GigSky vs Saily for cruises
Short answer
Saily is cheaper per gigabyte at sea and activates only beyond 12 nautical miles, so it does nothing in port. GigSky costs more per gigabyte, covers both zones on one plan across 290+ ships, and is the only one of the two with a free 100 MB trial. This is not really a price comparison — it is a question about whether you will carry 2 eSIMs.
Buy Saily if you are disciplined enough to also buy a regional eSIM for shore days and switch between them. Buy GigSky if you want to buy once, stop thinking about it, and test it before you pay.
Prices last confirmed
The decision is two eSIMs versus one
Saily Cruise activates beyond twelve nautical miles and, in Saily’s own words, will not connect while the ship is in port or near the coast. That is not a limitation they hide — it is written into the product description — but it is routinely missed by people comparing the two on price, because a per-gigabyte figure cannot express "and it is off for half your holiday".
A seven-night Caribbean sailing typically has four or five port days. On a Saily setup those are covered by a second, separate purchase: a Caribbean regional eSIM, usually cheap, but a second install, a second profile to switch to, and a second thing to remember at 7am in Cozumel. On a GigSky Cruise + Land plan the phone moves between the ship’s maritime network and the local network on its own, and there is nothing to manage.
That is the whole comparison. Once you have decided whether the two-plan setup is acceptable to you, the prices below tell you what it costs; before you have decided, the prices are not comparable at all.
Side by side
| GigSky | Saily | |
|---|---|---|
| Works at sea | Yes | Yes |
| Works in port | Yes | No — activates beyond 12 nm only |
| Best effective $/GB | $5.95/GB | $11.00/GB |
| Entry price | $4.99 | $16.99 |
| Free trial | 100 MB, no card | No |
| Ferry plans | Yes — the only ones in the market | No |
| Discount code | ESIMDUDE | ESIMDUDE |
GigSky plans
The only eSIM provider selling true maritime data across 290+ cruise ships, with "Cruise + Land" plans that hand off between the ship's at-sea network and local networks in port. It is also the only brand in the market with ferry-branded plans (Brittany Ferries, Color Line, DFDS, Stena Line) and a free 100 MB trial.
| Plan | Data | Validity | Price | $/GB | Coverage | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cruise & Middle East Unlimited 15-day | Unlimited | 15 days | $59.49 | $5.95/GB | 🟢 At sea | Get deal |
| Cruise & Middle East Unlimited 7-day | Unlimited | 7 days | $31.99 | $6.85/GB | 🟢 At sea | Get deal |
| Cruise & Middle East Unlimited 3-day | Unlimited | 3 days | $14.49 | $7.25/GB | 🟢 At sea | Get deal |
| Cruise & Middle East Unlimited 1-day | Unlimited | 1 day | $4.99 | $7.49/GB | 🟢 At sea | Get deal |
| European Ferries 5GB | 5 GB | 1 day | $39.99 | $8.00/GB | 🔵 Ferry | Get deal |
| Europe Ferries + Land 5GB | 5 GB | 7 days | $40.99 | $8.20/GB | 🔵 Ferry | Get deal |
| Cruise + Americas/Caribbean Unlimited 15-day | Unlimited | 15 days | $82.99 | $8.30/GB | 🟢 At sea | Get deal |
