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What is Cellular at Sea?
Cellular at Sea lets you call, text, and use data while at sea, through the cellular network on board your ship. It is available on 210+ ships across 25+ cruise lines.
Use your cell phone while at sea
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CALL
Talk on your own phone, on your own number at sea.
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TEXT
Send and receive texts the way you do on land.
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DATA
Use cellular data for email, apps, and the internet.
Getting started with Cellular at Sea
You can get started in three steps: check your ship, check your rates, and prepare your phone.
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Check your ship.
Cellular at Sea works on 210+ ships across most major cruise lines. Confirm yours with the coverage checker.
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Check your rates.
Ask your wireless carrier about cruise rates or packages. Many carriers offer plans that work on land and at sea.
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Prepare your phone.
In Settings, turn Roaming ON and Data Roaming ON. Set both before you sail.
How does my phone work at sea?
Your phone works at sea the same way it works in another country: it connects to the ship’s network on your normal number.
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Your phone connects.
Your phone joins the onboard network like it would a network abroad, with your normal number.
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The ship carries the network.
Onboard cellular equipment handles your calls, texts, and data at sea.
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Satellites link it together.
Satellites connect the ship to the rest of the world.
Want the deeper technical story? See how cell service works on a cruise ship.
When can I use Cellular at Sea?
Cellular at Sea becomes available after your ship leaves port and reaches international waters, about one hour from port. Near shore and in port, your phone uses local land networks, like on any trip. Use that hour to set up your phone.
Run the checklist before you sail and you are ready when the ship is.
Setup checklist for Cellular at Sea.
Turn Roaming ON in Settings, then check these three:
- Data Roaming ON
- Airplane Mode OFF
- Wi-Fi OFF to use cellular data (toggle it back on anytime you want Wi-Fi)
What your phone may say: Cellular at Sea or 901 18. This means you are connected. The 901 page explains the number.
How much does Cellular at Sea cost?
Pricing depends on your wireless carrier, your plan, and whether you add a cruise package. Usage on Cellular at Sea is billed by your home carrier under your plan’s roaming terms, not by Cellular at Sea directly.
- Check your wireless carrier.
Options include a daily cruise pass, a monthly travel plan, or pay-per-use pricing. Check before you sail.
- Best practice.
Review rates for calls, texts, and data in advance.
- Before you sail.
Check your carrier’s cruise rates before you sail. For how the billing works, see cruise ship roaming charges, explained.
- Expert travel tip.
Travel eSIMs offer data service your entire cruise at sea and land for as little as $13 per day. Check out OneRoam for more details.
Who operates Cellular at Sea?
Cellular at Sea is operated by Wireless Maritime Services (WMS), a company created in 2004 and formed in 2005, headquartered in Miramar, Florida. WMS operates the cellular network in partnership with the world’s major cruise lines. The service works with 400+ carrier roaming partners, which is why many travelers’ existing carriers are already covered.
- 210+ Cruise ships
- 25+ Cruise lines
- 400+ Carrier partners
See whether your ship is covered on the coverage and partners page.
FAQ
Do I need to sign up for Cellular at Sea before my cruise?
No. There’s nothing to sign up for. If your carrier is one of the 400+ roaming partners, your phone connects automatically at sea, and billing runs through your carrier.
Which ships have Cellular at Sea?
The network operates aboard 210+ ships across 25+ cruise lines. Coverage details for major lines are on the coverage and partners page.
Is Cellular at Sea the same as the ship’s Wi-Fi?
No. Ship Wi-Fi is a separate internet service offered by the cruise line. Cellular at Sea is the cellular network your phone roams on, the way it roams on a network abroad. Both exist on board; passengers and crew select one or the other or both, depending on usage. The options page explains each.
Who bills me for what I use at sea?
Your home cellular carrier, under your plan’s roaming terms or any cruise package you’ve added. Cellular at Sea doesn’t bill travelers directly.
What happens if I don’t buy anything and just use my phone at sea?
With roaming on, your phone connects to the shipboard network automatically about an hour after leaving port, and usage bills through your home carrier at its published roaming rates; Cellular at Sea doesn’t bill travelers directly. Phones use data in the background, even if idle, if data roaming is on with no package. To keep the bill predictable, ask your carrier two questions before you sail: what its cruise package covers, and what pay-per-use costs on your plan. Closing unused apps and turning off auto-updates, location services, and auto-fetch on email also keeps background use down.
Can I text, iMessage or use WhatsApp on a cruise without buying Wi-Fi?
Yes, Cellular at Sea is ideal for simple SMS messaging, chat apps and iMessage. Check your wireless carrier for how they charge for these services. Alternatively, a travel eSIM service, like OneRoam enables you to use messaging services at sea and land.
More questions? See the FAQs.