Gigsky gives you cellular data while your ship is at sea or in port

Gigsky is a service that lets you buy temporary mobile data plans through an app on your phone. When you're on a cruise, instead of paying your home carrier's international roaming rates—which can run $10 to $15 per megabyte on some carriers—you can switch to Gigsky and pay a flat rate for a set amount of data. The service works by connecting your phone to local cellular networks in the countries your ship visits, and also to maritime networks when you're out at sea.

The service is not the same as your regular phone plan. You're buying a separate data pass that sits alongside your existing service. Your phone can use Gigsky data while keeping your regular SIM card in place, or you can use an eSIM (a digital SIM card stored in your phone's software) if your device supports it. Either way, you control when the plan is active and can turn it on and off through the Gigsky app.

Key Takeaways

  • Gigsky works through an app you read before your cruise; you buy a data plan and set up it when you board the ship.
  • Plans cover specific regions (Caribbean, Mediterranean, Asia-Pacific) and cost between $5 and $70 depending on the amount of data and the region.
  • The service connects to local cellular networks in ports and to maritime networks when the ship is at sea, so coverage depends on where your ship travels.
  • You can pause or resume your plan through the app, so you only pay for data when you actually use it.
  • Gigsky does not work on all phones; your device must support either a physical SIM card slot or an eSIM, and your carrier must allow eSIM switching.

read the app and buy a plan before you leave home

The first step is to read the Gigsky app to your phone from the Apple App Store or Google Play Store. Open the app and create an account using your email address and a password. You'll then see a list of regional plans available for purchase. Select the region where your cruise is traveling—Caribbean, Mediterranean, Europe, Asia-Pacific, or another region depending on your itinerary—and choose the data amount you need.

Plans range from 100 MB (megabytes) for around $5 to 10 GB (gigabytes) for $60 to $70, depending on the region. A typical cruise passenger who checks email, uses messaging apps, and browses light websites might use 500 MB to 1 GB over a week. If you plan to stream video or read large files, you'll need more. The app shows you the exact price before you buy, and you can purchase the plan with a credit card right from your phone.

Once you've bought the plan, it sits in your app ready to set up. You don't pay anything until you turn it on, so you can buy it weeks before your cruise without any charge.

set up your plan when you board and switch it on in the app

When you board the ship, open the Gigsky app and tap the button to set up your plan. The app will ask whether you want to use a physical SIM card or an eSIM. If you choose the physical SIM option, Gigsky will mail you a SIM card before your cruise (you need to order this in advance). If you choose eSIM, the app will install a digital SIM directly into your phone's software—this happens when ready and requires no physical card.

After set up, your phone will automatically connect to available networks. When your ship is in port, your phone will pick up local cellular signals from that country. When the ship is at sea, your phone will connect to maritime networks that operate over satellite. You don't have to do anything manually; the connection happens in the background once the plan is active.

You can pause your plan at any time through the app if you want to stop using data for a few days. When you resume it, the remaining data balance is still there. This is useful if you plan to spend a day at sea without needing internet, or if you want to use your home carrier's data in a particular port instead.

Coverage depends on your ship's route and the networks available

Gigsky's coverage is not uniform across all oceans and all ports. The service works best in heavily traveled cruise regions like the Caribbean, Mediterranean, and Alaska, where maritime networks and local cellular coverage are well established. If your cruise visits smaller ports or remote areas, coverage may be spotty or unavailable.

When your ship is docked in a port, your phone connects to the local cellular network of that country, just as it would if you were standing on land. The speed and reliability depend on that country's network quality. When the ship is at sea, you're relying on maritime networks, which are slower than land-based cellular and may have gaps depending on your location. You can check Gigsky's coverage map in the app before your cruise to see which regions and countries are supported.

Even in covered regions, data speeds at sea are typically slower than what you're used to on land—expect speeds suitable for email and messaging rather than video streaming. Some ships also have their own onboard Wi-Fi networks, which may be faster for certain tasks, though those usually charge a separate fee.