| Cruise + Asia Pacific Unlimited 15-day | Unlimited | 15 days | $82.99 | $8.30/GB | 🟢 At sea | Get deal |
| Cruise + Europe Unlimited 15-day | Unlimited | 15 days | $82.99 | $8.30/GB | 🟢 At sea | Get deal |
| Cruise + World Unlimited 15-day | Unlimited | 15 days | $82.99 | $8.30/GB | 🟢 At sea | Get deal |
| Cruise + Middle East Unlimited 15-day | Unlimited | 15 days | $82.99 | $8.30/GB | 🟢 At sea | Get deal |
| Cruise - At Sea Only Unlimited 15-day | Unlimited | 15 days | $82.99 | $8.30/GB | 🟢 At sea | Get deal |
| European Ferries 3GB | 3 GB | 1 day | $24.99 | $8.33/GB | 🔵 Ferry | Get deal |
| Europe Ferries + Land 3GB | 3 GB | 7 days | $25.99 | $8.66/GB | 🔵 Ferry | Get deal |
| Cruise + Americas/Caribbean Unlimited 7-day | Unlimited | 7 days | $44.49 | $9.53/GB | 🟢 At sea | Get deal |
| Cruise + Asia Pacific Unlimited 7-day | Unlimited | 7 days | $44.49 | $9.53/GB | 🟢 At sea | Get deal |
| Cruise + Europe Unlimited 7-day | Unlimited | 7 days | $44.49 | $9.53/GB | 🟢 At sea | Get deal |
| Cruise + World Unlimited 7-day | Unlimited | 7 days | $44.49 | $9.53/GB | 🟢 At sea | Get deal |
| Cruise + Middle East Unlimited 7-day | Unlimited | 7 days | $44.49 | $9.53/GB | 🟢 At sea | Get deal |
| Cruise - At Sea Only Unlimited 7-day | Unlimited | 7 days | $44.49 | $9.53/GB | 🟢 At sea | Get deal |
| Cruise + Americas/Caribbean Unlimited 3-day | Unlimited | 3 days | $20.49 | $10.24/GB | 🟢 At sea | Get deal |
| Cruise + Asia Pacific Unlimited 3-day | Unlimited | 3 days | $20.49 | $10.24/GB | 🟢 At sea | Get deal |
| Cruise + Europe Unlimited 3-day | Unlimited | 3 days | $20.49 | $10.24/GB | 🟢 At sea | Get deal |
| Cruise + World Unlimited 3-day | Unlimited | 3 days | $20.49 | $10.24/GB | 🟢 At sea | Get deal |
| Cruise + Middle East Unlimited 3-day | Unlimited | 3 days | $20.49 | $10.24/GB | 🟢 At sea | Get deal |
| Cruise - At Sea Only Unlimited 3-day | Unlimited | 3 days | $20.49 | $10.24/GB | 🟢 At sea | Get deal |
| Cruise + Americas/Caribbean Unlimited 1-day | Unlimited | 1 day | $6.99 | $10.49/GB | 🟢 At sea | Get deal |
| Cruise + Asia Pacific Unlimited 1-day | Unlimited | 1 day | $6.99 | $10.49/GB | 🟢 At sea | Get deal |
| Cruise + Europe Unlimited 1-day | Unlimited | 1 day | $6.99 | $10.49/GB | 🟢 At sea | Get deal |
| Cruise + World Unlimited 1-day | Unlimited | 1 day | $6.99 | $10.49/GB | 🟢 At sea | Get deal |
| Cruise + Middle East Unlimited 1-day | Unlimited | 1 day | $6.99 | $10.49/GB | 🟢 At sea | Get deal |
| Cruise - At Sea Only Unlimited 1-day | Unlimited | 1 day | $6.99 | $10.49/GB | 🟢 At sea | Get deal |
| European Ferries 1GB | 1 GB | 1 day | $10.99 | $10.99/GB | 🔵 Ferry | Get deal |
| Europe Ferries + Land 1GB | 1 GB | 7 days | $11.99 | $11.99/GB | 🔵 Ferry | Get deal |
| Cruise & Middle East 10GB | 10 GB | 30 days | $119.99 | $12.00/GB | 🟢 At sea | Get deal |
| Cruise & Middle East 3GB | 3 GB | 15 days | $39.99 | $13.33/GB | 🟢 At sea | Get deal |
| Cruise & Middle East 5GB | 5 GB | 30 days | $69.99 | $14.00/GB | 🟢 At sea | Get deal |
| European Ferries 512MB | 512 MB | 1 day | $7.99 | $15.98/GB | 🔵 Ferry | Get deal |
| Cruise + Americas/Caribbean 10GB | 10 GB | 30 days | $174.99 | $17.50/GB | 🟢 At sea | Get deal |
