satellite phone

[joinitaly]

Has anyone used a satellite phone successfully on a ship? Last time we tried in the Med it didn't work at all. This time we are thinking of trying an "iridium" satellite phone. Does any one know if it will work on a balcony in the middle of the ocean?

[dforeigner]

Has anyone used a satellite phone successfully on a ship? Last time we tried in the Med it didn't work at all. This time we are thinking of trying an "iridium" satellite phone. Does any one know if it will work on a balcony in the middle of the ocean?

 

Which cruise line are you using? Several ships now have satellite linked cellular service and you can use most new cellular phones in Europe. This way you can use your phone from the privacy of your own room (and you also don't get to disturb others while you are on the phone) and not have to carry a funny looking phone with that big antenna sticking out of it. Of course the final choice is yours. I am just giving you an alternative option.

[bob brown]

Unless you have a serious need to stay in constant communications for business purposes, the cost of an Iridium phone and its service fees are over the top, although you can get a signal from anywhere. Follow the suggestion above, or if your ship doesn't offer this sevice, you can still make satellite calls from your cabin phone. Or use the internet, or wait until you stop at a port.

[Bill S]

I used and iridium satellite phone several years ago on an Alaska cruise several times. Our firm bought it and we had a "card" in it, good for an hour or two of calls. I had to be outside, free and clear of any iron/steel-it would not work on the verandah. I went all the way aft on the Lido deck and it worked fine. In port, though, I used a cell phone-much better.