Cell phone use while onboard and in Hawaii

[Crusing Bob]

Wondering if you are charged at sea rates when onboard Zaandam going to and from Hawaii but especially while onboard in the Hawaiian islands area. We use ATT.

Thanks

[jtl513]

Wondering if you are charged at sea rates when onboard Zaandam going to and from Hawaii but especially while onboard in the Hawaiian islands area. We use ATT.

ThanksThe ship's "cell tower" should be shut off when in any port. I don't know if it's turned on again going from one HI port to another.

[NMLady]

Whenever the ship is at sea or underway entering/leaving a port, the ship's cell tower will be used and your carrier will charge you $2.49 a minute for using 'cellular at sea' service.

However, in port the ship's cell service will be turned off and your carrier's plan and rates will be in effect.

We have Verizon nationwide plan and when in Kona Hawaii I sat out at the ship's pool area making phone calls and wasn't charged anything except minutes.

[RlrCstr]

I agree with NMLady. I have taken this cruise 3 times. I lost my signal almost as soon as we were underway, and did not get it back until we
were in Hawaii. I used my phone (Verizon) all the time while on the islands and only had the minutes, with no extra charges. I didn't try in-between
islands.

[liketraveling]

I have ATT and I only used my phone in port and wasn't charged anything but my regular charges.

There were people using their cell phones at Sea.

Gail

[azrose]

My round trips to/from Hawaii with Verizon, the charges were $2.49 per minute while at sea (when I could get service)....and on land was "included" in my monthly minutes. But, they are serious about that 2.40---our bill was and "extra" $200.00 because we talked at sea!! At least my boyfriend said "it was worth it"....Next time, phone is going off until I hit land :D

[dutchgal46]

Wondering if you are charged at sea rates when onboard Zaandam going to and from Hawaii but especially while onboard in the Hawaiian islands area. We use ATT.

Thanks

Bob,

When DW and I went to Hawaii in 2008, I made several phone calls in port at Hilo while on board the ship and was charged for the calls. I actually had $90 worth of calls during the time we were there but DW called Verizon and they took part of it off our bill after she talked to them. It was very much worth it though as I got a job interview and later a job during the calls. Hope you have fun on your cruise and maybe we can sail with you again some day.


Harlan

[phaeton]

http://www.cellularatsea.com/crew_services_services.htm

CrewzFöne - GSM Mobile Phone Prepaid Service for Crew Members at Sea
On ships that we have installed our service, crew members can now make and receive calls on their mobile phones at normal international roaming rates. With the introduction of CrewzFöne service, crew members can also make and receive calls, as well as send and receive text messages at special rates available only to crew members while at sea. This service requires an unlocked GSM phone, a CrewzFöne SIM card and a PIN (both available onboard).


[/URL] [URL="http://cruiseforums.cruisecritic.com/cruise_line_inquiry_form.htm"] (http://cruiseforums.cruisecritic.com/crew_inquiry_form.htm)

[serendipity1499]

Whenever the ship is at sea or underway entering/leaving a port, the ship's cell tower will be used and your carrier will charge you $2.49 a minute for using 'cellular at sea' service.

However, in port the ship's cell service will be turned off and your carrier's plan and rates will be in effect.

We have Verizon nationwide plan and when in Kona Hawaii I sat out at the ship's pool area making phone calls and wasn't charged anything except minutes.

I bold-ed the part of your post about leaving & entering a port, only because your post got me thinking about a call I made several weeks ago....

It's been my understanding that a ship's tower can't be turned on until it is three miles out to sea & must be turned off when it is within the three mile limit on entering a port..

I've had a Virgin Mobile plan for years, which costs 25 cents a minute for the first 10 minutes & 5 cents thereafter..It gets topped off every 90 days & is only used in my car for emergencies...he plan is no longer available to new customers. We took this phone on our Bermuda cruise..

We left the pier in NYC on Aug 15, at 4:45 & just as we were sailing by the Statue of Liberty at 5:14, I called our Friends to remind them of the thrill we all had in 1995 when we sailed our boats past the Statue of Liberty, into NYC Harbor..Also wanted to thank them for the lovely flowers/balloons they sent for my Birthday..Just double checked our account activity & that call only cost me $1.00 for four minutes..

According to this article the ships tower only activates when it's out of the closest land based cell towers range..:

http://www.suite101.com/content/facts-about-cell-phones-on-cruise-ships-a136461

Cheers....:)Betty

[Crusing Bob]

Thanks everyone for all the details. I certainly am careful about racking up charges with my cell because we pay enough as it is with my wife's Iphone, text plan and my phone with no texting and not an Iphone.

Harlan, thanks for commenting and hoping we can meet again. We are back on the Westerdam next October for the Southern Carib. again.

Bob