Cell phones on cruises?

[Furner]

Just thought my friendly fellow members on scubaboard could provide some insight into the use of cell phones in the carribean islands area.
basically, will they work at all? I have heard rumors of them working on some boats (I am sailing on the Coral Princess, Princess Cruise Line). Obviously, I can expect big charges, but I am only seeing phone calls coming in if something is wrong with the database I maintain. So if I get a call, itll be company covered.
Let me know what you think
Thanks

 

[Jim Baldwin]

Furmer,

My wife and I have done three cruises out of New Orleans and about an hour after we clear the mouth of the Mississippi River we no longer get a signal. Same thing for being on the islands. We have Alltel and they might work with another system.

In Cozumel I can get a signal but can't send or receive. I didn't get anything in Cayman or Jamicia. There were internet cafes on all the ships that we used and it's just a few bucks an hour so this would be the cheapest way to check on business. You can make ship to shore calls just have plenty of room on your plastic.

Jim

 

[Furner]

Furmer,

My wife and I have done three cruises out of New Orleans and about an hour after we clear the mouth of the Mississippi River we no longer get a signal. Same thing for being on the islands. We have Alltel and they might work with another system.

In Cozumel I can get a signal but can't send or receive. I didn't get anything in Cayman or Jamicia. There were internet cafes on all the ships that we used and it's just a few bucks an hour so this would be the cheapest way to check on business. You can make ship to shore calls just have plenty of room on your plastic.

Jim

Jim,
I also have Alltel. So I guess if your phone wont work, mine wont either. Ill have to direct them to email or maybe take a chance at text messaging.
I have been warned that in Mexico, by using your phone, "hackers" will sometimes steal your vital info and spoof your cell phone, and run up your bill.

 

[Natasha]

I just came off a cruise out of New Orleans 3 weeks ago. We bounced a verizon signal off the rigs and were able to talk 36 hours before we docked back in New Orleans.
So when you get close to the rigs give it a shot.

 

[Quarrior]

Cell phones work, but, the international standard is GSM, most US cell phones are CDMA. This is why US based phones do not work in most cases. There is one company that sells GSM phones, but I cannot remember the name of them.

 

[lostboy]

TMobile has GSM phones, but the particular phone has to be able to access different freqs. On the BlueBerries (blackberries /w blue case), you have to remove the personality card and restart. One of our guys travels to the Caribbean regularly with his BB, and can send/receive email & calls. BTW, roaming charges can be cruel, however...

Check with TMobile and ask them where they support service...

jwh

Cell phones work, but, the international standard is GSM, most US cell phones are CDMA. This is why US based phones do not work in most cases. There is one company that sells GSM phones, but I cannot remember the name of them.

 

[Furner]

i have a CDMA phone, so, i will check frequently and report back in a few weeks

 

[Twisticles]

As mentioned, without a GSM phone you don't stand much chance, even with roaming capability - seems the US is the only CDMA nation on the planet

For info, NCL is rolling out AT&T access on all its ships, there are only a couple at the moment but every ship will have roaming-rate AT&T access within the next 18 months or so.

 

[mike_s]

One other thing... most US Based cell providers automatically "block" the use of their numbers in forgeign countries. Why? Fear of Fraud and charges. When I used to travel, I had to get my cell provider to "un-block" it so it could be used in Mexico. This is very common according to our corporate sales rep. The local companies here just don't want to bother with the roaming charges from other countries unless they have to.

Also.. Although your phone won't work well in other countries, I've used it several times while 12 to 15 miles out to sea on a regular boat. I've also used it on a cruise boat the night before we returned to Ft. Lauderdale and we were south of the Florida Keys. I had to go outside and an upper deck to use it, but it did work. I have no clue how far off land we were, but I couldn't see land (and got no roaming charges for being out of the country). We didn't dock until almost 12 hours later.

Hope that helps.

 

[diversteve]

Just thought my friendly fellow members on scubaboard could provide some insight into the use of cell phones in the carribean islands area.
basically, will they work at all? I have heard rumors of them working on some boats (I am sailing on the Coral Princess, Princess Cruise Line). Obviously, I can expect big charges, but I am only seeing phone calls coming in if something is wrong with the database I maintain. So if I get a call, itll be company covered.
Let me know what you think
Thanks

My Nokia CDMA phone worked on Grand Cayman. Roaming thru Cable & Wireless to AT&T. So I'm guessing yours will too if you're stopping there. I'd guess the same would be true of Nassau, Freeport, St. Thomas and San Juan.