Getting Starlink in the Bahamas used to be simple. In 2026, it depends entirely on who you are, how long you plan to stay, and whether you are on a boat or on land. The rules changed dramatically in mid-2026 and several popular strategies no longer work. Here is the complete picture.
The Bahamas situation changed fast in mid-2026. These are the questions most people don’t even know to ask — answered before the confusion costs them money.
Yes — but not indefinitely, and not on all plan types. The Bahamas is outside the US–Canada grouped region that Starlink treats as a single roaming zone. That means time spent in the Bahamas counts against international limits. Roam Unlimited: works in the Bahamas for up to 30 consecutive days, then you must either return to the US, switch to a Bahamas-registered local plan ($155/month for an additional 30 days per one community report), or upgrade to a plan with no international time limit. Roam 100 GB and Roam 300 GB: no longer support international travel at all as of August 2026 — they are domestic-only plans now. Residential: locked to your registered service address, does not roam internationally. The only plans without a 30-day restriction for the Bahamas are the new Personal Maritime plan (boats only) and the Global Priority plan ($650/month for 500 GB).
If you register a Starlink account with a Bahamas address directly, the Residential plan is priced at $55/month with hardware at approximately $389 for the standard kit. This is the cleanest and most cost-effective option for anyone with a fixed address in the Bahamas — whether a permanent resident, an expat, or someone with a part-time island home they spend extended time at. The Residential plan gives you full network priority, unlimited data, and no time restrictions. The limitation is that it does not travel with you back to the US — it is registered to your Bahamas address and intended for use at that fixed location. For people splitting time between the US and the Bahamas, a second account or a separate plan approach is required.
The new Personal Maritime plan at $185/month, announced August 27, 2026, was built directly in response to this situation. It removes the 30-day international roaming limit entirely for personal recreational vessels, provides unlimited data within territorial waters worldwide (within 12 nautical miles of any coastline), and avoids the $650/month Global Priority alternative that Starlink’s earlier policy changes pushed boaters toward. Key eligibility requirements: your vessel must be under 60 feet length overall (LOA), non-commercial, and registered as a private pleasure craft. You apply via a Starlink support ticket with proof of vessel registration. Signing up directly from the plan page is not currently available — it requires manual approval.
Your connection switches to Ocean Mode, which is metered data at a per-GB rate. That rate tripled as of September 27, 2026 — from $2 per GB to $6 per GB. This applies to both the Roam Unlimited plan and the new Personal Maritime plan. Ocean Mode must be manually enabled in the Starlink app, and when it is on, the $6/GB charge applies to all data consumed until you turn it off — regardless of whether you drift back within 12 nm. For most Bahamas cruisers, this is manageable because the island chain stays relatively close to shore during normal passages. The Bahamas’ proximity to Florida and the island-to-island nature of typical cruising keeps most passages within or close to territorial waters. Deep ocean crossings are where this cost explodes — a single passage consuming 20 GB at sea would add $120 to your bill at the new rate.
For short visits (under 30 days), Roam Unlimited at $175/month (post-July 2026 rate) still works — and at that duration it is identical in function to the Personal Maritime plan at $185. The $10 difference is trivial if you are only there for a week or two. For visits longer than 30 days, the real cost-conscious options are: register a Bahamas Residential account at $55/month (requires a Bahamas service address, best for people with a property there); or, for boaters, switch to Personal Maritime at $185/month which removes the time limit. The path that no longer exists is the old Global Roam plan — it was discontinued in July 2026 for new customers, and existing customers were moved off it by August 17.
The standard hardware works in the Bahamas on any compatible plan — there is no Bahamas-specific hardware. For a fixed home: the Standard kit (~$389 for a Bahamas-registered account) includes the dish, Gen 3 router, cables, and power adapter, with self-install. For a boat: the same Standard dish or the compact Mini ($199–$249 depending on current promotions) both work on Roam and Personal Maritime plans. The Flat High Performance dish ($2,500) is required for commercial maritime and priority maritime plans, but not for Personal Maritime. Important for boaters: the older Standard Actuated dish (the model with an internal motor) is not recommended for in-motion marine use — the motor is not designed for wave motion and vibration. The current flat-panel Standard dish and the Mini are both suitable.
Personal Maritime is currently limited to vessels under 60 feet LOA. Starlink initially set this at 40 feet, then raised it to 60 feet in September 2026. For vessels over 60 feet, the next tier up is the commercial maritime offering — which starts at $275/month for the boats/mobility/maritime plans, requiring a $2,800 hardware kit (the Flat High Performance dish). These plans are designed for commercial vessels and carry significantly different terms. For large recreational vessels over 60 feet, the practical options are: the commercial maritime plan at $275/month, or working through a Starlink business account with your specific situation. This is a significant gap in Starlink’s lineup that the boating community continues to push back on, given that a 65-foot cruising sailboat is plainly a private recreational vessel regardless of length.
