cell phone use docked in Ft. Lauderdale?

[Trish Traveler]

I will not be using any internet plans and I do not have an intl. phone plan.  So after embarking and while waiting to disembark in Ft. Lauderdale, can you use your cell phones on the ship without hooking up to their system? 

[Phxazzcruisers]

Definitely, or I should say depending on your carrier, but we have never had a problem docked at a US port

[jelayne]

When you turn on your phone just check to see that the signal is from your carrier.

Edited March 23, 2019 by jelayne

[1025cruise]

Yes you should. Only place you can't use it is while waiting for immigration.

[awhfy]

Yes, Just make sure that you put the phone into airplane mode prior to leaving the dock or you’ll have a nasty surprise in your phone bill

[Pilgrim70]

2 hours ago, jelayne said:

When you turn on your phone just check to see that the signal is from your carrier.

As long as the signal is from your carrier there should be no problem. As has been said put phone in airplane mode or turn off roaming when leaving port. Mine worked fine in Ft Lauderdale and Key West. 

[volk904]

When in port the ship cellular is off.  Phones tie to local system.  In Fll it will work until you a few miles out to sea.  Just watch your carrier bars and switch it to Airplane mode before it goes to cellular at sea.   

 

Also if you have Att&t it works fine under just like you are home in San Juan or St Thomas US territories.   

 

Just a note Ted if you have ATT you can had the daily international plan for free.  It does not work on the ship but if you turn it on in ports you get unlimited phone, text and data for $10 for that day.   You are only charged if you turn it on and only on days you use it.