| Cruise + Asia Pacific 10GB | 10 GB | 30 days | $174.99 | $17.50/GB | 🟢 At sea | Get deal |
| Cruise + Europe 10GB | 10 GB | 30 days | $174.99 | $17.50/GB | 🟢 At sea | Get deal |
| Cruise + World 10GB | 10 GB | 30 days | $174.99 | $17.50/GB | 🟢 At sea | Get deal |
| Cruise + Middle East 10GB | 10 GB | 30 days | $174.99 | $17.50/GB | 🟢 At sea | Get deal |
| Cruise - At Sea Only 10GB | 10 GB | 30 days | $174.99 | $17.50/GB | 🟢 At sea | Get deal |
| Europe Ferries + Land 512MB | 512 MB | 7 days | $8.99 | $17.98/GB | 🔵 Ferry | Get deal |
| Cruise + Europe 5GB | 5 GB | 30 days | $94.99 | $19.00/GB | 🟢 At sea | Get deal |
| Cruise & Middle East 1GB | 1 GB | 7 days | $19.99 | $19.99/GB | 🟢 At sea | Get deal |
| Cruise + Europe 3GB | 3 GB | 15 days | $59.99 | $20.00/GB | 🟢 At sea | Get deal |
| Cruise + Americas/Caribbean 5GB | 5 GB | 30 days | $99.99 | $20.00/GB | 🟢 At sea | Get deal |
| Cruise + Asia Pacific 5GB | 5 GB | 30 days | $99.99 | $20.00/GB | 🟢 At sea | Get deal |
| Cruise + World 5GB | 5 GB | 30 days | $99.99 | $20.00/GB | 🟢 At sea | Get deal |
| Cruise + Middle East 5GB | 5 GB | 30 days | $99.99 | $20.00/GB | 🟢 At sea | Get deal |
| Cruise - At Sea Only 5GB | 5 GB | 30 days | $99.99 | $20.00/GB | 🟢 At sea | Get deal |
| Cruise + Americas/Caribbean 3GB | 3 GB | 15 days | $62.99 | $21.00/GB | 🟢 At sea | Get deal |
| Cruise + Asia Pacific 3GB | 3 GB | 15 days | $62.99 | $21.00/GB | 🟢 At sea | Get deal |
| Cruise + World 3GB | 3 GB | 15 days | $62.99 | $21.00/GB | 🟢 At sea | Get deal |
| Cruise + Middle East 3GB | 3 GB | 15 days | $62.99 | $21.00/GB | 🟢 At sea | Get deal |
| Cruise - At Sea Only 3GB | 3 GB | 15 days | $62.99 | $21.00/GB | 🟢 At sea | Get deal |
| Cruise & Middle East 512MB | 512 MB | 1 day | $10.99 | $21.98/GB | 🟢 At sea | Get deal |
| Cruise + Europe 1GB | 1 GB | 7 days | $29.99 | $29.99/GB | 🟢 At sea | Get deal |
| Cruise + Americas/Caribbean 1GB | 1 GB | 7 days | $31.99 | $31.99/GB | 🟢 At sea | Get deal |
| Cruise + Asia Pacific 1GB | 1 GB | 7 days | $31.99 | $31.99/GB | 🟢 At sea | Get deal |
| Cruise + World 1GB | 1 GB | 7 days | $31.99 | $31.99/GB | 🟢 At sea | Get deal |
| Cruise + Middle East 1GB | 1 GB | 7 days | $31.99 | $31.99/GB | 🟢 At sea | Get deal |
| Cruise - At Sea Only 1GB | 1 GB | 7 days | $31.99 | $31.99/GB | 🟢 At sea | Get deal |
| Cruise + Europe 512MB | 512 MB | 1 day | $16.99 | $33.98/GB | 🟢 At sea | Get deal |
| Cruise + Americas/Caribbean 512MB | 512 MB | 1 day | $17.99 | $35.98/GB | 🟢 At sea | Get deal |
| Cruise + Asia Pacific 512MB | 512 MB | 1 day | $17.99 | $35.98/GB | 🟢 At sea | Get deal |
| Cruise + World 512MB | 512 MB | 1 day | $17.99 | $35.98/GB | 🟢 At sea | Get deal |
| Cruise + Middle East 512MB | 512 MB | 1 day | $17.99 | $35.98/GB | 🟢 At sea | Get deal |
| Cruise - At Sea Only 512MB | 512 MB | 1 day | $17.99 | $35.98/GB | 🟢 At sea | Get deal |
| Cruise + World 250MB | 250 MB | 1 day | $19.99 | $81.88/GB | 🟢 At sea | Get deal |
| Cruise + Americas/Caribbean 100MB | 100 MB | 7 days | Free | — | 🟢 At sea | Get deal |
| Cruise + Asia Pacific 100MB | 100 MB | 7 days | Free | — | 🟢 At sea | Get deal |
| Cruise + Europe 100MB | 100 MB | 7 days | Free | — | 🟢 At sea | Get deal |
