Was it just my imagination? Differing long distance rates on different ships?

[Tom-n-Cheryl]

When we sailed on the Destiny (9/6/10) I was pleasantly shocked to see the info card in our cabin regarding the new rate for calls (to the U.S.) for $1.99/minute. I thought, WOW - it is finally down to a somewhat reasonable level (competitive with cell phone rates).

 

Upon looking up the info on the Dream last week, I discovered the rate there was the one I was previously familiar with: $6.99/minute.

 

I called someone at the Guest Relations desk who told me that it was, and has been for years, $6.99 across the entire fleet. I told her that I was on the Destiny a couple months ago and it was $1.99. She assured me that I was mistaken...

 

Can anyone shed some light on this for me? Am I mistaken? Was it a trial run on some ships, and I missed the memo (thread on Cruise Critic)? !!

 

Thanks,

 

Tom

[firefly333]

Its some pilot Mach said. We had $0.99 on Ecstasy and it was either $1.99 or $2.99 on Conquest. They are experimenting with the rates I guess to see at what rates they get more business?

 

Anyway .. for whatever reason we can guess, they are experimenting with the rates for sure.

[taillon]

$2.99 a minute on the Conquest last month.

[gargoyle999]

It was either $1.99 or $2.99/min on the Miracle if you called from your cabin phone. Just got off today. Sorry I don't remember exactly but I had no intention of calling even at those rates. ;)

[Bridgette1912]

99. cents a minute on the Paradise a week ago....:)

[vwrestler171]

$0.99 on Destiny the end of September, made it actually affordable to call home and check on the kids

[nbsjcruiser]

It was .99 a minute on our destiny cruise which shocked the heck out of me. We even used it to call home to the kids a couple times.

[Tom-n-Cheryl]

Thanks for the info - at least I know that I'm not going crazy!

 

Those different rates are all across the board, and are bound to cause questions from frequent cruisers (especially when they experienced a lower rate, then it went away on a different ship).

 

As is usually the case, not all parts of Carnival have been made aware of this pilot program - explaining why Guest Relations on the Dream was basically telling me I was wrong...

 

At least they are not experimenting with HIGHER rates! :D

 

Tom

[pe4all]

I hope they get the rates on Dream down from the 6.99 you had to the .99 other ships had before I sail! I would love to check on my elderly mom from the ship, instead of waiting to use my cell at a port.:)

[myangel]

On the Elation last week, the rates were $6.99. I have a Blackberry with Sprint service, and it was $1.69 a minute in Cozumel, and $2.69 a minute in Calica. The texts were .25 cents a text making, and .15 cents receiving, so I think until I see the $.99 and $1.99 a minute, I'll stick with my cell........ for now..........:):)

[*Mach*]

When we sailed on the Destiny (9/6/10) I was pleasantly shocked to see the info card in our cabin regarding the new rate for calls (to the U.S.) for $1.99/minute. I thought, WOW - it is finally down to a somewhat reasonable level (competitive with cell phone rates).

 

Upon looking up the info on the Dream last week, I discovered the rate there was the one I was previously familiar with: $6.99/minute.

 

I called someone at the Guest Relations desk who told me that it was, and has been for years, $6.99 across the entire fleet. I told her that I was on the Destiny a couple months ago and it was $1.99. She assured me that I was mistaken...

 

Can anyone shed some light on this for me? Am I mistaken? Was it a trial run on some ships, and I missed the memo (thread on Cruise Critic)? !!

 

Thanks,

 

Tom

 

 

You're right, Tom. Calls were $2.99/min on the Conquest. They're trying differing price points to see what the market will bear.

:)

[myangel]

Wow, that would be great if the would lower it to $2.99 a minute!!! I think it is pretty fair, and they will still make a profit too. I'm going on the Legend next week, and am eager to see how much it is on there.

[Tom-n-Cheryl]

Well.. with one of the "testing rates" at $.99/minute, my guess is that they still profit at that level.

 

PERHAPS it is not ALL about $... there is a chance that if they price it too low (and still make a $) that the usage would be high enough to tax their system resulting in poor quality service.

 

Tom

[firefly333]

Well.. with one of the "testing rates" at $.99/minute, my guess is that they still profit at that level.

 

PERHAPS it is not ALL about $... there is a chance that if they price it too low (and still make a $) that the usage would be high enough to tax their system resulting in poor quality service.

 

Tom

 

On Conquest the purser's desk said they only have like 5 outside lines you can reach by calling from your cabin .. this was during Ike when no one could get a call out from their cabin.

 

Who knows if they make up a answer or were truthfull.

[zonabelle]

I used the room phone on the Destiny at the end of October this year for $.99 a minute. It was terrific to call home a couple of times, but I still didn't yack a long time. I am going out on the Liberty in a couple of weeks. Does anyone know the current in-room phone charge for Liberty? I am hoping it might also be $.99.

[zonabelle]

Anybody just off the Liberty notice what the in-room prices were for calls back to US?

[Indyrobb]

Just wanted to add that on the Miracle's 11/27 sailing, that the Fun Times listed 2.99 some nights and 6.99 on others. Not sure if it was just old information that hadn't been updated by the Cruise Director, or if they really were different rates those evenings.

[Tom-n-Cheryl]

Just wanted to add that on the Miracle's 11/27 sailing, that the Fun Times listed 2.99 some nights and 6.99 on others. Not sure if it was just old information that hadn't been updated by the Cruise Director, or if they really were different rates those evenings.

 

That's interesting! I wonder which rate was correct, as I can't picture them changing the rates back and forth!!

 

Tom

[Tapi]

$2.99 on the Fascination last week

[zippybossrock]

Just off the Destiny yesterday and it was still 99 cents per minute.

[gsu_paintballer]

Just off the Destiny yesterday and it was still 99 cents per minute.

 

Same for Legend that I got off of today.

[Tom-n-Cheryl]

Same for Legend that I got off of today.

 

At $.99/minute... they are going to get some business!!

 

I hope their systems can handle it.

 

Tom

[Tapi]

Do cruise lines get a cut from calls made from cel phones while the ship is at sea and cel phones are using the ship's network?