Verizon Wireless and St. Maarten, St. John

[deedisneydream97]

Sorry if this question has probably been asked and answered a number of times...I just don't have good luck with the "search" function on these boards.

For those with Verizon wireless, do you know if St. Maarten or St. John is considered as part of "the plan"? I did take note a few months back on contacting Verizon about a "temporary" international type calling plan. Anyone ever do that?

Thanks in advance.

 

[erionm]

St-Martin / St Maarten: Part of the island is a French Republic, the other is part of the Kingdom of the Netherlands.

St. John, is typically covered as domestic since it's part of the US Virgin Islands.

Contact Verizon customer service (611 from your cell phone) to verify coverage.

 

[Racer X]

Can you please report back your findings? Thanks.

 

[TXDCLfan]

St-Martin / St Maarten: Part of the island is a French Republic, the other is part of the Kingdom of the Netherlands.

St. John, is typically covered as domestic since it's part of the US Virgin Islands.

Contact Verizon customer service (611 from your cell phone) to verify coverage.

Just back from an Eastern cruise to the ports mentioned and my Verizon was not at a domestic rate it was going to be some outrages rate/min.

 

[lorimay]

We are sailing to St. John and San Juan next month.
When I called I was told texting is covered at no additional charge but phone calls will be a $1.99 a minute. I didn't ask about roaming, I can just imagine

 

[deedisneydream97]

Okay, I did speak to someone at Verizon wireless. Here is the information I was given, but I only asked about what I was interested in. I was only interested in text messaging. I was told that reading any texts while "roaming" would be 5 cents each. Sending texts while "roaming" are 50 cents each.....and this is without signing up for any extra travel package. I don't plan on spending much time with my phone, but want to keep in touch with family a little.

I also asked about roaming charges while in St. John, told her it is a US Territory so would my regular plan apply (i.e. included in my regular plan). she had to look it up, but said yes, indeed, St. John is in my calling plan, along with St. Thomas and St. Croix. Although I am not sure if I am really comfortable using my phone to make calls from St. John. Although if I do get charged, I would have a conversation with Verizon.

 

[jel0511]

I do want to give everyone a warning about cell service on St. John. It is a very small island and VERY close to the BVI's and you do usually pick up the BVI's cell signal while on the north shore beaches, regardless of US carrier. So if you are planning on going to any of the beaches on St. John, all of them are located on the north shore and you most likely will see another carrier than your US one there and will be charged international rates. I've stayed extensively on St. John, so I know what areas to avoid and where the dead cell zones are.....

 

[Maggie'sMom]

We are sailing to St. John and San Juan next month.
When I called I was told texting is covered at no additional charge but phone calls will be a $1.99 a minute. I didn't ask about roaming, I can just imagine

I know phone calls and texting while in San Juan are covered under the regular Verizon plan, but data is not. I don't know about St. Thomas/St. John.

 

[miztressuz]

I was looking for this info several months ago and stumbled onto this site for Verizon:
http://www.verizonwireless.com/b2c/tripplanner/tripplannercontroller

Plug in where you're going and it'll tell you the pricing for each place. If it's listed as "Domestic" you're charged the same as if you were in the US (in other words, according to your service plan)

If you're like me and forget where you book mark this stuff (the downside to using multiple computers and browsers) you can go to verizonwireless.com and do a search for "trip planner" and it'll be one of the first options.

 

[deedisneydream97]

Thanks for the additional info. I used that verizon link and am a little confused....but it also says something about "domestic" for St. John, so I think I'll wait to text until we get there. I've also heard that you shouldn't even turn your phone on unless you have disabled the wifi or something? I don't want it to start searching for the internet signals out on the ocean!! Probably would cost more than the cruise!!

Not really all that concerned...if there is an emergency, everyone has the emergency contact number for the ship.

 

[miztressuz]

St John is part of the US Virgin Islands. If look up St John and check the tab "Special Info!" on that page it says -

Text Messages sent or received while in Canada, Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands are billed as though you were in the U.S.

Any data usage in Puerto Rico or the U.S. Virgin Islands is considered domestic and will deduct from domestic allowances when available or would be billed at domestic overage/pay per use rates. See your current data plan or feature for details.

