Cell phone coverage on the islands?

[CourtneyMc]

Does anyone have any experience with cell phones working or not on St. Maartan, St. Thomas and Castaway Cay? I'm just wondering whether it's even worth bringing a phone or if it wont' work. We have one phone with Sprint, one with TMobile, if that makes a difference.

thanks!

Courtney

 

[Amlee]

I can tell you with out a doubt the answer to Castaway Cay is NO! No phone serives at all. I'm with Verizon and my global phone will work in St. Martain and St. Thomas. Check with your phone company. They will be able to tell you.

 

[wltdsnyfan]

We were on the July 29th Western and I can tell you Nextel does not work on CC. I did have service in Key West and Cozumel.

 

[thomprod]

I have Verizon service and before each of my three Disney cruises, I called them and asked about service in the ports we would be visiting. On all three occasions, the customer service person I spoke with could not tell me definitely whether or not service would be available. They also had no idea what the roaming charge would be, saying that was up to the lcoal carrier in that country. I did pick up analog service while cruising near Cuba and a weak signal at times on CC, which is actually in the Bahamas. I even tried to make a call once from CC, but got a recording saying it could not be completed as dialed.

It would be great if the wireless companies became more knowledgable and could help their customers who travel abroad stay in touch better.

 

[Amlee]

I have Verizon service and before each of my three Disney cruises, I called them and asked about service in the ports we would be visiting. On all three occasions, the customer service person I spoke with could not tell me definitely whether or not service would be available. They also had no idea what the roaming charge would be, saying that was up to the lcoal carrier in that country. I did pick up analog service while cruising near Cuba and a weak signal at times on CC, which is actually in the Bahamas. I even tried to make a call once from CC, but got a recording saying it could not be completed as dialed.

It would be great if the wireless companies became more knowledgable and could help their customers who travel abroad stay in touch better.

Verizon has a global phone that will let you change from the "American" system to the "non-American" system. They have all the countries listed on their website with the cost per-minute for each country. The phone runs about 400.00 and there is no extra charge when you use it like a normal phone. The roaming charges aren't bad at all. I spent 10 days in Fiji last year. I called home several times a day due to work and my bill didn't even touch 100.00 for that month. I've also used it in Amsterdam and Scotland.

Here is a link to all the countries.

http://mobileoptions.vzw.com/international/global/region/all_regions.html

 

[discruiselovers97]

for some weird reason there were people at castaway cay using their phones!

 

[mikelan6]

My partner and I just returned from the Disney Wonder and he was able to use his Tmobile phone in both Nassau and Castaway Cay!

 

[luckey-lasvegas]

We have cingulair and it worked like a charm on St. Thomas !

 

[ClarabelleCow]

I have nextel, and UTS, which is based out of St. Maarten, but can roam. I am bringing both out of curiousity!! Some work off towers, others work of satelites. The UTS may just work, who knows, but I will report back!

 

[shelleyr25]

My partner and I just returned from the Disney Wonder and he was able to use his Tmobile phone in both Nassau and Castaway Cay!

That is great to know!! Did you have to call them in advance and have the international service activated??

 

[HRCCrazy]

Does anyone have any experience with cell phones working or not on St. Maartan, St. Thomas and Castaway Cay? I'm just wondering whether it's even worth bringing a phone or if it wont' work. We have one phone with Sprint, one with TMobile, if that makes a difference.

thanks!

Courtney

I have sprint, and it work in St. Thomas like a dream, and didn't cost anything other then mins. in my plan, on St. Maartan I was romming, so I didn't use it, Castaway Cay, had no service. Did have service while at sea as we passed San Juan, once again only cost mins. in plan.

Wrench

 

[CobraBubblez]

Cingular's rate plans includes coverage in Canada, Puerto Rico and the US Virgin Islands i.e. St. Thomas and St. Johns.

 

[disneygatorfan]

I have cingular, phone worked in St. Marteen and St Thomas... St. Marteen was roaming, since it's outside the US... I have nationwide calling, which included the US Virgin islands.


no service on Castaway.

 

[logan1_2000]

okay, last time I was in nassau on the wonder, i did see that my T-mobile phone had service. Now for the dumb part--how to dial--what codes or prefixes would Ihave needed in order to dial the u.s.? like, if from here in atlanta i am calling 404-555-1212, how would i dial that number from my cell phone in the bahamas? and how about if i have roaming coverage in st. maarten & st. thomas, how would I dial that number from those locations? thanks in advance to whomever might help the technologically challenged.

 

[Amlee]

1 and the area code is the calling codes for the US. You would dial just as you would if you were at home. At least that is how it works for my phone. Now if I'm calling say a store in the Bahamas from my cell then I would need the calling area for that country.

 

[thomprod]

I have sprint, and it work in St. Thomas like a dream, and didn't cost anything other then mins. in my plan, on St. Maartan I was romming, so I didn't use it, Castaway Cay, had no service. Did have service while at sea as we passed San Juan, once again only cost mins. in plan.

Wrench

That is because St. Thomas and San Juan are part of US Territories and are included in many carrier's national calling plans.