For most cruise passengers, staying connected while travelling is as important as ever, whether you’re planning on sharing your holiday snaps, navigating new cities, or simply staying in touch with loved ones back home, your mobile phone will likely still be a key part of your holiday. But using your mobile phone abroad, especially on a cruise, can be confusing and at times expensive. That’s why we’ve put together this guide which aims to explore the best ways to use your mobile phone during your cruise and land stay package with Paramount Cruises.
Staying Connected on Your Cruise Holiday: A Guide to Using Your Mobile Phone
Understanding Your Current Mobile Plan
Before you set sail, check with your mobile provider to clarify your plan’s international roaming charges and inclusions. Many providers offer add-on packages for international travel, which can include data, calls, and texts. Understanding these costs beforehand will help you avoid any bill shock upon your return.
Options for Staying Connected at Sea
Once your cruise ship is about an hour away from land and enters international waters, your phone will normally connect to Cellular at Sea. Be aware that using Cellular at Sea can be very expensive, and charges are set by your network provider.
Here are some important things to consider whilst onboard your chosen cruise ship:
- Cellular at Sea: This service allows you to use your phone for calls, texts, and data, just like you would on land, but at different rates. To avoid unexpected costs, check with your provider about their cruise ship roaming rates and available data plans before your trip.
- Ship Wi-Fi: Some cruise lines such as Virgin Voyages include WiFi as standard as part of their offerings, whilst others such as Celebrity Cruises, NCL and more offer Wi-Fi packages for guests to purchase or often include these as part of promotions. These packages can vary in speed, data allowance, and price. Consider your internet usage needs and choose a package that suits your requirements. If you only need to send occasional emails or messages, a basic package might suffice. However, if you plan to stream videos, use social media extensively, or work remotely, a premium package is recommended. Remember, you can often save money by purchasing your Wi-Fi package before your cruise.
- Airplane Mode and Wi-Fi: To completely avoid cellular charges at sea, switch your phone to Airplane Mode and connect to the ship’s Wi-Fi when available. Not only will this allow you to use the cruise lines’ app it will also prevent your phone from using cellular data and incurring roaming charges. You can still use apps that don’t require data, such as your camera, offline games, and downloaded podcasts.
Options for Staying Connected on Land
While in port, you might be tempted to keep your phone on Airplane Mode for convenience. However, we strongly recommend turning off data roaming instead. This way, you’ll still be reachable by call or text if your transfer supplier or local tour contacts need to get in touch, which is crucial for a smooth travel experience. Remember to connect to Wi-Fi whenever possible to avoid data charges while browsing the internet or using apps. We’d also encourage you to consider these additional options:
- Free Wi-Fi: Many ports, cities, and tourist attractions offer free Wi-Fi. Take advantage of these hotspots to connect to the internet and avoid using your data.
- Local SIM Cards: You can purchase a local SIM card at your destination, which will give you a local phone number and data plan at local rates. This option can be cost-effective if you’re staying in one country for an extended period, not simply a day or two. It will also mean that you’ll need a second phone, or need to fiddle around with swapping SIM cards in your existing phone which is not practical, plus you”ll have a new local number which your friends and family won’t know about.
- eSIMs: Paramount Cruises recommends Airalo, the world’s first eSIM store, for a convenient and affordable solution. eSIMs are digital SIM cards that you can download and install directly onto your phone. Airalo offers eSIMs for over 200 countries and regions, providing instant connectivity upon arrival, and most importantly you get to use your usual mobile number for receiving calls and messages. You can browse their various data packages and choose one that suits your needs and budget. As well as single-country sims you can also purchase regional sims, so if you are visiting multiple countries in one trip this could be the perfect solution for you. To find out more simply visit https://airalo.pxf.io/paramountcruises where you can purchase your eSIM and enjoy seamless connectivity on your trip.
Tips for Managing Data Usage
No matter which method you choose, managing your data usage is crucial to avoid exceeding data limits and incurring extra charges. Here are a few helpful tips we’ve picked up over our years of cruising around the world:
- Monitor Your Data: Keep track of your data usage through your phone’s settings or your provider’s app.
- Disable Auto-Updates: Prevent apps from automatically updating in the background, which can consume a significant amount of data.
- Limit Streaming: Streaming videos and music can use a lot of data. Download content before your trip or wait for Wi-Fi access.
- Use Wi-Fi Calling: If your phone supports Wi-Fi calling, enable it to make calls over Wi-Fi and avoid using your cellular minutes.
- Send Photos and Videos on Wi-Fi: You might be desperate to share your holiday photos with your friends and family back home as soon as you take them, but if you can refrain from sending them straight away and wait until you’re connected to a Wi-Fi network in a bar or cafe.
- Turn off Data Roaming on Land: While Airplane Mode is great for avoiding charges at sea, remember to turn it off and disable data roaming when you’re back on land. This ensures you can still receive important calls and texts without incurring unnecessary data costs.
Enjoy Your Connected Cruise Holiday
By planning and understanding your options, you can stay connected throughout your cruise and land stay without breaking the bank. Share your amazing travel experiences, navigate new destinations with ease, and stay in touch with loved ones back home, all while enjoying a stress-free holiday. Bon voyage!
