Prepaid International Sim card usage onboard

[plan2travel]

We will soon be on the Shadow in Australia. Have a quadband phone for emergency use and planned to buy a prepaid international sim card. Wondering if anyone has experience using these cards. Will I be able to receive/make calls on the ship? At a minimum, believe I can make and receive calls in port when I can get a signal. Thanks.

[scandun]

I bought one on a flight back from a cruise so haven't used it yet. I shall use it next month but it will be a river cruise. In case you buy the same and use it onboard the Shadow, would like to hear how it works. Mine is from www.worldsim.com (http://www.worldsim.com) Thanks.

[freddie]

p2t - I've used my quadband phone with an international SIM card on Silver Whisper in the Middle East with no problem, when we were in port and therefore near to local cell towers. When you're at sea, you can use your regular mobile phone through the Wireless Maritime Service, which is installed on all Silversea ships: http://www.cellularatsea.com/shipsinservice.htm#silversea That link will also show you which cell phone services are part of the system. Verizon and ATT charge about $2.50 per minute for calls over the Wireless Maritime Service system. That ain't cheap; but it's a lot less than calling direct from the ship using its satellite system. When in port, the Wireless Maritime Service is switched off, allowing you to connect to local cell towers using your international SIM card. Cheers, Fred

[plan2travel]

Thanks for the replies. Appreciate it!