PippenBooBoo Posted February 15, 2017 #1 Share Posted February 15, 2017 Hi! My daughter is now coming with me on my april trip but the time off school means she will need to do school work while on the ship. She uses an app to keep up with her assignments that require wifi etc so my question is: I have an iPhone and sprint is our carrier so I can create a hotspot. Using their global roaming plan can she get the wifi from me? I know it's just 2g (free) but I can buy 3G for WAY less than NCLs wifi packages. Would this work? PS- I tried calling sprint but every time I call I get a person that doesn't speak English well so It's not very helpful. Sent from my iPhone using Forums Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lmm1967 Posted February 15, 2017 #2 Share Posted February 15, 2017 You won't be close to towers in the middle of the ocean - no reception, no internet, no wifi hotspot. Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PippenBooBoo Posted February 15, 2017 Author #3 Share Posted February 15, 2017 So the hotspot is useless with cellar data? Sent from my iPhone using Forums Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lmm1967 Posted February 15, 2017 #4 Share Posted February 15, 2017 If you have no service there is no cellular data. Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PippenBooBoo Posted February 15, 2017 Author #5 Share Posted February 15, 2017 I just assumed there would be reception with Sprints global roaming deal. So that's not necessarily the case? Sent from my iPhone using Forums Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pieshops Posted February 15, 2017 #6 Share Posted February 15, 2017 at sea the only thing you will connect to is the ships internet and be charged as such, at port it is different but make sure you are hooked to non ship internet while in port Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PippenBooBoo Posted February 15, 2017 Author #7 Share Posted February 15, 2017 So won't be able to use my phone at all at sea? Not even to text? Sprints website is very misleading if this is true. I plugged NCLs Breakaway on their global roaming page and it says that text and 2g data was available free. Voice $.20 per minute. So I assumed there would be reception. Sent from my iPhone using Forums Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dexddd Posted February 15, 2017 #8 Share Posted February 15, 2017 You are getting a bunch of mis-information. Your phone has the ability to connect to the BA's cellular at sea (or whatever it is called) tower. I've used Verizon on NCL ships (POA doesn't have a cell tower) with my iphone and have enabled hot spot on the phone to pair with a computer. The BA was o.k. when we went in 2015. Spirit was pretty good as well Dec. 2015. Gem 2016 was horrible and would not be reliable. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dexddd Posted February 15, 2017 #9 Share Posted February 15, 2017 So won't be able to use my phone at all at sea? Not even to text? Sprints website is very misleading if this is true. I plugged NCLs Breakaway on their global roaming page and it says that text and 2g data was available free. Voice $.20 per minute. So I assumed there would be reception. Sent from my iPhone using Forums Yes, you can text. You will be charged by Sprint for whatever their rates are. I have Verizon and they used to have packages of so many talk, text, and data but they did away with that recently so all is price per usage. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PippenBooBoo Posted February 15, 2017 Author #10 Share Posted February 15, 2017 UGH! So I CAN create a hotspot on my phone using my phones cellular data provided by Sprints global roaming and my daughter can tap her iPad into it? You've done this? Sent from my iPhone using Forums Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lmm1967 Posted February 15, 2017 #11 Share Posted February 15, 2017 You're not really connecting directly to your carrier. You are connecting to the ship - which then uplinks via satellite then cross connected via another third party to your carrier - this, as it appears to me, may cause you to incur international roaming charges. Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dexddd Posted February 15, 2017 #12 Share Posted February 15, 2017 UGH! So I CAN create a hotspot on my phone using my phones cellular data provided by Sprints global roaming and my daughter can tap her iPad into it? You've done this? Sent from my iPhone using Forums Yes, I've done it with Iphone and I have the hot spot as part of my package - not sure how Sprint works. Be aware though that either ship's wi-fi or cellular can be spotty. At home you may be used to no disconnects but don't be surprised if you get disconnected at sea. I've also used a Verizon jetpack on ships - that typically works better than trying to pair with phone for whatever reason. