Can i use my phone on a cruise ship out at sea
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I had TMo for many years and enjoyed the included international roaming in many different countries. Royal Caribbean’s new app service is not yet available fleetwide. The Disney Cruise Line Navigator App has an onboard chat feature.
Your Cell, Texts & Wifi On A Cruise: This Is What You Need To Know
Through the wi-fi offered on your cruise ship, you should be able to connect and use your phone just as you would on land. This includes web browsing, messaging, and calls through wi-fi. Just keep in mind that you might have to upgrade to the highest-tier service in order to get full benefits of the internet like streaming and video calls.
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Posted: Fri, 06 Oct 2023 07:00:00 GMT [source]
Cruises From Miami, Florida
I don't know if it was an acceptable experience because it is very slow. Just don't text or make phone calls and there are no international data charges. Make sure you call and tell them to turn off incoming calls and texts and you will not have any charges. But please call T-Mobile to verify this before trying it. Some apps like WhatsApp also let you make calls, chat, and even chat via video. In other words, if you use the ship’s cellular service, it’s considered international roaming and will cost you quite a bit of money.
Can I access cruise-specific phone plans and costs?
These plans charge a premium for use through the ship's satellite connection. If you’re embarking on one of our cruises from Miami and you don’t live within driving distance to the port, there’s a good chance you’re flying into Miami International Airport (MIA). Upon landing, you can get local information at the airport, where you’ll also find a bank, post office, pharmacy, baggage storage, ATM, and car rental companies. Funny thing happened after about 5 days at sea and no outside contact- one of my table mate’s phones actually rang.
Family Cruise Companion
Once you're in port, double-check whether your phone is connecting via the ship or the local land-based cell tower. Depending on the port, there might not be land-based reception. Cruise versus land-based roaming charges differ, with land-based reception often the less-expensive option. Once you've drifted away from the nearest land-based cell tower, however, your phone will go into roaming mode. We're not talking about your average international roaming charges, but extra-expensive satellite roaming charges.
Streaming content requires a substantial amount of data. If you intend to stream, you should use a cruise ship wifi package for that rather than rely on your cellular data. Fast forward 10 years, and things have improved so vastly from those earlier days. Can you expect the same level of internet service and communication access that you have at home? But when compared to how things were in the past, improvements are marked and stunning.
Can you use your cellphone on a cruise?
Note that some apps consume more data than others, so you may want to carefully monitor or disable data hogs. Take a close look at any games that have heavy graphic and require an internet connection. And any apps that center on navigation, weather or news. T-Mobile offers cruise packages for specific cruise lines and ships. You can find a search tool on the T-Mobile website that allows you to determine whether your specific cruise is covered.
Understand that this is only for service while onshore in a port. When you are on the ship and in the middle of the ocean, you will need to use the ship’s wi-fi or cellular service. It may be worth it to use just one service or another instead of paying for both during your cruise. Cellular Service in Ports of CallIn port (and off of the ship’s cellular or wi-fi service), you phone will work just as if you had taken a flight to another country. That is to say you will be reliant on international cellular services.
This was at a table for 10 and we all just stopped and were shocked that someone from the outside world was calling! The gentleman left the table to take the call and when he returned we all wanted to know how it happened. His friend had called him using What’s App and it worked. As I found out later, several of these new apps use much less bandwidth and can actually work even on a ship with WiFi issues. We also use Facetime (for voice and video calls) with no problem.
Possibly you need to stay in touch with folks at work? Or, perhaps you want to stay in contact with family and friends back home. Whether just checking in, or because you like to keep up a steady engagement in your social media accounts. And, access to wifi on a cruise can also facilitate your ability to stay in contact with your family members and travel companions while on board ship. If you’re able to connect to the internet through a wifi connection – whether on your phone or a tablet – usually there is no additional or noticeable charge.
I have been cruising since 2004 and have sailed on dozens of cruises all over the world. As the creator of this website, I want to help families plan fun cruises free of stress and filled with adventure! If you want to communicate with your travel companions, this is a great convenient way to do so, provided they all have wifi access. Using WhatsApp as an example, you can send regular narrative messages, text photos and videos, and to some extent, you may be able to have a video call. For more insights into MSC cruise wifi, check out our review of MSC Seaside.
For more explanation of the difference between cellular access and wifi access, check out this explanation from PC Mag. Turn off data roaming and international data roaming. Only turn back on when on shore and if you have a suitable plan. For time in port, Verizon offers TravelPass and your normal plan will be extended for $10 per day per line and works in most Caribbean destinations. My thing with T-Mobile is the great international plan for when you are off the ship. Both the above options do not cover time off the ship.
Nearly all major cruise lines sailing today have ship-wide Wi-Fi available. Cruise to the Caribbean aboard Celebrity Silhouette or Celebrity Summit, luxurious ships where you’ll enjoy impeccable service and endless entertainment. Savor world-class cuisine in our onboard restaurants, enjoy exhilarating performances at our state-of-the-art theater, and rest and recharge at The Spa. Spend your days lounging under the sun, snorkeling in crystal-clear water teeming with fish, and exploring historic architecture and forts.
But, you need to take care of a few housekeeping items when you board a cruise ship to avoid those blessings becoming stealth curses. Royal Caribbean is actively developing group chat and one-to-one chat features. They are currently available on a limited basis on select ships.
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