How to Avoid Expensive Cruise WiFi Packages — My Honest GigSky eSIM Review
I tested a GigSky Cruise eSIM during a Mediterranean cruise with Costa Crociere. Here is what worked, what did not, and who should consider it.
Cruise WiFi packages can be painfully expensive, especially when you are travelling as a family and everyone wants to stay connected. During my recent Mediterranean cruise with Costa Crociere in April, I decided to test an alternative: a GigSky Cruise eSIM.
I did not expect miracles. Internet at sea is always complicated, and I already knew that cruise ship WiFi packages exist for a reason. But I wanted to see if an eSIM could be a cheaper and more flexible solution, especially because I wanted to use the connection on more than one device and share it with my family.
This is my honest review.
Why I Tried GigSky Instead of Buying the Cruise WiFi Package
On my Costa cruise, the full internet package was offered at around €119 per device.
That is not crazy if you only need one phone connected, but it becomes expensive very quickly when you travel with family. One device is never really one device anymore. You may want to use your phone, your partner may need internet, the kids may want a tablet, and maybe you also need a laptop for quick work, emails or travel planning.
That is where GigSky became interesting for me.
I purchased a 5 GB GigSky plan, which at the time was on promotion for €115. So the price was very similar to Costa’s full internet package, but the big difference was flexibility.
With GigSky, I could:
- Use the data at sea during the cruise
- Use the same data on land when visiting ports
- Hotspot the connection
- Share it with family members
- Connect more than one device, depending on what I needed at the time
That was the main reason I wanted to try it.
Installation Was Very Simple
One of the best parts of the GigSky eSIM was the setup.
The installation was very simple and did not require anything complicated. Once installed, I could switch between my normal mobile operator and the GigSky eSIM depending on where I was.
For someone who has never used an eSIM before, this is one of the biggest advantages. You do not need to find a physical SIM card, you do not need to visit a shop, and you do not need to change the SIM inside your phone.
You just install the eSIM and activate it when needed.
For a cruise, this is very convenient because you are moving between different countries, ports and sea days. Having one travel data solution ready before or during the trip makes life easier.
How Was the Signal at Sea?
Here is the honest part: the signal was not amazing.
During my Mediterranean cruise, the GigSky signal at sea was often quite low. This is important to say because I do not want to make it sound like it was the same as using fast home WiFi or a strong 5G connection on land.
It was not.
However, it was manageable for basic use.
I was able to use it for:
- WhatsApp and messaging
- Basic web browsing
- Checking websites
- Reading emails
- Some social media
- Watching videos in lower resolution
For high-quality streaming, heavy downloads, video calls or anything requiring a very stable connection, I would not expect too much. Cruise connectivity depends on many things: the ship, location, signal strength, weather, and how far you are from land or maritime coverage.
But for basic travel use, it worked.
GigSky vs Costa Cruise WiFi: Which One Was Better?
This depends on what you need.
In retrospect, Costa’s full internet package may have offered higher speed and a more stable onboard connection. That would make sense because the ship WiFi is designed specifically for use onboard.
If your priority is speed, stability and using internet only on the ship, the cruise WiFi package may still be the better option.
But if your priority is flexibility, GigSky becomes much more interesting.
With Costa’s package, the price I saw was around €119 per device. With GigSky, I paid around €115 for 5 GB during a promotion, and I could use the data more flexibly.
Why GigSky was useful
- I could use hotspot
- I could share the connection with my family
- I could use the data on land as well as during the cruise
- I was not locked into just one device
- It was useful when switching between ports and sea days
Where cruise WiFi may win
- Potentially better speed onboard
- More stable for ship-only use
- Better for video calls or remote work
- No need to manage a data allowance
- Better if you only need one device
So the real question is not simply: “Which one is faster?”
The better question is: do you need speed, or do you need flexibility?
The Big Advantage: You Can Use It on Land Too
This is where GigSky can be especially useful.
If you are European and already have EU roaming included in your mobile plan, using data on land in Mediterranean ports may not feel like a big advantage. That was my case. When I was on land, I often switched back to my normal operator because my EU roaming already worked well.
But for travellers from the United States, Canada, Australia or outside the EU, this can be a real benefit.
Instead of buying:
- A cruise WiFi package for the ship
- A separate European SIM or eSIM for the ports
- International roaming from your home operator
You can use one GigSky plan that works during the cruise and also when you are visiting ports, depending on coverage and your selected plan.
For a Mediterranean cruise with stops in countries like Italy, Spain, France, Greece, Croatia or Malta, this can make the trip much easier. You can arrive in port and immediately use maps, WhatsApp, Google searches, restaurant reviews, transport apps and travel information without hunting for WiFi.
That alone can be worth a lot.
Hotspot Made a Big Difference
For me, hotspot was one of the main reasons to choose GigSky.
Cruise WiFi packages are often sold per device or with limits depending on the package. That can be annoying when travelling as a couple or family.
With GigSky, I could hotspot the connection and share it when needed. This meant that my family members could connect to my data instead of everyone needing their own separate package.
