Quick Question on phone use

[cooki801]

I hope someone is up late or early and can answer this before we leave in the morning.

A family member "needs" to stay in touch with home from the ship by phone if possible. What is the most economical way to do this. It doesn't need to be long conversations just a quick checking in with family at home.

 

I leave in the morning and don't have time to try and search the info out.

We will be on the Dawn with

1. day at sea

2. Rotan

3. Belize

4. Costa Maya

5 Cozumel

6. Tampa

Thanks to anyone who could offer a suggestion

[valleyvillage]

Texting is usually the most economical way. Check with your cellular provider. Verizon works from NCL, but voice is $2.49 a minute!:eek: Texting is a LOT cheaper.

[cooki801]

Thanks

so will I get international charges? or ship charges?

Sorry I have never needed this before and feel really dumb

[spirit rev]

Calling from the ship will show up as a roaming charge on your bill from your cell phone provider, at least it does with Verizon.

When we have turned our phones on when arriving in a port we have often received a text message (free) telling us how to call the US and what the roaming charge is. Usually it is cheaper than calling while the ship is at sea.

[mking8288]

Depending on whether you/family member is using a smartphone or not, please make sure that you know how to turn OFF data roaming on the ship and in foreign ports as those running charges for background data usage can be very pricey & expensive on a pay-as-you-go basis.

 

Disabled mobile data & roaming and voice & text messaging/SMS will continue to work - texting on the ship is 50 cents to send, 5 cents to receive - rates varied in foreign ports but very similar, that's for 160 characters & no picture/graphics.

 

Make sure the mobile phone/device has international roaming enabled or active, for VZW - dial *611 or call (800) 922-0204 or contact a Verizon Wireless Representative to enable International Roaming before sailing. Also, dial *228 to update your phone's roaming capabilities (PRL) before sailing - it's always advisable to periodically update that even when not traveling, at least once every 3 months. VZW's Global Support Desk are very helpful & they are available until midnight, ET & on weekends as well. For AT&T or T-Mobile, dial your customer service # and have it enabled on their GSM network.

 

Keep voice calls short & simple, and to a minimum as it is $2.49 per minute on the ship's satellite tower + taxes/fees/surcharges by the carrier. While on the ship, all ship-to-shore communications are beamed up & relayed by the satellite to a land tower, so it is slow & subject to signal drops & fading.

 

Roaming rates for different islands on your stop vary a bit, but are very similar or slightly higher than ship rates - texting is 50 cents to send and 5 cents to receive for Belize, as an example. Key is to make sure that the mobile # has international calling enabled before leaving home by speaking to your provider's customer service rep, who can make any necessary changes on your account.

 

Pre-arrange a daily check-in time (i.e. 08:00, 15:00 and 20:00, etc.) to expect these calls or messages - incoming or outgoing, except for emergencies. Battery will NOT last as long as normal and drain faster as it is roaming & searching for signal inside the ship's massive hull, so leave it charged at all times when not walking around with it.

 

As a last resort, ship-to-land calls are $7.50 per minute to/from the cabin or stateroom - subject to satellite signal limitations as cited above.

 

VZW's webpage on Cruise Ship Coverage - http://businessportals.verizonwireless.com/international/Cruise_Ships/index.html

[cooki801]

mking8288

You are the best! I printed the info and will give it to my family member when we meet up in Florida.

I have a smart phone but she doesn't so we will work something out!

 

Happy Seas everyone

[hammsz]

for crazy off the wall, huge charges you dont understand. I have heard horror stories. Save the pain, call with an international calling card when they get to port to prevent uncontrollable "spiked" off the deep end charges.

[mw_1970]

Download WhatsApp and get the person you want to stay in touch with to download too.

 

Then, when in port find a free WiFi Hotspot and use WhatsApp to send messages over the internet. Completely free !

 

You can also do the same with "Viber" App except Viber allows you to make free voice calls via the internet. Again you both need the Viber App

[jkneern]

Only 1.99 per min. From your cabin. And the call is much clearer than a cell phone

[jdvmd]

Only 1.99 per min. From your cabin. And the call is much clearer than a cell phone

 

Not sure where you are getting this from. Only Carnival charges $1.99 per minute (quite surprising). Calls from your cabin on NCL cost $7.50 per minute.

[philip_eunice1]

if you have smart phones download viber find free wifi and you can call for free