Cruising And Cellular Telephone Service

While on a cruise most people would like to be able to stay in touch with family and friends back home by telephone or texting. But before you take that cruise it is really important to check with you cellular phone service concerning cruise ship roaming costs. Being forewarned can save you a small fortune.

Using the ships in cabin telephones as a calling service isn’t any better with a $5.99 per minute charge being typical. Those charges are placed directly on you cruise account. In cases where there is a family or personnel emergency where you need to call the recommendation is to go discuss the situation with the ships Guest Services. In most cases they can provide calls free of charge.

While cellular telephone calls while on ship can be expensive there are a few communication work-arounds and alternatives.

Subscribe To A Cruise Package With Your Carrier
Use Wifi Calling For Voice Connecting
Set A Schedule Where You Place Calls While In Port
Consider Texting As Your Primary Communication

Cruise Cellular Packages

Generally cell phones while on a cruise can be very expensive. The major U.S. cell services range in cost between $1.79 to $5.99 a minute for regular telephone service.

In order to provide continuous cell service most cruise lines contract with a marine cellular service that operate for ships at sea. The dominate provider in marine cell service is Cellular At Sea. While cruising on this service charges are passed from Cellular At Sea through to your cell service to appear on your monthly bill. Because it is based on future billing for current service most prepaid cell phones simply won’t work onboard a ship.

CURRENT RATES FOR THE THREE MAJOR U.S. CARRIERS

Based on research in April 2022

T-MOBILE CRUISE TALK & TEXT

T-Mobile ONE and Simple Choice Plan Customers get these rates automatically.

Talk: $5.99/min
Text: Sending $0.50/txt, Receiving free
Data:No data

AT&T CRUISE TALK, TEXT & DATA

One-time charge for 30 days $100

Talk: unlimited
Text: unlimited
Data: 200MB overage $2.00/MB.

CRUISE TALK & TEXT

One-time charge for 30 days $50

Talk: 50 minutes, overage $2.00/min.
Text: unlimited

VERIZON TALK, TEXT & DATA

You can talk, message, and use data on more than 400 cruise ships.

Cruise ship Pay as You Go pricing.

Voice Pricing. $1.79/min.
Text Messaging. $0.50/message sent $0.05/message received.
Pay as You Go Data. $0.002/KB or $2.05/MB.

Using Wifi For Calling

There are a number of apps and services that use VOIP (voice over internet protocol) that can provide for calls using the ships wifi. Most cruise ships offer Wi-Fi for a fee or as part of a cruise package. Cruise lines can charge a per-minute or a per-megabyte rate while onboard to access the web on your smartphone, tablet or laptop. The biggest issue in this approach is the wifi speed being able to support clear VOIP.

Some cruise lines will offer unlimited internet packages. These can be as low as $5 to $10 per day for casual internet surfing and email speed to $20 or more per day for “premium” packages with fast connectivity.

In many cases you will need to work out combinations of apps with your family to use wifi. Good choices include Skype, Messenger, Google Duo and WhatsApp. Another approach is a VOIP telephone service like MagicJack where you actually place calls to telephone numbers.

Place Calls When In Port

If you wait until you are in a port to place calls the service switches to the regional carriers in that ports country where costs are based on your cell services roaming charges. International roaming charges vary depending on your selected service so you’ll want to check with your carrier for those rates. If you’ve got T-Mobile, check to see if the country visited is included in the Simple Choice plan. If it is, making phone calls will only be $0.25/minute and data is free (VOIP is the option here as well). Calls from Mexico and Canada using T-Mobile’s Simple Choice plan are free. Verizon’s TravelPass and AT&T’s International Day Pass charge $5 to $10 per day for travelers to text, call and use data based on the plan they have at home but you must sign up for the international service. Without subscribing, international pay-per-use data rates for both carriers costs over $2.00/MB.

Relying On Text Messages

Receiving and sending text messages usually are pretty inexpensive while at sea. Typically incoming texts are free and outbound costs are 25¢ to 50¢ per text depending on your provider. Be cautious of MMS and ask your carrier for rates as MMS texting actually involves data charges.

Years ago most major carriers all had reasonably priced cruise ship plans through Cellular At Sea. Several years ago AT&T acquired Cellular At Sea and changed the rate structure making their network the only inexpensive user. That’s why only AT&T currently has cruise rate packages at reasonable prices.

A final caution about using cell phones on ship. When you’re in port, your cell signal will switch to a carrier in that country where your services international roaming rates apply. You need to be very aware that the service switches as you enter and leave port. If you are on a call as the ship sails out and it switches to the marine service – so will the rates in mid call.

