Carnival Cruise Lines Completes Fleetwide Implementation of Cellular Phone Service

[DaytonCruiser]

On RCI you are on your carriers signal unless the ship is out of range then if flips over to the ships carrier and I believe that both RCI and Carnival are using the same company.

 

Yes, it appears all of the major cruiselines are using the same company except Disney

 

http://www.cellularatsea.com/shipsinservice.htm

[DqALEX]

Gag.

 

More and more reviews are noting the excessive use of cell phones... and I'm sure it will only get worse. It's going to be no different at sea than at home... you can't sit in a restaurant without hearing a cell phone ring... And even all the places (such as doctors offices, post office, etc) that display the signs NOT to use your cell phone, there is always some jerk that is. I do wish they would confine usage to cabins...

Thats all I need to hear in the casino at the card table, someone on there cell phone talking to there kid on the ship.

[mom2eli]

It is the people wha abuse this that make it a bad thing. As a mother who is leaving her two year old at home with Grandma and Grandpa, I will use this service to check in at least once (okay maybe twice:D ). Granted I would have been able to check in before - it would have cost me more though! So for now I am going to take this as good news - unless of course my tablemates answer calls at dinner :mad:

[coevan]

Cingular's world rates are cheaper then the ships. In Mexico it's less then a dollar, the Caribbean is $1.98. The USVI are free local minutes. On the ships wireless internet, you can Skype your calls for free, works great. All you need is a little speaker, some laptops have them built in. The ships internet package is $100 for the week for 250 minutes, pretty reasonable.

[GoinCruisin]

Cingular's world rates are cheaper then the ships. In Mexico it's less then a dollar, the Caribbean is $1.98. The USVI are free local minutes. On the ships wireless internet, you can Skype your calls for free, works great. All you need is a little speaker, some laptops have them built in. The ships internet package is $100 for the week for 250 minutes, pretty reasonable.

 

I've never been able to connect with Skype on the ships... then again, I only tried twice :p So you didn't have a problem?? That is good to know... I'll try again next month!!

[mac4cruise]

I hope my boss doesn't read this:eek:

[LKYGSR]

Shhh.............

 

Not so loud, I don't want my boss to know !!!!!!!!!!!!:eek:

[ShrtSwtDeb]

It is the people wha abuse this that make it a bad thing.

 

I'm with you on this... this could be a good thing, if people used a little common sense - and showed courtesy to other travelers.

 

I'm really happy to hear this news. I wanted to go to Iraq for Christmas, but was told that wasn't too good an idea :rolleyes: - so my husband and I are cruising over Christmas, instead. It's nice to know tho, that I'll still only be a "phone call away" - just in case my son needs his momma (yea, I know he's too old and macho for that - but a MOM can always dream:D )... I would truely hope that if while on the ship - I got a call from my son - that noone would get upset or irrate with me, cuz I'm talking loudly due to the sheer excitement of hearing his voice.

 

Deb

[elon mom]

Originally Posted by elon mom

Great if you are in your stateroom- sad if you sit next to one of those people that have to yell every word and we hear their whole life story....:(

Cruzin Susie

Next time you hear someone holding a very personal but loud cellphone conversation, join in on the conversation. That works wonders.__________________

 

That is a great idea...I work in a dental office and it is very hard to work on someone when they insist on answering their cell phone....sometimes 2-3 times in one appointment- and then they have the gall to complain when we run behind schedule. Leave the phones at home- no one on the ship wants to hear....;)

[CarribbeanTina271]

This is one of those time when I am glad none of my people read cruisecritic :p , I do go on cruises to get away from work and family!!! I sure do not want them to contact me!!! I dont want to hear there problems while I am on my relaxing vacation!! :D

I do agree with parents wanting to check in on their children back home, so call say hey but maybe folks will do it in private and we all won't have to hear everyone convo while at dinner or in the shows ;)

 

Tina

[bigred08046]

Will my Nextel work??:rolleyes:

[allmaple]

Now I must admit I am of the younger generation that is used to cellphones being everywhere, but I don't see this being a big annoyance to me. Now there are those who yell into there phones, or feel the need to make calls while heavily intoxicated......that is irratating but I tend to just laugh at them in my head.