So you should be covered for text and data - assuming you don't wind up roaming as a pp mentioned. Voice carries a decent charge even using the local carrier (1.99 / min).

I've received text messages and used data on St Thomas and we didn't notice any charges. I purposely avoided voice cuz I wasn't curious enough at those rates

 

[ptcbass]

How do you know if you are connected to a Verizon tower?

We have Verizon and will be going to St. Thomas and was wondering about this too. Everyone always says turn your airplane mode on but then I don't think it will let you use wifi (even for the on ship navigator).

 

[SuperDry]

How do you know if you are connected to a Verizon tower?

Your phone will usually display the name of the carrier that it's currently connected to. Here's a screenshot of an iPhone connected to Verizon:

http://obamapacman.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/01/Verizon-iPhone-4-easy-Facebook-status-update.jpg

Note that it says "Verizon" in the upper left corner. It says this not because the phone was purchased from Verizon, and not because it's currently subscribed to a Verizon service plan, but because at the moment the picture was taken, it was actually connected to Verizon service.

So, when on St. John for example, you want to make sure it says Verizon. If it's connected to service from the British Virgin Islands, it will say something else. Also, it will say "Cellular At Sea" if it's connected to the ship's system.

 

[ptcbass]

Your phone will usually display the name of the carrier that it's currently connected to. Here's a screenshot of an iPhone connected to Verizon:

http://obamapacman.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/01/Verizon-iPhone-4-easy-Facebook-status-update.jpg

Note that it says "Verizon" in the upper left corner. It says this not because the phone was purchased from Verizon, and not because it's currently subscribed to a Verizon service plan, but because at the moment the picture was taken, it was actually connected to Verizon service.

So, when on St. John for example, you want to make sure it says Verizon. If it's connected to service from the British Virgin Islands, it will say something else. Also, it will say "Cellular At Sea" if it's connected to the ship's system.

Thanks. That sure makes it simple.
Now do we need to turn on international roaming if it is a us territory? I would think not. Also, while on the ship if I want to use Wifi but not accidentally get any messages or voicemails how do I turn that off (and keep wifi working)? Does that make sense? I have a iphone 6.

 

[Beesmom]

I do want to give everyone a warning about cell service on St. John. It is a very small island and VERY close to the BVI's and you do usually pick up the BVI's cell signal while on the north shore beaches, regardless of US carrier. So if you are planning on going to any of the beaches on St. John, all of them are located on the north shore and you most likely will see another carrier than your US one there and will be charged international rates. I've stayed extensively on St. John, so I know what areas to avoid and where the dead cell zones are.....

I will reiterate what jel said here - you will be charged international rates if you have Verizon and are St. John. I know some people call Verizon to be temporarily added to their "Global" plan for a few dollars. That way you won't have to worry about roaming charges from cell towers you might pickup on the British Virgin Islands.

Some places do have wifi and I tend to stay where I can get it and just text everyone.

 

[LSUfan4444]

As an alternative, if you can find a wi-fi signal, just use Facetime or skype.

 

[SuperDry]

Now do we need to turn on international roaming if it is a us territory?

No.

Also, while on the ship if I want to use Wifi but not accidentally get any messages or voicemails how do I turn that off (and keep wifi working)?

Turn on Airplane Mode, then turn on WiFi (turning on Airplane Mode will turn off WiFi, but you can then turn WiFi back on while staying in Airplane Mode).

 

[ptcbass]

No.



Turn on Airplane Mode, then turn on WiFi (turning on Airplane Mode will turn off WiFi, but you can then turn WiFi back on while staying in Airplane Mode).

Great! thank you so much for the info!

 

[LSUfan4444]

You can also go to settings -> cellular data -> then turn that off.

It turn off all cellular data and will restrict it to wi-fi, including email, web browsing and any push notifications.

By having cellular data off, essentially you have an itouch.

 

[ptcbass]

You can also go to settings -> cellular data -> then turn that off.

It turn off all cellular data and will restrict it to wi-fi, including email, web browsing and any push notifications.

By having cellular data off, essentially you have an itouch.

Good way to do it too. I wasn't sure what everyone was doing and didn't want to make it to complicated or leave something on that I shouldn't have.