Cell Phones

[cjsmith]

Hey, I love my kids too. I don't work, so I'm with them everyday after school and on the weekends and during their school breaks. They aren't the only ones that I want to be with, I want to be with my husband as well. They do travel with us extensively. However, I also like spending time alone with my husband and doing things as a couple. I personally believe that that is just as important as taking my kids everywhere with me, if not a little more important so we don't look at each other when they kids are grown and out of the house and not be able to relate to each other as a couple. I never left the kids when they were little, but now at 11, 13, and 15, it's a great chance for my husband and I to have alone time and for them to spend alone time with their grandparents.
Remmber, everyone has differing opinions on things. Just because people don't agree with your choice of no cell phones, just mean they're incurable communications addicts.

 

[Miss Jasmine]

Originally posted by 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...

Yikes. Sounds like you have some issues that you and your DH need to work out based on your posts on this thread. Good luck.

 

[cjsmith]

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... [/B][/QUOTE]

I can't even imagine that you would question anybody who chooses to take along a cell phone so they can keep in touch with a famly member who has cancer or a family member for any reason whatsoever. It certainly is not a necessity, but technology has made our lives so much easier and I for one am glad.
I guess your annoyance at your husband having to be so tied to his communications and how it effects your vacation has made you just a tad judgemental of those who don't see things your way.

 

[disneyholic family]

i was able to stay home with my kids for 10 years.....my definition of heaven....and i still preferred to be on vacation with my family not without....
my kids, who are now 19 and 16 also prefer to vacation with us......and they still like to hang out with us.....at the very least, every friday we all go out to a cafe together for lunch (since my daugther is now away from home every sunday morning through thursday night)....and we take about 5 vacations a year together (one 3 week long one in the summer at WDW, and several shorter ones through the year)...
that's just the way we are.....i don't expect anyone else to be that way......

 

[The4OfUs]

Just a sidenote to say why I was interested in this thread - my cell phone has a camera and video camera in it, so I can take spontaneous little clips and email them directly from the phone to my family, and I want to be able to send quick little "wish you were here" photos to the kids grandparents and family in Europe and such, and I know I can now from Key West - sometimes "staying in touch" can be for FUN too...

just a thought...

 

[justcruisin]

As a self-employed person, I need to stay in tough. After all, it's my clients paying for our vacations..... I can truly say i NEVER NEVER NEVER leave home without my cell these days, not so much for clients as my own state of mind ---- I remember on 9/11, when family members in NYC were able to connect to my area code when they couldn't call home!

While I don't expect to hear from family members, I find comfort in knowing they can reach me ... calling the ships number, as suggested, isn't immediate. Knowing someone can contact me on an excursion is comforting to me ....

How does Verizon work on eastern? Any more info on a satillite phone ... sounds very interesting to me.

Being connected isn't something BAD !!! If you don't agree, don't respond!

Happy New Year!

 

[ChattyKathy]

Look Girls,
Our own opinions and being ourself is what makes the world go round, so there is no sense is arguing back and forth, cjsmith is going to do that she wants to do when she cruises, and disneyholic is going to do what she wants to do and life is going to go on... it isnt going to matter in the longrun! Lets face it, everyone lives a different lifestyle and has different needs/wants...to each/they're own...

So, smile everyone, its New Years Day 2004!
Lets ring it in holding hands!
Life is too short to let the little things in life bother us!


Kathy

PS- and in light of this thread, what is the ships number?

 

[CarolAnnC]

and in light of this thread, what is the ships number?

The number to call to reach either the Magic or the Wonder is 888-322-8732

Please remember that ship to shore rates will apply besides the cost of the call.

 

[MarkRG]

Well, I will start out with the fact that when the ship leaves port I turn the cell off stick it in a drawer and it stays there till we return. If I can't trust who's covering me I shouldn't be going. I do however give them the ship to shore number if there is some emergency I can cover with them by phone.

Always make sure I have at least 1 or 2 people who can email me when I check the internet cafe. And having the cell did come in handy as we did need to call in from Key West on the Western as there was an issue at home that I was contacted by email for.

Now a few notes about such things, I've had numerous cell providers over the years.

Nextel does not roam EVER. You leave their service area, which is right now most of the continental US, you will get no service till you return. Don't have them anymore for that reason alone as their non urban coverage is also very sketchy.

Key West IS part of the US people, expect it to be no different from anywhere else on the mainland as far as those services are concerned. Also keep in mind the island trolley does make a stop at the big mall which has most of the stores you have at home on the island if you did forget something essential, you can get it there.

St Thomas is the only foreign port that cells may work, as it is the US Virgin islands. Other foreign ports have international cell service which is different, and from what I inderstand is not compatible with our networks.

The bottom line is you can bring it, but don't count on using it too much. If you need a true emergency number, give them the shore to ship number out of the documents.

 

[wide awake]

In response to JustCruisin...I was reading about a travel insurance company...MedJet...that provides emergency med evacuation and an international cell phone with voicemail for one week, $169 per family. I am toying with buying that plan for our cruise, because the med evacuation is all I am really concerned about for travel insurance, and the cell phone would be great given my job. I teach for a homeschool charter, and while I only need to see each of my students one hour every 20 school days, I am supposed to be available for communication on school days. Last time I just told all of them to email me if anything came up. That worked fine, I think in 8 days I got two emails, but I would be more comfortable if they could call. As you said in your email, they are paying for the trip, and I am lucky I do not have to physically be there, and can vacation during off peak times.

 

[Buckleybunch]

We have sprint and I seen on the site that the VI does have sprint coverage, and they also have an option for international calls, so you don't get charged long distance or roaming. Monday I'm going to call about this, as my husband is going to Ireland in Jan again.