gordons4 Posted June 25, 2008 #1 Share Posted June 25, 2008 Hi, We're about to switch cell phone providers, and wondering if anyone has experience with T-Mobile coverage while in ports? Specifically Juneau, Ketchikan, and Sitka. :rolleyes: And while I'm asking, do I understand correctly that we should TURN OFF our cell phones while on board ship to avoid ghastly charges? :eek: Thanks for the help. Sheri Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
littlegap Posted June 26, 2008 #2 Share Posted June 26, 2008 Yes, AT&T worked in all ports and Denali for us without problems. And, yes we had them off while on the ship as we did not want any surprises. :) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hncg57c Posted June 26, 2008 #3 Share Posted June 26, 2008 T-Mobile coverage worked fine in Juneau, Ketchikan, and Sitka. It uses the Cellular One network (if I remember correctly), but you won't be charged the roaming rate. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gordons4 Posted June 26, 2008 Author #4 Share Posted June 26, 2008 Thank you for the replies. You have basically confirmed what T-Mobile told us--but I needed to hear it from fellow CCer's. :D For some reason I trust all you complete strangers more than the complete stranger on the other end of the T-Mobile phone call. :rolleyes: Sheri Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Eremita Posted June 27, 2008 #5 Share Posted June 27, 2008 Sheri, I have T-Mobile too so am glad to see the response you got. Have been over to roll-call lately? :) Eremita Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Skyglider Posted June 27, 2008 #6 Share Posted June 27, 2008 DW and I have T-Mobile prepaid cell phones. They worked fine in Juneau, Sitka and Ketchikan though our only calls were to each other. Skygliders Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sunvalley cruisers Posted July 1, 2008 #7 Share Posted July 1, 2008 Just got back and my t-mobile phone worked in Anchorage, Wasilla, Mt. McKinley Princess Lodge, Denali, Whittier, Juneau, Ketchikan and the day before arriving in Vancouver. Great reception throughout. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
seychellesdream Posted July 1, 2008 #8 Share Posted July 1, 2008 At the risk of souding dumb, why do cell phones need to be turned off on the ship ? is it to avoid roaming charges should someone call you or another reason ? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
KenP Posted June 20, 2016 #9 Share Posted June 20, 2016 Just to update this thread with a more recent experience, I used my t-mobile Simple Choice North American Plan in June 2016 without trouble in Anchorage, Skagway, Juneau and Ketchikan, Alaska . Skagway throughput is known to be sketchy for most carriers, and t-mobile was no exception. 200 MB of data is available monthly for roaming (t-mobile roams in Alaska). Tethering works (hotspot from phone). This was a convenient option for using my chromebook while on ship at port. To my knowledge text and talk are not metered. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mara93 Posted June 21, 2016 #10 Share Posted June 21, 2016 Awesome news, we use T-Mobile & are leaving in just under two weeks. Happy to know I can keep in touch with the family/friends easily. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
alwaysfrantic Posted June 23, 2016 #11 Share Posted June 23, 2016 A phone never has to be turned off....put it in airplane mode and still use your camera and alarms. If I'm not worried about pinging off Canadian towers, do I even need to do that? Verizon charges $2 a day total for a 24 hour period in Canada. I'd thought I could just leave it on. If I don't actually accept Cellular at Sea from the iPhone it isn't going to connect to their network, right? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
OV8 Posted June 29, 2016 #12 Share Posted June 29, 2016 Just to update this thread with a more recent experience, I used my t-mobile Simple Choice North American Plan in June 2016 without trouble in Anchorage, Skagway, Juneau and Ketchikan, Alaska . Skagway throughput is known to be sketchy for most carriers, and t-mobile was no exception. 200 MB of data is available monthly for roaming (t-mobile roams in Alaska). Tethering works (hotspot from phone). This was a convenient option for using my chromebook while on ship at port. To my knowledge text and talk are not metered. Thank you for this update! Was wondering if the TMO coverage map was true or not. Does anyone know how the GPS map acquisiton (i.e. download the route before starting nav) is with TMO in Alaska? Or do I have to load the local maps offline first? Or do I need to get a standalone GPS? We plan to do some self guided excursions via rental cars & was thinking about GPS usage. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
