PHONING ON A CRUISE SHIP
Prow's Edge gives a taste of what your fellow passengers have had to say about using the phone while on a cruise.
Using phone services at sea are really only for emergencies - not to tell folks back home about the 7 course meal you ate last night.
Ship-to-shore phone service from your stateroom is expensive.
It is equally expensive for those calling you on board from back home, but it is a good idea to give the number for the ship (and your cabin/stateroom) in the case of emergencies. These details will usually be forwarded to you by the cruise line together with your travel documents.
If the phone call you need to make is not urgent, it is a better idea to use the phones at the ports of call, but be warned that the banks of public phones at most ports close to the docking area are also the favoured mode of communication for the ship’s crew and long line ups are the norm. Visitors to Prow’s Edge in the past have also pointed out that the crew phoning home at these public phones are not on short calls, and the line ups are not only long but take an even longer time to move.
It may be worth your while to venture further into the port, to the city/town centre to make your call.
If you wish to use your cellphone, and this is usually only possible when close to shore or in port, you need be sure that your service operates in those areas. Some popular cruising areas, like the Caribbean, have surprisingly good coverage and if you have free roaming as a part of your service, the call might even be free.
The obvious alternative is using the internet, either on board ship or in one of the internet cafés in port.
CHECK OUT THE FORUM ON CELL PHONES AT SEA
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