or Magenta Max offerings for the lines that need it without pushing everyone onto a pricier option.

How we test

Picking a wireless plan and carrier is an individualized process. What works for you and your family's needs may be vastly different from your friends or neighbors. Even geographically, some areas have better AT&T coverage while others work best on Verizon or T-Mobile (and vice versa). The picks we make are based on over a decade of covering and evaluating wireless carriers, their offerings and their performance.

Since choosing a provider is unique, we focus on larger plans and the value they provide; as well as calling out ways you can test the different networks in your area for yourself so you can make the best pick.

Factors to consider: Know your area

As we covered in our other wireless guides, to get the best deal you need to make sure you have the coverage that you need. This makes it hard to give a blanket recommendation of any one carrier. T-Mobile's service in New York may be excellent, but if you're in rural Iowa, Verizon is more reliable.

While your mileage may vary, the good news is that these networks are growing and improving all the time, particularly as the three major players race to blanket the US with 5G. It's quite possible that you left a network complaining about its sparse service a decade ago, but now it's beefed itself up because of that race to acquire customers.

If you know any friends or family in your area that already use the carrier you're considering, ask about their experience. You could also go to a carrier's store and see if they offer any free ways to try out the service before switching over, such as T-Mobile's Network Pass . Verizon offers a similar 30-day "Test Drive" program, while the Cricket prepaid service has its own trial program that lets you sample parent AT&T's network.

T-Mobile plans FAQs

What about go5g next.

T-Mobile's latest top plan, called Go5G Next, is its priciest. A single line runs $100 per month, while if you have four lines on an account it would be $225 each month or $56.25 per line (in both cases assuming you have automatic payments and paper-free billing enabled).

What you get for that price is the bundling of Hulu with ads and the ability to upgrade your phone every year while taking advantage of T-Mobile's latest device upgrade offers. Otherwise, it's largely the same as Go5G Plus, which lets you upgrade your device with the latest offers every two years.

For most people, we'd recommend staying away from this plan. It's likely too pricey for what you're getting when T-Mobile has much better options available.

Do I need to change my T-Mobile plan when I upgrade my phone?

You don't necessarily need to change plans when you upgrade your phone, but you may need to move plans if you want the carrier's best deals.

T-Mobile has been reserving some of its best deals for those who are on its priciest plans. For example, its top iPhone 15 Pro deals generally require the priciest Go5G Plus or Go5G Next plans (and potentially for you to add a new line or switch from a different carrier).

Are there discounts to lower my T-Mobile bill?

Yes, like its rivals T-Mobile offers a variety of discounts depending on your age, employer or profession. Teachers, military, first responders and more can take advantage of various programs that could save you significant money on your bill. It also offers special pricing for those age 55 or above (though with a max of two lines on an account).

It's worth noting that these discounts are often for the whole account. If you have three lines and one of those users is a first responder or a teacher, your entire family can benefit from the savings.

Some of these discounts have caps on the amount of lines that can benefit, so make sure to check the details when signing up.

