cell service rates on the getaway ?

[horseymike]

Anyone know what the cell phone rates are on the getaway?

outgoing calls, texts, incoming calls ,texts ?

[MandyMommyof2]

Hi Horseymike :) I think to be on the safe side, I would contact your service provider.

[kchiumento]

More than the cost of your cruise. Check with your carrier. We thankfully left our phones in airplane mode but my sister didn't and she got a bill of several hundred dollars for roaming charges and international fees.

[swilliams1660]

I think Verizon is 2.49/minute for calls and 50cents to send a text.

[mking8288]

Voice callinng on the ship sailing the high seas are usually not the root cause of skyhigh phone bills, often delayed by a month between carriers - rather the unintended background use of cellular data on one's smartphone, on sky high (satellite relayed, on the ship) roaming rates, billed to the carrier - that's something like 75% or more of the mobile phone users.

 

An incoming & outgoing short text message pair would cost about $1 on average or $3 to $5 for a one minute voice call, but each Facebook picture upload or download could end up costing $100 each, in USD.

 

One recommendation I always made is for non-tech savy folks to temporary switch over to a non-smart phone that does not use/require data to function, so that you can make voice call & get simple text messages, even when it is at roaming rates - as they aren't really that expensive if you plan & keep it short, it's about the cost of a drink on the ship these days - to keep in touch daily with a quick "checking in" call.

 

The rates, varied by plans & details are complex, and they are charged & set by one's own cellular carrier, the ship's satellite tower and provider only acting as the roaming agent/partner on their behalf - AT&T Wireless has material interests as a partner in "Cellular At Sea" so that translate into generally higher rates for CDMA users such as Verizonwireless.

 

For those who plan to and/or "need" to use cellular services on the ship and in "foreign" ports not covered by one's own "home" plans - please do your own due diligence and call/check with your own provider about details, coverage, exclusions and costs, etc. to avoid a $950 USD surprise billing add-on (or higher) after 7 nights.

 

VZW used to have a certain cruise ship data plan for NCL ships. AFAIK, it is NO longer available & discontinued - everything is at full roaming $$$$$ rates, data is charged by the kB (not MB) used on the ship & in non-US ports.

Edited June 16, 2015 by mking8288

[horseymike]

Thanks Everyone for your responses. We do not cruise often and the rates change perodically especially for the roaming, ect...appreciate all of the information.