Cruise Passenger Faces High Mobile Data Charges Despite Using Ship WiFi

A passenger on a Mediterranean cruise covering Spain, France, and Italy was surprised to receive a mobile data bill of 478 shekels despite primarily using the ship's WiFi. The customer had purchased a 30-gigabyte data package for 269 shekels before the trip but found it depleted quickly, forcing her to buy an additional 10-gigabyte package for 209 shekels. She claimed to have used only the ship's WiFi during the cruise, except for a brief shore excursion in Italy, and disputed the high data usage.

The cellular provider explained that cruise ships often sail close to coastlines, allowing mobile devices to automatically connect to local cellular networks if not set to airplane mode. The ship's WiFi can be unstable, causing phones to switch to cellular data to maintain connectivity. Analysis showed the passenger's phone connected intermittently to three different terrestrial networks in Spain, France, and Italy, with actual data usage consistent with the charges.

The provider noted that background app activity such as syncing, backups, and updates can consume significant data even without active user engagement. They advised travelers on cruises near coasts to switch their phones to airplane mode when connected to ship WiFi to avoid unintended cellular data use. The passenger was ultimately not charged for the disputed excess data, as the double data usage was deemed unintentional.

This case highlights the importance of managing mobile data settings on cruises, especially when ships sail near land where cellular signals are available. Without proper precautions, travelers risk unexpectedly high roaming charges despite using onboard WiFi.

Summary: A cruise passenger was charged nearly 480 shekels for mobile data despite using ship WiFi, due to automatic cellular connections near coasts. The provider confirmed the data use but waived the extra charges, advising travelers to use airplane mode on cruises to avoid such costs.