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dexddd Posted February 15, 2017 #13 Share Posted February 15, 2017 You're not really connecting directly to your carrier. You are connecting to the ship - which then uplinks via satellite then cross connected via another third party to your carrier - this, as it appears to me, may cause you to incur international roaming charges. Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk So we go from no cellular tower to connect with at sea to now you are connecting to the ship? From our experience there are no "international roaming charges" but that is with Verizon. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lmm1967 Posted February 15, 2017 #14 Share Posted February 15, 2017 So we go from no cellular tower to connect with at sea to now you are connecting to the ship? From our experience there are no "international roaming charges" but that is with Verizon. Sorry I responded at all or tried to clarify. Enjoy your day Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PippenBooBoo Posted February 15, 2017 Author #15 Share Posted February 15, 2017 So we go from no cellular tower to connect with at sea to now you are connecting to the ship? From our experience there are no "international roaming charges" but that is with Verizon. Thank you so much for your input. According to sprint 2g is free but really slow. I can buy a package through them to upgrade to 3G/500mb. I forget how much this costs but it is way less than what NCL charges. I prefer to have a plan in place before I vacation to eases my anxiety but this looks like a case of "I'll find out when I get there". Side note- I'm not really sure why people on these boards answer questions that they don't have first hand knowledge of. I see it a lot here. It's very frustrating for the OP. Sent from my iPhone using Forums Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
xriva Posted February 15, 2017 #16 Share Posted February 15, 2017 I have Sprint and I have used Global Roaming, but only while in port. On the ship, I just use the ship's WiFi and turn my cellular off to avoid roaming. In port, it works fairly well, depending on the country's local carrier and coverage. I have used data and text, and have not been charged. My experience with Sprint is that the coverage chart by country is accurate but I never searched for a ship. The ship WiFi is decent but can be slow if there are a lot of people connecting - but cellular and WiFi traffic will use the same satellite link to get to a station on land (I think). Sent from my iPad using Forums mobile app Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Crusin6 Posted February 15, 2017 #17 Share Posted February 15, 2017 My suggestion is to A. Take the free wifi if that is offered to you as a perk and then pay the difference on the ship to increase it to unlimited if you think you need it B. If free wifi isn't offered then buy what you think you need from the ship. You can always increase it if needed C. Only use a wifi only iPad or laptop for this and just forget about using your phone unless you want hundreds of dollars in data charges D. Use the free wifi in the ports but as posted make sure you aren't picking up the ships signal Sent from my iPad using Forums Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Crusin6 Posted February 15, 2017 #18 Share Posted February 15, 2017 Thank you so much for your input. According to sprint 2g is free but really slow. I can buy a package through them to upgrade to 3G/500mb. I forget how much this costs but it is way less than what NCL charges. I prefer to have a plan in place before I vacation to eases my anxiety but this looks like a case of "I'll find out when I get there". Side note- I'm not really sure why people on these boards answer questions that they don't have first hand knowledge of. I see it a lot here. It's very frustrating for the OP. Sent from my iPhone using Forums I will give you some advice here.... Do not use any device that can work via wifi AND data Use a wifi on,y device so you know you won't be getting a massive data bill I purchased my wifi iPad mini specifically for my Jan 2015 cruise Best money ever spent Borrow one if you must and just pay for ships wifi Sent from my iPad using Forums Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cb at sea Posted February 15, 2017 #19 Share Posted February 15, 2017 As said, if there are no "towers", then there's no reception. Pretty sure when they say "global", they mean on land that has towers! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Marine Mom Posted February 15, 2017 #20 Share Posted February 15, 2017 So won't be able to use my phone at all at sea? Not even to text? Sprints website is very misleading if this is true. I plugged NCLs Breakaway on their global roaming page and it says that text and 2g data was available free. Voice $.20 per minute. So I assumed there would be reception. Sent from my iPhone using Forums I have sprint and last year on both the Breakaway and the Dawn I was able to text another Iphone (IMessage) alot and it cost me nothing. I couldn't text to a phone other than the iphone as the text's wouldn't go through. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
