How to Text on a Cruise Ship Without Paying a Fortune

One thing that always makes me nervous when traveling internationally, including while on a cruise, is how I’m going to stay in touch with folks back home. If you’re the same, you’ve probably looked into how you might be able to text during your cruise … and then you’ve come across some eye-watering-ly expensive cruise line WiFi and texting packages.

The good news? It is possible to text for free or near-free during your cruise, without paying high prices. Here’s what you should know.

How to Text for Free During a Cruise

Rather than texting like you normally might during your cruise, in order to do so for free, you’re going to want to use a texting app or similar option that works off a WiFi connection rather than a cellular connection. Texting using cellular service can leave you with a huge bill.

If you use iMessage, WhatsApp, Facebook Messenger, WeChat or something similar, you can text using the ship’s or a port’s local WiFi, without relying on pricy, at-sea cellular service (more on that below).

In some cases, if you just want to text other people that you’re sailing with, such as if you’re trying to get in touch with your teen who’s at the pool while you’re in your stateroom, you can often do so through the cruise line’s app specifically.

Texting on Specific Cruise Lines

Wondering what you need to know about texting on the specific cruise line that you’re sailing with? Here’s a breakdown of texting options on the major cruise lines. Some allow you to text with other cruisers for free. Some require a small fee.

Texting on Norwegian Cruise Line

You can download the NCL mobile app for free. Then, when you’re on the ship, according to Redditors, you can purchase a text-specific CruiseChat Pass, which allows you to use text apps like iMessage, WhatsApp, and Google Messenger. You cannot send photos or audio, but it’s enough to get you by and generally costs only a few dollars per day.

Texting with the Celebrity Cruises App

If you use the Celebrity Cruises appyou can text other people on the ship totally for free. There’s no need to buy anything specific or extra. You just have to be connected to the ship’s guest WiFi. If you need more capabilities, internet plans for your devices are available.

Texting with the Carnival HUB App

You can similarly use the Carnival HUB app to text with other people on your cruise, but with one caveat. While the app itself is free to use and download, if you want to unlock the chat feature, you’ll have to pay $5 per user.

Texting with the MSC For Me App

The MSC for Me app allows you to message friends or family who are also on the ship, without any need for an internet package. However, this feature is only open to cruisers ages 16 and up.

Texting with the Disney Cruise Line Navigator App

Disney Cruise Line actually offers some really impressive, free texting capabilities across its entire fleet.

To start, using the Navigator appeveryone you’re cruising with can join a group chat and talk during the cruise. Then, the ships also offer complimentary WiFi that allows you to text via WhatsApp and iMessage, both with those you’re cruising with and folks back home.

However, note that this complimentary WiFi is only really suitable for texting. For sending photos or video, you’ll need a package. Still! It’s a great value and a rarity in the cruising industry.

Texting with the Royal Caribbean App

If you have the Royal Caribbean appyou can chat with other users while you’re onboard the ship, totally for free. Otherwise, if you need to use the WiFi to text people back home, you’ll have to purchase an internet package.

Texting with the MedallionNet App

Similarly, you can text other cruisers on your Princess Cruises ship by using the chat feature in the MedallionNet app. However, some cruisers have found the chat feature to be less than ideal, as it doesn’t actually give you any notifications that you’ve received new messages, requiring an extra step to stay in touch.

Some cruisers also find that they can use WiFi-based texting apps like Google Chat without paying for an internet package. Others, though, aren’t so lucky, so don’t rely on this.

Texting with the Navigator by Holland America App

The Holland America App likewise allows for messaging other travelers during your cruise, for free. That said, again, some cruisers have complained about the app’s chatting capabilities and have preferred to purchase WiFi plans in order to stay in touch not only with people back home but also with fellow cruisers, stating that WiFi packages are often discounted shortly after embarkation.