For most Bahamas locations, speeds are comparable to rural US performance — typically 100–200 Mbps download, 10–20 Mbps upload, and 20–50 ms latency. The Bahamas is well within Starlink’s coverage zone and the cells over island communities are typically less congested than busy US coastal cells. Where performance can vary: in tight anchorages surrounded by boats all using Starlink simultaneously, peak-hour congestion is more noticeable. Also, Roam plan data is lower priority than Residential plan data in the same cell, so a US boater on Roam Unlimited may see slightly slower speeds during peak hours than a locally registered Residential customer on the same island. In practice, for the Bahamas the differences are minor — the bigger factor is always having a clear view of sky with no obstructions.
Six distinct pathways, depending on whether you live there, visit by boat, or travel occasionally. All prices in USD. Starlink prices change frequently — always verify at starlink.com before signing up.
Register directly at starlink.com with a Bahamas service address. Hardware approximately $389. Best option for full-time residents, expats, and property owners who spend extended time there. No international roaming.
Same hardware as US residential. Self-install, no technician fee. Check starlink.com/bs for current hardware pricing — varies by region and occasional promotions.
Post-July 2026 rate. Works in the Bahamas for up to 30 consecutive days before the timer triggers. Best for visits under 30 days. After 30 days, you must return to the US or change plans.
These plans no longer support use outside the US as of August 17, 2026. They are US-domestic plans only. If you tried using these in the Bahamas before this change, they will no longer work there.
Launched August 27, 2026. Unlimited data within 12 nautical miles of any coastline, no international time limit. Apply via Starlink support ticket with vessel registration. Beyond 12 nm: $6/GB Ocean Mode (from Sep 27, 2026).
The only plan with no international time restriction for land-based use, no vessel requirement, and true global flexibility. Priced for commercial and power users. 500 GB priority data per month.
For vessels over 60 ft or commercial operations. Requires Flat High Performance dish. Designed for commercial fishing, charter, and larger yachts. Significantly different hardware and pricing tier.
Metered add-on for Roam Unlimited and Personal Maritime plans when offshore. Tripled from $2/GB to $6/GB. Applies to all data while enabled. Turn off when back in territorial waters to stop charges.
The Global Roam plan ($400/month, unlimited international land use) was discontinued for new customers on July 15, 2026. Existing customers who had not transitioned by August 17, 2026 lost their service. Additionally, Roam 100 GB and Roam 300 GB became US-domestic-only plans. And Roam Unlimited was capped at 30 days of international use at a time. If you were previously using any of these plans in the Bahamas long-term without issue, the rules changed in August 2026 and that use is no longer compliant.
Every option in one place, so you can see immediately which applies to your situation and what it will actually cost month to month.
| Plan | Monthly Cost | Who It’s For | Bahamas Time Limit | Boat Use? |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bahamas Residential | $55/mo | Fixed address residents & expats | No limit — registered locally | Land only |
| Roam Unlimited (US plan) | $175/mo | Short-stay US visitors under 30 days | 30 days max, then must act | Yes (in-motion, coastal) |
| Roam 100 GB / 300 GB | Domestic only | US travel only — not Bahamas | Cannot be used in Bahamas | Not for Bahamas |
| Personal Maritime | $185/mo | Boaters, under 60 ft LOA, non-commercial | No limit in territorial waters | Yes — designed for this |
| Global Priority | $650/mo | Long-stay, land or sea, power users | No international limit | Yes |
| Commercial Maritime | $275/mo | Vessels over 60 ft or commercial ops | No international limit | Yes — requires HP dish |
| Ocean Mode (add-on) | $6/GB metered | Beyond 12 nautical miles offshore | As needed | Add-on to Roam or Maritime |
Fixed address only
No time limit
30 days max in Bahamas
Then must return or switch
Boats under 60 ft
No time limit in territorial waters
Land or sea
No time limit anywhere
US domestic only since Aug 2026
Beyond 12 nm offshore
Add-on, not standalone
This rule change, which took effect August 17, 2026, caught many regular Bahamas visitors completely off guard. Here is the full story of what changed, why it matters, and what your options are.
