I’m going on my first cruise in a few days and I just found out how much its going to cost to keep in touch with my kids and my family. Could I benefit from a prepaid phone card?
I don’t think so, the reason it’s so expensive is because it’s a ship to shore call. You might be better off calling from payphones (with a calling card) or using your cell while you’re in port and using the Internet cafe on the ship (most have them now) to send emails. It’s still expensive, but will probably be cheaper than the crazy ship to shore phone rates (last time I cruised I think it was something like $7 per minute, eek!)
The best thing you can do is to get an international calling card and wait until you are in port then look for a payphone. Another good thing to do is to ask a ship employee where you can make calls from in port. They will be glad to help you. They have to contact their family just like you do so they know the drill.
I just got home on Sunday from a Carnival cruise. Usage of their satellite phone on board was “only $6.99 per minute” (their words not mine). A calling card would not work for the satellite phone. Becareful which calling card you buy for calling from land. I bought one and couldn’t use it in any of the ports, even though it said International. I believe if you buy one from the major phone company, it will work. We ended up using a credit card to call home, it wasn’t expensive at all.
Internet was .75 cents a minute and the connection was slow. You could by packages for less for $50 and $100.
Cell phones don’t always work at sea but I know some people were using them at different points.
Yes, I think on most ships you can use a pre-paid phone card. It is worth it if you will be wanting or needing to talk to your kids and family. I know my mom and dad bought one when they went on a Royal Caribbean cruise and they called me and my sister a couple of times. Have fun =]
You have to buy their onboard phone cards.