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Cellular Service on Cruises: How It Works with Your Carrier
Your own phone plan can work on a cruise. Ships in the Cellular at Sea network carry cellular service on board, and major US carriers offer day passes that cover use at sea for a flat daily rate.
What is cruise day pass?
Cellular connectivity as low as $20 per day
A cruise cellular day pass is an add-on some wireless carriers offer that covers calls, texts, and data at sea for a flat daily rate. It is not ship Wi-Fi and not a resort pass. You buy it from your carrier, not from the ship.
Cellular at Sea Service Options: Day Pass vs Pay-per-use
Your carrier may offer a Day Pass or pay-per-use rates. Before your cruise, check with your wireless carrier for availability and pricing.
Day Pass
Flat daily fee
Available to majority of US travelers. A fixed daily fee that includes voice, text, and data.
Pay-per-use
Metered
Pay for each minute of voice, per text, and data per unit determined by the carrier.
How much does it cost to use my phone on a cruise?
A cellular day pass costs $20 per day at sea from AT&T (International Day Pass) and Verizon (Cruise Daily Pass), charged only on the days you use your phone at sea.
Without a day pass, your carrier bills at its pay-per-use roaming rates.
Rates are set by each carrier and can change. Check your carrier’s cruise page before you sail.
Your phone may say
Cellular At Sea or 901 18. This means you are connected to Cellular at Sea.
Without a day pass, connected usage bills at your carrier’s pay-per-use rates.
- 901 18
- Cellular At Sea
When can I use Cellular at Sea?
Cellular at Sea typically becomes available after the ship leaves port and reaches international waters. Availability depends on the ship’s location and network operating requirements.
For your phone to work at sea:
- Data RoamingON
- Airplane ModeOFF
- Wi-FiOFFto use cellular data
Which carriers offer cruise day passes
Check with your home cellular provider. More major carriers are offering a dedicated cruise cellular day pass, for example:
- AT&T
International Day Pass
Get AT&T Day PassHow does your day pass work
Your 24-hour International Day Pass begins the first time you use data, send a text, or make or accept a call at sea.
- Verizon
Cruise Daily Pass
Get Verizon Day PassHow does your day pass work
Cruise Daily Pass is a 24-hour session that begins when you make or answer a call, send a text or use data at sea. You’re only charged for the days you use it.
If your home carrier isn’t listed here, check its international or cruise page directly for availability and options for cruise roaming.
Do I need airplane mode on a cruise?
NO. Keep your phone on at sea and add a cellular day pass from your carrier before you sail.
Airplane ModeON
With airplane mode on, the cellular radio is off: no calls, texts, or data on your number at sea, and the day pass never activates.
Airplane ModeOFFData RoamingON
With airplane mode off and Data Roaming on, your phone connects to Cellular at Sea about an hour out of port and your day pass starts with your first call, text, or data use, $20 for the 24 hours.
Without a day pass, that same connection bills at your carrier’s pay-per-use roaming rates, including background data, so add the pass first.