Cell phones while docked in Port Canaveral

[stinksmom]

I've heard that some people have been charged international roaming fees while docked in Port Canaveral? Is that true? It just seems odd. What if someone were on their personal boat in the canal and calling a friend - I would imagine that they wouldn't be charged international fees.

Just wondering as we would probably like to post a few status updates to FB once we get on the boat

 

[jrbdad]

We weren't on either of our DCL cruises.

Once the ship set sail, I was quick to turn off data and roaming.

 

[ready123go]

I can't remember if we placed calls in Port Canaveral, but in Tampa we had no problems.

We live in Detroit, and some areas along the Michigan/Ontario border we can get charged for an international call because of tower location. Also, one of our neighbors is Canadian and when we called his cell it was international.

In Canaveral you are not near a foreign country, so I can't imagine it would be a problem.

 

[DVCconvert]

I've made a good many calls from my veranda while in PC and never once has there been any charges.

 

[Rogillio]

I've wondered about this too. How does the system know is you are standing on deck 9 using your cell phone or are 20 feet away standing on the dock? Same question for Key West.

 

[Jessieknj]

We didn't turn ours off until the ship was moving. We made several calls from the balcony and no international charges.

 

[Tower]

My understanding is DCL is required to turn off their cell system while the ship is in port. That way you'll only hit the local cell towers.

 

[TXDCLfan]

I've heard that some people have been charged international roaming fees while docked in Port Canaveral? Is that true? It just seems odd. What if someone were on their personal boat in the canal and calling a friend - I would imagine that they wouldn't be charged international fees.

Just wondering as we would probably like to post a few status updates to FB once we get on the boat

This is not true. The ship has to have "cellular at sea" off while in port, I believe they turn it on once the ship is like 3-5 miles from land.

 

[mom2brooke76]

I talked on my cell phone for at least the first 5 minutes after we set sail. I'm on a pre-paid plan that only works for domestic calls, so they can't charge me. Basically, I could talk until the local cell tower service dropped.

 

[jetskigrl]

I was also using my cell phone as the Dream was making its way down the channel. I think I put mine in airplane mode when we got to the end of the channel and headed out to sea. No international charges showed up

 

[thej]

I've heard that some people have been charged international roaming fees while docked in Port Canaveral? Is that true? It just seems odd. What if someone were on their personal boat in the canal and calling a friend - I would imagine that they wouldn't be charged international fees.

Just wondering as we would probably like to post a few status updates to FB once we get on the boat

Not sure where that came from... but we are originally from Cocoa Beach/Cape Canaveral and have been around the port countless times and taken a couple cruises out of there. We've never been charged anything odd using our phones in or around the port or on the sips in port. Once you leave the inlet, it's a good idea to turn it off however.

Now a 5 minute call in Nassau did cost like $10

 

[com_op_2000]

I have been on seven DCLs and have never had charges while in PC nor in Key West. We have talked with family members until the ship clears the channel/past the entrance to the port, without charges.

 

[lunsusie]

No charges here for cell calls while in Port Canaveral, Key West or St. Thomas.

 

[atinkerbellmom]

We have Verizon. Have never been charged while in PC, Key West or St. Thomas. We have made MANY calls from here. I have actually been on my phone and had a conversation until we sailed away. Talking until I lost connection. Never any international rates. I always make phone calls the morning we arrive back as well. I have even made them while sitting at breakfast. NO INTERNATIONAL RATES for us...

 

[gatorgirl98]

I have AT&T.....I think I finally lost service about an hour after setting sail and then I switched to airplane mode.

 

[Alsobrook]

I'm now wondering who these people are who allegedly have been charged International Rates while at Port Canaveral.

I don't think it's possible.

 

[CaptainAlex]

I've wondered about this too. How does the system know is you are standing on deck 9 using your cell phone or are 20 feet away standing on the dock? Same question for Key West.

You won't have any issues at the Southern Most Point with your cell phone.

 

[stinksmom]

Thanks everyone! On our last cruise, some people on the deck at the sail away party were saying that you would be charged international for using your phone even while in port. Needless to say, we didn't use our phone at the time anyway - it was in airplane mode in our room. But I may try to get some pics next time on my phone to share with all my friends who aren't on the cruise with us (insert evil laugh).

 

[Alexander]

Thanks everyone! On our last cruise, some people on the deck at the sail away party were saying that you would be charged international for using your phone even while in port. Needless to say, we didn't use our phone at the time anyway - it was in airplane mode in our room. But I may try to get some pics next time on my phone to share with all my friends who aren't on the cruise with us (insert evil laugh).

Is it possible that they were not using a US cell phone carrier? Maybe from Canada? I have used my phone several times from the ship at Port Canaveral with no problem (AT&T and Tracfone).

 

[glindamood]

I have used my cell on each of our cruises in PC and never been charged an international rate.