Can you use your cell for calls/texts while on the ship?

[Jenleephoto]

Probably a really dumb question, but we leave in 3 days and my mother is asking if she can contact me on my cell while we are cruising. She is worried. lol

 

[DisneyOHFan]

You will most likely be charged a roaming charge.

 

[trimix]

Your question is answered in the first post of the FAQ thread.

 

[1153rsmith]

Probably a really dumb question, but we leave in 3 days and my mother is asking if she can contact me on my cell while we are cruising. She is worried. lol

You can, but you had better check with your cell phone provider first. Rates can be steep, and they may have to enable your account for it to work... But pretty much all cruise ships now have cell towers on them. I have made "emergency" calls on Carnival and Royal Caribbean ships... didn't have to on the Dream last year.

I do know texting is a lot cheaper.

All of it is cheaper than having someone call the emergency contact number for the ship. It is something like $7.99 a minute or some other outragious figure.

 

[Jenleephoto]

OK, thanks. So, if someone back home (mainland) wants to get a hold of us while we are cruising what is the best way for them to do so ?

 

[MTmomma]

Nothing stopping you, but it is quite expensive.

 

[1153rsmith]

OK, thanks. So, if someone back home (mainland) wants to get a hold of us while we are cruising what is the best way for them to do so ?

It is sometimes cheaper in port, depending on where you are. They could always leave you a message and you could check when you get off the ship... There again, your best bet for accurate, up to date info is to call your cell phone provider. Mine is Verizon and they have always been very helpful.

 

[Jenleephoto]

OK, thanks. I'll try to call Verizon in the next few days and ask about the roaming fees.

 

[DisneyOHFan]

We have our blackberry's enabled for international e-mail capability. So all of our communication happens via e-mail. We have T-mobile and it is like $19.95/mo to have it and then all e-mails are free.

 

[Glamgirl4579]

OK, thanks. I'll try to call Verizon in the next few days and ask about the roaming fees.

Cruise Ship Rates
Voice Roaming Rate:
$2.49 per minute
Text Messaging Rates:
$0.50/address sent
$0.05/message received


Global Data

Monthly Access

$30

$75

$125

Rate after allowance

$0.005/KB ($5.12/MB)

Pay Per Use Rate: $0.02/KB ($20.48/MB)




Allowance

50MB

150MB

I just checked!

 

[ssanders79]

OK, thanks. So, if someone back home (mainland) wants to get a hold of us while we are cruising what is the best way for them to do so ?

How can I be contacted in case of an emergency?
The Emergency Ship to Shore number is 1-888-322-8732.

 

[luv2sleep]

You can, but you had better check with your cell phone provider first. Rates can be steep, and they may have to enable your account for it to work... But pretty much all cruise ships now have cell towers on them. I have made "emergency" calls on Carnival and Royal Caribbean ships... didn't have to on the Dream last year.

I do know texting is a lot cheaper.

All of it is cheaper than having someone call the emergency contact number for the ship. It is something like $7.99 a minute or some other outragious figure.

Can you have someone make an emergency call to the ship, have them leave you a message then call whoever it is who called back using your own cell instead of talking on the ships's phone?

 

[1153rsmith]

Can you have someone make an emergency call to the ship, have them leave you a message then call whoever it is who called back using your own cell instead of talking on the ships's phone?

I think what happens is, when the call comes in, they attempt to contact you and if you cannot be found, they take a message. I believe however, that the person calling you must give a credit card over the phone before the call will be put through to the ship. The person calling will be the one paying.

Personally, when I have used my cell phone on ships, I have never been charged extra... however, I assume they have just slipped through the cracks somehow... every time I use my phone, I assume I am going to get charged.

In the event someone needs to get in touch with you could you have them text you? You could just turn your phone on a couple times a day to see if you have any messages. What I don't know is if your phone rings, but you do not answer, are you charged anything or not. If you are not charged unless you answer, you could always screen your calls and just answer the critical ones.

 

[3Mickeys]

DH and I actually found great pleasure in powering down our phones last year and locking them in the safe for 7 days! We swore we would do it more often. We discussed all the possible scenarios and realized that if we got a call in the middle of the cruise we wouldn't be able to leave easily anyway. Our kids were with us. If there was a death in the family, all agreed services would wait until we returned. My parents did have the DCL number in case of something beyond our control that needed immediate action - like our house burned down or something. But more than anything, we loved powering down. Looking forward to doing it again a week from today as the Magic slides out of port!

 

[1153rsmith]

DH and I actually found great pleasure in powering down our phones last year and locking them in the safe for 7 days! We swore we would do it more often. We discussed all the possible scenarios and realized that if we got a call in the middle of the cruise we wouldn't be able to leave easily anyway. Our kids were with us. If there was a death in the family, all agreed services would wait until we returned. My parents did have the DCL number in case of something beyond our control that needed immediate action - like our house burned down or something. But more than anything, we loved powering down. Looking forward to doing it again a week from today as the Magic slides out of port!

3 mickeys, we are on the same cruise. I can't wait.

 

[luv2sleep]

So if you just have your phone on (to receive an emergency text) but don't use it for anything else but texting, are you charged for other stuff? I went to AT&T today and they were not that helpful. I am wondering if there's a way to JUST receive texts but not emails? Anyone know?

 

[CoolHandsGirl]

You could remove the email account associated with your cell in your phone's email set up so it won't try and connect to that email server. You'd have to setup the email account again in your phone upon your return but all your email would still be collected by your server while you were gone.

 

[luv2sleep]

You could remove the email account associated with your cell in your phone's email set up so it won't try and connect to that email server. You'd have to setup the email account again in your phone upon your return but all your email would still be collected by your server while you were gone.

Thank you! I just found the feature that turns email off. So I will do that. Thanks for your help!

 

[generaltso23]

Thank you! I just found the feature that turns email off. So I will do that. Thanks for your help!

Just turn off data roaming. You'll still get voice calls and texts, but no data services (like email) will work.

 

[disneyholic family]

Just turn off data roaming. You'll still get voice calls and texts, but no data services (like email) will work.

yes, turn off your data roaming.
those data roaming charges can be astronomical.

on your iphone go to "settings", then to "general", then to "network'
You'll see data roaming there and you can set it as on or off. You want to be sure it is in the off position.