Calls to the Ship

[CTFamilyCruisers]

I will need to leave my office with the ship to shore phone number while we are on our cruise. I'll be checking in twice a day, but there is a chance they will need to reach me in an emergency. What happens when they call? Is the call just sent to my stateroom? Assuming we are rarely there during the day, is there any way to get an emergency message to a passenger on the ship? I know I'll be frantically running back and forth checking my messages.

I'm going to get the internet access too - so maybe it is just easier for me to check email and then call them back.

Has anyone had to stay in touch with the "real world" back home? I'm not complaining about having to do it, I just want to find the least stressful way.

Thanks for any suggestions!

 

[kcashner]

E-mail will be FAR cheaper than the ship to shore phone. The unlimited e-mail package is less than $15 per day. Ship to shore phone calls are $6.95 per minute (I think I remember that right.) Also, your cell phone will probably work when you are in port (mine did).

There is really no way they can locate you while on board when a call comes in--for a true emergency, they can announce for you over the PA system, but that would probably only happen once during the cruise (they aren't going to do it for office problems if they know that is the situation!) I suppose they could page you on your pager from the kid programming...Why not set times when you will check your e-mail, and you will call them if anything truly can't be done via e-mail.

I don't know if a blackberry would help.

You really can't take a few days totally away from the office???? I ran my own business for many years, and know it was difficult to get someone to cover, but the rare breaks were well worth it.

 

[tvguy]

A blackberry will only work where there is cell service since they use cell phone frequencies to sent and receive their messages.

There is voicemail on your cabin phone, so you either are going to have to check that or e-mail on a regular basis.

Either that, or tell the boss you're on vacation and you'll deal with any problems when you get back.

 

[CTFamilyCruisers]

Thanks for the advice. I'm actually thinking of renting a satellite phone. Usually, I can manage to break away as long as I check in twice a day. Unfortunately, a significant business crisis has developed and my choices are basically - be available or cancel the vacation. The company will pay all applicable expenses, so fortunately that is not the issue. I think a combination of satellite phone, ship to shore calls and email should make it work. I also have a cell phone and a blackberry that may work while we are in port.

This is just bad timing. I booked the cruise 16 months ago and had no way of knowing what would be going on. It just goes with the job!

 

[donaldsgal]

my sister (my cruise companion) faces the same problem when we go on vacation. she has to be available for office problems or else very, VERY costly projects can go down the drain. for our cruise, she will be calling in to the office from payphones in port (which is much cheaper!) and by emailing.

 

[tvguy]

Thanks for the advice. I'm actually thinking of renting a satellite phone. Usually, I can manage to break away as long as I check in twice a day. Unfortunately, a significant business crisis has developed and my choices are basically - be available or cancel the vacation. The company will pay all applicable expenses, so fortunately that is not the issue. I think a combination of satellite phone, ship to shore calls and email should make it work. I also have a cell phone and a blackberry that may work while we are in port.

This is just bad timing. I booked the cruise 16 months ago and had no way of knowing what would be going on. It just goes with the job!

My company WON'T pay those kind of expenses, which is why the local managers don't require us to check in on vacation.
And if we travel on business, they WILL reimburse us for meals, but if you tip more than 10%, it's out of our pockets!!!!

 

[Stinasmom]

you are charged the $6.95/minute even if the call comes to you vs. a call you make out?
If this is true, my MIL will just have to take a week off from her daily checkins or send us a healthy check to cover the costs!

 

[LeslieG]

My husband and I have our own business, which makes it VERY difficult to get away unless our employees can have continuous access to us via phone. Days at sea make it almost impossible. Therefore, we had to opt for the 3nt. I hadn't thought of satellite phone. Can you give me more info? Anybody know the cost? I thought I read that you could rent them.