Cellphone on Cruise

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Reanalyse

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Topic # 198294 3-Jul-2016 20:38

Greetings,

Shortly we are going on a short cruise, and want to be able to briefly check all is OK at home.

The ship allows cellphone activity (costs around $5.00 per minute to call, $1.00 per minute to receive calls and a lot less for texts) - info from the 2 Degrees page on roaming.

Does anyone know how much it costs for the cellphone in NZ to call or text the roaming cellphone (both on 2 Degrees network). Is it standard charges or is the roaming phone treated as a priority number ? I assume it would be best for the roaming phone to send a text at less than a dollar (saying call me) and then receive the call from the NZ based phone.

Have I got this right ?

Many Thanks

1eStar

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Reply # 1585272 3-Jul-2016 20:46

Usually on roaming you pay to receive.

1eStar

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Reply # 1585280 3-Jul-2016 20:48

The caller from nz doesn't necessarily know where you are and so pays at normal rate.

sbiddle

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Reply # 1585283 3-Jul-2016 20:55

You don't (and never have) paid for inbound SMS messages. Person sending or calling pays the same rate they would pay to call or send you a SMS in NZ. If you answer the phone you pay the inbound roaming rate to cover the inbound call costs.

HaggisKiwi

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Reply # 1585323 3-Jul-2016 21:44

Refer to the 'In-flight & Cruise Ship Roaming' section of https://www.2degreesmobile.co.nz/help-and-support/mobile/products-and-services/international-roaming

There's pricing & a link to supported ships.

Basically, not cheap.

Quinny

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Reply # 1585446 4-Jul-2016 10:27

Boss racked up $2500 on a recent cruise. Admittedly we knew would not be cheap and it saved a huge contract but was about $600 per long call.

trig42

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Reply # 1585454 4-Jul-2016 10:36

Most cruise ships have WiFi, which will be a lot cheaper than Cellular coverage, but it is still expensive.

Do you really need to talk to someone? Can you use Viber/Skype/FB Messenger etc?

Stu

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Reply # 1585756 4-Jul-2016 17:09

Pretty sure that not all cruise lines have agreements with all carriers, so check 2Degrees will let you roam with your cruise ship.

The WiFi can be horrendously expensive also, so weigh up the costs to see which works out the best for you. I usually just wait until in port or passing inhabited bits of land, if close enough. If cruising from or around Australia I also buy a $15 Aus data pack as required for email etc.

Keep calm, and carry on posting.

Reanalyse

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Reply # 1585758 4-Jul-2016 17:16

Thanks everybody - the confirmations have been most helpful

Stu

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Reply # 1585773 4-Jul-2016 17:45

Can I ask where you're cruising and which cruise line? Purely out of interest and not on topic!

Keep calm, and carry on posting.

Reanalyse

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Reply # 1585789 4-Jul-2016 18:14

Sure - its a trial so only a short cruise on Princess Cruise Lines from Auckland to Sydney- then if we like it will go on longer cruises.

Outside low cabin to minimise risk of seasickness. Main concern is we do not want to be on a floating retirement home

Regards

Stu

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Reply # 1585832 4-Jul-2016 19:50

We were surprised how many younger people (small kids, teens, twenty somethings+) were on the cruise we went on at the end of last year (also with Princess Cruises). Quite a good mixture of ages in fact. We're in our forties and were thinking the same as you. There are obviously a good number of the older generations as well, but certainly not an overwhelming majority. We went the other way from you, from Sydney to Milford Sound/Fiordland and up the east coast to eventually disembarked in Auckland. The cruise length (9 days) did worry the wife a little as she used to get terrible travel illness as a child and to a lesser degree as an adult. We both had zero problems (although we did pack the usual remedies just in case). We got a lower mid cabin with a view also, which was cool. Already planning future cruises!

Keep calm, and carry on posting.

HaggisKiwi

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Reply # 1586108 5-Jul-2016 09:06

Agreed. We were on a Christmas/New Year cruise last year (ex SYD & out to Noumea, New Caledonia & back), & there was certainly no "retirement home" feel.

There was a mix from toddlers to the elderly, & most kids were respectful. There was a group of raucous 20-somethings that were a bit of a spoiler, but they calmed down after they continually temporarily service suspended from each bar.

I do recommend an external cabin with balcony; you need access to fresh air in your own private space. I don't recommend a cabin directly below the pool deck; you get a early morning wake-up call of all the furniture being moved around, & late at night as events/movies can go on to the wee hours.

Would do again, but not an every year thing.

trig42

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Reply # 1586141 5-Jul-2016 09:18

We've done a couple - both on P&O. First was a 4 nighter AKL-BRIS, which we really enjoyed. Was in the middle of Winter (in fact, this time 6 years ago, we would have been on the ship). There was a storm in the Tasman which the captain tried to skirt around. Had a bumpy night which I actually quite enjoyed, but a lot of people (wife included) didn't.

Second cruise to the islands a couple of years ago - also really enjoyed.

Will do another, probably not with P&O though - I get the feeling they are aiming themselves now at the cheaper/party end of the market, and I want to try another line.