 

I will have my cell but I can't see myself carrying it around on the ship all the time.

 

Anyone know if texting has a charge? I read $2.99 a minute but nothing about sending text messages.

[BigDoug]

Will my Nextel work??:rolleyes:

I hope not. That's all we need. In addition to cell phones ringing, we would get to hear the "chirp" of direct connect.:eek: The walkie-talkies on ships are bad enough. Cell phone jammers are looking good right now.:p

[terrylou]

My husband is going to be furious...Whenever we go out to eat, we constantly hear people yelling into their cell phones...now we are going to have to contend with this on the ship. I think phones should be put in the safes and when people want to contact family, they should do it in the privacy of their own staterooms and not have the whole ship hear them...WHOLE THING IS NOT A GOOD IDEA.....

[ShrtSwtDeb]

I think phones should be put in the safes and when people want to contact family, they should do it in the privacy of their own staterooms and not have the whole ship hear them..

 

As good as that sounds, that's not necessarily feasible. There are extenuating circumstances for everything. For example, when my son calls, I either take the call - or I miss it - I can't call him back - which means another month or so can go by before I hear from him again. I can see it now - "HEY WAIT guys, stop the war - your momma's on the phone!". :eek:

 

Will I talk loudly in the phone if he were to call me while on the ship? Most likely out of sheer excitement of hearing his voice, just knowing he's alive and safe.... Will I walk away from others on the ship as to not "annoy them"? - of course, I would -or at least I would try. I honestly can't see anyone in their right minds spending $2.99 a minute to chat it up on the phone. I own my own business - and wouldn't think of making business calls while on vacation.

 

I don't know, but after reading all these posts, I'm already feeling condemned - that just in case I get a call - that I'll be snarled at and given dirty looks by my fellow travelers - just because my phone rang on Christmas day. :rolleyes:

 

<sneaking out the back door before the knives are thrown at me>

[Ship Addict]

Gag.

 

More and more reviews are noting the excessive use of cell phones... and I'm sure it will only get worse. It's going to be no different at sea than at home... you can't sit in a restaurant without hearing a cell phone ring... And even all the places (such as doctors offices, post office, etc) that display the signs NOT to use your cell phone, there is always some jerk that is. I do wish they would confine usage to cabins...

 

OK you just reminded me of a VERY embarrassing cell phone moment. I was at my father-in-law's memorial service last week and I forgot to turn the ringer off on my cell. Right in the middle of the service, it started blaring "Wasting away again in Margaritaville . . . " and of course I was fumbling because I was so embarrassed and trying to act quickly, it got stuck in its little pocket and I couldn't get it out to turn it off!

 

Talk about inappropriate! :eek:

[truecruiser]

ouch, this will be expensive. but, it's good to know it's available in the event someone watching your house or pet needs to contact you (one time our hot water heater blew a leak when we were on a 7 day cruise -- not fun to come home to). anyway, do you know if you need an access # from your carrier to dial out at sea?

[bcs819]

Ok, people, in case of an emergency, you were NEVER incommunicado. If people would stop doing the happy dance when their docs come and actually read them, there are very clear instructions on how you can be reached on the ship in case of an emergency.

 

For the war mom, not throwing knives at you, but are you keeping your phone with you every second of every day now? Potty, shower, gym, etc? I am not de-valuing the importance of a call from a loved one and the pride you must feel in what he's doing (I just had a relative and a friend return from Iraq), but I would be pretty irritated if I fell asleep at the pool (which is hard for me to do) and cell phones start ringing. If your cell phone goes to voice mail, you'll still get to hear his voice, know he's ok, etc, and you'll have the joy of being able to listen to the message over and over and over again...

[coevan]

Don't you think you people are overeacting? First of all $2.50 a minute + roaming from your carrier at another .70 a minute, would add up pretty quickly. A 10 minute call would be $32. Who ever mentioned phones in the Casino, they are not allowed in any Casino (at the tables)I have ever played in. I think this will not really be an issue. The wind on the Lido deck would make cell phones inaudible. I hope most people would go to their cabins and call grand ma and the kids and make it brief. Surely it is better then the $10 a minute calls from your cabin they previously offered.

