how can you use your cell phone at sea?

[bahia puller]

I called Cingular to find out how to us my cell phone from Mexico

(+1 then area code and number -- 99 cents/min) and the agent said I could use my cell phone at sea on some ships for $2.49/ minute.

 

Granted that is high, but how do you do it and can you receive a call at sea?

[Cruiser from MS]

All you have to do is dial the area code then the phone number of the person you are calling. :)

[hues of blue]

Beware...we were on the Liberty in Feb....cell worked great almost everywhere. We only made a few calls but daughter recieved a call very early one morning ( she should not have answered) anyway.....41 minuits later and the person who called now owes me 204.00 apparently roaming charges were 4.99 per minuit which is cheaper then using the phone from the ship but still costly unless a person has no roaming charges. next year the cell phone will not be turned on.:(

[BillnBobbi]

Quote: "How can you use your cell phone at sea?"

 

There are several options. You could use it as disk while playing shuffleboard. You could use it to secure your towel from wind while reserving an empty chair for a few hours. You could use it as a door stop to keep the door to the balcony open. You could attach it to the lanyard used in the casino to distinguish it.

You could ask your steward to see if he could use it as a model for a new cute towel toy.

Or best of all.....

 

Throw it over the side of the ship and take bets on how long it takes to sink.

 

That's what I'd do with a cellphone on a vacation.

 

BnB

[AJs Dad]

There are several options. You could use it as disk while playing shuffleboard. You could use it to secure your towel from wind while reserving an empty chair for a few hours. You could use it as a door stop to keep the door to the balcony open. You could attach it to the lanyard used in the casino to distinguish it.

You could ask your steward to see if he could use it as a model for a new cute towel toy.

Or best of all.....

 

Throw it over the side of the ship and take bets on how long it takes to sink.

 

That's what I'd do with a cellphone on a vacation

 

LOL!!

 

I was thinking of some smart butt remark. This one is enough though. :D

[AJs Dad]

41 minuits later and the person who called now owes me 204.00 apparently roaming charges were 4.99 per minuit

 

When we were on the Ecstasy in February I saw this guy outside the dining room every night sitting on the stairs just chatting on his cell phone.

 

I would have loved to have seen that guy's expression when the phone bill came in.

 

As hues of blue said, beware of the charges. Your unlimited minutes and roaming and stuff may not apply to international calls (which the cell phone at sea is considered).

[Cruzman]

Saw people on the Liberty last November using cell phones to communicate with travel companions ON the ship. Bet they were shocked when the got the bill!

[Wennfred]

The ship has to be equipped with the new MTN system, if it has that, you will be able to call from out at sea. Once the ship moors or drops anchor, the MTN System shuts down and you are now at the mercy of the Islands system and roaming charges.

 

You still need to have the international plan for what ever carrier you have to call from Mexico and or other Islands.

 

 

 

Fred

[Wennfred]

Saw people on the Liberty last November using cell phones to communicate with travel companions ON the ship. Bet they were shocked when the got the bill!

 

Thats crazy, we use Motorola walkie talkies to find someone and its free :D

[KRUISE KING]

You Can Use It On The Ship But You Better Hang On I Cruised On The Extasy In November And Then Liberty In January Both Combined Bills $2600.00 Made My Company Pay For It.

[ashleycrew]

I personally like to have the option for a call in case of emergency with the kids at home. Did I read somewhere that you could get a cheap prepaid phone and not get slammed so bad on charges?

[UpstateCruizer]

Thats crazy, we use Motorola walkie talkies to find someone and its free :D

 

Fred can you give me more information on these? Which ones do you own, how far is the range? My husband asked if there wasn't something we could get to keep in touch with the boys on the ship. They are 18 & 21 and it would be great if we could have the peace of mind knowing they are only a click away :) Thanks and sorry OP to intrude on this cell phone thread.

