Best way to call home while on a cruise?

[wework2play]

I called my cell phone provider today, which is US Cellular. They said they only have towers in the US. So my cell phone will not work out of the country, and there is no code I can use (as some people have said on here).

So, what's the next best way to make a call home? Meaning cheapest and most convenient. I don't really want to spend a lot of time in port looking for a phone, but I don't want to pay enormously for a 3 minute phone call. Any suggestions?? BTW, ports of call will be MoBay, GC, and Coz. Will be on the Conquest.

[modnar]

Do you have international romaing with US Cellular? I'm not certain, but, if so, I think that will work on a Carnival ship. Hopefully someone else can chime in and verify. If you do have international romaing, you might want to check with your carrier (and whatever Carnival charges) on the rates.

[Thirsty Cruiser]

Save your money and make your call from Coz. I saw a few places in town and I was not looking for one.

[Knights on the Beach]

Do you have international romaing with US Cellular? I'm not certain, but, if so, I think that will work on a Carnival ship. Hopefully someone else can chime in and verify. If you do have international romaing, you might want to check with your carrier (and whatever Carnival charges) on the rates.

If their wireless company told them their phone would not work outside the U.S., I'm pretty sure that means they don't have international roaming. ;)

[bacm]

I usually just use e-mail. Either on the ship or the inexpenisve internet cafes in port. On ocassion I have used the pay phones in port. It works very well for us.

 

However, I don't advise using a charge card because we got ripped off once by using it at a pay phone. We were charged an exorbitant amount of about $39 for a 30 second phone call (no one was home - got a message machine). Never did that again!

[wework2play]

Do you have international romaing with US Cellular? I'm not certain, but, if so, I think that will work on a Carnival ship. Hopefully someone else can chime in and verify. If you do have international romaing, you might want to check with your carrier (and whatever Carnival charges) on the rates.

 

 

Thank you for this info. Because of your post, I called Carnival back and questioned them again. This time I got a different story. Come to find out, US Cellular does have towers in Cozumel, but not the other two ports. So, I spoke with a roaming specialist. He is making sure I have been "reported" to Mexico on the international caller list (whatever that all means) and he told me to dial a special area code to call from Mexico to the US, and he told me to call a special # to update my "codes" on my phone before I try to us it internationally.

So, after all that, my phone will work in Coz!! Charges = $3. per day of usage, .99 per minute by USCellular, and Mexico's tower charge which is aprox 1.00 per minute. Is it worth it?

[modnar]

If their wireless company told them their phone would not work outside the U.S., I'm pretty sure that means they don't have international roaming. ;)

Well, the way the post was worded, it sounded like US Cellular was simply telling the OP that they don't have any towers outside the US. That doesn't necessarily mean that there's no chance her calls can be routed through another carriers towers (hence the roaming, I guess) at port or through whatever special receiver is on the ship.

[bakechef]

Thank you for this info. Because of your post, I called Carnival back and questioned them again. This time I got a different story. Come to find out, US Cellular does have towers in Cozumel, but not the other two ports. So, I spoke with a roaming specialist. He is making sure I have been "reported" to Mexico on the international caller list (whatever that all means) and he told me to dial a special area code to call from Mexico to the US, and he told me to call a special # to update my "codes" on my phone before I try to us it internationally.

 

So, after all that, my phone will work in Coz!! Charges = $3. per day of usage, .99 per minute by USCellular, and Mexico's tower charge which is aprox 1.00 per minute. Is it worth it?

 

That is kind of pricey! To compare Verizon is a flat rate of $.69 per minute in mexico, and most other foreign places where CDMA works, in a few select places it is $1.29 but that is as high as it goes(except for cruise ships@ $2.49 per minute). at&t is $.99 in mexico, unless you subscribe to an international plan called world traveler which is $5.99 per month and that gets you $.59 per minute.

 

I would personally use e-mail, and check it quick a couple times per day.

 

It sounds like to roam with US Cellular would be quite pricey.

 

MAC

[hdawson]

For those visiting Mexico, check out http://www.telmexusa.com. Telmex is the dominate phone company in Mexico. Online phone cards are available for fifty cents per minute. When you use the card the instructions (simple) are in english. Have used them many times. Buy them and print them out.

[Name game]

Do you need to make a phone call as opposed to emailing? I usually buy the internet minutes but I always bring an international calling card with me just in case. I buy a $10 or $20 one that I can use in any port.

[Buzya]

In port, buy a calling card. Ask the crew where to find them, that's how many of them call home.

 

 

 

I called my cell phone provider today, which is US Cellular. They said they only have towers in the US. So my cell phone will not work out of the country, and there is no code I can use (as some people have said on here).

 

So, what's the next best way to make a call home? Meaning cheapest and most convenient. I don't really want to spend a lot of time in port looking for a phone, but I don't want to pay enormously for a 3 minute phone call. Any suggestions?? BTW, ports of call will be MoBay, GC, and Coz. Will be on the Conquest.

[lucigo]

We use text messaging to keep up with our teenagers back at home. Were able to check in several times a day and it was very reasonable..I want to say maybe .15 cents per message? (Cingular)

 

~~ Luci ~~

RCI Majesty 02, Carnival Holiday 04, 05, Carnival Conquest 05, Carnival Celebration 06, Carnival Fantasy 06, Carnival Elation 07 and next...Carnival Celebration 10/6/07, Carnival Holiday 12/13/07 & 1/10/08

[voyagerfl]

Unless there is a big problem back home you need to check on....

Just forget about it......too much worry....too much time consumed....

 

Give those at home the emergency contact info they will need.......and have a good vacation.......

 

Heck it's only 7 days.........:D

 

Nothing I love more, than sailing away....drink in hand.....standing on the deck...seeing the bars on my cell phone go dead....

[wework2play]

Unless there is a big problem back home you need to check on....

Just forget about it......too much worry....too much time consumed....

 

Give those at home the emergency contact info they will need.......and have a good vacation.......

 

Heck it's only 7 days.........:D

 

Nothing I love more, than sailing away....drink in hand.....standing on the deck...seeing the bars on my cell phone go dead....

 

This is probably the best advice yet! We will have our kids with us so we don't have to call and check on them. I just want to be able to call family at home to make sure everything is okay. But, you're right. I should be able to go 7 days without talking to them. :eek:

 

The problem with texting is that you still have to have a tower. The problem with e-mail is that then you have to wait for a reply. Too slow. I think I have the answer. How about I just send them a post card from Hell and assume everything's okay. ;)

 

Well, it would be nice but I'm going to have to call home at least once. We have to call and check on our pets.