When you cross into the Bahamas with a US-based Roam Unlimited plan, a 30-day clock starts. You have 30 consecutive days of Starlink use in the Bahamas before Starlink’s system requires you to take action. Your three options when the timer expires are: return to the United States (travel between the US and Canada, including their territories, does not restart the clock — you must physically go back to US territory); switch to a Bahamas-registered local plan (reported at approximately $155/month for an additional 30-day period based on community reports from forum users in August 2026, though this should be confirmed directly with Starlink as it is not prominently published); or upgrade to Global Priority at $650/month, which has no international time restriction. There is no grace period described in Starlink’s terms — when the 30 days end, service stops until you take action.
Starlink groups certain countries into regions for roaming purposes. The US and Canada (and their associated territories) are treated as one region — travel between them does not trigger the 30-day international clock. The Bahamas is not included in this grouped region. Despite being a short boat ride from Florida — and the most popular offshore destination for US East Coast boaters — the Bahamas is considered a separate international jurisdiction by Starlink. This caught many users by surprise because the pre-2026 Roam policy was much more permissive, and the change was implemented with relatively short notice in the boating community. Caribbean islands, Mexico, and Central American countries are similarly excluded from the US–Canada group, making this a broad issue for anyone cruising south from the US.
Starlink introduced Personal Maritime on August 27, 2026, specifically responding to intense pushback from the cruising community over the 30-day limit. Here is what it covers, who qualifies, and the fine print that matters.
At $185 per month, Personal Maritime provides unlimited data within territorial waters worldwide — defined as within 12 nautical miles of any coastline. It removes the 30-day international time restriction entirely for qualifying vessels. You can spend the entire winter in the Bahamas, hop the Caribbean islands, and return to Florida without the timer ever becoming an issue. Beyond 12 nautical miles, Ocean Mode kicks in at $6 per GB of data consumed (rate effective September 27, 2026). Ocean Mode must be manually activated in the Starlink app — your connection does not automatically stop outside 12 nm, but metered charges begin. The plan requires proof of vessel registration and is applied via a Starlink support ticket rather than standard self-service signup.
The eligibility rules are specific. Your vessel must be a private recreational craft under 60 feet length overall. Commercial operations of any kind — including crewed charters, fishing charters, and passenger services — are explicitly excluded and require the enterprise maritime tier. You apply by submitting a Starlink support ticket and providing documentation including vessel registration or hull identification documentation. Starlink reviews applications manually; you cannot sign up directly through the public plan page. Starlink initially set the limit at 40 feet when the plan launched, which excluded a significant portion of the bluewater cruising fleet (many production cruising catamarans and blue-water monohulls run 42–58 feet). After substantial community feedback, Starlink raised the limit to 60 feet within days — accommodating most Lagoon, Fountaine Pajot, Leopard, and Beneteau blue-water models typically seen in the Bahamas.
Ocean Mode is the metered data feature for use beyond 12 nautical miles offshore. It is an optional add-on that you activate and deactivate in the Starlink app. The price increased from $2 per GB to $6 per GB effective September 27, 2026 — a tripling that drew significant complaints from offshore sailors. For context: a modern cruising sailboat crew streaming video and working remotely might use 15–30 GB per day in normal operation. At $6/GB, a single day offshore at moderate usage could cost $90–$180 in Ocean Mode charges on top of the monthly plan. The boating community’s near-universal advice is to turn Ocean Mode off unless you genuinely need connectivity offshore, and download anything you need before leaving territorial waters. Navigation charts, weather downloads, email sync, and messaging all work through apps that can queue data when you re-enter the 12 nm zone.
Register a Bahamas Residential account directly at starlink.com with your Bahamas service address. At $55/month with hardware around $389, this is the most cost-effective and stable option — you get full network priority, unlimited data, no time restrictions, and no roaming complexity. Your Bahamas Residential plan will not work when you travel back to the US, since it is tied to your registered service address. If you split time between countries and want internet in both, you need either two accounts (one in each country), or a Roam-capable plan as a travel solution. Many US–Bahamas split-residency households maintain a Bahamas Residential plan on the island property and a US Residential plan at home.
Roam Unlimited at $175/month is your plan, and the 30-day limit is not a problem for your travel pattern. Two to three weeks falls well within the 30-day window. Switch to Roam Unlimited before you leave the US, use it freely in the Bahamas for your trip, and switch back to a lower-cost plan when you return. If you return to the US before 30 days elapsed, the timer resets for your next trip. One thing to watch: Roam 100 GB and Roam 300 GB will not work in the Bahamas anymore. If you have one of these plans, you need to switch to Roam Unlimited before your trip departs.