[ShrtSwtDeb]

For the war mom, not throwing knives at you, but are you keeping your phone with you every second of every day now? Potty, shower, gym, etc? I am not de-valuing the importance of a call from a loved one and the pride you must feel in what he's doing (I just had a relative and a friend return from Iraq), but I would be pretty irritated if I fell asleep at the pool (which is hard for me to do) and cell phones start ringing. If your cell phone goes to voice mail, you'll still get to hear his voice, know he's ok, etc, and you'll have the joy of being able to listen to the message over and over and over again...

 

As a matter of fact... yes I do take the phone with me everyplace I go, even into church...I bought the cell phone for the sole purpose of him being able to contact me at anytime he needs me. When out in public, the phone is on vibrate - so as to not bother others - and I remove myself from others to talk. I'd like to think I'm considerate of others feelings. If it were your son or daughter over there, you would understand that a voice mail just doesn't cut it - when you only hear from them 1 or 2 times a month.

 

You get loud drunks sitting at the bar or around the pool that's had 1 too many drinks... if I had my choice of listening to someone on the phone or a loud obnoxious drunk - I'd rather listen to someone on the phone (they're easier to tune out)...but that's just my opinion.

 

I guess what I was wanted to say earlier, but thought it may be too harsh to say is this.... if someone talking on a cell phone, or hearing a phone ring is going to ruin your vacation - that's pretty sad. There are so many more important things to worry about - then complaining because someone is sitting next to you on the phone or hearing it ring. I wish that was all I had to worry or complain about. I'm more concerned about someone ringing my doorbell.

 

I was just adding in my 2 cents...for what it's worth...noone's opinion is right or wrong here - that's why they're called opinions... I am not forcing my opinion on anyone - just sticking up for the freedom we have to be able to USE our cell phones if we so choose.

[renza]

ShrtSwtDeb, I would have my phone ready at all times too. We love those troups fighting for us. My husband and I are cruising in Feb. without our kids and I will tell you right now I will have my phone nearby. My kids come first and if other cruisers get pissed about my conversation they can always jump over board. I would not talk loud or talk during our dinner but if they need us they can call us at any time. Life cam be hard sometimes and kids need to know there parents are there for them, on vacation or not.

[bcs819]

I never said a ringing cell phone was going to ruin my vacation - I said it would irritate me. If everyone was as conscientious as you and put their phones to vibrate, I guarantee you not as many people would be as upset. Unfortunately, many people just don't care.

 

I hope no harm comes to your son. But I encourage you to save a message or two from everyone you love. On July 30, 2001, my baby brother left me the last message I was ever going to get from him, and I have it saved for as long as I can. I wish I had an old answering machine with a tape in it, because I know this digital one will go eventually and so will his voice...

 

enjoy your cruise.

[Swissfred]

There are two types of vacations I enjoy most:

 

1) Camping in the Sierras where there is no cell phone service.

2) Cruising where there is no cell phone service.

 

I guess I better start planning my new favorite vacations.

[LEAP]

Just thought I would add that my cingular phone would never work in my cabin and when at sea, this was in Sept on the Fantasy. It only worked on the deck while we were docked in Nassau, and even then it took a lot of tries before I could finally connect. I was on it for 12-15 minutes and it was around 60.00 added to my bill for that one call!!

[Melmo]

Well, imho, I do not think that the loving, worried mommies like myself and swtdeb, the mom who's son is in Iraq, are the ones that would be causing a scene. I have been afforded a few life stories I could have done without. (However, I think I would be cheering for a mom who got a call from IRAQ!) I will be happy to check in with my kids if I really can, and can afford it. I agree, except circumstances like the son in Iraq, the room would be great place to check in and leave the phone. However, I am not convinced I can afford to bring the phone if I get voice mails that charge me. I am too... mmm, "careful," with my $ to waste it like that. This is concerning me.

 

bcs819...I am so sorry about your brother. Mine will be in Afghanistan soon. Good advise. I will get a lot of video this Christmas, and send prayers with him. My prayers will be with you as well!