Ad. This Episode we go through an affordable and flexible alternative to Cruise Ship Wifi. We check out Gigsky and their Cruise and land Package.
What Gigsky are offering:
Rather than buy a ship Wi-Fi package, you purchase an e-SIM.
Here is the direct link for Gigsky, to get that promo and to see the various plans available:
https://www.mful9l2p.com/DFBHL/2CTPL/
Promo and collaboration code mentioned in this video: enter the following for a 20% discount: RITZY20
Once you activate the Gigsky e-SIM prior to departure, you get signal on the ship, at sea, also when ashore, for port and shore visits, internationally. This is a huge evolution from cruise ship WiFi that only works within the confines of the ship. The Gigsky e-SIM works onboard AND on land.
You select how much data you wish to pre-pay for, up to 10gb. This can be topped up during your vacation, should you run out and need more.
You then select the region you are going to.
Your e-SIM will have a validity of up to 30 days. (Depending on which you choose.) So if you are going on back to back cruises, you can keep using it from one ship to the other, until expiry.
Check your intended cruise line and ship is on their list. The vast majority are supported, but do check. Notable exceptions who have not opted into the Cellular at Sea program include: Cunard, Marella and P&O.
A distinguishing factor between the Gigsky system and regular ships Wi-Fi is the ability to Tether or what’s known as ‘Hotspot.’ The vast majority of ships Wi-Fi do not permit you to share their WiFi package with family or friends. It’s access for 1 person, 1 device. Furthermore, most ships block you from sharing it between your phone, laptop, or computer. Meaning Ships WiFi is tightly controlled and cannot be shared. The Gigsky system DOES permit unlimited sharing/hotspot between your own devices, family and friends. Far more flexible and cost effective.
Once you download the Gigsky app, it guides you through the process of activating the e-SIM, and also the settings on your phone to permit use. It involves toggling the switch from your usual data internet provider to Gigsky.
Notes on the Gigsky Package, from our experience using it:
1. Most importantly: It’s targeted at Light to Medium users, not serial watchers of movies and Netflix. It’s similar to a normal cellphone data allowance. Make sure you stick to the data you have bought. Or top up. If you are a heavy user of streaming services you risk burning through that data quickly! Its not designed for huge consumers of streaming services. Ships WiFi is more designed for that.
2. If you are someone who typically likes to read the news, correspond on email, check your social media, upload some photos, short videos etc, then you should be fine. You would be within the target audience. But not heavy streamers!
3. If you are a technophobe, and worry about going into phone settings, possibly this is not for you. It’s reasonably straight forward using e-SIMs. Most users should be fine.
4. Gigsky uses the Cellular at Sea system. There is a brief limitation on service for a short period as you leave port. As the ships sails off, the system temporarily disables internet access until it has reached a distance of 12 miles from port. Approximately 1 hour. If you are fine with that, you are good to go.
5. Your phone MUST be unlocked. If you’re phone has a contract that does not permit you to connect to other carriers, it may not work. Please check if your phone is locked.
6. Make sure you have background Video syncing to cloud servers turned off. Likely it is already, for a data connection, but be sure to check. (Typically phones only sync on wi-fi, but double check yours)
7. You may need to reboot your phone after activating the Gigsky package, to clear any cache.
In summary, we cannot guarantee you will like the Gigsky product, but we have found it to be flexible, and useful. Especially as it’s a 2-1 product that can be used on ship and land, when we visit foreign countries.
No, the Gigsky pack is not unlimited, like cruise WiFi, but we’re happy to forego that, for the greater flexibility it offers. We just need to buy 1 plan for both of us, rather than needing to buy multiple WiFi packs for each person, and device.
I hope this video has been of help.
Mentioned in this video:
Cheap cruise wifi, Cruise internet, wifi pack, wifi package, Gigsky, e-SIM, Cellular at sea, best wifi package for cruise, cheap wifi package for cruise
DISCLOSURE – This is a collaboration with Gigsky. Links found in the description box of this video are affiliate links, meaning that we will make a small commission on purchases you make through our links, at no extra cost to you.
Email : ritzytravelguide@gmail.com
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Very questionable. You get just 10 Gb for 112 USD. Don’t see how it is going to be cheaper compared to unlimited WiFi. 10 Gb is almost nothing, so if you pay e.g. for 30 Gb it will be more expensive than cruise WiFi.
To tether when there's a tether block, set up a VPN. They can't then see the hop count in the packets which they use to detect tethered traffic. Also a VPN is generally useful in hostage-wifi situations since they often have content blocks or packet snooping that can ruin your experience. Turn on the VPN and if things speed up, you know they are playing evil games with your traffic and you need the VPN.
So lost
Cellular at sea is basically a cell tower on the cruise ship that’s linked back to land via satellite.
There is an area of a dead zone when you leave the shore coverage of the countries cell towers and when the cellular at sea towers can legally turn on.
Cellular at sea must be so many miles away from land so that their cell towers on the ships don’t interfere with the licensed land based cell companies like Verizon, t mobile or who ever is in the local country.
So people tend to complain it’s spotty because they don’t understand if you are following the coast line in Europe then you can be too close for cell at sea to be turned on but too far for your phone to talk to land based towers.
But you have to realize you won’t get any real speed and the lag will be huge because you are all sharing a satellite connection with everyone else’s phone.
Also cell at sea was never designed to be a 5G level connection. If you need bandwidth, you need to go with the ships WiFi.
I'm gonna take my Starlink
Thank you for the inputs and informations.
Would this work as well for an inside cabin?
Royal will let you share…will send you a code to share with anyone
With the amount you pay for the cruise Wi-Fi should be complimentary