Wendy's Divine Travel

By Wendy Campbell

Staying connected on the Mediterranean

That’s the question that surfaced as I began planning my Mediterranean cruise.

“How can I best use my phone in the Med?”

Whether you’re sailing from Barcelona to Santorini or exploring the cobblestonestreets of Dubrovnik, staying connected doesn’t have to costa fortune. Here are the best ways to avoid expensive roaming charges —and still share those breathtaking sea views in real-time.

Use an eSIMor a Local SIM Card.

This is generally the most affordable and data-rich option. You can purchase a prepaid local SIM from a mobile provider upon arrival (ensure your phone is unlocked first) or opt for an eSIMplanbefore you leave via anapp. An eSIMis a digital SIMyou can install withoutphysically changing your card,offering instant data connection upon landing.

Rely on Free Wi-Fi with Essential Apps

Keep your phone in Airplane Mode and only turn on Wi-Fi. Download offline content, suchas Google Maps for navigation, and use Wi-Fi for communication apps like WhatsApp or iMessage to text and call for free. This eliminates the risk of unexpected data charges.

Purchase an International Roaming Pass

The simplest but often priciest option is to buy a temporary international plan from your home carrier (e.g., $10/day). While convenient, be sure to check the data caps and costs, as using your phone beyond the plan limits can be very expensive. My phone carrier has free data and texting in Europe. Check with your carrier to see what benefits are offered for travel abroad.

Official Update on Cancun Airport Electronics Policy

I can confirm there is an important update regarding the previous reports about customs charging a tax for multiple electronic devices at the Cancun airport.

The government of Quintana Roo has officially announced that the controversial fee and restrictionon bringing morethanone portable electronic device (such asa second laptopor a tablet in addition to another laptop) has beenELIMINATED at the Cancun International Airport (CUN).

What this means: Passengers arriving at Cancun should no longer be charged a tax for carrying multiple personal devices, like a laptop and a tablet.

This change was made in response to traveler complaints and to prevent negative impacts on the region's tourism image. While the policy has been lifted for Cancun,the underlying federal customs law in Mexico still officially limits travelersto one portable computing device (laptopor tablet)nationwide. Therefore, while Cancun is no longer enforcing it, travelers to other Mexican airports may still face issues, though enforcement is generally inconsistent.