cell phone or internet service while on board?

[martel-luv-wdw]

I have a cell phone that can reach shore to shore in the USA.

? the Bahamas or at sea.

What is the better deal, cell phones or the internet service on the Wonder?

Can you use the internet service anytime on board?

sent and get mail-how--fast?

How does one get e-mail from family while on the Wonder?

Thanks,
Linda

 

[makaylee]

We have Verison nation wide coverage which Imoh is the best service to have as far as reception goes (we have tried others). Well our phones worked most of the first day, but when we woke up the next morning the reception was pretty bad. We got very spuratic service the rest of the trip. If you want to communicate with people off the ship you should definatly get the internet package because, I seriously doubt you phone will work. To get email from your family just log into your regular email account.

 

[makaylee]

We have Verison nation wide coverage which IMHO is the best service to have as far as reception goes (we have tried others). Well our phones worked most of the first day, but when we woke up the next morning the reception was pretty bad. We got very spuratic service the rest of the trip. If you want to communicate with people off the ship you should definatly get the internet package because, I seriously doubt your phone will work. To get email from your family just log into your regular email account.
SORRY ABOUT THE DOUBLE POSTING..I DONT KNOW WHY THE DONT LET YOU DELETE A WHOLE POST

 

[Nick@ VB+OKW]

Originally posted by martel-luv-wdw

Can you use the internet service anytime on board?

sent and get mail-how--fast?

How does one get e-mail from family while on the Wonder?

Just got off the Wonder today(2-26) and the Internet Cafe is open 24 hours. It has 10-12 Computers. We got the $39 package(unlimited) and never had a problem gettting on anytime we tried.

They have AOL(8.0 version) right on the screen. We even printed our boarding passes(US AIR) from there on our last night.

We communicated(e-mail) with our 17 yr old daughter every day from the Wonder. If you have a person in your home who is on-line the same time you try to get on-line on the "Wonder" or "Magic" you will not be able to log on via AOL until they get off. AOL only allows 1 screename to be on at 1 time from the same household.

If the above happens just go to AOL.com and you can still send e-mails to your household if they are on-line at the same time.

 

[two-foxes]

We have Sprint PCS. Worked great in port, however, although the Bahamas is considered a roam area, we never could get a signal. Gotta admit, it was a wonderful break from the real world.

 

[FredS]

Don't plan on getting a cell signal once you leave port. While you might be able to get a signal in the Bahamas, for instance, unless you have an extended international calling type of plan you will have to pay a surcharge for roaming, etc.

We used the internet connection online and found it a bit slow but certainly capable of sending emails, and allowing you to do a bit of surfing and checking email. We did not sign up for the plan during our 4-day cruise, but instead paid by the minute, because I only wanted to quickly check my email and one website midway through the cruise. I knew I would not spend enough time online to warrant the $39 charge.

 

[brack]

On the 7 day cruise you will have a very good cell phone signal while in port at St Thomas US Virgin Islands. We sat out on the 9th deck (swim suits, 80 degree & sunny) and talked with friends and family back home ... where it was snowing!!!

 

[FredS]

Originally posted by brack
On the 7 day cruise you will have a very good cell phone signal while in port at St Thomas US Virgin Islands. We sat out on the 9th deck (swim suits, 80 degree & sunny) and talked with friends and family back home ... where it was snowing!!!

Again, I would be really, really careful in the areas where you get a signal. We called Verizon before our October cruise and I can't even recall the astronomical (to me) figure they gave for the cost per minute, roaming and some deposit required by the Bahama govt.

There was a thread quite some time ago about people who used their phones when they got a signal and many months later received a shock by getting a bill for a large amount. Apparently these types of charges from out of area can take a long time to clear through the various service providers, but when they do those who made the calls are stuck paying a huge bill.