nolatravelgirl Posted February 15, 2017 #21 Share Posted February 15, 2017 I just reviewed the Sprint FAQ on Global Roaming and did not see where the Breakaway is included on the free Global Roaming. https://www.sprint.com/landings/international-value-roaming/index.html?ECID=vanity:globalroaming about half way down you can see what destinations are included Sprint Global Roaming Included Destinations: Afghanistan Aland Islands Albania Alderney Andorra Anguilla Antigua and Barbuda Argentina Armenia Aruba Australia Austria Azerbaijan Azores Bahamas Bahrain Bangladesh Barbados Belarus Belgium Belize Bermuda Bolivia Bonaire Brazil British Virgin Islands Bulgaria Cambodia Canada Canary Islands Cayman Islands Chile Colombia Congo, Dem. Rep. of Costa Rica Croatia Curacao Cyprus Czech Republic Denmark Dominica Dominican Republic Easter Island Ecuador El Salvador England Estonia Faroe Islands Fiji Finland France French Guiana Georgia Germany Ghana Gibraltar Greece Greenland Grenada Guadeloupe Guam Guatemala Guernsey Guyana Haiti Honduras Hong Kong Hungary Iceland India Indonesia Ireland Isle of Man Israel Italy Jamaica Japan Jersey Jordan Kazakhstan Kenya Laos Latvia Liechtenstein Lithuania Luxembourg Macau Macedonia Madeira Malaysia Malta Republic Marie Galante Martinique Mayotte Mexico Montenegro Montserrat Myanmar Nauru Netherlands New Zealand Nicaragua Nigeria Northern Ireland Northern Mariana Islands Norway Palestinian Territories Panama Papua New Guinea Pakistan Paraguay Peru Philippines Poland Portugal Qatar Reunion Romania Russia Rwanda St. Barthelemy Saint Kitts and Nevis Saint Lucia Saint Martin Saint Vincent and the Grenadines Saipan Samoa San Marino Sark Scotland Senegal Serbia Singapore Slovakia Slovenia South Africa South Korea Spain Sri Lanka Suriname Svalbard Sweden Switzerland Taiwan Tajikistan Tanzania Thailand Tonga Trinidad and Tobago Turkey Turks and Caicos Islands United Arab Emirates United Kingdom Uruguay Vanuatu Vatican City Venezuela Wales Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Loonbeam Posted February 15, 2017 #22 Share Posted February 15, 2017 Okay.. To clarify.. Sprint Global Roaming (and similar packages on other lines) ONLY applies when connecting to a Sprint or partner network overseas). Cruise ships are not part of this system. Some carriers may offer a cruise ship package, I do not think Sprint is one. Any device, phone or otherwise, connected to the ship's cell at sea system will incur charges from that system which will be passed on to your carrier and to you. These will be expensive.. Sample rates - $.50 to send a text, $.02 per kb of data sent or received (to put that in perspective, a song downloaded is about 3MB which could be about $40.00. Voice $2.50 for minute. This is for an AT+T user on Celebrity, NCL or RCCL as of 2015 (I didn't search that hard). As far as hotspots, some devices do not have the ability to connect to non-network providers. Phones generally will, but note that when devices connect over wifi they often automatically download system and app updates, which will suck even more data. Rule of thumb, when on a cruise ship at sea, turn ALL cellular data OFF unless its an emergency. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MaryZ Posted February 15, 2017 #23 Share Posted February 15, 2017 Hi! My daughter is now coming with me on my april trip but the time off school means she will need to do school work while on the ship. She uses an app to keep up with her assignments that require wifi etc so my question is:I have an iPhone and sprint is our carrier so I can create a hotspot. Using their global roaming plan can she get the wifi from me? I know it's just 2g (free) but I can buy 3G for WAY less than NCLs wifi packages. Would this work? PS- I tried calling sprint but every time I call I get a person that doesn't speak English well so It's not very helpful. Sent from my iPhone using Forums Not while the ship is out of range of cell service, like at sea. We lose cell service a few miles out of nyc. In port you will be able to. We have both Sprint and Verizon. Just pay for the wifi on the ship, have your child sign in to check her app and then sign out to do the work. Or just check the app on port days Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
StolidCruiser Posted February 15, 2017 #24 Share Posted February 15, 2017 Side note- I'm not really sure why people on these boards answer questions that they don't have first hand knowledge of. I see it a lot here. It's very frustrating for the OP. Sent from my iPhone using Forums Many have given you answers based on first-hand knowledge. I wouldnt expect more when you dismiss answers when they arent the ones you like (or comprehend). Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dberryman18 Posted February 15, 2017 #25 Share Posted February 15, 2017 Sprint charged us $600 to send 3 pictures. Don't believe what they tell you. Sent from my iPhone using Forums Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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