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FAQs about roaming while on a cruise

How does roaming work while on a cruise ship?

Cruise ships have their own mobile network. It becomes available in international waters, and your mobile device will automatically connect to it. This network isn’t available when the ship is near land or docked. When the cruise ship’s network is turned off, your mobile device may pick up local service, which may result in extra charges if the destination is not included in your roaming package.

You’ll know that the cruise ship’s network is available if one of the following is displayed on your mobile device:

  • cellularatsea
  • wmsatsea
  • NOR-18
  • 901-18 

What’s the difference between roaming on land and while on a cruise?

While on a cruise, when using the on-ship network in international waters, data usage is limited to 1GB per 24-hour window at the fastest speeds available, with reduced speeds thereafter of up to 512 kbps.

Actual data speeds can vary depending on various factors including your device, configuration, usage, the network onboard the vessel, satellite connectivity, network and internet traffic, and environmental conditions, applicable network management practices, and other factors.

For more information on Travel Passes and daily roaming on land, see https://www.fido.ca/mobility/roaming.

What are my roaming options on a cruise ship?

Your options include International Fido Roam + Cruise Daily or the 7-day US, Mexico & Caribbean + Cruise Travel Pass.

  • International Fido Roam + Cruise Daily gives you roaming access to 182 international destinations, plus cruise ship coverage on eligible cruise ships for a daily rate. You’ll only be charged for the days you use data, talk or text features.

Coverage doesn’t include the U.S., U.S. Virgin Islands (St. Thomas, St. John, St. Croix), or Puerto Rico.

  • 7-day US, Mexico & Caribbean + Cruise Travel Pass gives you roaming access in the US, Mexico, the Caribbean and with added Cruise ship coverage for a flat rate.

Works in All 50 States + Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands.

Works in 30+ Caribbean destinations including Aruba, Mexico, Cuba and Dominican Republic.

Note: When using the on-ship network in international waters while on a cruise, data usage is limited to 1GB per 24-hour window at the fastest speeds available, with reduced speeds thereafter of up to 512 kbps.

Here’s the list of cruise ships that work with both options.

Make sure you don’t have any roaming blocks on your account before going on your trip.

What cruise ships are eligible for your roaming options?

These are the cruise ships that work with International Fido Roam and the 7-Day US, Mexico & Caribbean + Cruise Travel pass.

I want to use Fido Roam Daily for my cruise. How will I be charged?

Here’s how the daily rate works:

  • You’ll get charged per calendar day when you connect to the cruise ship’s network. You have until 11:59:59 p.m. Eastern Time (ET) of that calendar day to use your services, no matter what time zone you’re in.
  • Fido Roam International Daily includes coverage on eligible cruise ships , so if you roam in an international destination in the same day, you won’t get charged again that day. Here’s a list of eligible international destinations.
  • If you roam in the U.S., U.S. Virgin Islands (St. Thomas, St. John, St. Croix), or Puerto Rico.in the same day, you’ll get an additional charge for Fido Roam US Daily.
  • When using the on-ship network in international waters while on a cruise, data usage is limited to 1GB per 24-hour window at the fastest speeds available, with reduced speeds thereafter of up to 512 kbps.

Here are some examples of how the daily rate works:

  • Example 1: Cruise + international destination
    You connect to a cruise ship’s mobile network while at sea. You get a charge for International Fido Roam Daily + Cruise. Later in the same day, your ship docks in the Bahamas and you use your phone while at port. You won’t get an additional daily charge because the Bahamas are an International Fido Roam + Cruise destination.
  • Example 2: Cruise + US
    You connect to a cruise ship’s mobile network while at sea. You get a charge for International Fido RoamDaily + Cruise. Later in the same day, your ship docks in Florida and you use your phone while at port. You’ll get an additional daily charge for Fido Roam US Daily.