Phone Cards On HAL Ships

[spcl4cs_gal]

Does anyone know if you can use phone cards on the ship that would bill the call to your home number...calling cards I guess they are called. Bell here in Canada has them available for customers but no one seems to know if they can be used onboard. I'm not interested in purchasing a HAL calling card for $25 when I could use my own.

[RaffinOrganGrinders]

As far as I know, when you pickup the ships phone in your suite and connect for a call using the ship to shore communication system, via satellite uplink, you are ready and willing to pay the ships set fee for your call. They do not accept third party calling cards as they are not using traditional telecommunication connections for your call home.

[Leslieswiger]

I would try and give Karen Merriam a call at Ship Services. 1-800-541-1576 or KMerriam2@HollandAmerica.com

She has been very helpful with me and we feel she's the best person to talk with. She gets things done.:rolleyes:

[Ellya]

No, you cannot use your own calling card on board ship. You must purchase HAL's. You might also have problems in ports since the pay phones near the port do not accept pre paid calling cards either (you must give them your credit card number or a calling card that is not pre paid).

[spcl4cs_gal]

No, you cannot use your own calling card on board ship. You must purchase HAL's. You might also have problems in ports since the pay phones near the port do not accept pre paid calling cards either (you must give them your credit card number or a calling card that is not pre paid).

My calling card is not pre-paid....the call is billed to my home number.

[Ellya]

Then it is my understanding that you could use the port pay phones (although they do not state their rates), but you still would not be able to use the ship's phones unless you paid the ship to shore rates or used the calling card they sell.