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Home / Mobile data on a ferry, a cruise and a plane

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🚢 Cruise✈️ Plane
Your operator

🛳 Ferry

What happens

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.

What it costs

  • 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.

Attica (Superfast, Anek, Blue Star): paid Wi-Fi packages, −10% a day before the trip. Grimaldi: paid Wi-Fi, none on Kydon Palace.

How not to overpay

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.

Ashore and in port: an eSIM: Turkey from $1.99 · Greece from $2.99 · Europe from $3.49

🚢 Cruise

What happens

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.

What it costs

  • 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.

Royal Caribbean: $16.99 to $30.99 per device a day (from the company site's search snippet); cheaper when bought before the cruise. Celestyal: basic Wi-Fi free for everyone. MSC, Costa: prices aren't published openly; see the cruise app.

How not to overpay

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.

Ashore and in port: an eSIM: Turkey from $1.99 · Greece from $2.99 · Europe from $3.49

✈️ Plane

What happens

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.

What it costs

  • 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.
Turkish AirlinesWi-Fi: $3 / $9 250 MB / $13 ∞ *
LOTWi-Fi: chat $7, streaming $29 *
EmiratesWi-Fi ✓ · AeroMobile *
Wizz Airno Wi-Fi (Starlink 2027)
Ryanairno Wi-Fi *

* from the company site's search snippet

How not to overpay

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

📶 Arrival airport Wi-Fi →

What one hour on a maritime or in-flight network costs

Network
What you do
Hours
1

How to switch it off

  1. Airplane mode Control Centre > ✈️. Then turn Wi-Fi on separately if you bought a package on board. Quick settings > ✈️. Then turn Wi-Fi on separately.
  2. Data roaming off on every line Settings > Cellular > the line > Data Roaming. Settings > SIM cards > the line > Roaming.
  3. Choose the network by hand near the coast Cellular > the line > Network Selection > turn off «Automatic» and pick the country's land operator. SIM cards > the line > Network operators > turn off «Automatic» and pick the country's land operator.

A name on the screen like Telenor Maritime, MCP, WMS, AeroMobile or Cellular at Sea means a ship or in-flight network. Vodafone: block data roaming with *600*12#.

If the bill has already come

  1. Keep the operator's SMS about joining the network: it shows when and where the phone connected.
  2. Write to your operator: Kyivstar and Vodafone have roaming limits; check whether they kicked in.
  3. If you travel with an EU operator's SIM: Regulation 2022/612 applies to them (an SMS on joining, protection from accidental connection); refer to it.

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

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