topic Re: Using a Cell Phone and/or iPad While Cruising Outside of the USA in Travel

Using a Cell Phone and/or iPad While Cruising Outside of the USA

JeanLouiseFinch — Wed, 17 Jan 2018 02:47:32 GMT

Any info would be appreciated. I've heard horror stories of people receiving staggering phone bills because they didn't have the right settings or service plan while on a cruise outside the USA. I want to avoid that, but I would still like to be able to text and be accessible in case there are any emergencies at home.

Need some guidance. Thanks.

Re: Using a Cell Phone and/or iPad While Cruising Outside of the USA

patbz — Wed, 17 Jan 2018 03:14:14 GMT

Go to your carrier and ask them this question. I have Verizon and the simple answer is I can't use my phone outside USA. But with most countries Im fine to email or surf (I use Frontier or Google) but not so in China (you can't reach any Google sites). When cruising be aware that most ships have really bad (slow) internet and if you have to pay that can get expensive. There are tricks, ask your fellow passengers how they handle this or ask any crew member where the internet cafes they use when they go ashore (or use any Mc Donalds anywhere). There is a cruise ship phone number you can give those who need to contact you in an emergency (but remember these are ship to shore calls=$$$$$).

Re: Using a Cell Phone and/or iPad While Cruising Outside of the USA

JeanLouiseFinch — Wed, 17 Jan 2018 09:02:33 GMT

Thanks @patbz I should have done that first, before posting my question here. I also have Verizon and won't be able to use either device on board the ship except for the camera and to play back any saved music or videos.

Re: Using a Cell Phone and/or iPad While Cruising Outside of the USA

LouLou2U — Wed, 17 Jan 2018 03:27:08 GMT

Agreed, put your phone on airplane mode and decide how much internet access you need/want and expect to pay accordingly. We tried to go cold turkey but after a rare rainy

day in Jamaca we ended up in a Starbucks with free Wifi. It was funny to see everyone glued to their phones, email, fb etc.

Have fun!

Re: Using a Cell Phone and/or iPad While Cruising Outside of the USA

carlycat — Wed, 17 Jan 2018 03:38:11 GMT

I just came home from a week cruise on royal Caribbean, where I paid 12.99 a day for unlimited internet access, including texting. It was well worth it,

Re: Using a Cell Phone and/or iPad While Cruising Outside of the USA

ALRATIBA — Wed, 17 Jan 2018 03:50:06 GMT

Yes ... even if you get the international thingy with my carrier AT&T ... it still is quite a bill. I was in Italy 3 weeks ... bill was over $600. I was travelling with my SIL ... her bill was worse!

But ... we emailed a lot of pics back as we travelled. We expected big bills.

Re: Using a Cell Phone and/or iPad While Cruising Outside of the USA

EatWell — Wed, 17 Jan 2018 05:34:17 GMT

@JeanLouiseFinch wrote:
Any info would be appreciated. I've heard horror stories of people receiving staggering phone bills because they didn't have the right settings or service plan while on a cruise outside the USA. I want to avoid that, but I would still like to be able to text and be accessible in case there are any emergencies at home.

Need some guidance. Thanks.

@JeanLouiseFinch

How do you text on your iPad?.

Do you use Message? FaceTime?

Re: cell phone. Check with your cell phone carrier.. Get the plan that temporarily allows you to text and//make phone call outside USA without incurring roaming charges. About $30 month for the package. You can discontinue the plan when your back in USA.

Note. the WiFi internet speeds are really slow on cruise ships.

Good luck.

Re: Using a Cell Phone and/or iPad While Cruising Outside of the USA

CinNC — Wed, 17 Jan 2018 06:54:32 GMT

I'm not sure about other cruise lines, but we cruise on Carnival. The only plan we have ever purchased is the "social media" plan for $5 per day per person. It allows us to post to facebook but facebook IM is not available.

Some ships have desktops available to cruise guests who purchase a computer plan but it is still slow as well since you are out in the ocean.

Could you purchase an inexpensive pay as you go phone (just for the cruise), such as Tracfone, that would allow you to use it in other countries? My boyfriend did this when one of his parents was ill. I think he found the phone on Amazon.

