Can I Text on a Cruise Ship?

By Alice Nichols

Most cruise ships now offer the capability to text during your cruise, allowing you to stay connected with family and friends back home. With the rise in popularity of social media, many travelers are wondering if they can text while on board a cruise ship. The answer is yes, you can send and receive texts while cruising.

Cruise lines have been gradually adding cell phone service aboard their ships over the past few years. This service is provided through various providers that partner with the cruise line and provide coverage for their passengers.

Depending on your provider, you may be able to access cellular data services such as 4G/LTE or 3G networks while at sea. In addition to texting, this allows passengers to access their favorite apps like Facebook and Twitter, send emails, and make calls.

When it comes to texting on a cruise ship, there are typically two options available: an onboard Wi-Fi network or a cellular network. If your cruise line offers Wi-Fi access, you will be able to use your own device (smartphone or tablet) to connect to the internet and send/receive texts as normal. However, there may be additional costs associated with using Wi-Fi onboard such as an activation fee or hourly rates.

For those who prefer not to use the onboard Wi-Fi network, they can opt for a cellular network instead. This option requires purchasing a local SIM card from one of the providers servicing the region where you are cruising. Once you have purchased the SIM card and activated it in your device, you will be able to use it for sending/receiving texts as well as making calls.

Conclusion:

Can I Text on a Cruise Ship? Yes – most modern cruise lines offer varying degrees of cell phone service onboard their ships which allows passengers to send/receive texts during their voyage. Depending on what type of service is available (Wi-Fi or cellular), there may be additional costs associated with using this service but it is definitely possible for passengers to stay connected while at sea.