Phones and WiFi at sea
The short answer
Put your phone in airplane mode as the ship leaves port: at sea, phones can connect to the ship's own cellular network, which is billed separately and expensively. Then buy the ship's WiFi if you need to be online, or wait for port, where your normal plan may work. Each line's WiFi options are below.By Kathryn Lyn2 min readReviewed September 2026
WiFi, from each line's own pages
| Cruise line | What the line says | Checked |
|---|---|---|
| Carnival Cruise Line | Three plans — Social, Value and Premium. Premium starts at $25.50 | September 21, 2026 |
| Royal Caribbean International | VOOM wireless, plus wired stations in the iCafes | September 21, 2026 |
| Norwegian Cruise Line | Packages are priced per plan and billed to your onboard account | September 21, 2026 |
| MSC Cruises | Browse, or Browse & Stream, with unlimited data | September 24, 2026 |
| Celebrity Cruises | Starlink Wi-Fi in two tiers: Basic and Premium | September 24, 2026 |
| Disney Cruise Line | Several internet packages, bought on board through the Navigator app | September 21, 2026 |
| Holland America Line | Satellite internet is sold in plans and billed to your onboard account | September 21, 2026 |
| Virgin Voyages | Basic WiFi is included; connect to the VirginVoyages-SailorWiFi network | September 21, 2026 |
| Viking | Included, with heavy-bandwidth use limited | September 21, 2026 |
| Cunard Line | Starlink Wi-Fi, Essential or Premium, by the day or the voyage | September 24, 2026 |
| Oceania Cruises | Included in the cruise fare, fleetwide; streaming costs extra | September 24, 2026 |
Many lines let you use their app, including the daily schedule and onboard messaging, on the ship's network without buying a WiFi package.
First-timer questions
Questions, answered.
The questions people ask most. Tap one to open it, or open them all and read straight down.
4 questions on this page
What happens if I use my cell phone on a cruise ship?
At sea, your phone may connect to the ship's own cellular network, which your carrier bills at special rates that can be very high. In port, your normal international roaming applies. Airplane mode at sea avoids surprises.
Can you text on a cruise ship without WiFi?
Only over the ship's cellular network, which can be expensive. Many lines' apps offer onboard messaging between guests without a WiFi package.
Is it worth getting WiFi on a cruise?
If you need to stay in touch or work, yes, and many lines now offer fast satellite internet. If you can disconnect, use WiFi in port and enjoy the break.
Can you get WiFi on a cruise without paying?
Some lines include basic WiFi, such as Virgin Voyages and Viking, and Oceania includes it fleetwide. On others it's paid, though free port WiFi is often nearby.