Richard's SIMPLE RedBull Mobile Help Page

RedBull Mobile - The ONLY eSIM that works for internet at sea on all five Marella ships plus many P&O, Cunard, Ambassador, Viking Ocean and Costa ships.

Marella Cruise Ship

No ship's Wi-Fi required!

Stay connected while cruising AT SEA with Marella and other cruise lines popular with Brits. With a RedBull Mobile eSIM, you can enjoy reliable internet access right from your phone in many parts of the ship.

This eSIM works using the ship's mobile tower when you are at sea away from the coast and works completely independently of your normal mobile tariff.

You can only buy the eSim and install it on your compatible and unlocked iPhone or Android using the Red Bull Mobile data app. The eSIM lasts 30 days after activation. At time of writing, 1GB at sea costs €15.00, valid for 30 days. Plus, you’ll receive a FREE 1GB land-based package as a bonus!

To claim your bonus, apply this code during signup on the app: RCYxlqC63CDCSIu9

Bigger bundles are available at the same rate per gigabyte (use the slider in the app after selecting "Maritime" as the destination).

To check compatibility for your device download the RedBull Mobile app: iPhone users click here or Android users click here. Don't worry, if you are unfortunate enough to have a phone that is not compatible, you can easily uninstall the app.

The app will confirm if your device is compatible. Then setting up is easy just follow the app’s instructions to install your eSIM. Your phone will be set up in no time - ready to share your cruise adventures with friends from the middle of the ocean when your holiday starts!

As mentioned, don't forget to claim your 1GB bonus for use in port! Apply this code during signup on the app: RCYxlqC63CDCSIu9

Wondering what 1GB gets you at sea? If you switch off background data (like app refresh or automatic updates), it’s roughly enough for 3-4 hours of social media scrolling, 100-150 photo uploads, about 30 minutes of video calls, or around 20-25 hours of WhatsApp voice calls—perfect for staying in touch or posting that sunset selfie from the deck! To maximize your data, go to your phone’s settings and disable background app activity before you sail.

Notes

For the "at sea" eSIM, select Maritime from the destination list in the app.

RedBull Mobile eSIMs can only be installed using their app on eSIM-compatible phones.

If you need a second RedBull bundle for use in port you can load one (like your bonus bundle) in the RedBull app.

To check if RedBull Mobile eSim works on your ship click here and scroll down. It works with all five ships in the Marella fleet plus many ships of P&O, Cunard, Ambassador, Viking Ocean and Costa.

One thing to bear in mind. In my opinion, RedBull doesn’t offer the best prices for ashore. Once your free bundle is used up, I have two recommendations for eSIMs to use on shore which are completely independent of your Red Bull eSIM.

For ashore in Europe, Turkey, North America, I recommend Roamless which simply works on a pay as you go basis. The Roamless eSIM is free to download. Once installed you never have to reinstall it, your remaining balance never expires and it works in over two hundred destinations with competitive rates that vary by country.

The Roamless app even has a calling feature allowing you to call conventional telephone numbers e.g. the ships emergency number, a landline or a mobile. Ideal for contacting a business or a relative that does not have a smartphone.

When topping up Roamless for the first time you can get $5 bonus credit by using my promo code RICHARDQYM.

To download the Roamless app click here. Once in the app you can check your destination and rates.

For ashore in the Caribbean, I recommend GigSky (website here). Use referall code RICH522 to receive a €3 credit. These are bundles that don't carry forward to your next holiday. You can choose bundle lengths to cover your entire cruise duration.

Note: GigSky does not have a feature to call conventional phone numbers but can be used in conjunction with the service mentioned below to do that.

I hope you find this information helpful.

All the best, Richard.
Contact me via Facebook Messenger (link).

Options for Phones Without eSIM Support

If your phone doesn’t support eSIMs, you can buy an eSIM adapter card for land-based use. These adapters do not work with RedBull Mobile but they will work with many eSim providers (including Roamless and GigSky) for use ashore (e.g. on the Caribbean islands etc.).

They work with any eSim that is available as a QR code for connectivity ashore. Not all phones are compatible with these adapters, but many more are than those with native eSIM support, so this is an option for more people. You’ll need a bit of tech savvy—or a techy friend—to get these working. Follow the links to check compatibility and order the adapters:

Adapter Option 1: The 9esim adapter.
Adapter Option 2: The esim.me adapter.

These are handy little gadgets, but iPhone users might need a techy pal to double-check compatibility!

Calling Real Phone Numbers via the internet

If you need to call a conventional phone number—like the ship's emergency number, a relative’s landline or a business, using only a data connection (Wi-Fi, eSIM or travel SIM etc.) and you do not have the Roamless app then here is a great tip.

This service, called Localphone, provides proper telephony over the internet via its own app. You can even set the caller ID to your normal number so they know it’s you calling and, if you want, get an incoming number to receive calls. The optional incoming numbers cost less than £0.70 per month to maintain and all calls are received via the internet.

Call normal phone numbers with Localphone app: Click for more information

Marella ship telephone numbers (Reception)

At time of writing, these are the direct dial numbers for the ships:
Marella Discovery +44 1224 332782
Marella Discovery 2 +44 1224 345201
Marella Explorer +44 1224 345001
Marella Explorer 2 +44 1224 345151
Marella Voyager +44 1224 338952

Summary