Pay Phones and Calling Cards in Med Ports

[NAJNLA]

We're thinking of using calling cards to call home every day or so from the various ports on an upcoming Med cruise. Can anybody tell us if there are sufficient and readily available pay phones near where the ship docks in the following ports? Barcelona, Monte Carlo, Livorno, Civitavecchia, Messina, Istanbul, Dubrovnik, Split, Kusadasi, Navplion, Katakolon, Corfu, Venice, Piraeus, Mykonos, and Santorini.

 

 

On a different but related subject, does anybody have good/bad reviews using a Mobal (with an a, not mobile) phone from these same ports?

[slomotion]

 

On a different but related subject, does anybody have good/bad reviews using a Mobal (with an a, not mobile) phone from these same ports?

 

Yes, in some of them.

 

We bought the $99 model and used it. It is a bit expensive per call, but the coverage is good and it's mine to take wherever we go next time. If you are going to call home that often you might want to try to keep the conversation limited to stuff that's really important. Those minutes have a way of adding up.

[Keith1010]

It is getting more difficult to find phones in ports around the world to use to make calls back home. You will be able to find some but sometimes it will be a challenge.

 

We have not used Mobal (we use our own cell phone through T-Mobile) but we do know some people who use Mobal and have been very happy with it. Also, when you are away keeping in touch via e mail can be very helpful.

 

Keith

[CoralReef]

We bought prepaid local calling cards and used them to call home from various ports in Italy, Greece, and Turkey. That way, we didn't have to worry about horrifying charges showing up on credit cards or phone bills. We could be sure the cost would be limited to the cash cost of the cards.

 

We didn't have any difficulty using cards in Rome, Istanbul, Kusadasi, Piraeus, Santorini (or Rhodes, but that's not on your list). We did have trouble in Mykonos-- we tried three different phones at two locations with no success, but the same card worked fine the next day at a different port.

 

We found groups of pay phones right by the pier at most ports. Sometimes we had to wait for a few minutes to get a free one, but other than that, no problem.

[jasl]

I have had bad luck using phone cards in Europe. Most post offices have an area where long distance calls can be made without much trouble and there will always be help if needed.

[burny]

Maybe it is not possible in the US ,but i am always email with my cell-phone (t-mobile) on the GPRS network.You only pay the KB's or MB's you use and that cost not much.Maybe something to consider!

Burny