How to Get Texting for Free Through Your Cruise Line

You may’ve noticed something about many of the above options. While they may allow you “technically” to text for “free,” you often have to initially pay for WiFi or similar access in order to truly text anyone, anytime, anywhere. So how can you get that for free?

There are a few options.

Use Your Onboard Credits

If you’ve done your due diligence and hunted down the best cruise deals possible, you may’ve been able to book a cruise package that comes with some onboard credits. Use those to your advantage. While, sure, you can use them for “fun” stuff like dining or drinks, be a little more practical and use them to pay for onboard WiFi instead.

Join a Loyalty Program

Cruise line loyalty program members receive a lot of free perks. While those perks start out simple at first (maybe you get a credit for a free beverage or a discount on spa services), they accumulate the more you cruise, and you could just find yourself with free WiFi.

Look for Free WiFi Promotions When Booking

Additionally, you can specifically keep WiFi and texting in mind when booking your cruise. Many cruise lines will offer WiFi-included promotions from time to time, allowing you to book and know you’ll have WiFi-enabled texting, right from the start.

Book with a Cruise Line that Specifically Offers Complimentary WiFi

Of course, if having free WiFi is a make-or-break-it deal for you, then you may want to specifically book your cruise with one of the handful of lines that include basic WiFi in their fares.

As already mentioned, Disney Cruise Line does this, but Virgin Voyages does as well, as do some luxury cruise lines like Seabourn, Regent Seven Seas and Viking.

Other Ways to Text for Free While on a Cruise

If you want to go through the least amount of hassle possible when trying to text for free on a cruise, even more options exist.

For instance, often in port, if you go out onto the ship’s open decks, you can pick up local free WiFi. Of course, you can also get off the ship and go out and get WiFi in port as well. Free WiFi is often available at cruise terminalsrestaurants, coffee shops, malls and more.

If I’m really trying to be frugal and convenient, I’ll sometimes opt for just texting in port versus trying to stay connected all throughout my cruise (because, honestly, sometimes that disconnection, though stressful initially, can be relaxing).

If you do wait until you get to port to text, don’t take your phone out of airplane mode, unless you have coverage in that port via your existing cellular provider. Otherwise, you’ll pay your provider’s international rates. Instead, again, always rely on WiFi.

How to Avoid Unexpected Cell Phone Bills During a Cruise

Let’s say you do nothing at all. You don’t go out of your way to find free texting work-arounds, but you also don’t actually text or call anyone during your cruise. You could still find yourself coming home to a big cellular bill.

This is because, whether you like it or not, your cell phone is always searching for service. Once your ship heads out to sea, your cell phone is going to find specialized at-sea providers like Cellular at Sea. These providers charge a pretty penny for their service. If your phone connects and is using that service, not even to text or call but just merely to run apps in the background, you end up with a big bill.

As such, make sure that you put your phone in airplane mode before you head out on your cruise.

That said, if you do want to use one of these providers for texting or similar communication, you can lower your bill by turning off any unnecessary phone functions. For example, disable apps running in the background. Turn off automatic updates or notifications.

Can You Text During Your Cruise Through Your Existing Carrier?

It may very well be the case that you can text during your cruise through your existing carrier. I use Verizon and have great service all over the world. Additionally, some cell service providers offer cruise-specific add-ons that can be pretty affordable and make your trip all the more convenient and easy.

Here are some of your options.

Verizon Cruise Daily Pass

Verizon’s cruise daily pass is $20 per line per day, and you’ll only pay on days that you use your phone at sea. You’ll get unlimited data (0.5 GB of high-speed data, then unlimited data at 3G speeds), unlimited talk minutes and unlimited texting.

T-Mobile

While T-Mobile doesn’t offer a specific cruise package, your existing coverage could already allow for staying connected during a cruise, depending on your current international and roaming coverage.

AT&T International Day Pass

Then, AT&T’s international day pass provides cruise ship service for $20 per day. You get unlimited talk and text, and 500 MB of data per day. You only pay on the days you use the