Cell phone use on RCI ships

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Gayle V

Guest
I'm hoping someone here was recently on a RCL and can answer these cell phone questions.

My cruise docs say I can use my cell phone when on the ship. The cruise line charges for this will be billed through my phone carrier.

I'm wondering how this works? If I dial home while on the ship, but while still docked in Fort Lauderdale, will I have to pay Royal Caribbean for use of their ship tower. I hope not, as I could easily use the land tower for free.

And if I do use my phone at sea, just how expensive is it?

Also it says I can receive voice mail and text messages. If I leave the phone on in the cabin, and it rings, but I don't answer it, just merely look later to see the little symbol that shows if there's a message waiting, is that some how charged?

And are text messages just as expensive a a regular call?

Any info appreciated.
 
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suer182

Guest
Check with your cell phone provider. Verizon is 2.49 a minute. This is from the RCI web sight.:

Mobile rates are determined by your home carrier and you will be billed for your international roaming usage on your regular mobile phone bill; for more information, please contact your home carrier customer service. If your home carrier supports GPRS data service, you can use mobile phone service to check email, surf the web, and share photos while onboard just as you would at home.

text I think is at a different rate. I dont text, I dial and leave a voice mail. :lol

http://www.royalcaribbean.com/finda...IGXYrkkZK7ePm5Ahvq1Cg:12hbiodf7?exTypeCode=16

edited to ad: Also check about international roaming/dialing. Verizon offers something called i-dial a cheaper rate for international but it is 3.99 a month. You can add it to your line at a prorated rate. Meaning, I am going to add it mine for the 10 days I am gone next month.
 
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sanjoseca

Guest
Alongside the pier you will usually be connected directly to a cell site....when the ship leaves port and the regular cell sites drop out, the ship system will pick you up. You can tell because instead of saying your carriers name or roaming it will say Cellular at Sea. I turned my phone on close to port to see if I had a regular signal, but as soon as I did, I got the Cellular at Sea message and instantly got a voice mail.....and I was charged the $2.50 by AT&T even though I didn't clear the message until the normal system was showing. So, I always left the phone off until we were at the pier after that.
 
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Gayle V

Guest
Thank you both for the information.

Sanjoseca, your experience is exactly what I was concerned about. I think I will just keep mine off when we aren't docked, just as you did.
 
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