AT&T International texting plan

[glm7777]

I asked my local AT&T salesperson what the best option for us was while traveling on the Dawn. We didn't need internet access - just a way to check in with home once or twice a day and to be available in case of emergency. She said "just get the international texting" - $10/line for 50 texts each. Great, I think. So I call ATT a few days later to get more info and I'm told that the international texting plan does not apply while onboard - only while in port (Bermuda). Hmmm...different from what I was told. So I called a third time to check and was told that the only plan that covers a cruise was the total cruise plan for $50/line and includes texts, voice and data. I don't need voice and I don't need data and I certainly don't need three different answers to the same question!

At this point I may just say the heck with it and pay the $.50 per text once or twice a day and be done with it!

Has anyone recently cruised the Dawn to Bermuda with AT&T?

[Godiva830]

I've cruised on the Breakaway to Bermuda. We bought a plan that was like $30 for 30min to talk. It was easy to keep track of how long our calls were bc we looked at the call log from on the phone. On the last day in Bermuda I used up the rest of the minutes while we were pulling away from the pier. I sent a few texts but it took awhile for the texts to go through. I have an iPhone with AT&T.

 

 

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[mking8288]

What device - smartphone, iPhone or feature ("dumb") phone are you using now? Is it using the old "regular" or full size Sim card? Or, is it using a micro or nano Sim card (mainly, iPhone 5's)?

 

One easy solution is to swap the Sim out and into an older phone's slot, viola - your older retired phone is often ideal for voice & texting. Incoming SMS for AT&T, even while roaming on NCL's Celluar At Sea (MTN) is at your regular rates, sending SMS out is at 50 cents per message. Unless you plan to do a lot of outbound SMS for a typical 5 or 7 night cruise, you might not need to enroll in any special "all-inclusive" plan. If you have unlimited SMS now, it will be free for all incoming & you are only charged for outgoing SMS on the ship and in BDA based on roaming rates on land (for the typical 2.5 days anchored at Dockyard)

 

Log into your own AT&T online account and you should see details, CSR over the phone aren't always fully trained unless you are speaking to a global or int'l specialist, they are oftenr reading from scripted answers. This is what I can reference for you: http://www.att.com/att/global/affordable-world-packages/?messaging

Edited February 19, 2014 by mking8288

[arielsong88]

I didn't talk to a rep, but I just looked into this on the AT&T website the other day. It appears that at least for the texting plan (which is what I was interested in), it will only work while in port b/c you are roaming on the local cell phone towers to send the texts. Once you are at sea, you are too far away to use them, unless they have a special deal to use the transmitter on the ship. According to the website, this is the case on Royal Caribbean, Azamara, and some Celebrity ships.

 

http://www.att.com/att/global/affordable-world-packages/?cruise

 

If you just want to send texts while out of the country, you want to add the "International Roaming" service to your plan, which is $10/line/month for 50 sent texts (receiving texts doesn't count against the 50). Otherwise it's $0.50/text for pay-as-you-go.

 

Hope that helps!

[rnvaniderstine]

I have AT&T with a smart phone and on my cruise in the British isles last year I set up my plan for international texting. Made the mistake of just setting up for the $10 50 text...went way over...should have done the one with 200... Anyway don't remember having any issues with texting while on the ship at sea and getting charged extra.

[andyandsue]

I learned my lesson with this the hard way. I listened to the AT&T rep the first time I called, 3 years ago. I purchased the international plan because that was "All you'll need".

 

$400 in cell phone bills later, AT&T never explained that Wireless at Sea is some rouge roaming carrier and having my iPhone using wireless data without me knowing it really racked it up.

 

The next cruise I researched the heck out of it.

 

SO- my advice is, since AT&T doesn't cover NCL (bummer) in their cruise ship package, is to get the cheapest international plan so you have service while you are in Port. Buy a package on the cruise so you have Wi-Fi service on the ship. And tell any family/friends if they need you to send an email to your email address and also cc it to your phone so you get it in the form of a text as well. If you want to send an email to AT&T that come over as a text use this format.

 

1234567890@txt.att.net

Edited February 19, 2014 by andyandsue

[sassyredhat]

I also have an IPhone with AT&T.

We have deaf children, so being able to receive texts is vital to us.

I put it on airplane mode while I am at sea, and switch in port. Of course there may not be a tower nearby. I knew it going in, but my texting from Mexico was $200.

 

Pat

[garycarla]

What device - smartphone, iPhone or feature ("dumb") phone are you using now? Is it using the old "regular" or full size Sim card? Or, is it using a micro or nano Sim card (mainly, iPhone 5's)?

 

One easy solution is to swap the Sim out and into an older phone's slot, viola - your older retired phone is often ideal for voice & texting. ....

 

Maybe I am missing something here, but what does any of this matter.

