Having trouble connecting to GigSky while you're at sea? Cruise connectivity can work differently from regular land-based mobile service, so a few things are worth checking first.
Before purchasing a cruise plan, always confirm that both your cruise line and specific ship are covered by GigSky.
Cruise-only plans work on eligible ships. Cruise + Land plans work both onboard eligible ships and in supported destinations on land.
Troubleshooting at sea
If you're having trouble connecting, check the following:
Make sure you have an active GigSky cruise plan. A land-only plan won't provide cruise connectivity.
Confirm that your cruise line and specific ship are covered.
Make sure Airplane Mode is turned off.
Make sure your GigSky eSIM is turned on and selected for mobile data.
Check that Data Roaming is turned on for your GigSky eSIM.
Confirm that your APN is set to gigsky.
If you're inside your cabin and your signal is weak, move to a common area of the ship and try connecting again.
What to expect during your voyage
No service near shore
Your ship's cellular network may be turned off when the ship is within 12 nautical miles (22 km) of land to prevent interference with land-based networks.
You may therefore experience brief connectivity interruptions as your ship approaches or leaves a port.
Automatic network switching
When your ship moves farther from land, your GigSky eSIM can connect to the Cellular at Sea network.
When you return to port, your eSIM can automatically switch to a supported local network if your plan includes land coverage in that destination.
Intermittent connections
Passing close to islands or coastlines can cause temporary interruptions as the ship's cellular network is turned off near land.
Weaker signal inside your cabin
Cruise ships contain a lot of metal, which can weaken cellular signals inside the ship. This can affect different types of connectivity onboard, not just your GigSky eSIM.
You'll generally get the strongest signal in the ship's common areas. If your signal is weak or you're having trouble connecting inside your cabin, try moving to a common area and connecting again.
Weather and terrain
Weather and surrounding terrain can also affect connectivity. Storms, mountains, and cliffs may interfere with satellite signals, particularly in extreme northern or southern regions.
Slower speeds after reconnecting
When offshore service becomes available again, many devices may reconnect at the same time. This can temporarily increase network traffic and result in slower data speeds.
Good to know
Cruise connectivity is only available on eligible ships and cruise lines.
Make sure you have the correct type of plan for your trip.
Temporary loss of service near ports or coastlines can be expected.
If you have a weak signal inside your cabin, try moving to a common area of the ship, where the signal may be stronger.
Network conditions at sea can vary depending on your location, weather, and the number of connected devices.