Your Complete Guide to the GigSky Cruise eSIM
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The Gigsky cruise reviews are mixed. Many cruisers praise the GigSky eSIM for smooth, reliable connectivity, while others report issues that usually trace back to locked phones or incomplete setup.
With coverage on more than 200 cruise ships—including Royal Caribbean, Carnival, Norwegian and more—GigSky stands out as the only eSIM that works both at sea and in over 200 countries on land.
Setup takes minutes, you’ll save hundreds compared to alternatives, and you’ll keep your regular number the whole time.
But there’s one crucial detail some travelers overlook: timing.
Get it wrong, and your plan could expire before you even leave port.
What Is an eSIM?
Before we get into the details, let’s cover what an eSIM is.
An eSIM is a digital version of the little plastic SIM card your phone normally uses.
Instead of inserting anything, it’s built right into your device. You just download an app, install the eSIM, and you’re ready to go.
You’ll still keep your regular phone number for calls and texts, the eSIM handles your data. And your phone can run both at once.
No swapping cards, no juggling SIM trays, and no worrying about losing that tiny piece of plastic somewhere between Miami and Cozumel.
Does GigSky Work at Sea?
Yes, GigSky provides coverage while you're at sea, not just when you pull into port.
The service connects to the cellular network that cruise ships set up using satellite technology.
You're not relying on some magical phone tower floating in the ocean. The ship creates its own network, and GigSky taps into it.
Now, you need to understand something important about cruise ship connectivity.
The way these networks get set up means coverage works better in some spots than others.
The ship's frame contains a lot of metal, and metal blocks signals.
So you might find your connection works perfectly on deck or in the common areas near the antennas, but gets spotty in your cabin.
This happens with any connectivity option on a cruise ship, not just Gigsky.
Also worth knowing: your eSIM starts working about an hour after the ship departs from port.
Plan accordingly. Don't expect to post your embarkation day photos the second you step on board.
How Much Does This Cost?
Let's talk about what you're actually spending here, because this is where cruise connectivity gets interesting.
GigSky offers different plan types depending on where you're cruising.
You can choose from five Cruise + Land plans that cover different regions, or you can select the cruise-only option if you just need data while you're on the ship.
The regional options break down like this:
You pick based on where your cruise is heading.
Plans range from 512 MB to 20 GB, with prices starting at $18.99.
The duration runs from one day to 120 days. If you burn through your data before your cruise ends, you can top up your plan or buy a new one.
The GigSky app sends you a notification when you hit 80% of your data, so you're not caught off guard.
In this GigSky cruise review, it's worth comparing these prices to what your regular carrier charges.
Many carriers only offer connectivity when you're in port, and they're charging between $12 to $20 per day for that privilege.
On a seven-day cruise, you're looking at $200 to $300 just for international roaming. And that's if you find a carrier that offers cruise coverage.
How to Set Up the GigSky Cruise eSIM
Now let's walk through getting Gigsky cruise eSIM set up. The installation process is simpler than most people expect.
- Make sure your phone can handle an eSIM.
You can check compatibility at gigsky.com/device-compatibility
Most newer phones support eSIMs, but older models might not. Take 30 seconds to verify before you get too far into this process.
- Confirm your phone is eSIM unlocked. An unlocked phone means you're not tied to a specific carrier and can use other services.
On an iPhone, go to Settings, tap General, then About, and look for "Carrier Lock." If it says "No SIM restrictions," you're good.
On Android, head to Settings, then Connections, then SIM manager or Mobile Networks.
If you see an "Add eSIM" option, your phone is unlocked.
If you find a SIM-locked message instead, contact your carrier to get it unlocked before your trip.
Once you've confirmed compatibility and unlocked status, here's what you do:
- Download the GigSky app
- Create an account
- Select Cruises from the menu
- Choose your cruise line from the list
- Pick the region where you're traveling
- Select your plan based on how much data you need and how long you're cruising.
You only install the GigSky eSIM once. After that first setup, you can reuse it for every trip. No need to reinstall or download anything new each time you travel.
When to Buy Your Plan
This timing thing trips people up constantly, so pay attention here.
You want to install your eSIM as close to your travel date as possible.
Here's why: when you download the eSIM on an iPhone, iOS automatically activates it.
The phone turns it on and starts looking for networks immediately.
If you bought a cruise plan that covers the Americas and Caribbean, and you live in the United States, your plan might activate the moment you install it because it detects a U.S. network.
Imagine you bought your plan weeks in advance because you found a great promotion.
