Phone service in Alaska

[DannyDisneyFreak]

Does anyone know if American cell phone service will work in Alaska or will it be considered international? Will my cell phone work just like I was home?

 

[sdjen]

Following as I would like to know.

I'm curious how it will work in Vancouver also if anyone knows?

 

[aprincessatlast]

Works just like in the lower 48 depending on your cell reception from carrier that is. Vancouver is international.

 

[JMHDisney]

It works in Vancouver but you get charged extra. However some companies have a Canada add you can do to your cell plan to reduce costs. Don't know about Alaska but if it works like normal in Hawaii I don't see why Alaska would be different.

 

[disneyfaninaz]

Alaska is a state, so nationwide coverage will apply. Verizon works very well in Alaska.

 

[sambycat]

Alaska is the 49th state. Vancouver is in Canada. I think it reads the OP is from NY so Alaska would not be international. We had great service with ATT and many times you can get actual cell service on the ship when very close to port.

 

[xlxo]

On my trips.....

• I use a Telus Sim card for Vancouver. Got Telus coverage on the cruise, along the island passage to Port Hardy. Got coverage for a few hours around Prince Rupert. Having an outside cabin greatly helps.
• In Alaskan ports, I switched to an ATT prepaid card. I hear ATT has the better coverage when I phone up the Alaskan tourism visitor centers.
• smartphones are a great way to keep in touch with fellow travellers on the ship. Texting on those wave phones were painful.
• Telus/ATT sims extend the cruise ship internet package
• outside, balcony and going up to the top deck gave me best cellular reception
• I disabled roaming on the phone SIM card to avoid the ship cellular repeaters.

A little warning.... looking at the Verizon coverage map.... Alaska is labelled as "extended digital coverage". Does this mean Verizon customers would be roaming in Alaska? If you find Verizon coverage is poor in Alaska.... just stop by the ATT store at each of the ports for an ATT sim and/or phone.
http://vzwmap.verizonwireless.com/dotcom/coveragelocator/default.aspx

 

[tvguy]

Verizon worked great in Sitka, Juneau and Ketchikan, and was part of my normal nationwide plan.

Worked great in Canada too, but there was a 69 cent a minute roaming charge.

 

[Marla Hellwig]

Had no trouble with Spring in Sitka, Juneau, Ketchikan but had a couple of dropped calls in Skagway - might have been where I was sitting waiting for daughter.

 

[alisigns]

Oh geez...... I love lower 48ers, but sometimes it is really difficult making people understand that we are Americans just like all the rest. Please don't take offense.

So, Verizon has come to AK, mostly in the bigger cities, Juneau, Anchorage, etc. You would probably be able to get sporatic service in Ketchikan. AT&T is statewide, and offers great service in most areas. Sprint = NOTHING! If you have T-Mobile, they can sometimes ping off of the GCI towers so you can get a signal. Prepaid phones like Trac Phones that run off of an analog signal rather than digital get decent reception.

So if you really need your phone, your best option is AT&T. Hope you enjoy your time in our great state. Alaska is an amazing place!

 

[ironz]

Going to respectfully disagree with the PP-- I used to do a lot of contract work in Ketchikan and had Sprint and almost always had coverage. Seems like most of the time that my coverage got spotty was when I was inside a building.
Pretty sure some of my colleagues had Verizon, but I'm not 100% certain of that.

 

[quackills]

Verizon and att and you should be good. I know Kodiak finally got Verizon's towers

 

[DannyDisneyFreak]

Oh geez...... I love lower 48ers, but sometimes it is really difficult making people understand that we are Americans just like all the rest. Please don't take offense. So, Verizon has come to AK, mostly in the bigger cities, Juneau, Anchorage, etc. You would probably be able to get sporatic service in Ketchikan. AT&T is statewide, and offers great service in most areas. Sprint = NOTHING! If you have T-Mobile, they can sometimes ping off of the GCI towers so you can get a signal. Prepaid phones like Trac Phones that run off of an analog signal rather than digital get decent reception. So if you really need your phone, your best option is AT&T. Hope you enjoy your time in our great state. Alaska is an amazing place!

I know that Alaska is America. I live in Niagara Falls, NY (which people often think I live in Canada because they don't realize there are 2 cities named NF, one in Ontario and one in NY. Living so close to the boarder though many times cell service will switch to roaming if you pick up a Canadian tower. Pretty much anytime I'm within a stones throw of the Niagara River (the U.S.-Canadian boarder) my phone switches from saying AT&T to Rodgers. I was actually hoping for no reception because on our past cruises it was nice turning off the world and not being tempted by Facebook and other stuff. The plus side is this is our first cruise without the kids so we will be able to stay in touch back home. It's interesting what you said about sprint, I see those recent commercials for Sprint saying they'll cut your bill in half and I always think "yeah and cut your service in half too". I love AT&T, I've had T-Mobile, sprint, and Verizon and for where I live ATT is the best. Thanks for the clarification!

 

[xlxo]

Living so close to the boarder though many times cell service will switch to roaming if you pick up a Canadian tower. Pretty much anytime I'm within a stones throw of the Niagara River (the U.S.-Canadian boarder) my phone switches from saying AT&T to Rodgers.

You will hit Rogers going through the inside passage and Prince Rupert. What is the make and model of your phone? My Blackberry allows me to "manually" choose carriers so it won't switch carriers unless I tell it to. This is handy so that it will not roam on the ships signal.

If you want to be disconnected, flip your phone to airplane mode.