Cell phone use in Bermuda/Canada (Verizon)

[RedSox68]

Okay -- we have Verizon. Anyone who has Verizon -- have you gotten a special plan or agreement to use your phones in Bermuda or Canada?

We are taking cruises to both areas over the next several months and will need phone ability to call home.

We tried their international plan for England last year and that was a nightmare. I'm thinking there has to be a better way.

Thanks in advance. Any help/tips is appreciated.

 

[thebrundogs]

We did in Bermuda last September. We added it for a month for around $40 and were able to call home from both the ship and the island. We were leaving our kids behind--that's the only reason we wanted to be able to be easily contacted. It was great to be able to talk to them each night (and cheaper than an Internet package).

 

[RedSox68]

We did in Bermuda last September. We added it for a month for around $40 and were able to call home from both the ship and the island. We were leaving our kids behind--that's the only reason we wanted to be able to be easily contacted. It was great to be able to talk to them each night (and cheaper than an Internet package).

Wonderful -- thank you. Yes, our daughter is house/dog sitting and we want to be able to contact her every day. Could you make calls from the ship when it was at sea, or only when docked in Bermuda? And how did you arrange for the service? And finally did you have to call to have it stopped once you returned home?

 

[disnygirl55]

For what it's worth.... we turned on our Verizon phones in Vancouver for a short period of time to check messages and to make a few short local calls for cabs, etc. We saw no difference in our monthly bill, although I was expecting it. Maybe our plan includes some international option, but if it does, I'm not aware of it.

 

[MMR]

Verizon has a $2/day Canada plan. I called customer service and had it put on 2 phones. Super easy.

 

[Imahikergirl]

Verizon has a $2/day Canada plan. I called customer service and had it put on 2 phones. Super easy.

I second doing this plan. My daughter just went home (Canada) for a visit and I signed her up for this on-line. Easy-Peasy, it activates itself when you use it in Canada for a 24 hour period, when you stop using it there, you stop getting charged the $2.

The Bahamas didn't have this available. I can't remember what Verizon recommended for there. They have a calculator tool on-line to help you.

 

[CalDisneyMomof2]

If you have message+ and can find WiFi, you can text message without any cost. I didn't realize this until our trip recently. We were getting text messages while in airplane mode but also with WiFi enabled. Sure enough, no fees on our most recent bill. We didn't make phone calls except for video to my mom on Facebook but of course, we were using WiFi (which I'm sure you can do with Skype, Facetime etc. for free on WiFi as well).

 

[RedSox68]

Thanks all -- lots of good information and tips!

 

[Club Disney Chandler]

Thanks all -- lots of good information and tips!

Verizon has an international plan now that is $10 per 24 hours, only when you use it. Similar to the Canada plan. It gives you access to your normal text, voice and data plan but adds international. We used it in Europe and it was great!

 

[abdgeek]

Verizon has an international plan now that is $10 per 24 hours, only when you use it. Similar to the Canada plan. It gives you access to your normal text, voice and data plan but adds international. We used it in Europe and it was great!

Isn't Travel Pass great? I always get this now when I travel internationally. I even get it when I cruise and just use my phone when the ship is docked in port, so that I am connecting to a land cell tower, and on land. The $40 international plan that Verizon has is not worth it. I used to get that before Travel Pass and I was so glad when they came up with another option.

 

[msmama]

I'm so glad I found this tread and learned about these services!!

While playing around on the verizon website, I found that it said that the Disney Magic had 2G and 3G available (and something else, but not 4G). Does that mean I would be able to use my phone on the ship? Has anyone tried? Because using Travel Pass is going to be way cheaper than onboard Wi-fi (only plan to text home occasionally really, maybe check email, though that could wait until ports).

 

[RedSox68]

Isn't Travel Pass great? I always get this now when I travel internationally. I even get it when I cruise and just use my phone when the ship is docked in port, so that I am connecting to a land cell tower, and on land. The $40 international plan that Verizon has is not worth it. I used to get that before Travel Pass and I was so glad when they came up with another option.

Yes, we tried the international plan in London last year and hated it -- and then had a heck of a time getting it removed when we returned. I'll look into the Travel Pass. Thanks!

 

[RedSox68]

I'm so glad I found this tread and learned about these services!!

While playing around on the verizon website, I found that it said that the Disney Magic had 2G and 3G available (and something else, but not 4G). Does that mean I would be able to use my phone on the ship? Has anyone tried? Because using Travel Pass is going to be way cheaper than onboard Wi-fi (only plan to text home occasionally really, maybe check email, though that could wait until ports).

Do you have to pay to use Disney's 2G and 3G though?