Cell phones on the Explorer

[gigguy]

I have read the RCCL website about cell phones on board ship.

 

We are going to be on the Explorer in October from Cape Liberty up to Canada stopping mostly at New England ports.

 

My specific question is, when the ship is in port, do you get charged a roaming charge from your cell phone company because it is routed through RCCL's phone system?

 

Or do the cell phone towers on shore pick up your phone call?

 

Has anybody had an experience with this while in US ports?

[ninapeter]

At least with Princess, the ships cell tower turns off as you enter and leave port. While in port you you are on your cells system if available. I suggest if you are with Verizon to upgrade for one month to a canada package. (Just a few dollars)

[BigDaddyCVO]

The ship's cell tower is off while in port (US or otherwise, with the possible exception of private islands w/ no service).

[gigguy]

Thanks for the replies. I will check into the Canada plan with Verizon.

[dougp26364]

We just set our phone up for international calls. What Verizon told us was to get away from the ships towers or, be charged the ships call rates, even when in port. For international calling it will be 99 cents per minute away from the ship and something like $2.49 per minute while on the ship. He also explained to us how to block the text messaging feature while on board so that we're not charged the high rates for receiving and sending text messages.

[Beowulfpk]

I will often deactivate roaming on my phone and go to an upper deck and see if I can get a land based signal. When you're not too far out from an urban coastline I can usually get one. In port you will have nothing to worry about.