[Wennfred]

Fred can you give me more information on these? Which ones do you own, how far is the range? My husband asked if there wasn't something we could get to keep in touch with the boys on the ship..

 

If you are a family and have kids, its a good thing to have these.

 

Motorola Talkabout T5500, Range 5 miles, they work great onboard.

 

Look for them on Ebay.

 

Fred

[Jenna1983]

Just beware...If your phone is turned on and someone calls you no matter if you pick up or not you WILL be charged roaming fees. Verizon is $2.49 a minute.

[Suede]

Fred can you give me more information on these? Which ones do you own, how far is the range? My husband asked if there wasn't something we could get to keep in touch with the boys on the ship. They are 18 & 21 and it would be great if we could have the peace of mind knowing they are only a click away :) Thanks and sorry OP to intrude on this cell phone thread.

 

Crazed.. I got my Cobra walkie talkies at Walmart for 59.99, with a 10 mile range. They come with a charger and they work great.

[bahia puller]

Just beware...If your phone is turned on and someone calls you no matter if you pick up or not you WILL be charged roaming fees. Verizon is $2.49 a minute.

 

 

You are kidding?

If I do not answer a call i still get charged?

 

I was just looking for an emergency way of contact.

[stlrboo]

Best off to call THEM in POC's...! Verizon's charges are $2.49 per minute (I don't know if this is IF you receive a message), but I had to call and have International roaming updated on our phones! :p

 

We will use the Internet Cafe to 'keep in touch', and only make calls 'if absolutely necessary'... :p Not like I can fly back home from the ship anyhow...:rolleyes:

[bahia puller]

Called cingular. If you have your phone off and turn it on even for just a minute. For every missed call you will be charged $2.49. So think of all your missed calls you get from people who forget you are on vacation and what they may cost you. Leaving mine in the car.

[chattiepatty]

I have a Prepaid Tracfone and i used it on the spirit all through the inside passage and in all ports in alaska... i have used it in puerto rico st. thomas.. and i only use one unit per minute. no roaming. could not use it in st. maarten because it is british.. and i didnt have international... that goes for mexico and aruba also... but if you call tracfone you can get international for a fee... dont remember how much... but i didnt used it there.... chattie patty

[UpstateCruizer]

If you are a family and have kids, its a good thing to have these.

 

Motorola Talkabout T5500, Range 5 miles, they work great onboard.

 

Look for them on Ebay.

 

Fred

 

Thanks Fred!! The boys are going to be 19 & 21 but it's still nice to know we can contact them to set up meeting times for meals etc. We'll definatly be looking on Ebay for them! Thanks Suede as well for your input :)

[Marque]

Are the charges mentioned in the postings for roaming charges? I have a non-US phone with Orange in the UK. My wife and I are frequently in the UK and it's less expensive for the UK and roaming is also cheaper in the Caribbean. My reason for asking is that the EU is about to cap roaming charges so calls might be cheaper from the ship if roaming was capped. Any thoughts? Thanks

[dental217]

Didn't I read somewhere that you could rent walkie talkies on the ship?

[hutt1]

Walkie talkies are a great way to keep in touch on the ship.

 

This March we were on the Glory when our daughter called to say her flight to Florida had been cancelled due to a snowstorm. The girls made it to Orlando but the phone bills were over $200, and we kept the calls short. Almost cheaper to take our offspring with us.:)

[skyscanr]

boy , sure glad I got virgin mobile phone here . In the virgin islands and mexico its still just .10 a min to make or take a call and I do not get charged anything if I do not answer the phone .

[Jenna1983]

Yup, if you miss a call. You're charged every time something connects. One charge was from 5:30 am on the day we arrived BACK into Miami. We weren't up, but at 5:30 a voicemail came through on the phone. My mom had forgotten to turn the phone back off. One of our dogs had been sick, which my brother had called about that night in a panic because he didn't know whether or not to take her to the vets and my mom had missed the call. We ended up with $39.90 in charges. All but $5 was from ship calls with barely any minutes.