Rare horseymike Posted June 16, 2015 #1 Share Posted June 16, 2015 Anyone know what the cell phone rates are on the getaway? outgoing calls, texts, incoming calls ,texts ? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MandyMommyof2 Posted June 16, 2015 #2 Share Posted June 16, 2015 Hi Horseymike :) I think to be on the safe side, I would contact your service provider. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kchiumento Posted June 16, 2015 #3 Share Posted June 16, 2015 More than the cost of your cruise. Check with your carrier. We thankfully left our phones in airplane mode but my sister didn't and she got a bill of several hundred dollars for roaming charges and international fees. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
swilliams1660 Posted June 16, 2015 #4 Share Posted June 16, 2015 I think Verizon is 2.49/minute for calls and 50cents to send a text. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare mking8288 Posted June 16, 2015 #5 Share Posted June 16, 2015 (edited) Voice callinng on the ship sailing the high seas are usually not the root cause of skyhigh phone bills, often delayed by a month between carriers - rather the unintended background use of cellular data on one's smartphone, on sky high (satellite relayed, on the ship) roaming rates, billed to the carrier - that's something like 75% or more of the mobile phone users. An incoming & outgoing short text message pair would cost about $1 on average or $3 to $5 for a one minute voice call, but each Facebook picture upload or download could end up costing $100 each, in USD. One recommendation I always made is for non-tech savy folks to temporary switch over to a non-smart phone that does not use/require data to function, so that you can make voice call & get simple text messages, even when it is at roaming rates - as they aren't really that expensive if you plan & keep it short, it's about the cost of a drink on the ship these days - to keep in touch daily with a quick "checking in" call. The rates, varied by plans & details are complex, and they are charged & set by one's own cellular carrier, the ship's satellite tower and provider only acting as the roaming agent/partner on their behalf - AT&T Wireless has material interests as a partner in "Cellular At Sea" so that translate into generally higher rates for CDMA users such as Verizonwireless. For those who plan to and/or "need" to use cellular services on the ship and in "foreign" ports not covered by one's own "home" plans - please do your own due diligence and call/check with your own provider about details, coverage, exclusions and costs, etc. to avoid a $950 USD surprise billing add-on (or higher) after 7 nights. VZW used to have a certain cruise ship data plan for NCL ships. AFAIK, it is NO longer available & discontinued - everything is at full roaming $$$$$ rates, data is charged by the kB (not MB) used on the ship & in non-US ports. Edited June 16, 2015 by mking8288 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare horseymike Posted June 16, 2015 Author #6 Share Posted June 16, 2015 Thanks Everyone for your responses. We do not cruise often and the rates change perodically especially for the roaming, ect...appreciate all of the information. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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