Pre-paid sim card for unlocked phone - international service

[419annm]

Does anyone have experience using a pre-paid international sim card in your UNLOCKED cell phone? Pros? Cons? Other ideas to stay in touch? Cellular service on ship (in port only?). I'm assuming a pre-paid sim card would be much cheaper than adding international service to your existing cellular service. ANY information please. Thanks!!

[MakeMyJay]

I am in Australia, so I don't know if you can get this also, but I am using TravelSim, www.travelsim.net.au

 

Heaps cheaper than intl roaming charges, prepaid so I know how much I have spent.

[daisy-mae]

We have two pre-paid sim cards; one for the US (we are in Canada, and the roaming charges + long distance charges when we use our domestic phones in the United States are astronomical!) and one for Europe.

 

Both cards have worked out quite well for us; we can top them up via the internet when necessary. The only stipulation is that we must keep the cards current by activating the phone on a regular basis.

 

We're not sure how the pricing would work while onboard ship, though, so will probably not take a chance on using the sim cards on our upcoming cruise.

[ab0si]

This will not help with the on-board wireless service.

[Philip217]

For many years while working on ships, I had several pre-paid SIM cards:

-USA

-Germany

-Spain

-Chile

-China

 

As mentioned earlier, you need to use them and recharge them regularly to keep them valid.

You can encounter roaming problems - especially with the USA cards. Many "regular" mobile service providers around the world will not recognize the pre-paid SIM cards from the USA.

 

Most can be re-charged via internet or a vending machine.

The Chinese SIM was the best deal. I bought it through a vending machine at 7-11.

It had the lowest rates and could be re-charged at the same vending machines.

 

The "mobile at sea" service onboard cruise ships will generally not recognize a pre-paid SIM card.

[vtmgirl]

My sister always rents an international phone from her cell company

for a minimal charge. Works really well for her, no roaming charges

just a flat fee for minutes. I am going on a cruise in May and plan

to pick up one of these.