Calls to the US at Sea

[ggo85]

Would love to hear from anyone who has called the US while the ship is at sea outside U.S. waters - and especially outside North America.  I may need to do calls for work during my cruise and would like to know: (1) how easy it is, and (2) how much it costs.  Also, would love to hear about ability to videoconference while at sea. 
 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

[fudge]

I can only speak for Regent, I made a call at sea to the US while sailing to Japan, it was 6 dollars a minute, easy to call from your suite.

[canderson]

This would probably be a good time to bring up using one's own phone for WiFi calling, and query those familiar with how it goes (or doesn't) on SS, being careful to specify which ship - since it does seem to matter.  I do know that I've had good luck on Celebrity ships using WiFi calling provided I was on their upper tier data plan, but that was a year ago.

 

@ggo85

You don't say where you'll be - what itinerary?  If always more or less in sight of land, what you'll want is a cellular phone and plan to deal with GSM in Europe.  At a minimum, you'll always be able to make calls while in port.

 

Attempts to video conference are going to be a function of both what ports SS blocks on their shipboard network and the bandwidth available to you.  There's some chance that with the right VPN, the upper tier data plan, and not too much competition for satellite time, you could make it work.  If any of the above sounds foreign to you, either get your IT folks on this for you or consider not using video.

[MJN1]

Any cellular network plan will be on the expensive side, especially if you are away from land and in the satellite network.

Making calls using WhatsApp and the (free) WiFi on board (or a public WiFi system on land) is much better and cheaper.

[carefreecruise]

You have three ways to call.

First - is in your room, you can call directly to the US and it will be on your shipboard account. The cost has come down a lot over the years and check with reception on that ships current cost per minuet.

 

Second - is to use standard ships WIFI and you will need to be competent in how to set up your cell phone to use WIFI calling. NOTE ( If in bad areas you will need to upgrade to Premium WIFI Plan to eliminate dropped calls)

 

Third -  is to upgrade the premium WIFI and use video calling on Facebook, apple or Skype. 

 

Also its best to let people and customers know to not Text you. Texting onboard is a lot more complicated and deserves its own thread.    

 

[jpalbny]

6 hours ago, carefreecruise said:

Also its best to let people and customers know to not Text you. Texting onboard is a lot more complicated and deserves its own thread. 

 

I've always just received text messages fine using the ship's WiFi; I put the phone in airplane mode first to prevent it from connecting to the onboard cellular network first. Is there another way to do it?

[carefreecruise]

17 minutes ago, jpalbny said:

 

I've always just received text messages fine using the ship's WiFi; I put the phone in airplane mode first to prevent it from connecting to the onboard cellular network first. Is there another way to do it?

Its a little complicated due to different carries. Most texting is passed on from the cellular side and when traveling, most people will turn off roaming, cutting off the cell connection. If, lets say someone has T-Mobile that includes international travel, they will still receive texting. If someone or most carriers when at sea for day after day will lose connection and get no texting. Forcing or replying to a text will connect to the ships cell connection or connect to the closest land base, causing a roaming fee.  It is possible while at sea to trick the phone by temporally turning off airplane mode and turning on WIFI calling. this will usually make the phone think it is in connection to a cell tower and download all your texts and you can send texts during that time also. Of course an app like whatsapp will always work because it relays on WIFI only but the other person must have whatsapp also.    

[saminina]

Call from room was about $1.79/minute last year.   Very surprised.   My satellite phone is useless on SS.

[canderson]

3 hours ago, saminina said:

Call from room was about $1.79/minute last year.   Very surprised.   My satellite phone is useless on SS.

Iridium?  On an open deck?

[saminina]

Not saying it does not work.    Less hassle and cost effective to use phone in suite.

[canderson]

1 hour ago, saminina said:

Not saying it does not work.    Less hassle and cost effective to use phone in suite.

Ah.  Had me going there with "useless".  Our plan runs $1.39 a minute.  There's a monthly fee, but that's a sunk cost whether we use it or not.

[Mark_K]

If you’re on ATT or Verizon you might want to look into Cellular at Sea

[A Tucson Guy]

On 10/18/2023 at 3:15 AM, Mark_K said:

If you’re on ATT or Verizon you might want to look into Cellular at Sea

Thanks as I just signed up with AT&T for the Nov. 18 Nova cruise.

[ggo85]

Thanks for the help.  I have a cheap plan for calling and texting that works in port.  And the WiFi on the ship covers everything else.  However, I may need to do work calls while at sea out of range of port.  Does Cellular at Sea work for phone calls from sea. Is it better /cheaper than paying the per minute fee mentioned above. 
 

We will be in Asia on Muse.  I have ATT.