# Mobile data on a ferry, a cruise and a plane

In short: at open sea and in a plane «Roam like at home» doesn't apply and a travel eSIM doesn't work. The phone joins the ship's or plane's network, and with a Ukrainian SIM that costs up to 410 UAH per MB. Use airplane mode.

«Roam like at home» applies only on land networks: in harbour, on a river, at the airport. Not on a ship at open sea or in a plane, even between EU countries.

## 🛳 Ferry

Near the coast the phone uses the country's land network. Further out some ferries have their own network (Grimaldi and Minoan mention «maritime roaming») and the phone joins it by itself. Between Turkey and Greece the phone may jump between Turkish and Greek networks: the Turkish one isn't «like at home» for a Ukrainian SIM.

Vodafone: 10 UAH per 100 KB (≈ 102 UAH/MB)

Kyivstar (MCP, TIM Maritime): 20 UAH per 50 KB (≈ 410 UAH/MB); WMS: 300 UAH a day

lifecell doesn't offer roaming on ship and in-flight networks (since 16.11.2023).

Kyivstar: calls 150 UAH/min, SMS 15 UAH.

Airplane mode once you leave the pier, Wi-Fi on separately. An eSIM works in port and near the coast if the country is in the plan: on Bodrum–Kos you need a plan for both Turkey and Greece.

## 🚢 Cruise

At sea the ship runs its own mobile network (Wireless Maritime Services on 210+ ships, Telenor Maritime) over satellite; your operator bills it at its own rate.

Vodafone: 10 UAH per 100 KB (≈ 102 UAH/MB)

Kyivstar (MCP, TIM Maritime): 20 UAH per 50 KB (≈ 410 UAH/MB); WMS: 300 UAH a day

lifecell doesn't offer roaming on ship and in-flight networks (since 16.11.2023).

Kyivstar: calls 150 UAH/min, SMS 15 UAH.

Airplane mode for the whole cruise, Wi-Fi by hand. In port use an eSIM for the country or the region. Upload photos and video in port.

## ✈️ Plane

In flight the phone is in airplane mode. Some flights have the airline's Wi-Fi or the AeroMobile network (Emirates, Etihad, Lufthansa, Turkish…): that's paid roaming through your operator.

Vodafone: 20 UAH per 100 KB (≈ 205 UAH/MB)

Kyivstar (AeroMobile): no data, or 300 UAH a day; check in My Kyivstar.

lifecell doesn't offer roaming on ship and in-flight networks (since 16.11.2023).

Kyivstar: calls 150 UAH/min, SMS 15 UAH.

Airplane mode, Wi-Fi on separately (it works in airplane mode). On Wizz and Ryanair download films and maps in advance.

## Questions and answers

### Does «Roam like at home» work on a ferry or a cruise ship?

Only near the coast and in port, while the phone is on a land network. At open sea it joins the ship's satellite network, which is separate, expensive roaming even between EU countries.

### What does mobile data cost on a ship with Kyivstar, Vodafone and lifecell?

Vodafone: 10 UAH per 100 KB at sea, 20 UAH in a plane. Kyivstar: 20 UAH per 50 KB on MCP and TIM Maritime, 300 UAH a day on WMS. lifecell doesn't serve these networks.

### Does a travel eSIM work on a cruise or a ferry?

Not at open sea: a travel eSIM uses countries' land networks. In port and near the coast yes, if the country is in your plan.

### What are Telenor Maritime, MCP, WMS and AeroMobile on my phone's screen?

Ship and in-flight mobile networks over satellite. If you see one, you're in expensive roaming: switch on airplane mode.

### Do Wizz Air and Ryanair have Wi-Fi?

No. Ryanair says there's no Wi-Fi on its flights; Wizz Air plans Starlink from 2027 (Euronews). Download films and maps in advance.

### What does Wi-Fi cost on an MSC, Costa or Royal Caribbean cruise?

Royal Caribbean: from $16.99 per device a day. MSC and Costa don't publish prices openly; see the cruise app. Celestyal gives basic Wi-Fi free.