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COMMENTS

plans-international-cruise-modal
International passes. Tablet data plans. Hotspot data plans. Smartwatch data plans. Shop cell phones by brand. Samsung Galaxy phones. OnePlus phones. T-Mobile REVVL phones. Motorola Moto phones.
Un-carrier Customers Can Now Set Sail with Cruise Deals on T-Mobile
Un-carrier Customers Can Now Set Sail with Cruise Deals on T-Mobile Tuesdays. May 11, 2023. New T-Mobile Tuesdays perk powered by Cruisebound gives T-Mobile customers a simple way to book their next cruise, plus up to $1000 in on-board credits to use on excursions, food, drinks and more. 3 min read. BELLEVUE, Wash. — May 11, 2023.
International roaming checklist
From your mobile device, dial +1-505-998-3793. We won't charge you anything for this call, no matter where you are. Go ahead and store this number in your phone's contact list for easy and quick dialing while you're away. From a landline (long-distance fees may apply), dial the International Direct Dialing (IDD) prefix for the country you're in ...
International Plans
If you're a T-Mobile customer on qualifying plan, you can add an International Pass to get more high-speed data and unlimited voice calling in 215+ countries and destinations. 1-Day (512MB) International Pass: 512MB of high-speed data and unlimited calling, to be used up to 24 hours, for $5. 10 day (5GB) International Pass: 5GB of high-speed ...
Cell Phone Plans on a Cruise Ship: Comparing AT&T, Verizon, & T-Mobile
Here are the rates from T-Mobile when on a cruise ship. Text: $.50/Text when sending, and received texts are the same as your plans domestic rate; Talk: $5.99/minute;
Explore T-Mobile TRAVEL Cruise Destinations
T-Mobile customers can get onboard credit on eligible cruise sailings. Book Online The average booking takes only 14 minutes to complete! Our cruise experts are also happy to help via phone or chat. Unlock Special and Flexible Rates Our rates are always the same or better than the cruise line directly. Get Informed Our clear photos, maps, and ...
Does T-Mobile Work On A Cruise Ship? (The Ultimate Guide)
The answer is: it depends. T-Mobile does not have its own network on cruise ships, so you won't be able to use your T-Mobile phone to make calls or send texts without incurring roaming charges. However, many cruise ships offer Wi-Fi, and you can usually connect to the ship's Wi-Fi network using your T-Mobile phone.
Using a Cell Phone on a Cruise Ship
T-Mobile. T-Mobile ONE and Simple Choice Plan customers receive the following rates on cruise ships: $.50/received text, $5.99/minute talk, no data. Customers on other plans must activate these rates by adding the World Class service to each line. Sprint. Sprint Global Roaming - $2.50/minute talk, $.50/recipient text, $60/100MB data, $100/250MB ...
T Mobile and ship Internet need help with avoiding ...
According to the T-Mobile customer support rep, the ship can charge whatever rates it wants! The lesson is, although T-Mobile advertises Free overseas texting & roaming, this does not apply when your cell phone connects to the cruise ship's cellular station!
Prepaid International Roaming
T-Mobile prepaid international roaming provides great rates for calling and messaging outside of the United States. ... Get a great rate. T-Mobile prepaid calling rates may vary (see table below).* Additional rates for other plans include: ... Cruise Ship: $5.99: Cuba: $2.00: Curacao: $2.39: Cyprus: $2.99: Czech Republic: $2.69: Denmark: $1.49 ...
T-Mobile Has Good News for Royal Caribbean, Carnival, Passengers
They can also find personalized discounts based on categories like age, military service, past cruise reservations and more, according to T-Mobile. People who book through the Cruisebound, T ...
DIGITS roaming and international use
Countries outside the supported 215+ countries and destinations or cruise ship/ferry: ... All calls and text are billed at the standard international rates. With Non T-Mobile PROXY (using another carrier's device), the SIM provided is not usable for international roaming.
Complete Guide to Using Your Phone on a Cruise (Carnival, Royal
The cruise line offers VOOM internet access across its fleet, which is touted as one of the fastest wi-fi services of any major cruise line. With it, you can hook up your phone to wi-fi and make calls (via wi-fi), text, use apps, and browse the web. Prices are not set in stone, but vary between around $15-25 a day.
Your Cell, Texts & Wifi On A Cruise: This Is What You Need To Know
T-Mobile Cruise Ship Packages. T-Mobile offers cruise packages for specific cruise lines and ships. You can find a search tool on the T-Mobile website that allows you to determine whether your specific cruise is covered. T-Mobile ONE and Simple Choice Plan customers receive the following rates on cruise ships: $.50/sent text and $5.99/minute talk.
Can You Use T-Mobile on a Cruise Ship?
The answer is yes, depending on the cruise line, destination and type of ship. T-Mobile has partnered with several major cruise lines to provide its customers with coverage while they are at sea. T-Mobile Coverage On Cruise Ships. T-Mobile has partnered with Carnival Cruise Lines, Royal Caribbean Cruise Lines, MSC Cruises and Costa Cruises to ...
Check out Cell Phone Plans on a Cruise Ship: Comparing AT&T, Verizon
Here are the rates from T-Mobile when on a cruise ship. Text: $.50/Text when sending, and received texts are the same as your plans domestic rate Talk: $5.99/minute. There are no data plans available on cruise ships with T-Mobile. For usage of voice and text on a cruise you will need to check on the T-Mobile website, as availability is limited ...
Going on a cruise...
Cruise ships are not covered under any standard roaming packages because they use the towers owned and operated by the cruise ships, which will bill T-Mobile if you do happen to connect to their cell tower onboard. Syaoran - I am not a T-Mobile Employee but I could use a new job! R. 1 person likes this. Userlevel 7.
T-Mobile and Cruising, Unlimited Data/Texting in Port
On a recent cruise, I was able to test out the new global service that was added by T-Mobile in late 2013. The new service being offered gives T-Mobile customers unlimited data and text messages ...
What to Expect on a Cruise: Using a Cell Phone
Yes, you can use the ship's phone to call home. Prices are high, but can be a little less than what your cellphone company will charge you. For instance, Royal Caribbean charges a hefty $7.95 ...
Cruise
5453 replies. 8 months ago. Turn your device off before you get within 3 miles of the cruise ship and don't turn it back on until after your cruise is over and you are at least a few miles away from the ship. Cruise ship pricing is incredibly expensive with calls ranging upwards of $7 a minute and texts upwards of $3.
T-Mobile Introducing Free Unlimited Global Data in Cruise Ports
Cruise News. There is great news for cruisers who use T-Mobile as their cell phone carrier. The network has announced a new plan called "Simple Global" that will offer free unlimited data ...
T-mobile on ship
In order to use T-Mobile on the ship you must have the international service plan. This is from the T-Mobile website: NORWEGIAN CRUISE LINE: THE NORWEGIAN GEM. Rate per minute : $4.99. Country code : NA.
Standby Cruising: A New Option for Bargain Seekers
In February, Barb McGowan took a seven-day cruise on Holland America Line, visiting the Bahamas, Turks and Caicos, and the Dominican Republic for just $343, or $49 a day, excluding taxes, port ...
T-Mobile on HAL ships
T Mobile will work with Cellular at Sea on any HAL ship - Please confirm. ATT has no charge for incoming SMS text and charges 50 cents for outgoing without media and $1.30 for a SMS text with a photo attached. T-mobile says outgoing texts are 50 cents but doesn't address texts with photos.
Best T-Mobile Plans: How to Choose and Which Ones to Pick in ...
CNET's expert staff reviews and rates dozens of new products and services each month, building on more than a quarter century of expertise. When it comes to wireless plans, T-Mobile has plenty ...