ET Phone Home....

[rosiep]

What is the best/least expensive way of staying in touch with folks back home while on a cruise?

 

[maria-fan-22]

While in ports find a pay phone. Or upgrade a cell phone to the international plan. If you are using e-mail is also a good option while in port. Any infomation comming on and off the ships is very expensive. Both ship to shore and cell to shore are very expensive.

 

[tvguy]

There really isn't an inexpensive option. I guess e-mail would be least expensive on the ship, with a cell phone next, and the cabin phone the most expensive.
If you can wait until you are in port, and depending on your cell provider and rates in the port you are in, that may be a cheaper option.

We have a rule in my family. Nothing is so important that it can't wait until we get home. That rule was established by my 87 year old mom who has older siblings. She doesn't want her vacation interupted by bad news, and she doesn't want our vacation interupted by bad news.

 

[lawone]

Send them a letter!

Just kidding....

 

[budbeerlady]

We usually buy a cheap phone card in port and call home. It was really, really cheap in Grand Cayman to call and talk to DD.

 

[rosiep]

Thanks-

I have two daughters and it is our habit to call and say goodnight each day. I'm guesing a quick phone cell phone call or text will do it.

 

[TorontoGirl]

As per Passporter.com's DCL Guide 2010 - PLEASE SUPPORT PASSPORTER.COM

Stateroom Cell Phone Usage—Disney has enabled cell phone usage in your stateroom. Once your ship is 8–10 miles out to sea, the Wireless Maritime Services (WMS) kick in and allow cell phone usage, but only in your stateroom. This “Cellular at Sea” service is generally available with most major cell phone carriers (such as AT&T, Verizon Wireless, Sprint, T-Mobile, Alltel, etc.), and your carrier bills you directly. No cell phone charges will appear from Disney on your cruise bill. If you plan to use your cell phone at sea, call your provider before leaving to check on rates and find out what is needed (such as international roaming). Don’t assume that your cell phone won’t work without international roaming turned on, however. To avoid any charges you were not expecting, turn off your cell phone and other wireless devices while you’re on your cruise (you could also use “airplane mode”). We tested the service on our recent cruise and discovered that we were able to make a call from our stateroom without having turned on international roaming. When we checked our bill upon returning home, AT&T had charged us $2.50/minute. The charge appeared on our bill immediately, but be aware that these special usage charges can take up to 90 days to appear on a bill. Note that these cellular services are disabled while in a port, but you may be able to make cell phone calls using the port’s cellular networks anyway. Look for a brochure in your stateroom which explains the current Cellular at Sea service in detail.

 

[thomprod]

Some cell carriers offer international text messages at more affordable rates than voice calls in some countries. Check with your carrier before you leave on your cruise. Tell them which ports you will be in and they can quote rates for voice and text.

 

[HappyontheLake]

and make sure your teens and tweens have given you their cell phones and that you have turned them completely off and locked them up. On our last cruise I walked by a room that had a door propped open and there was a teenaged girl obviously texting. I don't even want to know what the bill was when her parents got it.

My husband will use his Blackberry on the cruise at certain times, but it is paid for by his company and he really cannot be out of contact completely. But my phone and the kids will be turned off and "locked up" in my suitcase.

 

[rosiep]

Some cell carriers offer international text messages at more affordable rates than voice calls in some countries. Check with your carrier before you leave on your cruise. Tell them which ports you will be in and they can quote rates for voice and text.

It does look like texting (through Verizon) is cheaper than calling. A good option to be aware of.

 

[Hedy]

It does look like texting (through Verizon) is cheaper than calling. A good option to be aware of.

$.50 to send, and $.05 to recieve. I'm planning on texting to keep in touch with my mother (yes, I am 26 and call my mommy every day I'm on vacation. So what.)

 

[FanOfStitch]

Not to hijack the thread, but does anyone have experience using a Tracfone on a cruise? With no plan, are their any additional charges? TIA!

 

[rosiep]

$.50 to send, and $.05 to recieve. I'm planning on texting to keep in touch with my mother (yes, I am 26 and call my mommy every day I'm on vacation. So what.)

You're my kind of girl! My daughters are 24 and 26....and we talk every single day.

 

[tvguy]

(yes, I am 26 and call my mommy every day I'm on vacation. So what.)

I'm 53 and my mommy has strict rules about vacations. She does not want us to call her when she is on vacation, and she will not call us when we are on vacation. Her attitude is, if it's bad news, nothing can't wait until everyone is home. And if it's a good trip, she wants to hear/talk about it over dinner when everyone is home, and not before.

She also has stipulated that if she should pass away on a cruise, she darn well better stay of the ship for the full lenght of the cruise, she paid good money for the trip.

 

[Luckymomoftwo]

(yes, I am 26 and call my mommy every day I'm on vacation. So what.)

I think that is sooooo sweet!!!

 

[SWB]

Not to hijack the thread, but does anyone have experience using a Tracfone on a cruise? With no plan, are their any additional charges? TIA!

I'm wondering the same thing - anyone know?

 

[mdargen]

There really isn't an inexpensive option. I guess e-mail would be least expensive on the ship, with a cell phone next, and the cabin phone the most expensive.
If you can wait until you are in port, and depending on your cell provider and rates in the port you are in, that may be a cheaper option.

We have a rule in my family. Nothing is so important that it can't wait until we get home. That rule was established by my 87 year old mom who has older siblings. She doesn't want her vacation interupted by bad news, and she doesn't want our vacation interupted by bad news.

I have to ask if you feel guilty about that? My mom is coming with us for an extended cruise vacation over Christmas and leaving my 87 year old Grandma at home with the rest of the family. I'm so worried if something happened to her and they couldn't get in touch with us. But on the other hand this is a once in a lifetime vacation we have been planning for almost 2 years. Ugh. I feel so bad saying that.

 

[MinnesotaMouseketeers]

.......(yes, I am 26 and call my mommy every day I'm on vacation. So what.)

This is a great topic/post. We are going on our first vacation without DS (he started college this fall) and it's the 15 night Panama Canal cruise were doing. We don't call anyone while vacationing but will make an exception for this one. So DW and I are interested in reading all the responses to the OP because we will be keeping in touch with DS.

My in-laws call us most nights while they are on vacation and it drives us crazy. I don't need to know what their dog did every minute of the day, stopping short on how many times it had to do its job/s Or what they had eaten all day long.

On this vacation the only person I want to keep in touch with while we are gone is with/from our DS.

 

[rosiep]

This is a great topic/post. We are going on our first vacation without DS (he started college this fall) and it's the 15 night Panama Canal cruise were doing. We don't call anyone while vacationing but will make an exception for this one. So DW and I are interested in reading all the responses to the OP because we will be keeping in touch with DS.

My in-laws call us most nights while they are on vacation and it drives us crazy. I don't need to know what their dog did every minute of the day, stopping short on how many times it had to do its job/s Or what they had eaten all day long.

On this vacation the only person I want to keep in touch with while we are gone is with/from our DS.

I hate being out of touch with my daughters and they are both in their 20's, I went camping a few times and was out of cell range for a few days....it nearly killed me!

 

[ccsmith312]

I hate being out of touch with my daughters and they are both in their 20's, I went camping a few times and was out of cell range for a few days....it nearly killed me!

I hope my kids still call me that much when they are in their 20's. I think that is wonderful!