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Old Apr 28, 2024 | 6:20 am
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You will get much better wifi in the Caribbean than in Alaska.
Between the Geography and satellite position, the connectivity in Alaska can be slower than old dial-up service.
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Old Apr 18, 2025 | 11:44 pm
  #17  
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If you have AT&T, there is a new option!
https://www.forbes.com/sites/ramseyq...hip-travelers/
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Old Apr 20, 2025 | 2:54 pm
  #18  
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GigSky may be an even better deal, if you have an unlocked phone. And if you have an older phone lying around, you can get that one unlocked by the carrier and hotspot off it (yes, GigSky allows hot-spotting so you don't need multiple accounts if more than one of you).
https://www.gigsky.com/data-cruises

What I don't understand is why the cruise lines allow these new plans, which seriously undermine their onboard wifi profit center. I believe all of the new connectivity-at-sea options that work through your phone (not through a satellite receiver) use the ship's "cellular at sea" GSM connection.
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Old Apr 20, 2025 | 4:09 pm
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Originally Posted by Mike Jacoubowsky
GigSky may be an even better deal, if you have an unlocked phone. And if you have an older phone lying around, you can get that one unlocked by the carrier and hotspot off it (yes, GigSky allows hot-spotting so you don't need multiple accounts if more than one of you).
https://www.gigsky.com/data-cruises

What I don't understand is why the cruise lines allow these new plans, which seriously undermine their onboard wifi profit center. I believe all of the new connectivity-at-sea options that work through your phone (not through a satellite receiver) use the ship's "cellular at sea" GSM connection.
\
Seabourn uses Starlink connection, which is superfast. Regular wifi is free, but there is a faster "Stream" package. Due to my status with them, I get the Stream package, it is allows wifi calling. Not sure about the regular package.

I know I have been successful using Skype on Silversea's basic package, and if I recall correctly, Viking.
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Old Apr 21, 2025 | 3:06 pm
  #20  
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Originally Posted by Mike Jacoubowsky
GigSky may be an even better deal, if you have an unlocked phone. And if you have an older phone lying around, you can get that one unlocked by the carrier and hotspot off it (yes, GigSky allows hot-spotting so you don't need multiple accounts if more than one of you).
https://www.gigsky.com/data-cruises

What I don't understand is why the cruise lines allow these new plans, which seriously undermine their onboard wifi profit center. I believe all of the new connectivity-at-sea options that work through your phone (not through a satellite receiver) use the ship's "cellular at sea" GSM connection.
Honestly, I don't find these plans that have been announced recently by GigSky and ATT to really be at all competitive. Ok, yeah, maybe if you use no data at all over that time period? But if you're going to need to do anything with data, the GigSky prices are pretty obnoxious in my opinion. I saw someone hawking this on youtube as an alternative to the "high priced" internet on the ships, and about the only thing I can figure is they clearly were being paid to promote it.

Now, I'm not saying that the cruise line plans are all that reasonable, but realistically, even since most of them have gone with starlink, other than price, they've been pretty decent. I have no idea what speeds the cellular at sea stuff is getting, but starlink has definitely in general been enough to be able to do things like zoom or streaming. (And of course, if you need to do either of those, you're going to blow through the gigsky data allotment in no time at all). Obviously some lines are better than others on pricing, but realistically, if you're going to need streaming capability, you're probably still far better off on the cruise line plans that the cell phone plans that have been revealed so far.)
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Old Apr 21, 2025 | 6:56 pm
  #21  
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Originally Posted by cardsqc
Honestly, I don't find these plans that have been announced recently by GigSky and ATT to really be at all competitive. Ok, yeah, maybe if you use no data at all over that time period? But if you're going to need to do anything with data, the GigSky prices are pretty obnoxious in my opinion. I saw someone hawking this on youtube as an alternative to the "high priced" internet on the ships, and about the only thing I can figure is they clearly were being paid to promote it.

Now, I'm not saying that the cruise line plans are all that reasonable, but realistically, even since most of them have gone with starlink, other than price, they've been pretty decent. I have no idea what speeds the cellular at sea stuff is getting, but starlink has definitely in general been enough to be able to do things like zoom or streaming. (And of course, if you need to do either of those, you're going to blow through the gigsky data allotment in no time at all). Obviously some lines are better than others on pricing, but realistically, if you're going to need streaming capability, you're probably still far better off on the cruise line plans that the cell phone plans that have been revealed so far.)
Even Starlink is dependent upon location. Our cruise December 2024 on Celebrity Solstice, Hong Kong to Singapore, had Starlink and streaming upgrade. Terrible coverage. When it was "on" it was dreadfully slow. Maybe two out of the 13 days it was ok.

Best "deal" in many cases would be to use the GigSky (or whatever) only while out to sea, and a very inexpensive non-sea SIM card for use while in ports. Most modern phones allow multiple e-sims but one needs to understand how to switch between them. I'm on Mint Mobile and was surprised that I could keep my Mint phone number in use while using data from a foreign esim overseas.
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Old Apr 22, 2025 | 7:59 pm
  #22  
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Originally Posted by Mike Jacoubowsky
Most modern phones allow multiple e-sims but one needs to understand how to switch between them.
You can have multiple profiles, but in general, only one eSim can be active at a time.
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Old Apr 23, 2025 | 11:42 am
  #23  
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Originally Posted by mahasamatman
You can have multiple profiles, but in general, only one eSim can be active at a time.
At least with an iPhone 14Pro, it was possible to choose a "Primary" sim for calls and another sim for data. Much easier to do than I thought it would be. At least with Mint Mobile anyway.
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