Re: Using a Cell Phone and/or iPad While Cruising Outside of the USA

JeanLouiseFinch — Wed, 17 Jan 2018 09:08:21 GMT

@carlycat wrote:
I just came home from a week cruise on royal Caribbean, where I paid 12.99 a day for unlimited internet access, including texting. It was well worth it,

@carlycat I would take that deal too, if offered. Unfortunatly, Verizon told me I cannot use my phone or iPad at all for data or Internet on our ship (Holland America/Nieuw Amsterdam). There is a way I can make a call, if I have to, but the rate is $2.99/minute. I can send/receive texts, but there are charges associated with sending and receiving.

Re: Using a Cell Phone and/or iPad While Cruising Outside of the USA

JeanLouiseFinch — Wed, 17 Jan 2018 09:15:42 GMT

@EatWell wrote:
@JeanLouiseFinch wrote:
Any info would be appreciated. I've heard horror stories of people receiving staggering phone bills because they didn't have the right settings or service plan while on a cruise outside the USA. I want to avoid that, but I would still like to be able to text and be accessible in case there are any emergencies at home.

Need some guidance. Thanks.

@JeanLouiseFinch
How do you text on your iPad?.
Do you use Message? FaceTime?

Re: cell phone. Check with your cell phone carrier.. Get the plan that temporarily allows you to text and//make phone call outside USA without incurring roaming charges. About $30 month for the package. You can discontinue the plan when your back in USA.

Note. the WiFi internet speeds are really slow on cruise ships.

Good luck.

I don't text on my iPad, but sometimes use Facebook messenger. I like watching youtube videos while I riding the exercise bike, it helps the time pass a little quicker. Verizon has something called a Travel Pass, but it will not work on our ship. I have plenty of storage on my iPad so I can download a few and save them in advance. That'll work, if I decide to even take it at all. I can do the same thing with my phone and just deal with the smaller screen, which I think is probably a better idea than the risk of leaving the iPad in our cabin unattended for long periods of time.

Re: Using a Cell Phone and/or iPad While Cruising Outside of the USA

jackthebear — Wed, 17 Jan 2018 12:41:52 GMT

@patbz wrote:
Go to your carrier and ask them this question. I have Verizon and the simple answer is I can't use my phone outside USA. But with most countries Im fine to email or surf (I use Frontier or Google) but not so in China (you can't reach any Google sites). When cruising be aware that most ships have really bad (slow) internet and if you have to pay that can get expensive. There are tricks, ask your fellow passengers how they handle this or ask any crew member where the internet cafes they use when they go ashore (or use any Mc Donalds anywhere). There is a cruise ship phone number you can give those who need to contact you in an emergency (but remember these are ship to shore calls=$$$$$).

you can use your phone outside the US you need to set it up before you leave, my daughter did this while in the UK

there are also messaging apps that work internationally.

However from the rest of the thread sounds as though none of those work on a cruise ship unless you want to pay,

Re: Using a Cell Phone and/or iPad While Cruising Outside of the USA

JeanLouiseFinch — Wed, 17 Jan 2018 12:58:27 GMT

@jackthebear wrote:
@patbz wrote:
Go to your carrier and ask them this question. I have Verizon and the simple answer is I can't use my phone outside USA. But with most countries Im fine to email or surf (I use Frontier or Google) but not so in China (you can't reach any Google sites). When cruising be aware that most ships have really bad (slow) internet and if you have to pay that can get expensive. There are tricks, ask your fellow passengers how they handle this or ask any crew member where the internet cafes they use when they go ashore (or use any Mc Donalds anywhere). There is a cruise ship phone number you can give those who need to contact you in an emergency (but remember these are ship to shore calls=$$$$$).
you can use your phone outside the US you need to set it up before you leave, my daughter did this while in the UK
there are also messaging apps that work internationally.

However from the rest of the thread sounds as though none of those work on a cruise ship unless you want to pay,

@jackthebearAnd even if price was no object some cruise ships, like the one I'm going on, can't get the Internet at all in order to use those aps.

Re: Using a Cell Phone and/or iPad While Cruising Outside of the USA

Lipstickdiva — Wed, 17 Jan 2018 16:41:01 GMT

When my DH and I went on our cruise, we did not subscribe to an international plan. Besides that fact, as soon as we got out into the open waters, we had no cell phone service at all to make a call. We also didn't get the data package through the cruise line. My thought was that I'm on vacation. I have no desire to be glued to my phone. We were advised to put our phones on airplane mode so we wouldn't incur any crazy charges.

