Sharing Starlink Internet on Cruise Ships with the Other Travelers
Most cruise lines do not let passengers use their own Starlink dish on board, and that includes the Starlink Mini. If you’ve ever been on a cruise, you know the frustration of slow internet speeds while at sea. With cruise ship Wi-Fi often delivering speeds under 4 Mbps, many travelers are wondering if they can bring their own Starlink satellite internet system on board, especially with the Starlink Mini being available for roaming.
Watch the video below from the Between Two Palms discussion series and read this blog post to find out what you need to know about using Starlink on cruise ships.
Most Cruise Ships Restrict Personal Starlink Internet Use
A notable incident involving YouTube content creator Richard Shillington from the “No Pants Profits” channel highlighted the complexities of using personal Starlink devices on cruise ships. After experiencing slow internet speeds of less than 4 Mbps on Carnival Cruise’s WiFi, Shillington decided to set up his Starlink Mini device.
His Starlink connection delivered speeds above 100 Mbps, far faster than the ship’s standard internet service. The success was short-lived: the ship’s captain eventually confiscated the Starlink device, saying such devices were not permitted on board.
Is It Legal to Restrict Personal Starlink Internet Use Aboard Cruise Ships?
The legality of restricting personal satellite internet devices on cruise ships sits in a grey area, so check the terms and conditions when you book a cruise and know what to expect in terms of Internet speeds. While there are precedents protecting consumers’ rights to use their own Wi-Fi devices in certain situations (such as the Marriott case, see below), these rules may not apply in the same way to cruise ships or satellite communications.
For context, in the Marriott case, the federal government ruled that blocking WiFi in the ISM 2.4 GHz band and 5 GHz band violated citizens’ rights to use these frequencies. However, this ruling specifically pertained to WiFi frequencies and land-based properties, not necessarily satellite communications or maritime vessels.
Alternative Solutions for Better Internet on Cruise Ships
When you need reliable internet connectivity while on a cruise ship, you can consider these alternatives:
- Use the ship’s premium internet packages. Many cruise ships now run their guest Wi-Fi over Starlink, so the ship’s own package is often the way to get Starlink speeds at sea.
- Use apps that combine more than one internet connection on your phone or laptop, such as the ship’s Wi-Fi and your phone’s cellular connection. Speedify is one: it uses both at the same time near ports and coastlines, where your phone has a cellular signal. Far out at sea, with only the ship’s Wi-Fi, Speedify works as an encrypted VPN and cannot make that Wi-Fi faster. Leave any travel router at home: Carnival’s list of prohibited items includes routers, satellite dishes and other internet networking equipment.
- Use cellular data when in port or near coastlines.
Read T&Cs Before Bringing Your Own Personal Starlink on Cruise Ships
While Starlink technology offers good speeds and can provide excellent internet connectivity at sea, current cruise line policies generally prohibit passengers from using personal Starlink devices.
Before packing your Starlink for your next cruise, check with your cruise line about their specific policies regarding personal satellite internet devices to avoid any uncomfortable situations or potential device confiscation.
Until clearer regulations emerge or cruise lines change their policies, passengers will likely need to rely on ships’ provided internet services or seek alternative connectivity solutions for their time at sea.
Connectivity Tech Discussions
In the Connectivity Tech Discussions Between Two Palms video series, Speedify CEO Alex Gizis and technical guests talk through the latest internet technology: Starlink and other satellite internet, Wi-Fi 7, Apple, fiber, new routers, remote connectivity and networking protocols.