Cruise Talk: Sunbird/Carribean

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Topic: Sunbird/Carribean - Te

IanP
Just Boarded
Member # 184

posted 09-26-1999 11:54 AM

We are going on our first Cruise on the Sunbird (Airtours) next April. I need to make a daily telephone call back to UK and possibly receive an occasional call. Does anyone know what charges are likely to be, making/receiving calls on the telephone in cabins. How easy is it to make a call or would it make more sense to use public phones ashore, using Credit/Calling Cards.

Any info would be greatly received.

Ian.

Posts: 1 | From: Poole, Uk | Registered: Sep 99

sympatico
First Class Passenger
Member # 797

posted 09-26-1999 03:32 PM

VERY expensive - check with the cruise line regarding rates. Why bother going if you have to make all these phone calls. Going on a cruise is supposed to be relaxing - if it is about business leave it at home and forget about the phone calls. If you really have to make the call use public phones ashore and use your credit card. Now there is another problem. Finding a phone - we had trouble in Grand Cayman and had to locate the telephone office. In St. Thomas there are lots of phones but most are being used by crew who get little chance to phone home so take advantage when the phones are right on the dock. Don't forget the time difference, if you are sailing in the Caribbean.

Posts: 3305 | From: Toronto, Ont. Canada | Registered: Jul 99

joe at travelpage
Administrator
Member # 622

posted 09-26-1999 04:48 PM

Ian,

Sympatico is right abou the calls being expensive. They range from $12-$15 per MINUTE! E-mail is slowly making its way aboard some ships but it will be a while before the majority of the fleets are equipped. For instructions on how to contact someone on a cruise ship by phone or fax, click on the following link: http://www.travelpage.com/cruise/ships/phone.htm

Joe at TravelPage.com

Posts: 29976 | From: Great Falls, Virginia | Registered: A Long Time Ago!

MagnmPI
First Class Passenger
Member # 299

posted 09-27-1999 01:42 PM

hahahahaha....Sympatico is right, impossible to find an unused pay phone on St.Thomas. They have got crews from about 3 sometimes 4 ships using them. I've used the ship's telephone in my room, but the connection was bad and I kept getting disconnected. Also the person on the other end said they were having difficulty hearing me. Global network telephones are slowly being developed, call a major cellular phone company for details, or search the web if you have the time.

My favorite aspect of cruising is being at sea with no site of land on the horizon. My wife and I have stressful careers and savor every minute of those "at sea" days, where no one can call you and you "can't" call anyone. I guess those days are gone.

Posts: 545 | From: San Francisco Bay Area | Registered: Aug 99

sympatico
First Class Passenger
Member # 797

posted 09-27-1999 05:14 PM

Must tell you all of the time we were on the Rotterdam in the middle of the Pacific Ocean on our way to Hawaii and the office called my husband and had him sit in on a conference call. What a bunch of idiots - the bill apparently was astronomical. Then they told my husband they were faxing him some papers, and to make 6 copies of each page, sign them and courier them back to them. In the middle of the ocean????? Fortunately the Purser was a good friend and she had copies of the papers made and sent them by courier when we reached our first port. I don't know what they were thinking of but we did get the job done. That was the first and last time they ever called him on the ship again. We too liked the long sea days and the trip to Hawaii is the best for this. We went on cruises to get away from the telephones and newspapers and to have a good rest. I agree with Magnum PI - get a good cell phone and call from shore. I don't think they like you using cells on the ship - something to do with the navigation, like the airplanes.

Posts: 3305 | From: Toronto, Ont. Canada | Registered: Jul 99

Natalie
First Class Passenger
Member # 347

posted 10-01-1999 01:19 PM

Do you think a mobile will be cheaper?

My best friend is pregnant and is likely to give birth over the New Year period and I would like to call every two or three days (as I am godmother!).

Cruise ships telephones I am told are very expensive. Does anyone know roughly how much a call from the Caribbean to UK for a couple of minutes costs?

Posts: 61 | From: Yateley, Hampshire, England | Registered: Apr 99

MagnmPI
First Class Passenger
Member # 299

posted 10-01-1999 05:22 PM

If you only need to call every two or three days then a mobile phone is probably not cost effective. The satelite phones that are being used now are very expensive. They are used primarily by the news media, high government officials and corporate executives. You can rent a cellular phone that's configured to operate in the section of the world you're traveling to, but it won't do you any good at sea. Since you won't be at sea for longer than 3 days in the Caribbean, I say the best thing for you Natalie is to use those credit card payphones. Call your international operator from home and ask for a rate estimate. You should be able to find those phones at the port, or anywhere you find other "out of towners".

Posts: 545 | From: San Francisco Bay Area | Registered: Aug 99

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