Your phone must support either a physical SIM or eSIM

Not every phone works with Gigsky. Your device must have either a physical SIM card slot or support for eSIM technology. Most modern smartphones (iPhone XS and newer, most recent Android phones) support eSIM. Older phones or budget models may only have a physical SIM slot, which is fine—you'll just need to request the physical SIM card from Gigsky before your cruise.

Additionally, your home carrier must allow you to use an eSIM from another provider. Most major carriers (Verizon, AT&T, T-Mobile, and their equivalents in other countries) permit this, but some regional carriers or older plans may not. Before you buy a Gigsky plan, check your carrier's website or call customer service to confirm that eSIM switching is allowed on your account. If you're unsure, ordering the physical SIM card is the safer option, though it requires planning ahead.

Data charges and what happens if you run out

You pay only for the plan you buy in advance. There are no surprise charges or overage fees if you use all your data before your cruise ends. Once your data balance reaches zero, the service stops working until you buy another plan. You can purchase additional data through the app at any time, even while you're on the ship, as long as you have some form of internet connection (such as the ship's Wi-Fi or a working Gigsky connection).

Keep in mind that Gigsky data is separate from any Wi-Fi you might use on the ship. If you connect to the ship's Wi-Fi network, you're not using Gigsky data. Some passengers use the ship's Wi-Fi for heavy tasks and save their Gigsky data for times when Wi-Fi is unavailable or too slow. Others buy a Gigsky plan and skip the ship's Wi-Fi entirely to avoid paying two separate fees.

Common issues and how to fix them

The most frequent problem is that your phone doesn't automatically connect to the Gigsky network after set up. If this happens, restart your phone. Go to Settings, turn Airplane Mode on for 10 seconds, then turn it off. This forces your phone to rescan for available networks. If you're still not connected after a restart, open the Gigsky app and check that your plan is still active and that you're in a covered region.

Another common issue is slow or no data when the ship is at sea. Maritime networks are inherently slower and less reliable than land-based cellular. If you're getting no connection at all, move to a different location on the ship—sometimes being on deck or near the top of the ship improves signal. If you're in a port and not getting a connection, try restarting your phone or toggling Airplane Mode again.

If you accidentally set up a plan and want to cancel it, contact Gigsky's support team through the app. Refund policies vary depending on how long the plan has been active, so check the terms before you buy. Most carriers allow cancellation within a short window if the plan hasn't been used.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I use Gigsky and my regular phone plan at the same time?

Yes. If you use an eSIM, your phone keeps your regular SIM card and adds the Gigsky eSIM alongside it. Your phone can receive calls and texts on your regular number while using Gigsky data. If you use a physical Gigsky SIM, you'll need to swap out your regular SIM, so you won't receive calls or texts on your home number during the cruise.

What happens if my ship doesn't visit any ports?

You'll rely entirely on maritime networks, which are slower and less reliable than land-based cellular. Coverage at sea varies by region and by how far from shore your ship travels. Check Gigsky's coverage map for your specific cruise route before you buy a plan.

Is Gigsky cheaper than my carrier's international roaming?

Usually yes. Most major carriers charge $10 to $15 per megabyte for international roaming, which adds up quickly. A Gigsky plan of 1 GB in the Caribbean costs around $20 to $30, which is far less than what you'd pay for the same amount of data through roaming. However, if you barely use data, your carrier's daily pass option (typically $10 per day) might be cheaper than buying a Gigsky plan.

Can I buy a Gigsky plan while I'm already on the ship?

Yes, as long as you have some form of internet access—either the ship's Wi-Fi or an existing Gigsky connection. You can purchase additional data through the app and set up it when ready. However, it's much easier to buy your plan before you leave home, when you have reliable internet and time to troubleshoot any setup issues.

What if my phone doesn't have eSIM and I didn't order a physical SIM in advance?

You won't be able to use Gigsky on that cruise. You'll need to rely on your carrier's roaming rates or the ship's Wi-Fi. For future cruises, either order a physical SIM card at least two weeks before departure, or upgrade to a phone that supports eSIM.