Can You Use Your Phone On A Cruise Ship

Posted February 12 2011.

Can you use your phone on a cruise ship. Heres everything to know about using your cell phone on a cruise. Ships must turn off their cellular networks 9-12 nautical miles from shore. The cruise lines provide internet service through WiFi onboard.

This will be considered roaming by your carrier. When you are in the middle of the sea even hundreds of miles away from the shore you can have an internet connection on a cruise ship. We hope you enjoy your time travelling round the world.

Instead your phone can receive a signal from an at-sea provider such as Telenor Maritime or Cellular at Sea. Yes you can use your phone on a cruise. However communication at open sea is different than on land.

There are a few important things to keep in mind. Yes you can use the WiFi feature on your mobile phone to connect to your cruise ships WiFi but you will have to purchase an internet package. Once your ship cruises around 20 to 30 miles from the shore your mobile phone will no longer receive a signal from the telephone masts which are located on land.

Until youve docked or landed you wont be able to use your phone to call text or access the internet. If you see Cellular at Sea 901-18 or NOR-18 on your device youre using your international cruise option. When youre in port youll use the carrier of that country or island.

If you plan on using your phone during your cruise holiday just as you would on land it may actually be cheaper to use roaming rather than purchasing a pricey Wi-Fi pass on the ship. Prices are high but can be a little less than what your cellphone company will charge you. My husband and I will be sailing to Alaska from Seattle on the Golden Princess this summer.