Verizon Wireless and St. Maarten, St. John

[SuperDry]

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.

No, that's not quite right. If you turn off cellular data but leave the phone out of airplane mode, then it's true that data functions will only use WiFi, but it still will use cellular functions that do not use cellular data: specifically, voice calling and SMS. Since Verizon charges $0.05/text for inbound SMS when roaming internationally, those messages will still arrive and still accumulate charges even if cellular data is turned off. Also, any inbound calls that are received, not answered, and go to voice mail may or may not incur a 1-minute roaming charge (this can be prevented by turning on unconditional call forwarding to voice mail, but that still won't stop inbound SMS from arriving if not in airplane mode).

The only sure way to avoid roaming cellular charges on Verizon is to put the phone in airplane mode, then turn WiFi back on if you have a WiFi hotspot you want to use (including the first 50MB of on-board WiFi, if they're still offering that).

 

[Beesmom]

I just read today that AT&T just activated a new cell tower on St. John. I know that doesn't help us folks with Verizon...

 

[dlhvac]

Pay ten dollars to magic jack get the magic app make wifi calls anywhere in the world yes airplane mode lets you use the disney cruise app wifi

 

[ptcbass]

No, that's not quite right. If you turn off cellular data but leave the phone out of airplane mode, then it's true that data functions will only use WiFi, but it still will use cellular functions that do not use cellular data: specifically, voice calling and SMS. Since Verizon charges $0.05/text for inbound SMS when roaming internationally, those messages will still arrive and still accumulate charges even if cellular data is turned off. Also, any inbound calls that are received, not answered, and go to voice mail may or may not incur a 1-minute roaming charge (this can be prevented by turning on unconditional call forwarding to voice mail, but that still won't stop inbound SMS from arriving if not in airplane mode).

The only sure way to avoid roaming cellular charges on Verizon is to put the phone in airplane mode, then turn WiFi back on if you have a WiFi hotspot you want to use (including the first 50MB of on-board WiFi, if they're still offering that).

But doing it this way would allow you to text while in St. Thomas and San Juan and use wifi but not make/get calls.. right?

 

[SuperDry]

But doing it this way would allow you to text while in St. Thomas and San Juan and use wifi but not make/get calls.. right?

I'm not sure which way is the "this way" you're referring to. Text messaging (other than iMessage between iPhones) goes over the voice portion of cellular, not data. So, if you have the phone in regular (i.e. non-airplane) mode but have cellular data turned off and no WiFi, you'll have voice and SMS, but not data (which means no iMessage, no email, no web, no apps that use data, including no push notifications). If you have airplane mode turned on but are connected to WiFi, then it's the opposite: all of the data will work, but no voice or SMS (other than iMessage between iPhones).

Other combinations are possbile, such as non-airplane mode with cellular data disabled, and with a WiFi connection. In that case, all functions will work, but only voice and non-iPhone SMS will use the cellular network and everything else will use WiFi.

The key to not running up a big roaming bill is to always have cellular data roaming turned off. If you do that, then you'll not be able to run up a big bill even when roaming, unless you talk a lot or send a huge number of text messages. How many texts do you receive a day, if you don't respond to them? It would take quite a few at $0.05/each to make any significant difference.

 

[ptcbass]

I'm not sure which way is the "this way" you're referring to. Text messaging (other than iMessage between iPhones) goes over the voice portion of cellular, not data. So, if you have the phone in regular (i.e. non-airplane) mode but have cellular data turned off and no WiFi, you'll have voice and SMS, but not data (which means no iMessage, no email, no web, no apps that use data, including no push notifications). If you have airplane mode turned on but are connected to WiFi, then it's the opposite: all of the data will work, but no voice or SMS (other than iMessage between iPhones).

Other combinations are possbile, such as non-airplane mode with cellular data disabled, and with a WiFi connection. In that case, all functions will work, but only voice and non-iPhone SMS will use the cellular network and everything else will use WiFi.

The key to not running up a big roaming bill is to always have cellular data roaming turned off. If you do that, then you'll not be able to run up a big bill even when roaming, unless you talk a lot or send a huge number of text messages. How many texts do you receive a day, if you don't respond to them? It would take quite a few at $0.05/each to make any significant difference.

Thanks for the break down. Very helpful! I was referring to: settings -> cellular data -> then turn that off.

All I need to be able to do is text to other iphones (including sending pics). If I can do that I am good. Also if I find a wifi I would like to be able to use that. I should be pretty safe from running up a big bill that way. Also, I don't get many text at all so no problem with the .05 each. However, Verizon said text and data was included at the USVI and San Juan so I don't think I will even have that .05 charge for text (assuming I conect to a Verizon tower)