Tip for making free phone calls to the USA from St. Thomas

[snorkelman]

Just a quick post to help out my fellow cruisers:

 

In preparing for my upcoming cruise I was trying to look into the cheapest way to make calls back to the USA while on the cruise.

 

I discovered that my regular cell phone plan can be modified for the month during which I will be on my cruise. I will end up with a few less hours for the month, but I will extend my coverage to the entire USA as well as the US Virgin Islands and Puerto Rico.

 

So, now my wife can call home and check on our kids and talk for an hour if she wants, and the call is free.

 

Hope that tips works out for some others to help you save some cash.

[MA 2 VA]

Snorkleman, Which company do you use?

[The Islander]

Hello MA 2 VA,

 

Sidenote:

Sprint and Cingular Wireless are providers here in the VI. So if you have either of those providers and have a nationwide plan with them then no changes would be necessary your calls would be free from the VI because we are part of their nationwide coverage area.

 

--Islander

http://www.*****

[snorkelman]

I have cingular.

[MA 2 VA]

Thanks to the both of you.

[MamaParrotHead]

and they said I wouldn't get reception there, though I noticed I did while in port in St. Thomas (which was an interesting bit of news to them, LOL). I ended up just calling from the little "calling center" at the end of the pier for $0.20/minute. :)

[basketballmom]

Thanks for the info. I have Cingular and will have to call to check in the puppy while we are in St. Thomas!

[tadjr]

I have Sprint and called from both San Juan and St Thomas back home and didnt incur any additional charges. Kind of nice calling home....yeah, I'm on the balcony overlooking St Thomas right now, what are you doing? ;)

[snorkelman]

I am the original poster and I just returned. We had no problems at all making these calls for free. Just so you know, our cell phone got great reception - even while we called as we sat on Truck Bay (St. John). Nothing like calling someone and they can hear the waves.

[hibiscusjane]

I have verizon, and I know it works in Puerto Rico. My assumption is that it will not work in St. Thomas. Does any one know?

[richtersl]

We have Verizon and it does work on St. Thomas. I do remember incurring extra charges with a phone call we made there, though. I think we were charged like 35 cents a minute for calling with our cell phone. Text messaging was spotty at best from there and I don't quite understand why.

 

You may be better off just purchasing a phone card for about $10-20 and using it if you plan on speaking with someone from the mainland U.S. for any length of time.

[mhcruisers]

When we arrived in St Thomas this past February, I grabbed my phone, went to our balcony, dialed and BINGO!...my call went through! We have Verizon and I was on roaming. No extra charge.. Made about 4 or 5 calls! Make sure your phone is charged in the stateroom...

 

Pat

[otc1]

I have Cingular and it works in San Juan and St. Thomas at no extra charge. It also works in all parts of Hawaii which I found out in May when I was there. Good luck. just make sure your plan with Cingular includes Nationwide calling or you may end up on roam and be charged extra for it