Phone Service

[HueyDeweyLouie]

...One option is to put the Iphone on Airplane mode and turn on the Wifi. You can then pay the ship to connect to their Wifi and get your emails that way or you can hunt for a free or cheap wifi provider in port. That will not deliver your text messages (although there is a way to get texts via Wifi, but I don't have a clue how that might work)...

If you go this route, download an app called "Viber". You can call and text for free thru this app (with a wifi connection); as long as your connections/recipients also have the app.

Your phone# is your ID. The app syncs your mobile contact list and automatically detects whoever else on your contact list is using Viber.

Also, I hear you can also text with iMessage if the other person has iMessage too.

 

[hbg4]

My cousin cruised with us in March on the Fantasy. She did not put her phone in airplane mode or switch it off, I suppose it was being too prideful in not knowing how to use her iphone to ask for help?? Anyway for 7 days of the cruise, her phone kept buzzing, facebook messages, imessages, text, phone calls etc. Guess what when we arrived back home she had a charge of an extra $500 on her cell phone bill, now she says she has no money to pay me back for the money I paid for her to cruise with us.
Anyhow, in general I switch off my phone once we sail away. My DD puts hers in airplane mode. If we go anywhere where there is free wifi, such as Nassau festival place, you can activate this part of your phone while still keeping it in airplane mode. Also in St Thomas and San Juan once you get to port cell service is available again. Word of advise to keep the cost low. Make sure your phone does not roam outside your cell phone company's network so that it is only active for your phone company's cell phone service or data.

 

[BethA]

Going on the western Caribbean fantasy and thought getting a t&t international calling was the way to go now not sure. My mom 's health is not great and I hoped to be able to call daily or every other day. Any suggestions?

 

[Ptwolfman]

Going on the western Caribbean fantasy and thought getting a t&t international calling was the way to go now not sure. My mom 's health is not great and I hoped to be able to call daily or every other day. Any suggestions?

My suggestion is to get international calling but only enable your phone's calling feature (take it out of airplane mode) when you call home. After the call, put it back into airplane mode. I think that ends up being cheaper than ship to shore calls. Also, that way you won't end up with an insanely high phone bill

 

[chrisd596]

I did check into this because I wanted to stay in touch with older kids at home.

When using Cellular at Sea, I text. The text were only .25

I kept my eye on when the AT&T service popped up. Then I would call.

Otherwise we set up a time period at night to send a text and receive a text.

It worked really great. Enough to get through a message or two and enough for them to let us know they were ok.

AT&T really worked well, including the texts when using Cellular at Sea.

Chris

 

[lisettemac]

Anyone know if this is any different in Alaska? I'm asking since it is within the US??

 

[TXDCLfan]

Anyone know if this is any different in Alaska? I'm asking since it is within the US??

Check cellular at seas web site it is full of questions and answers

 

[BethA]

my parents don't text so texting is not really an option for me but thanks

 

[lanejudy]

Anyone know if this is any different in Alaska? I'm asking since it is within the US??

When at sea, it will still be Cellular-at-Sea. You'll want to check with your provider if the "national" plan is just the 48 continguous states or if it includes Alaska for use when in port.

Enjoy your cruise!

 

[su_A_ve]

When at sea, Cellular at sea takes over for voice and data. And it's EXPENSIVE. While on an international port, you'll deal with international rates. While in the US, you'll deal with your own carrier.

SMS are sent via cellular network. Rates are set up by your home carrier. For example for Verizon customers, rates are:

$2.49 per minute for voice calls to US numbers
$0.50 per SMS sent to an individual address
$0.05 per SMS received
$0.02 per Kilobyte of Data

You could also buy a package
$25.00 per 100Mb of Data

Now, you cannot STOP incoming SMS and you'll be charged accordingly. Think about all 'offers' you signed up for or 'alerts' Also, SMS messages are queued for up to three days by most providers. The moment you connect to the network, those messages will come in and you will hear the 'cha-ching' at 50cents per.

If you MUST check emails, your best option might be to purchase internet minutes. You can instead use the public terminals there. Remember that Wifi on board is as slow (if not slower) than dialup. Definitely not facetime or skype capable.

Or wait till you get to a port and go to a local coffee shop and get WiFi access.

If you do get a WiFi connection on port, you may then try iMessage/Facetime/Skype/What'sUP/etc. If you want to 'call' a US number, at least till the end of the year, Vonage allows calling to any US number for free. Just install their mobile app.

My .02...

 

[FLABullfrog]

Anyone have any experience with using EuroBuzz phones while in european ports?
Good or bad.
Thanks.

 

[scottb8888]

Talking to Verizon, I could buy the data package from Disney and Skype a voice call or video call and avoid the $2.99 per minute. Or (someone correct me if I am wrong) I can set my iphone up to have voice calls routed over wifi??

 

[FigmentSpark]

I used the free wifi to keep in touch via email. Instead of texting, send an email or have the kids send you an email. Every night or morning, just turn on the free wifi, (airplane mode on) and then check your email. It eats up wifi quickly, so just send your email or check for one from the kids and then sign out. You can get through the entire trip without paying anything (if you've signed up for the free 1gb free wifi - available the first day only) or, as PP said, pay the $25 and check your emails more frequently.

 

[oakleycat]

We also have AT&T. I just put mine in airplane mode to use the DCL app and take pictures and don't turn it on the whole time. Give family the DCL emergency number so they can get in touch with you if necessary, otherwise I don't want to talk to anyone! Be careful though, on our first cruise DH turned his phone off completely for a few days. He turned it back on to start using the DCL app and all his calls/texts came through and we got a huge bill. We were able to work it out with the carrier, but something to be aware of.

 

[nordkin]

We have AT&T and we just turn cellular data off and turn off background refresh for all apps so we don't blow through data. In the ports or on the ship AT&T has a feature you can turn on for the iphone to make calls over WIfi. They also have an international plan that for $10 per day that you use your phone you are using your plan as if you were at home. We have used all the above successfully all over the world including the Disney Magic EBTA in 2017.

To turn on wifi calling -
Settings
Cellular
Wifi Calling - turn on

It sometimes takes a few hours for this to take affect with AT&T. Your home screen will display AT&T wifi in the upper left corner.

 

[MelSpees]

I used the free wifi to keep in touch via email. Instead of texting, send an email or have the kids send you an email. Every night or morning, just turn on the free wifi, (airplane mode on) and then check your email. It eats up wifi quickly, so just send your email or check for one from the kids and then sign out. You can get through the entire trip without paying anything (if you've signed up for the free 1gb free wifi - available the first day only) or, as PP said, pay the $25 and check your emails more frequently.

I thought the free wifi was 50 mgs.

 

[FigmentSpark]

Dang, you're right, not 1gb, 50 mb. I had double because we had two rooms and I didn't tell DH about the deal, just signed up for it for both rooms.