Of course, sharing the connection also means the data is used faster. If everyone starts watching videos, 5 GB can disappear quickly. But for normal use like messaging, quick browsing, checking maps, and occasional low-resolution videos, it can be enough if you manage it carefully.
My advice: use hotspot smartly. Do not leave everyone connected all day. Turn it on when needed, then switch it off again. This helps save both battery and data.
Is 5 GB Enough for a Cruise?
It depends on how you use it.
For basic tasks, 5 GB can be enough for a short cruise if you are careful. It is fine for messaging, checking websites, using maps, emails, and some light social media.
But 5 GB is not a lot if you stream videos, upload many photos, use TikTok, do video calls, or hotspot to several devices at the same time.
If you buy a cruise eSIM, my recommendation is to use the data mainly for important things:
- Messaging family and friends
- Checking travel plans
- Maps in port
- Emails
- Boarding information
- Hotel or transport bookings
- Basic browsing
- Emergency contact
For entertainment, download movies, series, music and kids’ videos before the cruise while you are still at home or connected to hotel WiFi.
That will save you a lot of data.
What Could Be Improved?
As useful as GigSky was, I also think there is still room for improvement.
The biggest issue for me is the price.
I paid €115 for a 5 GB plan during a promotion. That is still a lot of money for a service that, at least in my experience, was far from perfect at sea. The signal was often low and the speed was not always great, so it is important to be realistic before buying.
When you compare it with Costa’s full internet package, which was around €119 per device, GigSky was not dramatically cheaper. The real advantage was not the price itself, but the flexibility: hotspot, family sharing, multiple devices, and the ability to use the data also on land.
This is where I think the market still needs more competition.
At the moment, GigSky remains one of the most interesting alternatives to traditional cruise WiFi, especially because not many eSIM providers offer proper maritime packages. But once more eSIM operators start offering cruise and maritime data plans, hopefully we will see more competitive prices, larger data allowances, and better value for travellers.
Another important point: only buy as much data as you realistically plan to use.
I bought 5 GB for a 7-night Mediterranean cruise, and in the end it was more than enough for me. I actually turned off the eSIM with around 2 GB still unused.
The package had a validity of 30 days from activation, so any unused data would be lost after that period. This is not a huge problem if you use all your data, but it is frustrating if you overestimate how much you need.
My advice would be simple: do not buy a bigger package just because you are worried. Think honestly about how you will use the internet.
If you mainly need WhatsApp, emails, maps, basic browsing and some light social media, you may not need as much data as you think. If you plan to stream videos, upload content, use hotspot every day, or connect several family members often, then a bigger package may make sense.
For my personal use, 5 GB was plentiful for 7 days.
Who Should Consider GigSky for a Cruise?
GigSky is probably a good option if you:
- Want to avoid buying expensive WiFi for every device
- Travel as a couple or family
- Want to share data using hotspot
- Need internet both onboard and in port
- Are coming from outside the EU and need data in Europe
- Mainly need basic internet, not super-fast streaming
- Prefer flexibility over maximum speed
It is especially interesting for non-EU travellers doing a Mediterranean cruise. If you are from the US, for example, the ability to have one data solution for both the ship and the ports can be very convenient.
Who Should Probably Choose the Cruise WiFi Package Instead?
The ship WiFi package may be better if you:
- Need a faster and more stable connection
- Need to work online during the cruise
- Need video calls
- Want to stream in higher quality
- Do not want to manage data limits
- Only need internet on the ship
- Do not care about hotspot or sharing
If you are working remotely, need reliable video calls, or want to stream without thinking too much, I would probably choose the official cruise internet package.
Would I Use GigSky Again?
Was GigSky perfect? No.
The signal during my Costa Mediterranean cruise was often low, and the speed was not always impressive. For the price, I honestly think the service still needs to improve. Paying more than €100 for 5 GB is not cheap, especially when the connection at sea can be unstable.
But was it useful? Yes.
For basic tasks like messaging, web browsing, emails, light social media and watching videos in lower resolution, it was manageable. The strongest point was not speed. The strongest point was flexibility.
I liked that I could use the data both during the cruise and on land, and I especially liked being able to hotspot the connection and share it with my family. That made GigSky much more practical than a standard cruise WiFi package charged per device.
Yes, I would use it again, but with realistic expectations — and next time I would probably buy less data.
For my 7-night Mediterranean cruise, 5 GB was more than enough. I finished the cruise with around 2 GB still unused, and because the package was valid for 30 days from activation, that unused data would eventually be lost.
So my advice is: buy only the amount of data you realistically expect to use.
Dino’s Verdict: GigSky is not perfect, and the price still feels high. But if you want flexibility, hotspot sharing, and one data solution for both sea days and port days, it is currently one of the smartest cruise WiFi alternatives available.
Looking for an Alternative to Expensive Cruise WiFi?
GigSky can be a useful option if you want cruise data, hotspot sharing, and internet that can also work when visiting ports.
Check GigSky Cruise eSIM PlansAffiliate disclosure: Dino The Tourist may earn a small commission if you purchase through this link, at no extra cost to you.
Prices, plans and coverage can change. Always check the latest GigSky plan details and your cruise itinerary before purchasing.
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