A normal travel eSIM only works on land networks, so at sea you need a cruise plan. Saily’s Cruise plans connect through maritime networks on selected cruise lines, and its regular plans cover you on port days.
The catch: Saily’s Cruise plans are still rolling out, work only on selected cruises and connect only more than 12 nautical miles from the coast.
On a cruise you’re either at sea or in port, and each needs a different kind of data plan. Get it wrong and you’re offline, or your home SIM starts roaming.
Why a regular eSIM stops working at sea
Regular Saily plans use local, land-based mobile networks. Once the ship is out at sea, those networks are out of range, so a regular plan won’t work during the sailing part of your cruise. A cruise plan connects to maritime networks instead, which is what keeps you online in open water.
How Saily Cruise plans work
- Selected cruises only. Saily is rolling cruise plans out gradually, and they work only on cruise lines on its list.
- Starts at sea. The plan connects only when the ship is more than 12 nautical miles from the coast. In port or near the coastline it won’t connect.
- How to tell it’s working: your phone’s network settings show 901-18, WMS or Cellular at Sea as the operator.
To check if your cruise is covered, look in the Saily app:
- Tap the + button for a new plan.
- Scroll the categories under the search bar and select Cruise.
- Tap See available cruise lines and confirm your ship’s line is listed before you buy.
If no Cruise section appears, cruise plans aren’t available for your account yet. The app shows the current cruise prices. Our guide does Saily work on a cruise? covers what to expect at sea versus in port.
Plans for port days
On land, a regular plan for the countries you stop in is usually the simple choice. One regional plan can cover a whole itinerary.
| Plan | Countries | Price from |
|---|---|---|
| Caribbean Islands Best value | 29 | $8.99 |
| Europe | 35 | $4.99 |
| North America | 3 | $5.99 |
| Global | 121 | $8.99 |
Each regional plan covers only the countries on its own list, so check your ports before you buy. On a Caribbean trip? See our Caribbean cruise eSIM guide, which also looks at other cruise data options.
Avoid surprise charges on board
- Switch off your personal SIM, or turn on airplane mode, before you leave your home coverage area.
- Turn off mobile data switching so your phone doesn’t fall back to your home SIM.
- Track your usage in the Saily app.
Wait until the ship is more than 12 nautical miles out. Then check your phone shows 901-18, WMS or Cellular at Sea as the operator. Most problems happen because the ship is outside an active coverage zone.
- Cruise plans use maritime networks at sea
- Regional plans cover many ports at once
- Install before you board
- 24/7 chat support
- Cruise plans only on selected lines
- Don’t connect in port or near the coast
- Still rolling out
FAQ
Does a normal eSIM work on a cruise ship?
Not at sea. Regular plans use land networks, which are out of range in open water. They work in port and near the coast.
When does a Saily Cruise plan connect?
Only when the ship is more than 12 nautical miles from the coast. It won’t connect in port.
How do I know if my cruise line is covered?
In the Saily app, open a new plan, choose the Cruise category and tap See available cruise lines.
Port-day plans from $4.99 (Europe) and $8.99 (Caribbean), checked on saily.com on 24 Oct 2026.