Anybody added the Verizon International Plan for their Bahamas cruise?

[Shea&Van]

I just got off the phone with a rep and it appears that both the Bahamas and the Disney Dream have Verizon service available. Next week were are doing a 4-night to the Bahamas on the Dream.

For $40, I will get 100 minutes of talk, 100 text messages, and 100 mb of data. The overages are $.25/min, $.25/msg, $25/100 MB.

Has anyone done this? If so, were you happy with the service.

Are they still offering the small Internet package on the first day? I thought I read that there is some wireless access on Castaway...is that free? If no, would this plan cover me making a phone call? I'm pretty sure the resort we are visiting on Nassau offers free wi-fi, so I'm hoping to use that when I'm actually at the resort.

I'm not very sophisticated when it comes to my smartphone, so how do I avoid going over? Can I actually call on my cell phone from the middle of the ocean? That doesn't seem possible right? Do I have to be in port to call home? Send messages?

I'm planning on touching base with our kids each evening (if possible), maybe sending a few pictures and checking e-mail once a day for work.

Will this package fit my needs?

I know it's a lot of questions, but I'm just trying to figure out if it is worth it. Any insight you could share would be greatly appreciated!

 

[Maggie'sMom]

I just got off the phone with a rep and it appears that both the Bahamas and the Disney Dream have Verizon service available. Next week were are doing a 4-night to the Bahamas on the Dream.

For $40, I will get 100 minutes of talk, 100 text messages, and 100 mb of data. The overages are $.25/min, $.25/msg, $25/100 MB.

Has anyone done this? If so, were you happy with the service.

Are they still offering the small Internet package on the first day? I thought I read that there is some wireless access on Castaway...is that free? If no, would this plan cover me making a phone call? I'm pretty sure the resort we are visiting on Nassau offers free wi-fi, so I'm hoping to use that when I'm actually at the resort.

I'm not very sophisticated when it comes to my smartphone, so how do I avoid going over? Can I actually call on my cell phone from the middle of the ocean? That doesn't seem possible right? Do I have to be in port to call home? Send messages?

I'm planning on touching base with our kids each evening (if possible), maybe sending a few pictures and checking e-mail once a day for work.

Will this package fit my needs?

I know it's a lot of questions, but I'm just trying to figure out if it is worth it. Any insight you could share would be greatly appreciated!

My understanding is that all cell calls made on ship would go through the Cellular At Sea service. The plan you reference above wouldn't cover that. Your plan would only come into play if you are somewhere in port that has cell service. I believe calls made on Castaway Cay would be routed through the Cellular at Sea and subject to those costs.

They are still offering 50MB of free wifi if you sign up before midnight on embarkation day. You should turn off all automatic updates so apps on your phone don't auto update and use up all your MB. Put your cell in airplane mode then turn on the wifi so your phone won't access the Cellular at Sea network and rack up charges. The free 50MB data package was enough for me to check email and do some light internet browsing for my 3 night cruise.

 

[nhgirl]

I just got back from a Norwegian cruise to Bermuda. I purchased this plan with Verizon. I was able to text with my husband and daughter while on the ship. I also received one phone call from my husband. Occasionally a text would fail but most went through no problem. I even sent a video while on the ship (which is considered data). I counted and I sent over 250 texts. I just went online to check my bill now. When I looked at my International usage, it shows I received only 5 texts and sent only one text estimated as of October 29th (the day before I got home). And zero MB of data as of 11/5/15. It looks like the only charge is the $40. So I called Verizon and asked them if texts I sent to people within my plan go against my usage and they said it does count against it. I guess I will have to wait until my next statement in 10 days to find out if I got charged.

 

[Shea&Van]

Hmmmm...interesting. Thanks for posting! I think I'll give it a whirl. Happy Friday everyone!

 

[Maggie'sMom]

I've looked into this more and it appears this plan will work on DCL ships. Everything I had read previously indicated there wasn't a plan that would cover the Cellular at Sea costs, it would be pay as you go at exorbitant prices . But I found info on the following Verizon link that shows the $40 will cover 100 minutes, 100 texts, and 100MB of data. Great to know! I stand corrected.

http://www.verizonwireless.com/landingpages/international-travel/

 

[Shea&Van]

@Maggie'sMom -- this echos what the phone rep said to me. But, I just worried in my gut it was too good to be true.

I'll have to post back and let you know if my additional cost was $40 for the month or $400!

 

[Maggie'sMom]

I'll have to post back and let you know if my additional cost was $40 for the month or $400!

Definitely! And make sure to check your bill carefully for the month afterward. I added an international plan for a trip to Mexico that was promotionally priced at $5. The rep said she would submit a work order for the plan to be cancelled at the end of my billing cycle so I'd only be charged for the one month. Instead, not only was the plan not cancelled, but they added another service on that I never requested. Luckily they were removed the charges without argument, but I was really glad I checked my bill carefully.

 

[abdgeek]

I just got off the phone with a rep and it appears that both the Bahamas and the Disney Dream have Verizon service available. Next week were are doing a 4-night to the Bahamas on the Dream.

