Phone calls from Magic

[karenannD]

We will be leaving Saturday on the June 8 Magic and I was wanting info on the most economical way to call home. I think AT&T charges .60 a minute on my cell phone. What does it cost to call from your cabin phone back to the US?
My friend who will be traveling too and I both have elderly parents whom we will checking on.
Also, how can we be reached on the ship in case of an emergency?

Thanks!

 

[karenannD]

Well I just talked to AT&T and it is .99 for International roaming charges plus whatever the countrys local phone service charges.
Still woul like to know what Disney charges for ship to shore charges.

 

[llachance]

Find copies of the navgators - Dave's site is good for that - and the charges are listed there.

 

[karenannD]

Thanks. I found the rates on the Magical Disney Cruise Guide online. It is approx. $7.00 a minute for ship to shore calls.

Yikes!

 

[JLSE50]

I know internet access is now available from the ships. Do your parents do e-mail? There are ways to access your e-mail from a different machine. Would that work?

Do you have anyone checking on your parents while you are gone? Maybe you will have to consider that to be sufficient and get the information from the Cruise line reservation people as to how they could get a message to you if there is a problem.

We were really concerned because my Dad was in VERY poor health for the last three years of his life. Each of those years we took a cruise and he was pleased that we had the opportunity to go.

I live in a different state so even when in the US I was 700 miles away from Dad. My mother and brother were the ones who had the daily responsibilities for his care. My folks and my brother encouraged me to "just go, have a nice time and send a postcard even if you are home before we get it." So I did.

We bought trip interruption insurance and made sure that if the cruise was interrupted by a funeral, even for a pre-existing condition, the insurance would count. That did not happen. We were home several weeks and saw him one last time before he died.

I hope your parents' conditions are not so critical and that you enjoy your cruise.

Jan

 

[karenannD]

Jan,
Thanks so much for your input. Our parents are both in their 80's and unfortunately, they don't do e-mail. There will be others at home looking out after them. I think it's for our peace of mind to be able to check in on them rather than them worrying about being able to contact us. We both live close to our parents and take care of alot of their needs, therefore we feel quite responsible.
Fortunately, our families do encourage us to go on the cruise and have a good time.
We are just at a time in our life when we are concerned about taking care of our parents as it seems you well know.


Karen

 

[JLSE50]

It may not be easy between those phone calls.....but knowing they want you to go will be a help.

Is there anyone you can e-mail who can print it out and take it over?

Have a wonderful time.

Jan

 

[karenannD]

Jan,
I hadn't thought about that. But, can you believe it, my sister who will be looking after my parents doesn't own a computer and my friend's brother who will be looking after his mother doesn't have one either! No wonder we are concerned about getting in touch by phone! I'm sure they will be OK, but that phone call home I suppose is like a security blanket to us. We will probably call from my cell phone while in Key West, Grand Cayman, and Cozumel, just to say hey. They will also have a number to get in touch if there were an emergency.

Karen

 

[JLSE50]

KAREN:

Sounds like you guys have a plan.

In the meantime, maybe you can check around and see if you or your siblings have any friends who do e-mail and you can send some e-cards to arrive while you are gone and pay for some computer time on the ship to send e-mails that those friends will hand carry over to your parental-units. One up side of this is that you will be in touch and they will hear from you and another is that they will get some extra company from the e-mail deliverers.

You could also address and stamp some cards and letters and have the same or different friends mail them. You could even mail the first one or two before you leave keeping in mind however long it takes for mail to get through the post office in your town.

Have you thought of leaving your parental-units some surprises that they can find while you are gone? Clues could arrive in the affore-mentioned letters and cards such that they have to hunt around the house for the item(s) you have hidden in a drawer of closet that they do not open frequently. Nothing big, just a favorite pack of candy if they can have that or some lotion or something you know they will like.

Nothing will reassure you as much as those phone calls, but if you leave them with some reminders of you they will not be quite as lonely with you gone.

Jan

 

[albiats]

The number that they can reach you at is (888) 322-8732.

They have to know the name of the ship you're on and the cabin number you are in.

It still costs you the $7.00 per minute even if they originate the call.

If they are calling from outside the US and can't use the toll free 888 service, they can call International - (732)335-3281.

hope that helps

 

[karenannD]

Yes it does. Thank you for the information.

Karen

 

[vstitt]

Just a bit of a warning...your cell phone may not work in the carribean. We did a bare boat sailboat charter last year. We sailed around St. Martin, St. Barths etc. and our AT&T cell phones did NOT work. Be sure to call your carrier (everyone's network is different) to find out if you have calling coverage in Cayman, Cozemel and Castaway Cay (Bahamas).

VS

 

[karenannD]

When we were in St Thomas last year, we had excellent reception. I was quite surprised. I talked to AT&T yesterday and they said it should work. The service will go thru the islands local connections. I will be charged by them and .99 a minute by AT&T too.

karen

They did say that we would have to be at port for our cell phone to work. Once we left the ports we would lose our reception.

 

[anny_c_99]

Could you tell me if this is the same number, (888-322-8732) for

the Wonder? We are cruising June 13th, and my father is not in

good health. Just "wondering" for any type of emergency, if they

need to reach us?

Thanks,
Anny

 

[albiats]

Originally posted by anny_c_99
Could you tell me if this is the same number, (888-322-8732) for

the Wonder? We are cruising June 13th, and my father is not in

good health. Just "wondering" for any type of emergency, if they

need to reach us?

Thanks,
Anny

Yes, it's the same number. The caller has to know what ship you are on and what cabin you are in, and what name the cabin is booked under.

The numbers correspond to 888 DC AT SEA, if that helps to remember.

I just dialed the number and the recorded voice informed me that they currently accept visa, mastercard, discover,american express, and diner's club, for payment and that the call will be billed at $6.95 per minute after connecting.

I didn't have to complete any calls to a ship, just wanted to hear what it said.

I would recommend making a test run and getting as far as possible without completing a call so that you can write out exact directions for an older parent in case they have to call. When I demonstrate something like this for my 81 yr old Mom, I put it on a speakerphone so she can hear it too.

hth

 

[anny_c_99]

I will give them the number and the directions.

Thanks again,
Anny

 

[JLSE50]

Al: You are so kind to research this and share with everyone!

Jan