Cruise Wifi and Phone Roaming for Canadians
The phone left on at sea is the classic surprise bill. Turn on airplane mode at sail-away, switch wifi back on, and decide whether you need the ship's internet package or can wait for port days.
Why your Canadian roaming plan stops working at sea
Once land falls away, phones connect to the ship's own cellular-at-sea system, which relays calls and data by satellite. The daily travel passes from Rogers, Bell, Telus and their sister brands, typically around C$12–16 a day for the US, are built for countries, not ships. Maritime use is usually billed separately, per minute and per megabyte.
A phone quietly backing up photos overnight can run up hundreds of dollars before breakfast. Some carriers do sell cruise or maritime add-ons, so call yours and ask directly before you leave.
The two-minute routine
- Before boarding, download maps, playlists, shows and your boarding documents.
- At sail-away, switch airplane mode on and leave it on whenever the ship is at sea.
- Turn wifi and Bluetooth back on manually. They work in airplane mode.
- Install the cruise line's app, which usually offers free onboard messaging or a cheap chat plan (see using the cruise line app).
- In port, turn cellular back on only if your plan or eSIM covers that country. Alaska ports count as the US.
What ship wifi costs, line by line
Prices are per device per day at recent rates and change often, so treat them as a guide. Buying before you sail is usually 10–30% cheaper than buying on board.
| Line | System | Price per device per day | Included with | Full guide |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Royal Caribbean | VOOM | $20–30 USD | Some promotions; some suites | Royal Caribbean wifi |
| Carnival | Hub plans | $20–30 USD | Occasional sales and bundles | Carnival wifi |
| Norwegian | Free at Sea-linked | $25–40 USD | Often the Free at Sea bundle | Norwegian wifi |
| Princess | MedallionNet | $15–25 USD | Princess Plus and Premier | Princess wifi |
| Celebrity | Starlink (Basic and Premium) | $27–35 USD | All Included (Basic); Retreat (Premium) | Celebrity wifi |
| Holland America | Surf, Premium and Stream (Starlink) | about $26–38 USD for Premium and Stream | Have It All (Surf) | Holland America wifi |
| MSC | Browse / Browse & Stream | About $16–20 USD prepaid; $31–33 on board | Yacht Club; some promotions | MSC wifi |
| Disney | Connect@Sea | $30–49 USD | Not included; app messaging is free | Disney wifi |
Many big lines have moved to low-orbit satellite service such as Starlink, which has made browsing and video calls far more usable than a few years ago. Tiers still matter: a basic plan may handle messaging and email but block or throttle streaming.
Cheaper ways to stay connected
- Book a fare that bundles wifi. Celebrity All Included, Princess Plus, Holland America Have It All and Norwegian's Free at Sea offers can include it. On the lines above, Disney is the one where it is not bundled.
- Buy one device and share it. Most plans allow one login at a time, so log out and swap.
- Use port wifi. Cafés, libraries and cruise terminals are fine for a daily upload and messages home.
- Use an eSIM for port days. A US or Mexico data eSIM can cost less than a daily pass if you have several port stops.
- Go offline. A week with only port-day check-ins costs nothing.
If you need to work from the ship, read working remotely on a cruise and how ship internet works before you commit. For every line's rules side by side, see cruise line policies compared.
Have a question about this? A licensed cruise expert can answer it for free — no booking required, no pressure.
Ask a cruise expert →Before you sail
Wifi is one of the extras that appears in booking promotions, and free wifi sailings come up on several lines. Ask whether your dates carry one before paying the onboard price, and check your carrier's maritime rates so nothing arrives on your next bill.
Want this priced up for your dates? Speak to a licensed cruise expert — same price as booking direct, plus perks like onboard credit and prepaid gratuities the websites don't show. No fee, no obligation, and you can book online if you'd rather.
Get a quote or book online →Frequently asked questions
Does a Canadian roaming plan work on a cruise ship?
Usually not at sea. Daily travel passes from Canadian carriers cover countries, and the ship's cellular-at-sea network is billed separately at rates that can run to dollars per minute and per megabyte. In port, normal country roaming resumes, so check with your carrier before you sail.
Is cruise ship wifi good enough for video calls?
On ships that have moved to newer low-orbit satellite service, messaging, browsing and most video calls work well on a streaming tier. Older systems and remote stretches can still stutter, so buy the tier that matches what you actually need.
Can I use an eSIM on a cruise?
Yes, but only in port or near shore where there is a land network. An eSIM for the US or Mexico can be cheaper than a Canadian daily pass for port days, but it will not help at sea, where only the ship's wifi or maritime network works.
More questions you might have
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- Royal Caribbean Alcohol Policy: What You Can Bring On BoardWhat Royal Caribbean lets you carry aboard at embarkation — wine allowances, the corkage fee, the beer-and-spirits ban, and what happens to bottles bought in port.
- Carnival Smoking and Vaping Policy: Where You Can and Can'tCarnival's rules on cigarettes and vapes — the designated outdoor spots, the balcony ban, the casino question, and the fine if you get it wrong.
- Cruise Ship Self-Service Laundry: A Practical WalkthroughFor ships that offer it — how self-service launderettes actually work, and making the most of a mid-cruise laundry day.
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- Disney Cruise Line Gratuities: How Much Per Day and Can You PrepayDisney's suggested gratuities work differently — a per-guest amount split among four named crew members. The current figures, and how prepaying works.
Booking essentials: Is It Cheaper to Book a Cruise Through a Travel Agent · What Are Expedia Extras on a Cruise Booking · Onboard Credit Explained and How to Get More · Cruise Line Policies Compared: 8 Lines Side by Side (2026)