Cell Phone And Internet Questions

[Wish Upon A Star]

Has anyone used their cell phones on board and are the charges astronomical? Is there even service out on sea?? Is there phones to make calls from? Is it better to get a calling card?

Internet usage . . .what is the price? How bout just emailing? Is it all the same?

Thanks . . I'm such a newbie cruiser!

 

[jel0511]

Cell phones don't work while you're at sea. Mine did work in Nassau, but not in Freeport or in Castaway Cay. I have Cingular Nationwide plan, so I don't pay roaming charges, and I didn't get charged for these calls. If you don't have a National plan, expect to pay astronomical roaming fees. The phones on the ship cost $8 per MINUTE, so it better be a pretty important call! The internet on the ship costs $0.75 per minute, or there is an unlimited package and it's cost varies depending on the number days of your cruise. You can check your e-mail for the same charges of the internet, but the by the minute charges add up quickly since the connection isn't much better than a pretty good dial-up connection.

 

[CM_Mom]

Cingular cell service works in St. Thomas and of course Key West. I believe some others also work in St. Thomas (probably use Cingular's network) My Cingular service is charged as part of my regular minutes from St. Thomas. Cingular began including the U.S. Virgin Islands in the Cingular Nation plans in February. DD has made calls from the ship while sailing between Port Canaveral and Key West since they sail down the coast and aren't that far from land. Cell phones usually only work on deck because of the interference from all the metal.

No cell service at sea. You "can" make ship to shore calls but they're $6.95 PER MINUTE. Phone cards can't be used on the ship.

Internet service is available and costs $.75 per minute if you want to check e-mail. If you plan to use a lot there it was $89.95 for unlimited usage on the 7 day cruise. Even though I live on my computer at work and home, we passed on internet on the ship. Didn't really miss it since there was lots to do and everyone I needed to contact was on the ship.

Hope this helps.

 

[ivanova]

my cell phone (verizon wireless) worked while we were in port at Freeport .. didn't think to try it in Nassau or Castaway Cay.

 

[disneyma]

Used my Verizon Nationwide plan in Nassau, Castaway Cay, and during the day at sea. The cost was .69 cents a minute plus betwwen 30 and 80 vents long distance charges. So average about $1.40 a minute.

Service was very sporadic on the day at sea... only seem to work on the top deck.

 

[Wish Upon A Star]

Thanks . . .

Just trying to plan ahead for DD . . .looks like she will be out of contact with her friends for the cruise as we don't have Cingular Nationwide we just have the basic family plan and I definately do not want to pay .75 a minute for internet.

She can do without for the 4 days . . .

 

[invaderzim]

Has anyone ever used an international calling card to call from the caribbean or the ship? Do they work?

 

[anlashokna]

Good question ! I'd like to throw one in here too Has anyone tried the prepaid tracfones? I've only found one place in the mainland US they dont work. Theoritically if there is a tower it should work. Anyone? Anyone?

Thanks
Stacey

 

[disneyholic family]

about a year ago someone wrote about how they used a satellite phone on the ship and used their laptop hooked up to it.....he did say he had to sit on deck to do this...
i didn't pay much attention to details at the time, but now i really need the information.....oh well....

unrelated to the above, has anyone used t-mobile or sprint in florida or on the cruise?

we're coming from overseas so our choices are limited....we get the US phones here at home and it's whatever is available (i get a sprint phone from my office, my husband a t-mobile from his)...
it will be amusing (not) if neither of them works in orlando/nassau.....

 

[disneyholic family]

ok. i just went and looked it up...
for those of you who have to be available by phone (my husband has to be available 24/7/365), you can rent a satellite phone for a week for about $40 for the week ($1.50/minute usage charge vs $8/minute on the ship phone)...

Iridium and Globalstar work off the coast of florida and in the carribbean......you have to be outside to use it (probably the best place is on the top deck, but maybe the verandah might possibly work)....

but due to the expense, this is only a solution for those who really really have to be connected.....

 

[tvguy]

I just gave everyone the ship's phone number and our stateroom number. Even on port days were always managed to stop by the cabin every few hours, and there is a light on the phone to tell you if you have a voicemail message.
disneyholic family, if your husband's work really wants to call him, let THEM pay the $8 per minute!!!!

 

[dazie52]

International phone cards do work from the Caribbean. There are pay phones just off the ship at every port (you'll see MANY CMs out there all day long). Don't know where the best place to buy these is, however. Also, I believe at most ports there are phones that take US calling cards. It should be posted on the phone. As far as internet goes, there are internet cafes in all ports not far from the ship. Just ask the CMs. You should easily be able to find a CM that can tell you where one is. They cost anywhere from $2-$4 an hour.

Robyn

 

[Mary Anne]

t-mobile works fine in Florida. I have never had a problem there.