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| Above, the meter I followed during last year's Bahamas cruise. |
Last summer, a friend and I took a cruise aboard Norwegian Cruise Line's (NCL) Norwegian Sky to the Bahamas.
It was an enjoyable trip, but we found that NCL's cell phone plan was too pricey. The Norwegian Sky Wi-Fi charged $5.99/minute. When out to sea, Norwegian Cruise Lines charges that amount after 75 minutes of free Wi-Fi.
Thankfully, I knew ahead of time to keep my phone on Airplane Mode so that I would not run up any charges. I only used their "free plan" of 75 minutes.
Two wireless companies, AT & T and Verizon, have announced plans to making cell phone usage much easier (I am with T-Mobile, by the way).
TheStreet posted:
It’s a well-known fact that using your mobile phone on a cruise ship can be a big – and costly – mistake.
Of course, modern smartphones and satellite internet packages have made it easier to keep in touch while remaining in airplane mode. For example, when I’m cruising solo, I stay in touch with my family by calling through Facebook Messenger, and my phone gives me the ability to make and receive calls via WiFi.
However, simply leaving your phone connected to the network while on a cruise can be a costly error. Rates for Cellular at Sea plans can vary, but roaming and data charges can be massive.
It’s not uncommon to hear horror stories of first-time cruisers who neglected to put their phones in airplane mode, only to come home to hundreds of dollars (or more) in various charges. And that’s not to mention the costs of using your phone in ports when you aren’t connected to the ship’s Wi-Fi.
Fortunately, things may be about to change for the better. Two of the largest wireless carriers recently announced new ways to stay connected while at sea.
To read more, go here.
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