| Cruise + World 100MB | 100 MB | 7 days | Free | — | 🟢 At sea | Get deal |
| Cruise + Middle East 100MB | 100 MB | 7 days | Free | — | 🟢 At sea | Get deal |
| Cruise - At Sea Only 100MB | 100 MB | 7 days | Free | — | 🟢 At sea | Get deal |
| Cruise & Middle East 100MB | 100 MB | 7 days | Free | — | 🟢 At sea | Get deal |
Saily plans
Nord Security's travel eSIM brand, which added a dedicated Cruise tab in June 2026 covering 28 cruise and ferry operators (only one of which, P&O Ferries, is a ferry line). Its at-sea pricing is the keenest per gigabyte we track, but the plans activate only beyond 12 nautical miles — they do nothing in port, so pair one with a regular regional eSIM.
| Plan | Data | Validity | Price | $/GB | Coverage | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cruise 10GB | 10 GB | 30 days | $109.99 | $11.00/GB | 🟢 At sea | Get deal |
| Cruise 5GB | 5 GB | 30 days | $69.99 | $14.00/GB | 🟢 At sea | Get deal |
| Cruise 3GB | 3 GB | 30 days | $51.99 | $17.33/GB | 🟢 At sea | Get deal |
| Cruise 1GB | 1 GB | 7 days | $29.99 | $29.99/GB | 🟢 At sea | Get deal |
| Cruise 500MB | 512 MB | 1 day | $16.99 | $33.98/GB | 🟢 At sea | Get deal |
Where Saily genuinely wins, stated properly
On raw cost per gigabyte at sea, Saily is the cheapest thing this site tracks, and it is not close. If your itinerary is sea-day heavy — a transatlantic crossing, a repositioning sailing, a world-cruise segment — the gap compounds, because you are buying a lot of gigabytes for the zone where Saily is strongest and barely touching the zone where it is useless.
It is also the better product for someone who already carries a regional travel eSIM as a matter of habit. If there is already an Airalo or Holafly profile on your phone for the ports, the port-coverage argument against Saily disappears entirely and you are left with the cheaper of the two. That reader should buy Saily.
Saily is made by Nord Security, the company behind NordVPN, and bundles an ad blocker and web protection alongside the data. On a ship network where everything is shared and slow, an ad blocker is a genuinely useful bandwidth saver rather than a marketing extra.
Where GigSky wins, and the one that matters most
The free 100 MB trial, with no card required, is the only way in this entire market to find out whether a maritime eSIM works on your specific hull before you pay for it. Maritime equipment is fitted ship by ship rather than fleet by fleet, so a newly delivered vessel or one recently transferred between sister brands can lag its own fleet by months. Saily has no equivalent: you find out on day one, at sea, having already paid.
GigSky also carries the widest vessel list in the market and the only ferry-branded plans anywhere. If your trip includes a Brittany Ferries, Color Line, DFDS or Stena Line crossing, Saily has nothing for it.
And the Cruise + Land family is regional rather than global — Americas and the Caribbean, Europe, Asia Pacific, the Middle East — so the land half of the plan is genuinely useful ashore rather than a token inclusion. Buy the variant that matches your itinerary, not the one that matches your ship.