CRUISE IDEAS

Great Cruise Deals And Incredible Itineraries

Explore Cruise Life

Please Note • Todays cruise industry is incredibly dynamic with new itineraries and special deals changing daily. With endless possibilities and ever changing offers it is nearly impossible to stay up-to-date. This series will regularly highlight a selection of new offerings we think you might find interesting. Most links here will take you to individual cruise line websites where you can search for specific cruise offers. We dot not receive any discounts or commission from travel or cruise companies.

Royal Caribbean

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DEPARTURE DATE: 2022, OCT 22

Norwegian Cruise Lines

14-DAY CRUISE ON NORWEGIAN STAR

Antarctica & South America

from Buenos Aires, Argentina

6 PORTS OF CALL

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Cape Town,South Africa
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Cruise To Exotic And Amazing Ports of Call

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The Port of Call Đà Nẵng

Đà Nẵng & Hoi An, Vietnam

Downtown Đà Nẵng is a modern cosmopolitan city, with an impressive skyline, major shopping options, parks, walking malls, and a beautiful beach. The Han River runs through the center of the city, and is crossed by four bridges. The bridges offer an incredible light display of rainbow colors at night. Lining both banks of the river are parks and walking trails.

Where Your Ship Docks

Most large cruise ships in Da Nang dock at Tien Sa port. Bus travel from the port to Danang City is around 30 min. At the port’s entrance (approx 500 m / 1650 ft from the cruise pier) there is a taxi rank. Smaller cruise ships often dock at the city’s Han River Port (on the river’s western bank) near downtown. There are no public facilities near the dock.

Transportation

Taxis are inexpensive and available everywhere in Da Nang, particularly near tourist attractions, and shopping areas. The most popular taxi companies are Mai Linh, Taxi Xanh, and Vinasun. All taxis use meters, with the starting price at US$0.65 and after that less than US$1.00 per mile. Most drivers also have a fairly good command of English, and there’s also a helpline number listed on the passenger door.

Danang Private Taxi is a private taxi service with English speaking drivers that specializes in arranging tours along with airport service. Visit them online at https://danangprivatetaxi.com/.

GoJek – Uber stopped operations in 2018 in Vietnam but a fast growing Asia ride share service is taking its place. The operation is GoJek with their Vietnam service affiliate being Go-Viet. Download the GoJek app to access the Go-Viet services that include GoRide (which can include a motorbike ride) and GoCar (if your nervous about the GoRide option) but also provides a public transportation finder, payment service and food delivery. Apps are available from Apple and Google.

Currency

1,000 Vietnamese Dong = less than 3.5¢ US and the American Dollar is gladly accepted. Major credit cards are usually welcome at most businesses. There have been cautions regarding ATM usage.

Attractions

Da Nang is Vietnam’s fastest growing and most progressive city. Going downtown and walking along the Han River is an experience in itself. The area boasts incredible beaches and there are a number of nearby picturesque and historical towns within easy reach.

Marble Mountains is a cluster of five marble and limestone hills located in Ngũ Hành Sơn District, south of Da Nang city in Vietnam. If you’re shopping for gifts there are a number of marble carving locations with retail outlets.

Bà Nà Hill Station is a resort area located in the Trường Sơn Mountains west of the city and features the longest cable car in the world along with a number of interesting attractions including:

The Golden Bridge a unique 450 foot pedestrian bridge. Located above 4,000 feet above sea level, it has views of the Sea and the surrounding mountains.

Danang Cathedral, Da Nang – Built in 1924 when Vietnam was under French control, the pink Gothic church stands above the city. In 1963, the church was officially recognized as Danang Cathedral. Behind the church is a grotto, fashioned after the Lourdes grotto in France.

Đà Nẵng is also famous for its beautiful beaches with their upscale resort atmosphere and a number of notable seafood restaurants. If you’re considering a couple of day visit the are a number of great hotel options along the beach.

The Ancient Town of Hoi An

Hoi An is referred to as the Ancient Town and is an exceptionally well-preserved example of a South-East Asian trading port dating from the 15th century. Its buildings and streets demonstrate the influences, both Vietnamese and foreign, that produced this unique World Heritage Site.

Shopping opportunities are famous in Hoi An including a local stitched art form, a number of fashion boutiques as well as traditional arts and crafts shops.

Modern, historic and fascinating port of call Đà Nẵng is the the fastest growing most progressive city in Vietnam. Surrounded by historic towns and great beaches.