 

And, I would bet the vast majority of people here know very little about sim cards, and surely do not know about micro, nano, etc.

[garycarla]

DO NOT GET CONFUSED.

 

Intl packages and being at sea are not the same.

 

All inclusive packages or intl packages do not apply onboard the ship.

 

Your unlimited plan does not work on the ship.

(actually, it does work, but you pay regular rates)

Edited February 19, 2014 by garycarla

[fergusonvt]

On all of our cruises with Verizon we were able to just use the International roaming to keep in touch with our son in college. It was something like 50 cents to send a text and 5 cents to receive one. Each cruise it was only like $4 or $5 more than our normal phone bill. We also didn't have to do anything special. Our son has an Iphone and DH's and mine are just phones without internet access. I can't believe that AT&T doesn't have something comparable.

Edited February 19, 2014 by fergusonvt

[mizLORInj]

I have an AT&T iPhone and I get the int'l plan for when I'm on a long cruise. I get data/phone/texting, but you can't get it for just the days away--you have to pay for it for a month. Or that's how it was last year.

The $10 text package is for outgoing texts only; incoming texts go against your regular plan--no extra charges and no limit (unless your plan has a limit).

I haven't used it on days at sea so I can't comment if it works or not or how it's billed. I figure if I have to talk to someone while at sea, I'll pay the $4.99/min. on the ship phone and make it quick! :p

[lwrandall]

If you have an iPhone or Android you can download the Norwegian iConcierge app (it only works on board Epic, Breakaway and Getaway). It allows you to book restaurant reservations, tours, dailies and view your account. You can also make and receive calls and text messages from the shore and other guests on board the ship. It costs a one time charge of $7.95 and $0.79 per minute. To learn more go to your App Store for app description. I have also included a link to relatively recent app review

 

 

 

http://www.popularcruising.com/2013/10/17/norwegian-cruise-line-iconcierge-app-review/

 

 

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[spidybabe]

We have AT&T and leave elderly parent and children home, so we need way of being contacted.

We call forward all calls to home (children home)

We have unlimited texting so texts are free from US and 50 cents from cruise/port

My mom and our children must text us at least once/day. We only return texts as needed.

Use at&t live chat...explain what you want, and print out the text. We have never had a problem, but always better to have something in writing

Safe sailing

 

 

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[cabincop]

Ok got back from Caribbean cruise in Jan I have AT&T I put my phone on airplane mode thinking it would be ok. I used it in St Kitts and learned I was hit with roaming fee's because I did not turn off data. I was able to get the price way down because I am a long time customer. When I was in Europe I used their monthly international plan which you can use in Caribbean it is $30for the month. However only on land if your on the ship and want to use it you have to use NCL plan. For 30bucks I say get the monthly plan and use it in port. Just remember to turn off data on the ship

[Chuck2810]

Some of you taking text plans to keep in touch - be aware. A phone in the hands of a new millennial (teen) will rack up potentially hundreds if not thousands in charges depending on your plan. 150 texts a day is kind of the minimum:eek: to assume - check your 'normal' usage before you venture out of the service area...

[garycarla]

If you have an iPhone or Android you can download the Norwegian iConcierge app (it only works on board Epic, Breakaway and Getaway). It allows you to book restaurant reservations, tours, dailies and view your account. You can also make and receive calls and text messages from the shore and other guests on board the ship. It costs a one time charge of $7.95 and $0.79 per minute. ...

 

I may be wrong, but I am pretty sure you can NOT use the iConcierge App for calls or texts off the ship. It is only good for ONBOARD via the ships wifi system. Calls and texts from or to ashore will be billed as normal.

[garycarla]

Ok got back from Caribbean cruise in Jan I have AT&T I put my phone on airplane mode thinking it would be ok. I used it in St Kitts and learned I was hit with roaming fee's because I did not turn off data. ...

 

 

If you use the phone, there will be a charge.

[Demonyte]

I may be wrong, but I am pretty sure you can NOT use the iConcierge App for calls or texts off the ship. It is only good for ONBOARD via the ships wifi system. Calls and texts from or to ashore will be billed as normal.

 

Correct.

[shelly11]

I have verizon. When I go on a cruise I call and tell them to turn on international roaming. There is a code to punch in before I leave port. When i get back another code to turn it off. I also keep the phone off unless I'm in port. I just use it for a few quick texts home or to use the free wifi port may have.

[garycarla]

I have verizon. When I go on a cruise I call and tell them to turn on international roaming. There is a code to punch in before I leave port. When i get back another code to turn it off. I also keep the phone off unless I'm in port. I just use it for a few quick texts home or to use the free wifi port may have.

 

The information posted is confusing. You say you punch in a code when you leave port. But, you say you leave the phone off unless you are in port.