frugaltravel Posted July 1, 2016 #13 Share Posted July 1, 2016 You don't need GPS in Alaska. So few roads. It is easy to find your way around the port towns. Anchorage is pretty easy to get around, even for first-time visitors (basically north-south and east-west streets) and once you get outside Anchorage, there is one road north, one road south and one road east. Why use a GPS for three roads?!? :D Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
xlxo Posted July 1, 2016 #14 Share Posted July 1, 2016 Or do I have to load the local maps offline first?Or do I need to get a standalone GPS? We plan to do some self guided excursions via rental cars & was thinking about GPS usage. I prefer my standalone Garmin for the car. Quicker accuracy, voice recognition, windshield mount, 12v cord ready to go and built-in dashcam.https://www.amazon.com/Garmin-DriveAssist-50-NA-LMT/dp/B01A1HL79E/ref=sr_1_1 When my Garmin is not handy.... I like Maps.Me for downloaded maps. Great on a cruise ship when I'm wondering where I am and I'm away from the information screens. Good for walking around town and I don't want to pay for roaming charges. https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.mapswithme.maps.pro https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/maps.me-offline-map-navigation/id510623322?mt=8 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
KenP Posted July 1, 2016 #15 Share Posted July 1, 2016 Thank you for this update!Was wondering if the TMO coverage map was true or not. Does anyone know how the GPS map acquisiton (i.e. download the route before starting nav) is with TMO in Alaska? Or do I have to load the local maps offline first? Or do I need to get a standalone GPS? We plan to do some self guided excursions via rental cars & was thinking about GPS usage. I've done it with all three ways: with paper maps, with Garmin, and with Google Maps on phone. I prefer google maps on the phone with a paper backup, because it means one less device to carry. It comes in handy in port for walking navigation. Downloading a map for offline use is an excellent idea. I forgot to do it for Alaska, so the maps just loaded slower (and used t-mobile roaming data) but did do it in advance of a previous trip to Grand Cayman. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tinybiny Posted July 2, 2016 #16 Share Posted July 2, 2016 I was just there with Tmobile. It worked in all those ports as well as Vancouver and sailing in and out of Canada. I had no extra charges. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
OV8 Posted July 15, 2016 #17 Share Posted July 15, 2016 I was just there with Tmobile. It worked in all those ports as well as Vancouver and sailing in and out of Canada. I had no extra charges. tinybiny - did you go far outside those Alaskan towns on any excursions whether self or guided? Wondering if the signal is only good near town & that once you leave the town borders it to sketchy. We're planning some self guided excursions & wanted to see if the smartphones are enough to guide us. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
OV8 Posted July 15, 2016 #18 Share Posted July 15, 2016 (edited) I prefer my standalone Garmin for the car. Quicker accuracy, voice recognition, windshield mount, 12v cord ready to go and built-in dashcam.https://www.amazon.com/Garmin-DriveAssist-50-NA-LMT/dp/B01A1HL79E/ref=sr_1_1 When my Garmin is not handy.... I like Maps.Me for downloaded maps. Great on a cruise ship when I'm wondering where I am and I'm away from the information screens. Good for walking around town and I don't want to pay for roaming charges. https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.mapswithme.maps.pro https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/maps.me-offline-map-navigation/id510623322?mt=8 Thakns for the tips about that app xlxo. Downloaded offline maps is the best safety net when there is no data access to load the maps on the fly as most phones do. Edited July 15, 2016 by OV8 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mara93 Posted July 15, 2016 #19 Share Posted July 15, 2016 Got back this week & T-Mobile worked in all ports. It's iffy, mostly 3G service & it fades in some places as you move/travel around. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hollon Posted July 17, 2016 #20 Share Posted July 17, 2016 Hi, We're about to switch cell phone providers, and wondering if anyone has experience with T-Mobile coverage while in ports? Specifically Juneau, Ketchikan, and Sitka. :rolleyes: And while I'm asking, do I understand correctly that we should TURN OFF our cell phones while on board ship to avoid ghastly charges? :eek: Thanks for the help. Sheri Not that you asked, but T-Mobile said you can use it in Canada and Mexico as well w/ their plan for free - I'm thinking about switching over, and it's nice to hear what other people think :) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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