When we got to Cozumel, Dh called Verizon and asked about setting something up for the day and we were only charged $5.00 per phone for 24 hours of usage in Mexico. That way I was able to check on my dog, touch base with my sister and text a few photos.

As an aside, we often visit some local Lake Erie islands over the summer with our boat. Sometimes our phone switches to international depending on where we are. That happened last summer when I made a call home and didn't realize it. For that one call, our international plan kicked in and I was charged that same $5.00 fee. Obviously it's not a staggering amount but the call was literally under 1 minute.

Re: Using a Cell Phone and/or iPad While Cruising Outside of the USA

Peaches McPhee — Wed, 17 Jan 2018 19:06:02 GMT

It is not just cruises, it is anyplace outside the US (assuming you live in the US). Check with your carrier. When I last left US on vacation, I was able to activate this temporarily, ahead of time. Not sure what it costs, but it could not have been much, if I don't remember.

Re: Using a Cell Phone and/or iPad While Cruising Outside of the USA

debcakes — Thu, 18 Jan 2018 01:17:40 GMT

I just got back from the Mediterranean. We had free wifi on the ship. I tried to remember to keep it on airplane mode, but didn't always . We could text each other, there were 4 of us. I did not actually make phone calls or use data. I did do a couple of things that might have used data, but not much. My daughter from the UK could use her phone as usual, so we were covered. I was pleasantly surprised to see that my AT&T bill was only 12$ more than usual. I can live with that. When I go to visit my daughter, I change out the SIM card and just have a British number. It is very easy to do and very inexpensive.

If you just keep it on airplane mode and use the internet when wifi is available you should be fine. Have a good trip.

Re: Using a Cell Phone and/or iPad While Cruising Outside of the USA

gacat123 — Thu, 18 Jan 2018 21:07:14 GMT

@JeanLouiseFinch

DH went on Danube River Cruise for 2weeks to escort his Mom.

He put his Cell phone on Airplane Mode at the Atlanta airport just before getting on plane. He kept his cell phone on Airplane Mode until he landed back at the Atlanta airport. He did not get any extra excessive charges. (WE HAVE VERIZON)

He was able to call me using Face Time on his I-PAD. He says both folks need to have an IPAD or I-PHONR with Face Time on it. We just used the voice/audio feature that worked like a phone via his I-PAD to my I-Phone back at the house.

Sometimes he would call with the IPAD/ Face Time and the call would not go thru or I would hear his voice and he could not hear me. This varied with the WiFi signals.

EMAIL worked too so we were able to keep in basic contact communications. <G>

DH would check in with me once or twice a day/eve either with a call or email. The WI-FI signal varied greatly on the river cruise ship. His W-FI fee was included in the cost.

Good Luck and Do let us know how this all works out on your cruise!

Keep Calm and Travel On,

CAT

Re: Using a Cell Phone and/or iPad While Cruising Outside of the USA

JeanLouiseFinch — Fri, 19 Jan 2018 00:19:21 GMT

I wasn't completely satisfied with the information I was given by the Verizon rep the other day. I spoke with a different rep today who discussed the Travel Pass with me. While data/Internet is NOT accessible while on the ship AT ALL, I can use a Travel Pass ($10/day) if we get off the ship and find an Internet cafe or other location with free WI-FI. I've decided to leave the iPad at home and just use my iPhone for everything. Once I get to a location in port where I can use my phone for Internet, the $10 will be charged at the time. I can leave the Travel Pass service on my phone and it will just kick in whenever it's accessed internationally from a location where the service works. That's better than nothing.

Re: Using a Cell Phone and/or iPad While Cruising Outside of the USA

Happiness Is Inside JOB — Fri, 19 Jan 2018 16:35:08 GMT

@carlycat wrote:
I just came home from a week cruise on royal Caribbean, where I paid 12.99 a day for unlimited internet access, including texting. It was well worth it,

I agree with Carlycat. I also budget in internet on cruises ESPECIALLY if I'm floating for a few days. I don't gamble and it can get boring. I don't go to the spas as to "ME" they just cost to much with the tax/fees. Two massages can almost be the internet for a 7 day cruise.

I watch movies, play games, go on pintrest, and my husband has even shopped online while on the cruise.

If you are not a big pool person, gambler, bingo, spa lady, it is REALLY WORTH the cost. I talk my kindles.