What is the best way to keep in contact with my family during my cruise?

Question

I am taking a cruise for my anniversary. I am taking princess cruises to their island, then ocho rios, grand cayman, cozumel, and then back to fort lauderdale. I have never been away from my kids this long. I will need to call. I have verizon and my husband has nextel. I don't know if they work in those countries. Would it be easier to get a calling card? Do those even work out of the country? I just need to know what to do. I have never taken a cruise and don't know what to do about emergencies, calls to the kids and such.
Thank you in advance for your help.

Answer 1

handwritten letter placed in a bottle

Answer 2

I don't want to sound mean or harsh but you are going on a cruise to "get away" and have fun. So don't try to keep in touch with everything that is happening back home. Spend your time and money enjoying your vacation get-away.

The ship you go on will have an internet cafe if you want to send or check emails. I would suggest that you have your family send emails (if there is a great a emergency you probably cannot get back much sooner than your scheduled time; remember you will be "at sea" most of the time and plane services will not be convenient and if they are will be expensive). The internet service on ship is expensive vs what you pay at home so forgo it and use the the internet cafe's on land. There is a cafe on the pier in Grand Cayman (in the liquor store) and probably other places. Cozumel also has a cafe. These will be about $5 to $7 an hour vs about $50 an hour on ship. Ocho Rios also has an internet cafe in the terminal at the pier. *** I recall it wasa about $12 an hour.

You can make phone calls while on ship when you are near a port of use the ship's phone which may be something like $10 a minute. You should check with your cell phone carriers to see if they offer service in your port stops and you may have to make special arrangements to get service at a reasonable fee there.

It would probably be best to get a calling card. The ship's crew always get off and use the phones near the pier. There are usually several phones but you may have to wait to for one to be free.

Answer 3

the best way to call home is buy a calling card at the ports of call, or maybe they may have them on the ship but i doubt it....making a call from a cell phone will work, but is very expensive, around $2-5 per minute, and it will add up faster than u think....calling cards should work much better and are cheaper all around....i wouldnt bring a calling card from home b/c im not too sure if that will work....to get a calling card at the ports of call are much cheaper and defintely perfect for ur situation....if u want a professional's point of view I would definitely call ur cruise line to see what they suggest....i have tried this and it worked out fine....have fun and good luck!! = ]

Answer 4

My cell phone worked in San Juan, St Thomas and Tortola if that helps. Im sure they will work for you there. Call and ask the cruise line. You can make ship to shore calls from your cabin but it costs like $5 a minute....no kidding. I had a horrendous phone bill my first cruise.

Answer 5

Sounds like someone has a bit of trennungsangst. Get over it, tell them to send you an e-mail if there is an emergency and then go enjoy your time without them.

Answer 6

all the cruise lines have internet available while in port and during open sea sailing -- so stay in contact via email

lag

Answer 7

Hi, don´t worry, on board of the ship you will find all kind of
communication you need!
Have a nice trip, you deserved it!

Answer 8

Try this http://www.phonebell.net/