Personal Maritime at $185/month is the plan that was built for your situation. It eliminates the 30-day timer, provides unlimited data in territorial waters wherever you sail, and at $185/month is only $10 more than Roam Unlimited — an easy trade for months of uninterrupted connectivity in the Bahamas, Cuba, the Dominican Republic, or wherever your cruise takes you next. Apply via Starlink support ticket with your vessel’s registration documentation. Manage Ocean Mode carefully: turn it off before overnight passages and download what you need before departure to avoid the $6/GB offshore charges accumulating while you sleep.
This depends on how long your stays are. For stays under 30 days, a US Roam Unlimited plan at $175/month gets you there, but it is more expensive than a Bahamas Residential account for internet you are only using occasionally. For stays of 2–4 months at a time, a Bahamas Residential account at $55/month registered to the property address is dramatically cheaper and simpler. The complication is that Starlink Residential is not designed to travel with you — you would need a separate plan for US connectivity. For a second home that sits empty most of the year: a Bahamas Residential account can be paused using Standby Mode for $5–$15/month while you are away, keeping the account alive without paying full plan rates during months the property is empty.
Global Priority at $650/month is the only plan that gives you unlimited data, no time restriction, land or sea use, and full network priority without any roaming complexity. It is expensive, but if you are billing clients for your time and need guaranteed connectivity, the reliability is worth it. Alternatively, if you have a Bahamas address or can establish a registered address at your accommodation, a Bahamas Residential plan at $55/month combined with a local SIM for backup covers most remote work needs at a fraction of the cost. The gap between $55/month and $650/month is significant — explore whether a Bahamas Residential account is possible before defaulting to Global Priority.
The single most impactful cost-control move for cruising boaters using Personal Maritime or Roam Unlimited is habitual Ocean Mode management. Ocean Mode at $6/GB means a routine overnight passage of 8 hours using 5 GB of background data costs $30 in additional charges. Over a season, that adds up to hundreds of dollars. The habit that experienced Bahamas cruisers recommend: before weighing anchor for an offshore passage, open the Starlink app, confirm Ocean Mode is off, and pre-download anything you will need at sea — weather files (Predict Wind, PocketGrib), charts, podcasts, and any emails. When you arrive at the next anchorage inside territorial waters, Ocean Mode is irrelevant and full connectivity resumes at no extra charge.
If you own a property in the Bahamas and have a local Residential account registered there, Standby Mode lets you keep the account alive during the months you are not there at minimal cost. At approximately $5–$15 per month, Standby keeps firmware updated, account active, and allows basic low-speed connectivity (0.5 Mbps) for any caretakers or security systems that might benefit from connectivity. When you arrive for the season, switch back to the full plan in the app and full speed resumes. This avoids paying $55/month for internet you are not using for 8 months of the year, while keeping the account active so you do not need to go through setup again each visit.
Personal Maritime is not available through Starlink’s standard self-service plan page. You apply through a Starlink support ticket. The process: log into your Starlink account, navigate to Support, and open a ticket requesting access to the Personal Maritime plan. In the ticket, include your vessel’s official registration document, the hull identification number (HIN), the vessel’s length overall (LOA) to confirm it is under 60 feet, and a brief note that it is a private, non-commercial recreational vessel. Starlink reviews applications manually and approves in typically a few days. You do not need to switch hardware — your existing Mini or Standard flat dish continues to work. The plan change simply updates your account’s roaming permissions and removes the 30-day international timer.
Starlink has made more significant plan and policy changes in 2026 than in the previous three years combined. Global Roam was eliminated, international Roam limits were introduced, the Personal Maritime plan appeared, Ocean Mode tripled in price, and vessel size limits changed twice within weeks of launch. Before any Bahamas trip, log into your Starlink account and verify that your current plan still supports international use — do not assume that what worked last season still works today. The safest pre-departure check is confirming your plan terms at starlink.com/legal and contacting support if anything is unclear. A plan that cannot be used in the Bahamas is expensive dead weight to carry on a cruise.
This guide is for general informational purposes only. All prices are in USD. Starlink pricing and international roaming policies changed multiple times in 2026 — key verified changes referenced include the July 15, 2026 retirement of Global Roam, the August 17, 2026 application of the 30-day international limit to existing Roam customers, the August 27, 2026 launch of Personal Maritime at $185/month, the September 2026 update raising the vessel size limit from 40 to 60 feet LOA, and the September 27, 2026 Ocean Mode price increase from $2/GB to $6/GB. Bahamas Residential pricing of $55/month and hardware at approximately $389 are sourced from third-party Starlink price tracking sites. Community-reported Bahamas local plan pricing of approximately $155/month for a secondary 30-day period should be verified directly with Starlink at starlink.com/bs before relying on it. Always verify current plan terms and pricing at starlink.com before signing up or making travel decisions. This content is entirely original.