Verizon use on the Fantasy and USVI/BVI

[Billinaz]

I searched and found some old information, and some conflicting information.

What are the recent experiences on the Fantasy and on the USVI and BVI?

I am heading to St Thomas and Tortola and dont want any surprises.

I am trying to figure out what I need to add to my plan before I leave.

What I did find on the VZW website:

International pay as you go plan
Disney Fantasy
$1.79/minute
$0.50/message sent
$0.05/message received
$0.25/MMS message sent
$0.25/MMS message received
$0.002 per KB or $2.05 per MB


Virgin Islands - US are considered domestic and within the United States; you don't need to update your plan at this time.



Virgin Islands - British
TravelPass
Your worry free option.
Use your device on your international trip just like you do at home, for a low daily cost.
Now your wireless plan travels just like you do. Take your domestic talk, text and data allowances with you. It's the economical way to stay connected. You’re only charged on the days you use your device while traveling.
$10.00/Day

 

[miztressuz]

When we traveled last the Verizon trip planner (http://www.verizonwireless.com/support/trip-planner-tool/) was spot on. It's nice to see they updated the USVI coverage. When we went last I believe text and data was included in the plan but voice would not be covered by your minutes. And when we used data on St Thomas it was indeed covered. But it's good to see that everything is covered now.

I don't use the phone on the ship but I had it on when we crossed to offshore and got the "roaming" texts with the pricing and they matched the trip planner info. So I think you've got a good basis.

I checked out the new trip planner (hate the new format) and noticed that if you pick option 4 for BVI it's got the same Pay as you go pricing as the Fantasy. So depending on what you plan to use your phone for that day, that might be a more economical option.

 

[disneymagicgirl]

Awesome info.

 

[Expatriat]

It's nice to see that they now include the USVI, finally. All I see otherwise though is "pay as you go," even if I select the max from their listings. Do they no longer offer "Verizon At Sea" for use ON the ship? I don't see it anywhere on their site.

Earlier this year it was: "Verizon now offers packages for $40 that give you 100 minutes of talk, 100 outgoing texts, unlimited received texts and 100mb data for use on the ship and most Caribbean islands. Without the plan you pay $1.79 per minute for calls using Cellular at Sea."

 

[PrincessShmoo]

It's nice to see that they now include the USVI, finally. All I see otherwise though is "pay as you go," even if I select the max from their listings. Do they no longer offer "Verizon At Sea" for use ON the ship? I don't see it anywhere on their site.

Earlier this year it was: "Verizon now offers packages for $40 that give you 100 minutes of talk, 100 outgoing texts, unlimited received texts and 100mb data for use on the ship and most Caribbean islands. Without the plan you pay $1.79 per minute for calls using Cellular at Sea."

Not sure that was ever on DCL ships. Maybe on other lines?

 

[phinz]

One of the primary reasons I left Verizon two years ago was their failure to consider the USVI as domestic. Glad to see my wife's phone will be useful again since she stayed with Verizon.

 

[phinz]

Not sure that was ever on DCL ships. Maybe on other lines?

They have Cellular@Sea.

https://disneycruise.disney.go.com/guest-services/internet-phone-services/#!

 

[PrincessShmoo]

They have Cellular@Sea.

https://disneycruise.disney.go.com/guest-services/internet-phone-services/#!

Yeah, I know. I was responding to this:

It's nice to see that they now include the USVI, finally. All I see otherwise though is "pay as you go," even if I select the max from their listings. Do they no longer offer "Verizon At Sea" for use ON the ship? I don't see it anywhere on their site.

Earlier this year it was: "Verizon now offers packages for $40 that give you 100 minutes of talk, 100 outgoing texts, unlimited received texts and 100mb data for use on the ship and most Caribbean islands. Without the plan you pay $1.79 per minute for calls using Cellular at Sea."

 

[Expatriat]

Not sure that was ever on DCL ships. Maybe on other lines?

I never used it, but earlier this year it was on Verizon's website and showed when I selected "Disney Fantasy." Oh, well.

 

[phinz]

Yeah, I know. I was responding to this:

Ah. That was clear as mud since nothing was originally highlighted.

 

[ktate82]

When we traveled last the Verizon trip planner (http://www.verizonwireless.com/support/trip-planner-tool/) was spot on. It's nice to see they updated the USVI coverage. When we went last I believe text and data was included in the plan but voice would not be covered by your minutes. And when we used data on St Thomas it was indeed covered. But it's good to see that everything is covered now.

I don't use the phone on the ship but I had it on when we crossed to offshore and got the "roaming" texts with the pricing and they matched the trip planner info. So I think you've got a good basis.

I checked out the new trip planner (hate the new format) and noticed that if you pick option 4 for BVI it's got the same Pay as you go pricing as the Fantasy. So depending on what you plan to use your phone for that day, that might be a more economical option.

When we cruised last Oct, we could only text at USVI. So does this mean we can call now?

 

[Billinaz]

One of the primary reasons I left Verizon two years ago was their failure to consider the USVI as domestic. Glad to see my wife's phone will be useful again since she stayed with Verizon.

I liked AT&T because it worked as domestic on PR and USVI. I had the grandfathered unlimited data plan.

I moved our 5 phones to VZW when I was able to get on a corporate plan that cannot be beat.

 

[MickeyD]

Not sure how to read all that, so unless that is very recent, it is not at all true. My experience was that I got charged $81 for calling while in St Thomas on Verizon, but $0 in San Juan PR! This was in 2015 btw) Texting was free in both places. I had an ill stepfather and chose to call home from St Thomas, because they said it was domestic...not so. Verizon would not reimburse the fees by the way.

 

[Billinaz]

Not sure how to read all that, so unless that is very recent, it is not at all true. My experience was that I got charged $81 for calling while in St Thomas on Verizon, but $0 in San Juan PR! This was in 2015 btw) Texting was free in both places. I had an ill stepfather and chose to call home from St Thomas, because they said it was domestic...not so. Verizon would not reimburse the fees by the way.

I got it off the VZW webpage yesterday.

 

[MickeyD]

I got it off the VZW webpage yesterday.

Mighty nice of them to finally do that. (snort!) Hope they honor it now.

 

[PrincessShmoo]

Not sure how to read all that, so unless that is very recent, it is not at all true. My experience was that I got charged $81 for calling while in St Thomas on Verizon, but $0 in San Juan PR! This was in 2015 btw) Texting was free in both places. I had an ill stepfather and chose to call home from St Thomas, because they said it was domestic...not so. Verizon would not reimburse the fees by the way.

I wonder if the issue is that you called from the island, and not the ship. The plan I found on the Verizon website only addresses shipboard use, not use while in port.

 

[Expatriat]

I think the addition of St. Thomas / USVI may have been made THIS year. Last year I had free calls in PR with Verizon both while on the ship and ashore, but did not even attempt St. Thomas because I did not see it included on Verizon's site. Now, apparently, it is.

 

[MickeyD]

I wonder if the issue is that you called from the island, and not the ship. The plan I found on the Verizon website only addresses shipboard use, not use while in port.

Nope, I was on the ship when I called.

 

[phinz]

Verizon was frozen out of the USVI until recently. AT&T, Sprint and T-Mobile had the infrastructure and Verizon could not get in.