The practical friction nobody mentions
Saily’s purchase flow works on the web, but top-ups and live chat are app-only. That is fine at home and a real problem at sea, where you have run out of data and now need data in order to buy more data. Buy enough up front, or accept that a top-up means the ship’s Wi-Fi first.
GigSky’s friction is different: its unlimited cruise tiers run at full speed to 3.5 GB in a day and then reduce speed until the next day. You are never cut off and never billed extra, but "unlimited" here means never-disconnected rather than never-slowed, and after the threshold a video call will not hold.
Both are data-only. Neither gives you a phone number, and neither carries voice calls in the ordinary sense — plan on WhatsApp, FaceTime or Signal for anyone who needs to reach you.
Who should buy which
The answer changes with the itinerary more than with the provider, so this is by traveller rather than by feature.
| If this is you | Buy | Why |
|---|---|---|
| A couple on a normal seven-night Caribbean or Mediterranean sailing | GigSky | Four or five port days out of seven means the plan you are comparing on is off for most of the trip. One purchase, shared over a hotspot, is both cheaper in practice and dramatically less to manage. |
| A transatlantic crossing or a sea-heavy repositioning sailing | Saily | There are barely any port days to lose, and the per-gigabyte gap is doing all the work. This is the itinerary Saily is priced for. |
| Someone who already carries a regional travel eSIM | Saily | The port-coverage objection is already solved. What is left is the cheaper of the two, and that is Saily. |
| Anyone who has never used a maritime eSIM before | GigSky | Install the free trial two weeks out and confirm it connects past twelve nautical miles. That is the only test that settles whether your exact ship is covered, and only one of these two offers it. |
| A ferry crossing, or a cruise with a ferry leg | GigSky | Saily sells nothing ferry-branded. GigSky is the only provider in the market that does. |
Our verdict
For most cruisers, GigSky — not because it is cheaper per gigabyte, because it is not, but because the second eSIM a Saily setup requires is a purchase, an install and a decision you have to keep making while on holiday. The total cost of the two-plan setup is usually still lower; the total effort is much higher, and most people abandon the discipline by day three.
For sea-heavy itineraries and for people who already carry regional data, Saily is the better buy and we would say so to anyone who asked. It is the cheapest way to be online in open water and its limitation is stated honestly by its own maker.
What we would not do is buy Saily as a single solution for a port-dense Mediterranean itinerary. That is the mistake that generates the refund requests, and it is not Saily’s fault — the product does exactly what it says.
GigSky vs Saily: your questions
01Does Saily work in port?+
No. Saily Cruise activates only beyond twelve nautical miles and will not connect while the ship is alongside or hugging a coast. A regular Saily regional plan cannot stand in for it at sea either, so a Saily cruiser carries two plans and switches between them.
02Is GigSky worth paying more per gigabyte for?+
On a port-dense itinerary, usually yes — you are paying for the shore days a Saily plan does not cover, so the comparison is one GigSky plan against a Saily plan plus a regional eSIM. On a sea-heavy itinerary the extra buys you very little, and Saily is the better value.
03Can I try either one before buying?+
Only GigSky. Its free 100 MB cruise trial needs no card, does not auto-renew and hard-stops when the allowance is gone. Saily has no trial, so the first time you learn whether it works on your ship is after you have paid and sailed.
04Which one covers ferries?+
GigSky, exclusively. It sells the only operator-branded ferry eSIMs in the market — Brittany Ferries, Color Line, DFDS and Stena Line. Saily has no ferry product at all, though its cruise plan does list some ferry operators among the vessels it covers.
05Do both work on my ship?+
Check both vessel lists, because they do not match. GigSky publishes the wider list by a considerable margin, but "my line is covered" and "my ship is covered" are different statements on either provider — equipment is fitted hull by hull, and a new delivery can lag its own fleet.
06Can I share either one with my family?+
Both are ordinary data plans on your phone, so personal hotspot works as it does at home. The caveat is arithmetic rather than policy: a shared allowance drains several times faster, and on GigSky’s unlimited tiers the 3.5 GB daily full-speed threshold arrives much sooner with three devices attached.