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Quick answer: Coastal boaters who also use Starlink on land usually stay on Roam. Liveaboards cruising abroad most of the year should look at Personal Maritime ($185/month in the US): unlimited data within 12 nautical miles of any coast and no 30-day roaming cap, but small personal vessels only. Anyone going offshore pays for Ocean Mode at $6/GB on either plan, or chooses Global Priority.
Gear mentioned in this guide
Starlink Mini Kit (Starlink store) — check price on Amazon →Garmin inReach Mini 2 (offshore backup) — check price on Amazon →Affiliate links — NomadSignal earns a small commission at no extra cost to you.
What changed in 2026
In late August 2026 Starlink emailed owners who had used the service at sea and introduced a Personal Maritime plan, while tightening Roam: the time you can spend outside your home country on Roam dropped to 30 days, and Ocean Mode on Roam Unlimited rose from $2/GB to $6/GB on 27 September 2026. These terms have already been adjusted once, so treat the figures below as a snapshot and confirm on starlink.com.
The plans side by side
| Roam | Personal Maritime | Global Priority | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Price (US) | Roam Unlimited ~$175/month | $185/month | Higher; data-based |
| Within 12 nm of coast | Included, with on-water use limits | Unlimited, worldwide | Included |
| Beyond 12 nm | Ocean Mode, $6/GB | Ocean Mode, $6/GB | Included (priority data) |
| Use on land | Yes | No | Yes |
| Time abroad | 30-day cap | No 30-day cap (rare local exceptions) | No cap |
| Who it's for | RVers and coastal weekenders | Small personal boats, liveaboards | Bluewater, commercial, larger vessels |
The 12-nautical-mile line
Starlink treats "territorial waters" — 12 nautical miles from the coastline — as the boundary. Inside it, Roam and Personal Maritime cover you under their normal terms. Outside it you switch on Ocean Mode, and once it's on, every GB is billed at the Ocean Mode rate until you switch it off, wherever you are. On a passage, that makes data discipline (disabling phone auto-updates and cloud backups) worth real money.
Who qualifies for Personal Maritime
The plan is for personal, small watercraft. Starlink's terms first described this as 40 ft or less; reports indicate the wording moved to 60 ft, and approvals for boats in between have been inconsistent. You apply through a support ticket with your vessel name, flag state, length overall, a unique ID (HIN, CIN, MMSI or call sign) and a copy of the registration. Yachts, ferries and commercial fishing vessels are excluded.
Which should you choose?
- Weekend and coastal boaters who also travel by land: Roam — one subscription covers the RV, the cottage and the boat.
- Liveaboards cruising foreign coasts: Personal Maritime — the lack of a 30-day cap is the main reason it exists.
- Offshore passages: either plan plus a data budget for Ocean Mode, or Global Priority for regular bluewater use. Carry an independent satellite messenger such as a Garmin inReach as a backup.
Frequently asked questions
How much does Starlink cost offshore?
Beyond 12 nautical miles, Ocean Mode is $6/GB on both Roam and Personal Maritime as of 27 September 2026.
Can I use the Personal Maritime plan on land?
No. Starlink's terms prohibit land use on Personal Maritime; Roam is the plan that covers both.
Does the Starlink Mini work with Personal Maritime?
Starlink sells the plan to small-boat owners and the Mini is the dish most of them use, but eligibility is decided per application — confirm with Starlink support when you apply.
About this guide: written by NomadSignal Editorial, drawing on 20+ years in cables, telecom and satcom across ASEAN, including maritime connectivity. It is based on Starlink's published specifications and terms, marine installation practice, and owner reports — not a hands-on product test.