You install the eSIM, it activates, and by the time you actually board your cruise, your 15-day plan has already expired. Now you're contacting support wondering why nothing works.
Skip this headache entirely. Buy your plan at least one day before your cruise, but ideally just a few minutes before your ship departs.
If you do buy early because of a discount, turn off the mobile data for that eSIM in your phone settings. Keep it turned off until you're actually on the ship and ready to use it.
For regular eSIM plans, we tell people to buy at least one day before their flight.
For cruise eSIMs, wait until you're about to board. The advice changes because cruise plans often include coverage in multiple countries, including possibly your home country, which creates that auto-activation problem.
Keeping Your Regular Number Active
Here's something that confuses people: you can keep your regular phone number active while using GigSky for data.
You're not swapping anything out or losing access to calls and texts on your main number.
But here's what you need to know about receiving calls while you're cruising: turn your phone to airplane mode as soon as you board the ship, then manually turn WiFi and your eSIM back on.
This prevents your regular carrier from connecting to the ship's cellular network, which charges astronomical per-minute rates for calls.
If someone calls your regular number while you're in airplane mode with the eSIM active, the call won't go through.
Instead, use WhatsApp, FaceTime, or any other internet-based calling app to stay in touch with people back home.
These apps use your GigSky data instead of traditional cellular minutes, saving you from those brutal roaming charges.
The same logic applies to texts. Regular SMS messages might trigger charges through your carrier. Stick with WhatsApp, iMessage, or other messaging apps that run on data.
What About the Ship's WiFi?
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Some people wonder if they should just forget the whole eSIM thing and buy the ship's WiFi package instead. The answer depends on how you plan to use the internet during your cruise.
The most common question in any GigSky cruise review is whether it can replace the ship's WiFi entirely.
Most travelers use GigSky because they need light to medium connectivity.
Checking WhatsApp messages, pulling up maps when they're in port, scrolling through social media, responding to a few emails. That's the sweet spot for GigSky.
The service handles these tasks without burning through your data or draining your wallet.
But if you need to stream Netflix, hop on video calls for work meetings, or upload hours of video to YouTube, GigSky probably won't cut it as your only option.
Heavy internet users often combine the ship's WiFi with GigSky. They use the ship's WiFi for bandwidth-intensive tasks and rely on GigSky for everything else, especially when they're in port and want to avoid the ship's WiFi coverage limits.
If working remotely on your cruise is the plan, download your shows and movies before you board, use alternative solutions for heavy work tasks, and save GigSky for WhatsApp, maps, social media, and light work like email.
What if It Doesn’t Work When I Arrive?
You've installed everything correctly, bought your plan, and boarded the ship. But when you try to connect, nothing happens. Before you panic, check a few things.
First, remember that the eSIM needs about an hour after the ship leaves port to start working. If you're still docked or just pulled away from the pier, wait a bit longer.
Second, verify you followed all the setup steps. Is your phone eSIM-compatible? Is it unlocked? Did you install the eSIM correctly through the app? Did you purchase a plan that covers your cruise line and region?
These might seem obvious, but people skip steps and wonder why things don't work.
Third, understand that signal strength varies based on where you are on the ship.
If you're deep in your cabin and nothing's connecting, head up to the deck or common areas where the ship's antennas provide better coverage.
The metal structure of the ship blocks signals inconsistently. Sometimes moving to a different location solves the problem immediately.
Your Guide to the GigSky Cruise eSIM [Recap]
- You can use GigSky on 200+ cruise ships (Royal Caribbean, Carnival, Norwegian, etc.) and in 200+ countries on land.
- Make sure your phone is unlocked and eSIM-compatible before you buy.
- Timing is critical: install your eSIM right before departure, not weeks early, or it may expire before you sail.
- Works at sea by connecting to the ship’s cellular network (via satellite). Expect the best signal on deck or near open areas.
- eSIM activates about an hour after leaving port.
- Plans: 512 MB–10 GB, from $19.99–$123.19, lasting 1–30 days. Cruise-only or regional (Americas, Europe, Asia Pacific, etc.).
- Buy through the GigSky app: choose Cruises → your cruise line → region → plan.
- Install once; reuse on future trips—no need to reinstall.
- Use WhatsApp, iMessage, or FaceTime for calls/texts.
- Ship WiFi is best for heavy streaming or work; GigSky handles light-to-medium use (social, email, maps).
- If it’s not working: wait an hour after departure, double-check setup, or move to an open deck for signal.
Ready to explore GigSky's Cruise eSIM plans? Visit gigsky.com to check compatibility, browse cruise coverage, and find the plan that fits your next voyage.
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