Cell connection on Tortola?!

[MickeyMinnieMom]

My weird Disney trip planning issues just abound this year!! Short version: I will need to try to register for some Wine & Dine Half races next Tue, and we are scheduled to be in Tortola on our Eastern Caribbean cruise.

I know -- horrible problem to have -- we are very lucky people!!

For those who have been: do you think I could rely on a good enough connection while on the island to register for a couple of races on my cell phone? What about on the ship should I still be aboard?

Any experience / thoughts / advice would be SO WELCOME!!!

 

[wanderlust7]

If you're still on the ship, you can just use the ship's wifi. Either the free 50 MB (sign up on the first day) if you still have data left, or if you buy a package.

If you're on Tortola, it's going to be international roaming. We did a land based trip before and I vaguely remember briefly connecting to the AT&T network (probably a cell tower on St. John) at the West End and also on a boat tour, but I wouldn't count on it.

 

[Jestocost]

You can likely find a bar/restaurant with free or relatively cheap WiFi on Tortola. If you're not on the ship I'd plan on that vs. what could be a costly cellular data roaming experience.

 

[MickeyMinnieMom]

Thanks to you both!! While I'd generally look to save $$ on stuff like roaming, for this purpose I'm willing for fork little cash to AT&T!

I like the idea of finding a bar/restaurant, but barring that, do you all think the cellular data roaming will be RELIABLE??

Eesh. Why did Disney have to change the registration days?!?

 

[KristiMc]

Is this something that you have to do that day or can it wait till you are in St Thomas the next day? We have full AT&T coverage in St. Thomas.

 

[MickeyMinnieMom]

Is this something that you have to do that day or can it wait till you are in St Thomas the next day? We have full AT&T coverage in St. Thomas.

I really have to do it that day. The Wine and Dine Half will very likely sell out within hours.

 

[Tina Herbert]

How about the ship's Wifi? We used it (well our free data at least) on our last cruise and it was good. Was able to submit a homework assignment for my teaching certification program without any issues, which I was seriously worried about!!

 

[MickeyMinnieMom]

How about the ship's Wifi? We used it (well our free data at least) on our last cruise and it was good. Was able to submit a homework assignment for my teaching certification program without any issues, which I was seriously worried about!!

That is VERY good to know!! I think my issue will be a timing one... Registration opens at noon and I have to be online RIGHT AT NOON to make sure I can register. I think this is just about 30min or 1hr before a Tortola excursion we have planned -- so I figure I'd have to do it while on the island.

I managed to register some of our party for races yesterday at early registration, but not all -- so it's really important to me to get the remaining ones. I'd ask my sister to do it for me, but she needs to register herself for two races at the same time!!

 

[KristiMc]

I really have to do it that day. The Wine and Dine Half will very likely sell out within hours.

That stinks. Good luck!

 

[MickeyMinnieMom]

That stinks. Good luck!

Thanks -- I'll need it!!!!

 

[cwkehoe]

The last shop on the right as you walk down the row of shops in port has Wifi. I believe it was $2 for an hour.

 

[MickeyMinnieMom]

The last shop on the right as you walk down the row of shops in port has Wifi. I believe it was $2 for an hour.

Really?!?! OK... making a note of this -- thanks!!!!!!

 

[Muskegon78]

I think we had free wifi at the restaurant on top of the baths. I could text and check about anything that I wanted to on my phone