Calling Home while on a Cruise, shat's best?

[Kaboochi]

We have verizon cell phones and know we can call home from San Juan. When traveling further south in the Carib we lose that connection, what do you do? Is there a phone card? If so what do you use? I would like to call home without paying a fortune in charges. Suggestions please, Laurie

[Fblack]

Many Caribbean Islands use CDMA (as does Verizon) and not GSM (as in Europe etc.) Verizon will charge you $2.49 a minute from most cruise ships. On land, many places it will be $1.29 or less. I have found that you can get these lower rate land rates for about 45 minutes after you sail from each port. Longer if you sail close to land.

 

Check out the Verizon rates below. Call them for specific Islands. Also call them to confirm you can call back from International locations.

 

<http://mobileoptions.vzw.com/international/global/region/americas.html>

[hermang]

http://www.mobal.com/hpl

 

We bought in to this deal - based on what we read so far it is very cost effective for up to 170 countries. You buy a GSM Worlf phone from these guys - only pay for minutes used.

[Hootsie]

Our iPhones will work in Europe.

[Fblack]

Your IPhone may work in Europe, but not in areas with CDMA service only.

[Kaboochi]

Thnaks for all of the replies, they have helped, Laurie

[ccletzgo]

Many Caribbean Islands use CDMA (as does Verizon) and not GSM (as in Europe etc.) Verizon will charge you $2.49 a minute from most cruise ships. On land, many places it will be $1.29 or less. I have found that you can get these lower rate land rates for about 45 minutes after you sail from each port. Longer if you sail close to land.

 

Check out the Verizon rates below. Call them for specific Islands. Also call them to confirm you can call back from International locations.

 

<http://mobileoptions.vzw.com/international/global/region/americas.html>

 

 

also, to take advantage of the land rates, make sure you know how to switch your phone so that it is not picking up the ships service.