The summer is quickly approaching which means it's almost time for cruise passengers to set sail. While it's important to remember to pack the essential items, there are other steps to make sure you're best prepared for your voyage.

Experts have given some money-saving advice to passengers ahead of their upcoming holidays. They previously urged people to stock up on essentials at a supermarket and are now advising them to make an essential check before their cruise.

According to Woman and Home, passengers should always check the Wi-Fi package that's available on their ship. This will ensure they stay connected and won't arrive home to find a hefty bill.

Data roaming is more expensive out at sea due to the lack of traditional mobile towers. You will likely have to pay higher prices to connect to a maritime network.

If you're using data roaming while at sea, you could be wasting a lot of money without realising. The best way to avoid these costs is to use the Wi-Fi connection on your ship or to put your phone on aeroplane mode.

This is particularly important for cruises that go through different countries as roaming charges also vary depending on where you are. The experts say that your cruise line should be able to guide you towards the best deal.

They said: "One of the things to consider is that during a cruise you may be going through different countries, with different rules and roaming charges. Most cruise ships will offer WiFi packages so you can stay connected on your trip and not come back with an expensive phone bill. Speak to your cruise provider before the trip to get the best deal."

The ship's Wi-Fi can also be much faster than your data connection. The Points Guy, a travel website and blog, said: "Internet service on cruise ships in recent years has gotten a lot faster — and less expensive, to boot.

"Indeed, if you haven't been on a cruise in a few years, you might be shocked at how much faster the Wi-Fi speeds are on cruise ships than during your last sailing — and how much more affordable internet packages have become in some cases.

"While there still are some ships and some cruising locations where surfing the internet takes the patience of Job, excruciatingly slow internet speeds on cruise ships are increasingly a thing of the past."