How to Get Internet at Sea: Five Options You Might Have

Will you soon be heading to sea and are wondering whether you'll be able to stay connected to the internet when miles away from land? The answer is that it depends heavily on where you'll be going, what you'll be doing, and what kind of ship you'll be boarding.

In this short guide, we look at the five most typical options for connecting to the internet while at sea: using mobile data (e.g., with an eSIM), getting a portable WiFi hotspot, connecting to a ship's onboard WiFi, installing a satellite connection, or simply waiting until you're at port. Each method comes with very different use cases and applicability, but fortunately for you, no matter whether you're sailing, cruising, fishing, embarking on ocean research, or anything else, there are usually ways to go online and surf the web while at sea.

Method 1: GigSky (eSIM Mobile Data)

GigSky

• Method is good for: Cruises, or sailing close to shore
• Pros: Affordable data, easy to set up, connection in dozens of countries
• Cons: Limited to coastal areas (unless on a cruise ship)
• Costs: ~$38.99 /GB

GigSky is a smart way to get internet while you're at sea. It's an eSIM provider that gives you mobile data via local network carriers. However, GigSky is no ordinary eSIM provider: it's the only one that offers special packages designed exclusively for cruise holidays.

With one of its cruise packages, you can access WiFi onboard the cruise ships of all major cruise companies (including Carnival, Royal Caribbean, and dozens of others) in major cruise destinations like the Caribbean, Europe, and the Asia-Pacific. What's more, the package also gives you mobile data on land in dozens of countries in these regions – a big advantage compared to using the ship's WiFi since you can just switch to mobile data whenever you step onto dry land.

Even if you're not planning to cruise, GigSky will still offer you mobile data if you stay near enough to the coastline to connect to local networks. This makes it a nifty option for fishermen and sailors not planning to head out onto the open ocean.

Method 2: Onboard Wi-Fi

Alonso Reyes

• Method is good for: Cruises
• Pros: Convenient access, no additional setup required
• Cons: Often expensive, speeds can be slow, high latency
• Costs: $10 - $50 /GB

Onboard Wi-Fi is wireless internet that's provided by a ship's internal network, typically on a cruise ship, a luxury yacht, or a military ship like an aircraft carrier. Onboard WiFi lets you access the internet throughout the vessel and doesn't require any special setup like eSIMs, making it a very convenient way of connecting.

However, the biggest problem with this method is that most ordinary boats and ships don't have WiFi since it's very expensive to install and maintain. When they do, these costs are also passed along to passengers, making buying a bundle and connecting to the internet through onboard WiFi generally a lot pricier. You can easily spend upwards of $40 or $50 per gigabyte when purchasing internet packages on major cruise liners like Royal Caribbean and others. The exception is military ships like aircraft carriers, which typically offer free Wi-Fi to the crew for recreation.

Onboard WiFi is a good option if your ship offers it and you don't mind spending the money. If you're going on a cruise but want to save money connecting to the web, we recommend GigSky instead.

Method 3: Portable Wi-Fi Hotspot

• Method is good for: Boats and ships close to shore
• Pros: Supports multiple devices, portable and convenient
• Cons: Limited to areas with cellular coverage
• Costs: $100 - $350 upfront

Unlike SIM cards, which connect you to the internet via mobile data, portable WiFi hotspots connect you to the internet via WiFi. They provide a great way to connect to the internet while at sea if you stay within range of the shore, and since you can connect multiple devices, they can even function as something of a 'mini WiFi system' for your boat!

Top pocket modem brands to look out for include RoamWiFi, Orbic, and Netgear, but big carriers like T-Mobile and Verizon in the US offer their own products, too. Here's how they generally work:

1. Purchase a portable WiFi router (they normally cost $100 to $400),
2. Charge and turn on the router,
3. Configure the WiFi or router settings, if desired,
4. Connect your device to the new Wi-Fi network.

Pocket modems and portable WiFi hotspot devices generally work by either being completely geared to international use or combining domestic and international use. For example, RoamWiFi's popular 4G LTE Mobile Hotspot gives you an out-of-the-box 10 GB to use domestically in the US and another 1 GB to use in 160 countries. Other deals offer similar benefits, so we recommend shopping around. Take a look at our list of the best portable pocket WiFi hotspots for travel to get started.

Method 4: WiFi at Port

Elwin de Witte

• Method is good for: Vessels that dock regularly
• Pros: Often free or low-cost
• Cons: Limited to when docked
• Costs: Usually $0 /GB

If you have no other option, then having some patience and waiting until you're at port to access WiFi might be necessary. At ports, you can typically find free or low-cost WiFi at marinas, harbours, cafes, restaurants, bars, hotels, and plenty of other facilities while your boat is docked.

Method 5: Satellite Internet

Artem Verbo

• Method is good for: Yachts and sailboats on the high seas
• Pros: Global coverage, reliable
• Cons: Very expensive, high latency, requires specialized equipment
• Costs: $50 - $100+ /GB

Satellite internet uses geostationary satellites to provide internet access, making it suitable use on the high seas where other methods fail. Here, you'll need to invest in specialized equipment like an antenna and a modem, which must be installed on your vessel. Systems like VSAT (Very Small Aperture Terminal), Inmarsat, and Iridium are popular choices, and they're known for their reliability and coverage. Once your hardware is in place, you'll need to subscribe to a service or data plan to use the internet at sea.

While the initial setup costs and monthly fees can be steep (typically thousands of dollars), satellite internet provides unparalleled coverage, making it possible to maintain a steady connection even in the most remote parts of the ocean. This reliability can be crucial for staying in touch with loved ones and accessing real-time weather updates, emergency information, and navigational aids.

However, there are some trade-offs. High latency is common due to the long distances signals must travel (which can affect things like video calls). Additionally, data plans can be pricey, especially for high bandwidth usage.