Communications on the Western Cruise

[scottb8888]

1. I see Verizon has these costs ( by paying the daily rate, you are able to use your normal plan. Can anyone confirm>
   1. Mexico $5/ Day
   2. Caymans $ 10/Day
   3. Jamicia $ 10/Day
2. Has anyone tried renting a satellite phone or satellite wifi Hotspot, i am curious of the cost and quality
3. What are the rates using the phone, data, or texting on the ship when not in Doc?

Thanks

 

[NS8VN]

1: Yes, here is a recent thread on Verizon that also includes some discussion of a cellular/wifi device called SkyRoam. https://www.disboards.com/threads/verizon-wireless-at-nassau.3609414/

I don't know about the other two enough to comment, except that I don't think bringing your own satellite phone is going to be any cheaper than using a phone on the ship to place a call.

 

[SuperDry]

I can't imagine a satellite phone being cheaper than just getting the cruise ship package from Verizon (for voice) and/or the WiFi package from the ship ($89/GB) for data. IIRC, Verizon charges $2.49/minute to use the phone on board when not in port, but you can get it for much less if you get a cruise package.

Plus, a satellite phone requires line of sight between the phone and the satellite, so it's not going to work from your stateroom or anywhere else inside. Both the ship's cellular and WiFi systems should work from almost anywhere on board.

BTW, I know someone that went to the trouble of renting a satellite phone for a cruise. This was about 12 years ago, prior to every cruise ship being outfitted with cellular and WiFi service. They did have traditional "ship-to-shore" direct dial, just like the Disney ships still have from the stateroom phones, for about $7/minute. Even in that situation, it was a very poor experience for them. You can't use it to be reachable for inbound calls because of the line-of-sight requirement. And for outbound calls, how much are you really going to talk to overcome the equipment rental fees? These days, with relatively inexpensive cellular and WiFi data, it's a no-brainer: just use what the ship provides, to the extent you need it.

 

[scottb8888]

I thought the charge to use the phone on the ship was through Disney and not Verizon? You mention "cruise package" is that through Disney?

 

[BCV23]

I paid the daily Verizon rate on a recent Western cruise but just for our day in Jamaica because it is the only port in which I disembarked. Worked just fine. It popped up as an option when I took my phone off airplane mode that day. I was unable to figure out how to add it ahead of time and will not even bother next cruise as it was so very easy in port.

 

[SuperDry]

I thought the charge to use the phone on the ship was through Disney and not Verizon? You mention "cruise package" is that through Disney?

The use of personal cellular phones is governed by your home service provider (Verizon in your case), not Disney. The default rate and any cruise package that may be optional is between you and your carrier - there's nothing Disney nor anyone on the ship is involved with. The charges appear on your monthly cellular bill. It's just like going to another country and roaming (except that it's more expensive ). WiFi on the ship, on the other hand, is something that you purchase on board and gets billed to your stateroom account. You can also call from your stateroom desk phone to the US and have that billed to your stateroom, but that's $7/minute and almost nobody uses that any more.