### Can I make calls from a plane?

On some flights (Emirates, Etihad, Lufthansa, Turkish…) there's the AeroMobile network: that's paid roaming through your operator.

### How do I avoid a roaming bill on the Bodrum–Kos ferry?

Before sailing, turn off data roaming on your Ukrainian SIM and switch on airplane mode. Near the coast use an eSIM that covers both Turkey and Greece.

Sources (checked 13.11.2026): [Vodafone Україна: Роумінг](https://www.vodafone.ua/services/roaming), [Київстар: Роумінг на морському та авіатранспорті (передплата)](https://kyivstar.ua/services/prepaid/air-sea-satellite), [Київстар: Оновлюємо умови інтернету в деяких країнах роумінгу](https://kyivstar.ua/news/id180820261545), [Київстар: Блокування інтернету в роумінгу (передплата)](https://kyivstar.ua/services/prepaid/datablock), [lifecell: Роумінг](https://roaming.lifecell.ua/), [lifecell: оголошення 09.11.2023 і 21.11.2023](https://www.lifecell.ua/uk/gu_announcements/725/?flavour=full), [lifecell API: список країн роумінгу (186)](https://www.lifecell.ua/products/api/v1/roaming), [Your Europe: Mobile roaming costs](https://europa.eu/youreurope/citizens/consumers/internet-telecoms/mobile-roaming-costs/index_en.htm), [European Commission: Roaming](https://digital-strategy.ec.europa.eu/en/policies/roaming), [Regulation (EU) 2022/612, art. 13(6), 14(7), recital 46](https://eur-lex.europa.eu/eli/reg/2022/612/oj/eng), [ECC Netherlands: Prevent high costs when using your mobile device at sea](https://www.eccnederland.nl/en/news/prevent-high-costs-when-using-your-mobile-device-sea), [Telenor Maritime: History](https://telenormaritime.com/about-us/history), [Wireless Maritime Services (Cellular at Sea): FAQ](https://cellularatsea.com/faqs), [AeroMobile (Panasonic): How it works](https://www.aeromobile.net/how-it-works), [AeroMobile: Airlines](https://www.aeromobile.net/airlines), [SITA: Mobile ONAIR (blog)](https://www.sita.aero/resources/blog/the-mobile-services-molding-inflight-connectivitys-future), [Royal Caribbean: VOOM FAQ](https://www.royalcaribbean.com/faq/questions/onboard-internet-wifi-device-policy), [Royal Caribbean: WiFi cruise packages (guide)](https://www.royalcaribbean.com/guides/wifi-cruise-packages), [MSC Cruises Israel: onboard internet](https://www.msccruises.co.il/en/?p=4530), [Celestyal: What's included](https://celestyal.com/ie/onboard/whats-included), [Grimaldi Lines: fleet / Wi-Fi (сніпети)](https://www.grimaldi-lines.com/), [Attica Group (Superfast, Anek, Blue Star): WiFi on board](https://www.seasmiles.com/en/wifi-on-board), [Minoan Lines: onboard services](https://www.minoan.it/en/routes-fares-timetable-minoan-lines/11-uncategorized/92-minoan-lines-ships-onboard-services), [Turkish Airlines: Inflight connectivity](https://www.turkishairlines.com/en-pt/flights/fly-different/inflight-connectivity/), [LOT: Inflight Wi-Fi](https://www.lot.com/us/en/journey/on-board/inflight-wifi), [Ryanair Help: Wi-Fi](https://help.ryanair.com/hc/en-gb/articles/12890696574609), [Emirates: Onboard Wi-Fi](https://www.emirates.com/us/english/experience/inflight-entertainment/onboard-wifi/), [Tutu: норми трафіку калькулятора (/data-calculator/)](site/calc.py), [Tutu: Роумінг як удома (ліміти операторів, special.border)](marketing/compare/roam-like-home.json)