Cell Phone Roaming Question

[IslandGirl3000]

If the ship leaves out of Tampa and goes to Key West, are you still in Florida? Is it roaming?

[BND]

Key West is still in Florida last I checked.

[Fouremco]

Once upon a time, some mobile service providers considered service outside of your home city to be roaming. Fortunately, those days are gone. While I'm not familiar with every provider providing service in Florida, I'd be shocked to learn that travelling to a different city within the state would incur roaming charges. However, while the ship is underway and well beyond range of cell towers on shore, you would incur charges from the cruise line as you would be accessing their system. 

[1025cruise]

You will be roaming while en route to Key West using the ship's tower.

[klfrodo]

My wife and I are arguing about this question.

Is the OP asking if you are roaming while on the ship out at sea? Or, is the OP asking if the phone service considers you to be roaming once out of your normal service area?

[Ret MP]

4 minutes ago, 1025cruise said:

You will be roaming while en route to Key West using the ship's tower.

Yep, I think, but I'm not a mind reader, that that was the actual question.  If, the ship is in Florida/U.S. waters, does the U.S. cellphone system work?  However, I don't think the service reaches out to international waters where the ship sails between those ports.  I believe that the ship goes into international waters so they can open the casino and sell drinks without tax.  So, unless you have the ship's internet package and use Wifi calling, you're in for a hefty cell phone bill at the end of the cruise.    JMHO  

[jean87510]

46 minutes ago, IslandGirl3000 said:

If the ship leaves out of Tampa and goes to Key West, are you still in Florida? Is it roaming?

if you are asking about the period of time from Tampa to Key west, 1.  near the florida area (not the same as driving from tampa to key west where you stay in FL).  2.  Since you are at sea, yes it's roaming charges as the ship will not be "hugging the coast".  

[Old Fart Cruisers]

You MAY have your US cell carrier's service within this 12 mile range, but I don't think I would take my chance at being charged as much as $6.00 per minute just in case Cellular at Sea is in effect.

 

https://help.carnival.com/app/answers/detail/a_id/1129/~/cellular-phone-service

 

As a reminder, international roaming charges apply and will be billed by your home carrier and not by WMS.

How It Works

Due to regulations, the WMSatSea network only works when the ship is at sea at least 12 nautical miles from shore (2 nautical miles in the European Union). When the ship is sailing on international waters, you will be able to use the WMS network for incoming and outgoing calls, SMS, and Data services (email and web surfing). Once in port, you can connect to local roaming networks as permitted by your home carrier.

Edited May 7, 2023 by Old Fart Cruisers

[Biker19]

12 hours ago, IslandGirl3000 said:

If the ship leaves out of Tampa and goes to Key West, are you still in Florida? 

Pro tip: regardless of where you are going, put your phone in airplane mode soon after getting on any cruise.

[topnole]

15 hours ago, IslandGirl3000 said:

If the ship leaves out of Tampa and goes to Key West, are you still in Florida? Is it roaming?

Leaving Tampa, after you go under the sky way bridge (a couple hours after leaving the dock) it’s time to start worrying about turning on airplane mode.  Many do it right when they board so they don’t forget.  That’s up to you.  
 

You will not have normal cell coverage on the way and you will be in international waters.  Once in Key West you should be in normal cell phone coverage.   I say should be because we don’t know your carrier or plan, but it’s hard to imagine a US plan that wouldn’t.  Key West is a Florida city just like Tampa.  You need to call your carrier to verify your plan and coverage so you are sure.   

[smokeybandit]

Key West is covered by all US carriers.

[Ret MP]

3 hours ago, Biker19 said:

Pro tip: regardless of where you are going, put your phone in airplane mode soon after getting on any cruise.

Good advice.  I do it as I'm leaving the terminal to get on the ship.  Once I get on the ship, I probably will be so awestruck with the ship and forget.  

[HappyTexan44]

Assuming you have WiFi-calling on, how can you tell it is using WiFi and not the super expensive Cellular at Sea?    

[smokeybandit]

4 minutes ago, HappyTexan44 said:

Assuming you have WiFi-calling on, how can you tell it is using WiFi and not the super expensive Cellular at Sea?    

If your phone is in airplane mode, then it'll always be wifi.

[topnole]

14 minutes ago, HappyTexan44 said:

Assuming you have WiFi-calling on, how can you tell it is using WiFi and not the super expensive Cellular at Sea?    

Cellular is automatically disabled in airplane mode.  So if in airplane mode you are protected from that.  You can also turn of cellular, but that would be redundant.  Still not a bad idea.  

[Biker19]

1 hour ago, HappyTexan44 said:

Assuming you have WiFi-calling on, how can you tell it is using WiFi and not the super expensive Cellular at Sea?    

On most phones, the indication is in the upper left of the screen. Try it at home - go to a known poor cell reception area but with wifi (maybe your basement) and you should see the phone switch to wifi calling. 

 

Don't try it at sea - as others have mentioned, put the phone in plane mode and turn wifi back on.

[smokeybandit]

8 minutes ago, Biker19 said:

Try it at home - go to a known poor cell reception area but with wifi (maybe your basement) and you should see the phone switch to wifi calling. 

Mine always shows that wifi calling is enabled unless I'm connected to a Wifi 6 router and it doesn't show anything different.