Spending Time In Barbados

Barbados is one of the oldest English outposts in the Caribbean and has been an independent nation since 1966. It enjoys one of the Caribbean’s highest literacy rates and standards of living. Its location puts it deep into the southern Caribbean on its eastern edge. It is also boarded on the east by the Atlantic Ocean, so while its western shores are washed by the gentle Caribbean the east coast is famous for good Atlantic surf. The Bathsheba area on the Atlantic coast is a popular location for major surfing competitions.

Beaches & Nightlife

Geography places a majority of the activity and hotels on the northwest coast of the island stretching down to the western South Shore. Starting out on the northwest coast at Speightstown and going south along the sea, you come to the high rent neighborhoods of Barbados. This area is dotted with palatial estates and upscale beach properties. The centerpiece of this area is the Royal Westmoreland Golf Course and Sandy Lane Beach. The Sandy Lane Resort is a destination popular with celebrities and international jet setters. Nearby is a number of premium restaurants and upscale shopping at Limegrove Center. The area is also famous for good beach bars.

Traveling farther south you pass a number of good beaches and the seaport as you approach Bridgetown. The capital is the island’s government center and features a number of good restaurants and shopping with Barbados’ major department store being Cave Sheppard. Leaving Bridgetown and again heading due south you find another beach with good resort hotels along with the Garrison and Drill Hall areas. In the center of this is Harbour Lights, one of the island’s destinations for night life for tourists and locals alike.

Heading further south you will find properties with names like Hilton, Marriott and Radisson dotted along more great beaches and also a number of smaller local hotels. There is also a nice boardwalk that starts near Bridgetown and winds its way south for a number of miles. Perfect for a hike along the sea. Near the end of the boardwalk is Rockley Beach. This is one of our favorite areas to stay. There are a number of places to eat from fast food (Chefette is Barbados’ own fast food chain, featuring mostly chicken) to upscale eateries, gift and beach shops and grocery and wine stores. The center of this is the Accra Beach Hotel which, while old, is a beautiful beachfront property. We would also recommend Coral Sands which is very nice newer hotel, along with several other smaller properties in Rockley. For dining check out Mojo’s and the Tiki Bar along with Champers (our favorite) which is a good upscale restaurant in this area.

Next down the coast is the St. Lawrence Gap area and is usually referred to as just “the Gap”. It’s another really popular location in Barbados for restaurants, bars and nightlife. There are a number of hotels in this area but be warned that the party scene can be pretty loud late into the night and the streets busy. Following the coast out of the Gap you will find another stretch of great beaches with good resort hotels. We have stayed at Bougainvillea Beach and Coral Sands in this area and they’re both very good properties.

Friday Night Oistin’s Fish Fry

Next is Oistin where everyone regularly goes on a Friday night for a waterfront fish fry. Oistin is a traditional Bajan fishing village and the Friday Oistin’s Fish Fry is an event that has been going on forever: fresh fish cooked amidst a carnival atmosphere. It is something not to be missed.

Next comes the international airport area and after that is the Crane Beach and Crane Beach Resort which is an upscale resort. The area features cliffs with pocket beaches below and gets its’ name from a crane that was used to lift cargo up the cliffs in early days. This hotel is an excellent resort but somewhat isolated. If your intention is to relax and spend quality time with the family, enjoying sand and surf it’s a good choice.

Getting around Barbados can be a challenge. There is public bus service and a number of tour operators but to really see the island it is best to rent a car. You need to be warned though, because the traffic is English drive or driving on the left that can take some getting used to, specially on the island’s narrow roads. The island also makes use of lots of traffic circles (remember that the traffic in the circle always has the right-of-way). In recent years GPS has helped but the roads in some areas are mostly unmarked and can be a maze – even our Bajan friends have admitted to getting lost.

Things To Do and Not Do

Do:

Eat flying fish with Bajan hot sauce

Visit Harrison’s Cave and Hunte’s Gardens

Take a ride out to Bathsheba and the northeast island coast

Take the tour at the Mount Gay Distillery

Don’t:

Cross a street without looking both ways (your instincts can kill you)

Wear clothes with camouflage (it’s against the law)

Look for warning markers before touching plants – some can be poisonous.

Cruise Port of Livorno, Italy

Livorno, Italy – Cruise Gateway To Pisa And Florence

Livorno is a popular cruise port of call, primarily for its location only a short distance from Pisa with Florence, an hour away by train. Pisa is only 17 miles away and Florence is a little over 75 miles and both can be reached on the same train service.

The port of Livorno is one of the busiest ports in Italy. Stretching from the marina at the Livorno Aquarium, to the opening of the canal that joins the river Arno.

This port provides passengers an opportunity to see a major working port up close.