eSim.sm: does it work on a cruise?
Tested against the one question that matters at sea: does anything survive once the coast drops below the horizon? Here is the answer for eSim.sm, and the plans behind it.
Does eSim.sm work at sea?
eSIM.sm is a San Marino-registered travel eSIM, run by Magic Srl since 2016 under the brand Quibity. Its app lists more than 200 places, sold as single-country, regional or global bundles and activated by QR code. There is no plastic SIM and no phone number. Prices start about €2.61 for 1GB, checked September 2026. On a cruise, coverage begins the moment the phone reaches shore.
Prices last confirmed
Who eSim.sm is for
Magic Srl is a San Marino company founded in 2016, running the eSIM.sm storefront and its app, now marketed as Quibity: Travel by eSIM.sm. The national innovation body there lists it among its certified high-tech firms. Its own listing describes global mobile data across more than 200 places.
Magic Srl owns no network. It buys in bulk from local firms in each place and sells that on as prepaid bundles. They arrive as a QR code, with no plastic SIM and no ID check. A third-party review splits the range into five parts: Europe, Asia, the Americas, Africa and Oceania. Each has its own single-country and regional plans, plus a pay-as-you-go global one.
Support runs around the clock by in-app chat and email, in several languages, under either the eSIM.sm or Quibity name depending where you signed up. The Quibity app holds 4.8 out of 5 from 108 App Store ratings. Reviews praise the price and the ease. The complaints are consistent too: calling without a phone number, and service that varies.
What happens when the ship leaves port
These bundles connect to the same land towers a phone uses roaming anywhere else, and Magic Srl describes the product as a roaming replacement rather than a maritime service. A profile bought for a cruise picks up signal alongside the quay and loses it once the ship moves back out, about 12 nautical miles from the coast. On a multi-port itinerary each stop needs its own bundle switched on. Nothing here is built to work between ports.
What eSim.sm costs, and what that buys
Pricing is by place and by region, not one flat global rate, over plans lasting 1 to 30 days. A review of the live shop put the entry price near €2.61 for a small 1GB bundle. The average plan came out around €22.31. The 5GB and unlimited tiers sit at the costly end, per a third-party review checked in September 2026.
Top-ups and extensions can be bought at any point in a trip through the Quibity app, without starting a fresh purchase. The same app handles calls over WhatsApp or similar, standing in for the local number these plans do not carry. Refund terms are not uniform. Magic Srl’s own policy says conditions vary by plan type, so check the terms for your bundle rather than assuming another region’s apply.
The details that matter on a ship
| Coverage | More than 200 destinations, per the Quibity app’s own listing |
|---|---|
| 5G | Available through local partner operators; quality varies by country |
| Hotspot / tethering | Generally allowed, subject to the local partner operator |
| Data / calls / SMS | Data only; calls run through WhatsApp or another app, not a phone number |
| Validity | 1 to 30 days per plan |
| Activation | QR code scan; no physical SIM or ID needed |
| App | Quibity: Travel by eSIM.sm, developer Magic Srl (iOS; also listed as eSIM.sm on Google Play) |
| Top-ups | More data or extra duration, buyable any time in the app |
| Refunds | Vary by plan type, per Magic Srl’s own policy |
| Support | 24/7 in-app chat and email, in several languages |
Getting it working before you sail
Buying runs through the Quibity app or esim.sm. Pick a place, a size and a length, pay by card, and the eSIM installs by QR code with no identity document needed. Magic Srl’s own instructions say to install before travelling, on a reliable connection, so the download finishes before boarding. For a cruise that means setting it up at home and waiting for a shore signal at the first port.
Where eSim.sm shines, and where it does not
- You get more than 200 destinations under one app and one account.
- You can top up or extend a plan any time, with no fresh purchase needed.
- Support runs 24/7, in several languages, through in-app chat and email.
- San Marino Innovation has certified it as an innovative enterprise.
- There's no phone number. Calls route through WhatsApp or another app instead.
- Refund terms vary by plan type rather than following one fixed policy.
- 5G quality depends on the local partner operator in each country.
- App Store reviews describe inconsistent service on some routes.
Cruise and ferry plans
The plans database on this site holds cruise, ferry and maritime products only. eSim.sm publishes none, so there is no plan table on this page. Its regional data plans remain the relevant purchase for port days.
The verdict for cruise passengers
This suits a passenger who wants one app covering more than 200 possible ports, rather than juggling separate country eSIMs. The trade is giving up a local number in return for easy top-ups. Prices start low but sit mid-market on average. Refund terms shift by plan rather than sitting under one promise. It is a plain port-day tool, and it goes quiet the moment the ship leaves shore-signal range.
What to pair this with for sea days
For the hours between ports you need one of the three maritime providers:
Frequently asked questions
01Does eSim.sm work on a cruise ship?+
In port, yes. At sea, no. eSim.sm sells terrestrial travel data; the ship's own maritime network is a separate system that only GigSky, Saily and Maya sell access to. You want one of each.
02What company runs eSIM.sm?+
Magic Srl runs eSIM.sm. It's a San Marino company, founded in 2016. San Marino Innovation has certified it as an innovative high-tech enterprise. Its consumer app has since been rebranded Quibity: Travel by eSIM.sm. The esim.sm website and brand name are still in use alongside it.
03Can an eSIM.sm plan make phone calls?+
No local phone number comes with an eSIM.sm plan. The app's own listing points you toward WhatsApp or another social app for calling, instead of a traditional line. The product is sold purely as mobile data. So you'll need a separate arrangement for a callable number on a cruise itinerary.
04How much data does an eSIM.sm plan typically include?+
Plans range from small 1GB bundles up to unlimited-data tiers. A review of the live storefront put the average cost across the catalogue at roughly €22.31. The entry price sits around €2.61 for the smallest bundle, checked September 2026. Duration runs from 1 to 30 days, depending on the plan you choose.
05Is eSIM.sm's refund policy the same for every plan?+
No. Magic Srl says refund conditions vary by plan type. Check the terms attached to the specific destination bundle you're buying. Don't assume one blanket policy applies. That detail sits in the plan's own terms, rather than on a single site-wide refund page.
Compare eSim.sm with
- BreezeSim — Budget-priced regional eSIMs with a simple flat catalog and frequent promotions. Land-only, so treat it as the port-day half of a two-eSIM cruise setup.
- ByteSIM — A data-pack retailer with wide country coverage and daily-allowance plans. No cruise SKUs; useful ashore in the Caribbean and Mediterranean.
- ChillSim — A traveller-focused eSIM brand with regional bundles and hotspot-friendly plans. Land coverage only — it will drop the moment the ship clears the coast.
- CloudOn eSIM — App-first eSIM provider with quick QR-free installs and regional packs. A reasonable port-day pick, particularly for short city-stop itineraries.