For $40, I will get 100 minutes of talk, 100 text messages, and 100 mb of data. The overages are $.25/min, $.25/msg, $25/100 MB.

Has anyone done this? If so, were you happy with the service.

Are they still offering the small Internet package on the first day? I thought I read that there is some wireless access on Castaway...is that free? If no, would this plan cover me making a phone call? I'm pretty sure the resort we are visiting on Nassau offers free wi-fi, so I'm hoping to use that when I'm actually at the resort.

I'm not very sophisticated when it comes to my smartphone, so how do I avoid going over? Can I actually call on my cell phone from the middle of the ocean? That doesn't seem possible right? Do I have to be in port to call home? Send messages?

I'm planning on touching base with our kids each evening (if possible), maybe sending a few pictures and checking e-mail once a day for work.

Will this package fit my needs?

I know it's a lot of questions, but I'm just trying to figure out if it is worth it. Any insight you could share would be greatly appreciated!

I have Verizon Wireless and always purchase an international calling plan whenever I cruise or go overseas, which I do every year. I usually don't come anywhere near to using my minutes, text, or data allowance, but it makes family feel comfortable that they can reach me given that I travel solo. It also helps me keep in touch because some family members only text while others only talk on the phone. At night, I turn my phone to do not disturb except for my favorites contact list and turn off cellular data. During the day, I usually have cellular data turned off unless I'm trying to access the internet for some reason and don't have access to free Wi-Fi. Once I no longer need it I turn it off again. Keep in mind that for some countries you have to have cellular data turned on in order to text. Aruba is one of those countries. I have found the VW international customer service to be excellent, but they don't always knows the ins and outs of calling in each country.

When I am on the cruise ship, my phone is only turned on when we are sitting in a port. That way I can connect to a local cell tower. Countries have about 30 days to report your cell usage, so don't get too excited when you call and VW says you haven't used any minutes/data, etc. Based on my experience, foreign countries don't report that info daily like we do in the U.S.

 

[abdgeek]

I've looked into this more and it appears this plan will work on DCL ships. Everything I had read previously indicated there wasn't a plan that would cover the Cellular at Sea costs, it would be pay as you go at exorbitant prices . But I found info on the following Verizon link that shows the $40 will cover 100 minutes, 100 texts, and 100MB of data. Great to know! I stand corrected.

http://www.verizonwireless.com/landingpages/international-travel/

You're not crazy. These cruise ship plans are something new that just came out. I remember reading/hearing about them online. I think AT&T was the first company that offered this and apparently Verizon has followed suit. The previous years that I have taken cruises, this wasn't available. I had to get the regular international plan that covered the ports I was going to be in.

 

[Tasmen]

Thank you! This thread has been very helpful!

 

[vinotinto]

Agree! Very helpful! DH has. Verizon and I have AT&T. Off to read about these.

 

[abdgeek]

I've looked into this more and it appears this plan will work on DCL ships. Everything I had read previously indicated there wasn't a plan that would cover the Cellular at Sea costs, it would be pay as you go at exorbitant prices . But I found info on the following Verizon link that shows the $40 will cover 100 minutes, 100 texts, and 100MB of data. Great to know! I stand corrected.

http://www.verizonwireless.com/landingpages/international-travel/

Maggie'sMom, thanks for providing the link to the VW page. I clicked on the "terms and conditions" and read the fine print. It was very interesting. Below is part of what it says:

Cruise Ship Roaming: If you are taking a trip on a Cruise Ship, you may be able to make and receive calls, send and receive text/picture or video messages or use data services on select cruise lines. See Cruise Ship Coverage for more information about the rates for these services and which Cruise Ship lines participate. These rates apply only in international waters on the cruise ship. When you are in port or in an area served by a foreign wireless carrier, you will be billed at the applicable rates for that country.

I thought it was interesting that the "rates only apply while in international waters on the cruise ship". If this is the case, do you need to get two plans, the second of which would cover you when you are in port for the countries you will be in?

 

[Maggie'sMom]

Maggie'sMom, thanks for providing the link to the VW page. I clicked on the "terms and conditions" and read the fine print. It was very interesting. Below is part of what it says:

Cruise Ship Roaming: If you are taking a trip on a Cruise Ship, you may be able to make and receive calls, send and receive text/picture or video messages or use data services on select cruise lines. See Cruise Ship Coverage for more information about the rates for these services and which Cruise Ship lines participate. These rates apply only in international waters on the cruise ship. When you are in port or in an area served by a foreign wireless carrier, you will be billed at the applicable rates for that country.

I thought it was interesting that the "rates only apply while in international waters on the cruise ship". If this is the case, do you need to get two plans, the second of which would cover you when you are in port for the countries you will be in?

That's a good question. I'd love to know if someone gets an answer on this. On the other hand, one of the great things about cruising is the ability to be "out of touch" for a week, or however long. I know I have never shared with my boss that I have the option of getting internet service while on the ship so there's no expectation of me checking my work email.

 

[cedricandsophie]

We always use Skype theough wifi or FaceTime for calls. Skype works great and is only pennies per call. And we used FaceTime frequently with our daughter while on a recent cruise.