topic Re: Cruise Ship Roaming in Mobile Services

Cruise Ship Roaming

bdg051 — Sun, 09 Jun 2024 19:58:10 GMT

Hi,

Does anyone have any experience with Cruise Ship / maritime roaming. Do EE have an agreement with Cellular at Sea for Phone calls and texts?

Thanks!

Re: Cruise Ship Roaming

XRaySpeX — Sun, 09 Jun 2024 20:02:06 GMT

While on a cruise, you cannot use your usual UK allowances there but will need to pay the charges or buy roaming add-ons as set out in https://ee.co.uk/help/mobile/roaming/roaming-costs/countries/maritimeshipsferriesandcruises.

If you are on contract, remember to text ROAMING to 150 before you leave UK to ensure the roaming ability is enabled on your account.

If you are on PAYG, make sure you have already used your PAYG SIM to make a call or text in the UK.

Re: Cruise Ship Roaming

Chris_B — Sun, 09 Jun 2024 20:02:36 GMT

@bdg051 Your at the mercy of the maritime network and this can be expensive. You Can’t usual EE tariff allowance via this network there is no add on for this purpose.

Re: Cruise Ship Roaming

XRaySpeX — Sun, 09 Jun 2024 20:04:25 GMT

Perhaps the cruise ship provides WiFi, at a price?

Re: Cruise Ship Roaming

steve5604 — Sat, 15 Nov 2025 16:38:01 GMT

I think that the reply is completely wrong. This reply is only when your connected to a wifi off the cruise ship. When you are on the cruise ship you have to pay the cruise ship for a wifi package which costs a lot.

I have checked this with EE.

Re: Cruise Ship Roaming

bristolian — Sat, 15 Nov 2025 17:19:07 GMT

@steve5604 wrote:
I think that the reply is completely wrong. This reply is only when your connected to a wifi off the cruise ship. When you are on the cruise ship you have to pay the cruise ship for a wifi package which costs a lot.

If you're replying to XRaySpex's reply, you need to be clear about the different radio carriers/methods you can use.

XRay was referring to roaming using an on-board mobile network, for which the advice was 100% correct. Steve5604 is referring to using an on-board WiFi-facility, my previous reply commented on this.

WiFi-calling comes with no guarantees abroad, if it does happen to work then standard roaming charges will apply. Cruise lines have you captive, and costs of using mobile telecoms offshore reflect this.

Re: Cruise Ship Roaming

Jodavies98 — Sat, 24 Jan 2026 08:58:59 GMT

So does this mean that even if I purchase the ee roaming pass, I still won't be able to use my phone as normal unless I purchase the on board wifi for use while on board the ship and away from land?

Re: Cruise Ship Roaming

bristolian — Sat, 24 Jan 2026 10:17:39 GMT

On-board WiFi will provide a wireless internet connection whilst in range of the router. If you use any on-board mobile network, then roaming rates will apply for calls, texts or mobile data.

The roaming pass will allow use of land-based mobile networks, but it won't cover usage whilst on-board the ship.