Tips and Tricks

Internet on a cruise can be very expensive, sometimes accounting for over 10% of the costs of the cruise itself!

If you're traveling in a group, there is a way to save some money by using a travel router.

Using a travel router as a gateway, like the GL.iNet AXT1800 (https://amzn.to/4eiGiKd), will allow multiple people in your room to share the same connection.

The catch is that you will need to be within earshot of the travel router to be able to access the internet. You do have the option of powering your router with a power bank using USB-C, and carrying the entire setup with the group.

The power consumption is less than 10W, so the average 10,000 mAh power bank out there should be able to power it for at least 3-4 hours.

Here's a good video explaining the setup and how it works.

The best practice is that whenever you're on the ship, switch to airplane mode.

To dig in a bit more, this is a complicated topic.

While docked at cities or sailing close to the coast, you should receive an international roaming cellular signal (or if you are taking Alaskan cruises, you will receive US signal at Alaskan port cities). Costs will depend on your wireless carrier and your plan, and if your plan comes with free international roaming perks, you can use your phone as is.

Some ships have their own cellular service. During sea days when you're many miles away from land, your phone may automatically connect to the cruise ship's own cellular service. This is considered roaming service, but it is not part of any wireless provider's network. Any calls, texts and data you make/consume using this service will result in unreasonably high fees billed directly to your wireless provider. You should not use your phone in this situation and should be in airplane mode.

Where it gets complicated is when your ship is cruising at sea but is close to the coastline where land-based cellular service is spotty, coming in and out of coverage. Making calls, texting or using data can be a roll of the dice in this situation because it may not be clear if you're on the ships own cell service.

Therefore, best practice is that whenever you're on the ship, switch to airplane mode.

Because of the way cruise ships generate electricity, surge protectors are prohibited on most cruise ships.

To make the most out of existing outlets, consider buying power strips that do not have surge protection. Personally I have a 3-outlet, 2-USB-A and 2-USB-C power strip from One Beat (https://amzn.to/3VGraPm).

Some cruise ships even go as far as prohibiting power strips altogether, in which case travel adapter plugs that splits into multiple outlets, like this multi-geography to US adapter set by Ceptics (https://amzn.to/3xreaUu) would be very useful.

Be sure to check your cruise line's policies before purchasing or bringing outlets or power strips onto your ship.

I will also blog about my ship inspections and note any information I find out about outlet types in different staterooms.

Most new or refurbishes cruise ships these days will have at least a few outlets, and some even with USB-A or USB-C outlets.

Before plugging in to built-in USB ports, keep in mind that Juice Jacking, however unlikely, is a real thing. Consider a set of data blocker plugs to protect yourself. I purchased these ones from JSAUX (https://amzn.to/3RlQSq8). In high traffic areas like public charging stations at the airport, this would eliminate any risks of juice jacking.

Since not all USB ports are located in conveniently accessible locations, and conditions of USB ports vary (some ships have non-functional / broken USB ports), consider carrying power banks - you can always charge your power bank during the day, and use your power banks to charge your phone at night.

I'm not going to recommend specific power bank models, but I can stand behind Anker (https://amzn.to/3RpOmil).

Gyms can get busy on sea days. You can generally avoid the crowd in a few ways:

1. Early mornings
2. Port days (when moored)
3. Meal times

Some ships have jogging tracks, basketball courts or even climbing walls!

Depending on the location and geography, you may encounter different types of scams / risks. (See this video from Tips for Travellers for more details)

• Pickpockets - distractions like spill coffee/ice-cream on you or falling over,
  suspiciously nice or passionate locals,
  locals crowding / pushing against you when there is no reason to

• Taxi scams
  Repeated suggestions of alternative touristy destinations,
  "per-person" price instead of per-ride price,
  "I have no change" excuses to take your large bills,
  "I know a guy" who sells often sold-out tickets

• "Free" gifts - locals handing out allegedly free gifts and stalk you everywhere afterwards to get you to pay for additional products, or distracting you so an accomplice can pickpocket

• Photo opportunities
  Costumed locals demanding high fee after posing for a photo,
  Offering to take a picture for you but asks you to unlock the phone to use the camera (They can run away with the unlocked phone) (Modern phones do not need to be unlocked to access the camera)

In most cases, yes. However, there are some unique situations where connecting itineraries together may violate the Passenger Vessel Services Act.

PVSA states that any vessels that are not US flagged (which most cruise ships are not) must not transport passengers between two different US ports, unless the ship stops at (or "schedules a call to") a distant foreign port.

If you're taking a southbound Alaskan cruise from Seward Alaska to Vancouver Canada, and booked a connecting itinerary on the same ship from Vancouver to Los Angeles, then the ship carrying you is in violation of the PVSA.

When in doubt, check with the cruise line or your travel agent.