Cell Phones

[Buckleybunch]

I was just wondering where you won't be able to use your cell phone any longer while crusing??
We have sprint.

Thanks
Linda

 

[CarolAnnC]

WE lost signal (both Verizon and Nextel) shortly after the Sailaway Party ended. Signal pretty much gone for entire cruise. I did pickup a bit at Castaway Cay though.

Remember, if you do get signal on the islands, roaming and out of country charges may apply. I rely on the internet to keep in touch with the folks at home. Or some use calling cards when they get off at the Ports. Others, yet, report being able to use cells at various times.

 

[KYCruiseCrazy]

sprint will work in st thomas on DCL. only place so far. i hope this helps. sprint will work just like your at home in st thomas incase you are wondering

 

[Buckleybunch]

Originally posted by KYCruiseCrazy
sprint will work in st thomas on DCL. only place so far. i hope this helps. sprint will work just like your at home in st thomas incase you are wondering

So you mean no extra charges?

 

[KathyTX]

I got an AT&T signal in Key West...

 

[KYCruiseCrazy]

Originally posted by Buckleybunch
So you mean no extra charges?

acording to sprint and there website, there is no extra charge. i have been asking sprint for 3 months now. i also looked at sprints website and it shows it at no extra charge on there too. thanks

 

[Buckleybunch]

That's great news.. Not that I think I will need it, because my parents will be with us, but it will be nice to call and brag.. lol

Thanks
Linda

 

[ChattyKathy]

Originally posted by Buckleybunch
Not that I think I will need it, lol
Thanks
Linda

LOL, You beat me to it Linda, I was just going to type to you...If your on vacation, why on God's earth would you need your cell!!
I plan on turning mine off completely, they can talk to the wind if they need me when I'm gone,

Have fun!


Kathy

 

[Buckleybunch]

the only reason why I could see wanting it is to check on our niece that house sets.. But she is always on the internet so I can email her..

I guess I have my cell with me so much that I a normal question for me..
lol

 

[AmyM]

KathyTX wrote...

I got an AT&T signal in Key West...

Was it a good signal? We need to call our deep sea fishing captain. Also, anyone know about Nextel?

 

[tkd lisa]

Verizon works well in Key West also.

 

[cjsmith]

We have Sprint and had no problems at all using our phone while in Key West. I also used the phone in Grand Cayman out on our verandah without any problems, very strong signal and very clear calls. I did see signal in Cozumel, but never tried the phone.
Beware though, you will have both long distance and roaming charges tacked onto the calls and they can't be somewhat costly. I had this both from Grand Cayman and when we used our phones in Bermuda. I have the plans that have no long distance, but according to Sprint, that's only for inside the states.

 

[Pooh_Friend#1]

I have T-Mobile and I was able to call from my cell phone all over Key West. I had a great signal and my call was never dropped and I never lost a signal. It was no additional charge, just minute usage. I was also able to use my cell phone on the ship while it was sailing away and going along the Florida coast.

If you get a phone card in Cozumel, watch out because you only get 3 minutes for about $10. If you bring an AT&T phone card you can use it at a pay phone right outside the ship on the port, but be careful because only certain pay phones take AT&T phone cards and make sure you have the international "Mexico" number to dial when the operator asks for it. I had a 1000 minute phone card and when they converted it to be in Mexico I had about 600 minutes to talk.

 

[disneyholic family]

wow.....you know the whole point of going on a cruise is to totally get away from the world...
but if you're an incurable communications addict, you could always rent a satellite phone for use 24/7 while you're on the ship......and then just think, you could be on your laptop 24/7 too....you won't even know you've left home..

happy sailing...

 

[LAMPSKIES]

On our 11/29/03 Eastern my nextel went out about 3 hours into the sailing. I never got a signal until 3:45 a.m. Sat morning just before we returned to port. I know, I was charging it and it rang when I got a signal to tell me I had voicemails. In St. Thomas I saw people on cells and kept checking mine but.....never got any service.

 

[cjsmith]

Originally posted by disneyholic family
wow.....you know the whole point of going on a cruise is to totally get away from the world...
but if you're an incurable communications addict, you could always rent a satellite phone for use 24/7 while you're on the ship......and then just think, you could be on your laptop 24/7 too....you won't even know you've left home..

happy sailing...

But if you have a sick family member at home, it's nice to be able to call. I needed to keep in touch during our June cruise and was very happy that I was able to do that. That's different than being an incurable communications addict.

 

[disneyholic family]

and what exactly could you have done from the cruise ship in an emergency? gotten on a plane to fly home?
i don't know which of your family members was sick, but in situations like this you have to leave someone responsible in charge.....if there's no one responsible other than yourself, then you don't leave on vacation.....(if you're talking about a child, i can't relate at all, never having gone on any vacations without my children).....

i'm married to someone who is 'connected' 24/7 due to his work....
and i mean 24/7 online, on cellphone, on beeper....
24/7.....no break....ever.....
i picked our 4th of july cruise very carefully, knowing that he would be out of cellphone/beeper/laptop range for most of the cruise.....i talked him out of the satellite phone option (convincing him that really, the world would survive through the 4th of july weekend)....
although he did sneak onto the internet cafe computer just to make sure the world wasn't ending while we were sailing, it was the most blissfully quiet 3 days our family has ever had...
i already know that's not going to be the case this coming summer, when we sail during the week....he will have that satellite phone and who knows what else in his possession to keep connected 24/7...
but those 3 days 2 years ago were heavenly....

 

[TiggerPU88]

Hi all!

I have been very interested in this thread, because I am cruising with my Mom and my son, leaving DH at home (He doesn't want to cruise). So, we want to be able to have our 2-year-old talk to Daddy a couple of times while we're on the trip. We're going to get the internet access, so we can send a message each day, but I would love to have them get to talk.

So, please remember that people have their own reasons for the information they seek. And if someone really wants to make phone calls or do work, it is their choice. To each his/her own. I can imagine that it would be tough to have differing opinions on this with your spouse, though!

Thanks for all the good info on this topic. I just bought a phone card, since it looks like the Verizon coverage is minimal....

-- Adrienne : )

 

[cjsmith]

Originally posted by disneyholic family
and what exactly could you have done from the cruise ship in an emergency? gotten on a plane to fly home?
i don't know which of your family members was sick, but in situations like this you have to leave someone responsible in charge.....if there's no one responsible other than yourself, then you don't leave on vacation.....(if you're talking about a child, i can't relate at all, never having gone on any vacations without my children).....

What would I have done from the cruise ship if my grandmother had passed away you ask? I would have gotten off at the next port and flown home. Someone responsible was left in charge as you so nicely put it, but you never know with Cancer when something is going to happen and you can't put your life on hold. You go on daily with your own life and then keep checking in on things. But, when the day does come, you need to be there for your family.
Maybe you should check your anger about your husband having to be connected 24/7 as you say and realize that everyone has different reasons for needing to stay connected and some are very important. I myself would never have forgiven myself if I had just sat back and enjoyed the whole week without periodically checking in on the situation at home.
And when I do travel without my kids and go to Europe, we call home at least once per day just so they can hear our voices!

 

[disneyholic family]

you should take your kids to europe....they'll love it and you'll enjoy seeing it through their eyes.....
as for vacationing without kids, as i said, i can't relate...
the only people in the world i want to be with are my kids....
work keeps me away from them....why would i also want to be away from them on vacation?.....

as for emergencies on the ship......your family can reach you at any time on the ship....there is a number they can call...
and for that matter, you can call out as well....it just costs money....
a cell phone is not a necessity for emergencies...