What a 3-Week Ocean Crossing Costs on Starlink Now
Starlink's Ocean Mode is billed at $6 per GB while it is switched on. Here is what that means for a 3-week crossing, what really uses data at sea, how to keep the meter down, and who should skip it. We have not tested it offshore.
Ocean Mode used to be a small line on a passage budget. Since 27 September 2026 it has been $6 per GB, up from $2, so how much data you use now matters.
Planning a passage? Get the free checklists and worksheet: join the newsletter and we'll send the Pre-Departure Checklists, the Catamaran Buyer's Guide and the Buyer's Worksheet straight to your inbox.
A three-week crossing on Starlink costs one month of your plan plus Ocean Mode data. Independent outlets report that data has been billed at $6 per GB since 27 September 2026, up from $2. In our example usage levels (illustrations, not predictions), three weeks comes to $18 of Ocean Mode data for light use, $54 for moderate use and $126 for heavy use with regular video calls. Video is what burns data, and Ocean Mode bills for everything while it is on, including at the dock. We have not tested Starlink at sea, so confirm Starlink's current terms before you rely on these numbers.
We have not tested Starlink at sea. Starlink's own pages need JavaScript and would not load for us, so the rates and rules below are as reported by independent outlets that cite Starlink's help pages and customer emails. We name the source and date next to each figure. Prices are in US dollars, exclude hardware and tax, and were last checked on 28 October 2026. Starlink changes rates and rules often, so check starlink.com when you decide, not when you read this.
What Ocean Mode is
Ocean Mode is an optional setting on the Roam Unlimited plan. It lets the dish work offshore, beyond 12 nautical miles, where Roam otherwise does not. It is also available on the Personal Maritime plan for boats. A few things drive your bill:
- The rate is $6 per GB. Panbo (27 August 2026) quoted Starlink's customer email announcing the move to $6 from 27 September. PCMag (29 August 2026) and Starlink RV USA (6 October 2026) report the same figure.
- It is billed on top of the monthly plan. Roaming Dish (checked 18 October 2026) lists Roam Unlimited at $175 a month, shown as "starting at". Panbo and PCMag (both late August 2026) report Personal Maritime at $185 a month.
- It bills for all data while it is on, including data used at the dock, until you switch it off. It can stay on from one billing cycle to the next.
The 30-day limit on international use, boat-size and paperwork rules, and who qualifies for Personal Maritime are covered in our earlier pieces on Roam's 30-day cap and Personal Maritime versus Roam. Dish choice and power are in Starlink Mini or Standard offshore.
Example costs
We do not have a trustworthy measurement of what a typical cruising boat uses on a passage, so these are example usage levels, not predictions. Ocean Mode data cost is simply GB times $6, and it is added to your monthly plan.
| Example use | Data per week | Over 3 weeks | Ocean Mode data cost |
|---|---|---|---|
| Light: weather and short messages | 1 GB | 3 GB | $18 |
| Moderate: plus photos, some browsing | 3 GB | 9 GB | $54 |
| Heavy: plus regular video calls | 7 GB | 21 GB | $126 |
Pick the row closest to your crew, then add one month of your plan.
What actually uses data on a passage
- Video is what burns data. Streaming and video calls use far more than anything else on this list. An evening of video can cost more than a week of weather and messages.
- Calls: voice is lighter than video but still adds up.
- Updates and backups: phones, laptops and apps like to update and back up whenever they find a connection. This background traffic is what surprises people, and it keeps running if nobody is watching.
- Photos and clips: sending a few is fine. Automatic cloud photo backup is not.
- Weather files are small. Compact forecast downloads cost pennies at $6 per GB, though large, high-resolution files cost more.
How to cap it
- Turn Ocean Mode on only when you are offshore, and off again at the dock. Set phone alarms for both. Forgetting the second one is the classic mistake.
- Use it in windows. A morning and an evening block is often enough. Test switching it off at the dock and watch the usage screen.
- Lock down the devices. Use Low Data Mode or Data Saver, mark the connection as metered, switch off automatic updates and pause cloud photo backup.
- Limit who is on the link. Fewer people and devices make usage easier to control. If your router can set limits or block devices, learn how before you leave.
- Download before you go. Charts, passage plans, books, films, and any updates should come down at the dock on a normal connection.
What can go wrong
- Surprise data. One device left on default settings can use a week's budget overnight.
- Ocean Mode left on. It bills on land too, so the end-of-passage reminder matters as much as the one at the start.
- Rules and prices change. The Ocean Mode rate tripled this autumn, and Personal Maritime's boat-length wording changed within about a week of launch, according to PCMag and the Mobile Internet Resource Center (both early September 2026). Reread the terms before you leave.
- The link drops. The dish can be shaded, switched off, short of power or broken. Decide in advance how you will get weather if it stops. Satellite internet does not replace your VHF, EPIRB or other safety gear.
Who should skip it
- Crews who expect heavy use, especially regular video calls from offshore. The meter adds up fast. Starlink also lists other plans, such as Global Priority, that handle data differently, so compare current options on starlink.com.
- Crews who only need weather and short messages. A satellite messenger or another low-speed service may be enough, and it avoids the per-GB meter.
- Anyone who will not set the alarms and device settings. The meter does not forgive.
- Coastal cruisers. If you rarely go beyond 12 nautical miles, you may not need Ocean Mode at all.
Before you rely on it
We have not tested this at sea, and everything above comes from independent reporting. Before you commit, confirm on starlink.com the current Ocean Mode rate, your plan price, and the rules for your boat and route. A dock test shows how much data your devices use in an ordinary day.
FAQ
What is Starlink's Ocean Mode?
Ocean Mode is an optional setting on the Roam Unlimited plan that lets the dish work offshore, beyond 12 nautical miles, where Roam otherwise does not. It is also available on the Personal Maritime plan for boats, and it is billed per GB on top of the monthly plan.
Does Ocean Mode bill while you are at the dock?
Yes. As reported, it bills for all data while it is on, including at the dock, until you switch it off, and it can stay on from one billing cycle to the next. Set phone alarms for switching it on offshore and off again at the dock.
How do you keep Ocean Mode data use down?
Video is what burns data, so limit streaming and video calls. Use the link in set windows, put devices in Low Data Mode or mark the connection as metered, and switch off automatic updates and cloud photo backup. Download charts, books, films and updates at the dock before you leave.
If you decide to buy
If you are a new Starlink customer and decide to buy, you can order through our Starlink link. If you already have Starlink, the link will not help you and you can ignore it.
Disclosure: the Starlink link above is a referral link. If you order through it, we may earn a referral credit, and Starlink may also reward you as the buyer. Eligibility and rewards are set by Starlink, generally apply to new customers, and can change. See our affiliate disclosure.
Charts, Checklists & Sea Stories — practical gear and passage notes for bluewater sailors. Free email when a new piece goes up.