Phone service in the Bahamas

[Tiger926]

Leaving for the Wonder in less than 2 weeks (yeah!) and I've been doing some research on the phone system in the Bahamas and I'm seeing some problems. Neither of my cell phones will work (Rogers & Telus), but I can use my calling card at 1.41 CDN per minute + .99 per call surcharge. So, I am also looking at purchasing prepaid long distance cards as they are cheaper approx. .70 per minute. The last time we were in the Bahamas we didn't use any phones, so I am wondering:

1. How is the phone service there?

2. Are there pay phones on Castaway Cay?

3. Will I be able to call home to Ontario, Canada?

4. Any Canadians have any recommendations for prepaid long distance phone cards?

Any help that anyone can provide would be greatly appreciated as we want to call home but we are unsure of what type of phone service to expect - we had a horrible experience in St. Martins 2 years ago as their phones didn't allow calling cards to be used and it was chaos on the dock as the Canadians and Americans tried to figure out how to use their pay phones, so I don't want that experience to happen again!

Thanks, Tiger aka Piglet's Momma

 

[tap & dap]

We have taken 3 Disney Cruises now, we have both a Nokia Phone through Cingular and a Nextel Phone. On the first 2 trips neither of them worked at CC but the Nokia worked in the ports of call.

BUT on the last trip the Nokia through Cingular also worked at CC. Not sure if they installed a tower or what, but it was quite a surprise.

Sorry no pay phones on CC.

 

[lijory]

hi, i am also going in less then two weeks. which sailing are you on?? i am on the 4/29 wonder.

 

[Tiger926]

Hi - We will be on the May 2 Wonder for a 4 day to Bahamas.

Have fun, Tiger

 

[taylorsmom]

We are going to the western and also would like to know about the phone service in that area

 

[SueEllen]

I did not find ANY payphones that would accept prepaid calling cards in the Bahamas.

I tried to use my phone in the Bahamas & on the Western (I have Verizon) and could not use it Internationally unfortunately. I guess it depends on the type of service you have purchased.

Good luck!

Sue Ellen

 

[Mmketeer]

Hi,

Don't panic, though your cell service may not work their are pay phones in both Freeport and in Nassau that you can use. Castaway Cay the last time I was there however did not have phones, nor did my cell work. So, plan on calling/checking in or whatever in either Nassua and or Freeport. In Nassau to call home in the States you can either do it right from the port or from Atlantis Resort and Casino. At the port as you disembark the ship to your left as you enter the town their is a place to buy phone cards and pay phones are readily available. We found that the Bahamas sold a special phone card that works beautifuly and was $10.00 for 10 minutes. But, you can try your own phone card there too. Atlantis Resort and Casino is a not to miss hot spot and the only way to gamble while on a Disney Cruise. It is a full service resort and very beautiful. They have wonderful pay phones there to where you can use your own phone cards or the Bahamas card...just insert them into the phones.

In Freeport they only have a couple of phones at the dock and you had better had gotten that special Bahamas blue phone card with the white lettering in Nassau, cause' I didn't see anywhere to buy one there. But, their is a pay phone there.

Personal experince,

I have At&t wireless....it works from Port Canveral til about 6pm the night of departure and then on the way back home we had signal again. Of course, it depends on the air conditions and ship location. I also had cell service cruiseing down in Jamaica, so go figure!LOL! I guess it just all depends....

Happy sailings and hope this helps!Mmketeer

 

[CRSNDSNY]

There are pay phones right when you get off the ship but they do not take prepaid calling cards. That was a bummer because that's all I had on me. My cell phone service wasn't working either. I was finally able to use pay phones and my prepaid calling card in the Atlantis.

 

[Tiger926]

Thanks for the info. We encountered the same nonsense when we were in St. Marten as well - it was chaos on the dock as most people (us included) were told that our cards would work. My question is then do you know if we can use our Canadian Calling Cards (attached to our home phone) since they don't accept prepaid phone cards?

Thanks, Tiger