Cruise vacations are more popular than ever, with nearly 20 million Americans expected to set sail this year—up 4.5% from 2024. This boom is not just a post-pandemic rebound; cruise demand is now outpacing growth in the traditional hotel sector. By 2030, U.S. cruise industry revenues are projected to more than double—rising from approximately $3.7 billion in 2024 to nearly $7.6 billion.
As more Americans take to the seas, it’s time for the U.S. Federal Communications Commission (FCC) to address inadequate onboard Wi-Fi connectivity—an issue rooted in a well-meaning but outdated federal policy. That’s why Cisco submitted comments to the FCC, urging action on this issue as part of the recent request for input on regulations that are unnecessary or stand in the way of technological innovation.
In 2020, the FCC took a major step to relieve pressure on the increasingly crowded Wi-Fi spectrum by opening the 6 GHz band for unlicensed indoor use. This was a forward-looking decision aimed at improving connectivity in homes, offices, and other stationary environments. However, the policy excluded “boats”—a category that unintentionally swept in cruise ships—without considering their unique technical and operational characteristics.
Cruise ships are, effectively, floating cities. Some can accommodate more than 10,000 passengers and crew—all of whom rely on onboard Wi-Fi for everything from accessing travel services and safety information to streaming services and messaging. The demand for bandwidth spikes on “sea days,” when everyone is onboard and online, which can result in a sluggish, spotty, and frustrating user experience. These connectivity issues impact vacationers but also constrain ship operations that increasingly depend on stable, high-speed connectivity.
There’s a practical fix that would deliver significant public benefits without compromising the integrity of the 6 GHz band: the FCC should make a narrowly tailored update to allow low-power indoor access points on cruise ships to operate in the 6 GHz band.
And because cruise ships are made of heavy steel and reinforced glass, the risk of harmful interference to other services, including those onshore, is low. Existing statutory definitions can also readily and clearly differentiate between cruise ships and smaller, more mobile vessels, enabling precise regulatory treatment and making this change even more practical.
The FCC has a unique opportunity to better align policy with today’s technological realities and unlock better internet performance for millions of Americans who vacation at sea, support innovation in maritime technology, and keep the U.S. cruise industry globally competitive.
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