Roam if you want to, but remember your cellular provider is going to charge you for it! Unless you have an international calling plan, you can return home from a perfect vacation to a surprisingly large phone bill.

To avoid incurring extra charges on your cruise, there’s a simple yet effective solution: airplane mode.

Why Airplane Mode?

• Avoid Roaming Charges: When your phone is in airplane mode, it cannot connect to cellular networks, which means you won’t incur expensive roaming charges from the cruise ship’s network or any other unintended network.
• Prevent Background Data Usage: Smartphones often use data for app updates, notifications, and other background activities. Airplane mode prevents these activities from occurring, helping you avoid unexpected data charges.

But what if I want to keep in contact?

• You can still use Wi-Fi while in airplane mode. Connect to the ship’s Wi-Fi network or Wi-Fi hotspots at ports of call to stay connected.
• You’ll still be able to use apps that rely on Wi-Fi, like iMessage, email, and internet browsing.
• The Royal Caribbean app also has a built in chat feature that will let you message your group even without Wi-Fi!

Once you’re onboard and settled, use your phone to communicate any important updates or messages to family and friends. After that, enable airplane mode and keep your phone in airplane mode throughout the cruise. This will ensure that your phone remains disconnected from cellular networks, avoiding any extra charges.

Additional Tips:

• Check Your Phone Settings: Some people recommend turning off data roaming as well, but enabling airplane mode is usually a more straightforward option and provides a more comprehensive solution.
• Monitor Data Usage: If you prefer not to use airplane mode, ensure that you turn off data roaming and closely monitor your data usage settings.