Got a question that maybe someone can help me with, possibly Sonny V or Dave Beers.
We will probably be sailing our second cruise next summer on the Explorer and I'm already starting to get wound up and nothing's even confirmed! I know that some ships and probably soon all, will provide cell service on board (at a hefty price of course).
My question is, if one is in an area where they would normally be able to use their cell phone and only use minues (i.e. in San Juan), would they physically have to get off the ship in order to avoid going through RCCL or whomever is their provider?
I don't know the specifics of it, but I don't think it works that way, otherwise some poor schmuck who happened to be using his cell phone as the ship passed nearby would get an extra charge. A ship's electronic services don't necessarily end at the hull boundary.
I don't use a cell phone much and certainly not while on a cruise, but I don't recall having to sign up for anything special in order to use one - at least on Carnival, and I assume it is the same on RCI.
Its also VERY likely that the ship's cell repeaters need to be shut down once they get within the port to prevent them from interferring with the local land based service. (most likely they need to be off within 10 miles or so of land)
Think of it as someone dropping another cell tower into the city without the cell company knowing about it. Maybe they have made arrangements for this with the various local providers, but who knows.
The easiest thing to do is to watch your phone for the "Roaming" indicator. When it changes, you can tell when you are on the land system versus the ship system.
And I know this is one of Dave's hot buttons, but be curtious to others around you when using a cell phone on a cruise ship. Most people on the ship are on vacation and don't want to have to listen to phone ringing all the time.
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Thanks Dave and Jim C. Don't worry Jim, I'm big on protocol and manners, absolutely detest their use in public gatherings and am forever wondering (as a retired law enforcement type) how fast the rate of those killed while driving and talking on a cell phone continues to climb. That being said, they can be a convenient tool when necessary.
Originally posted by Todd De Haven:
Thanks Dave and Jim C. Don't worry Jim, I'm big on protocol and manners, absolutely detest their use in public gatherings and am forever wondering (as a retired law enforcement type) how fast the rate of those killed while driving and talking on a cell phone continues to climb. That being said, they can be a convenient tool when necessary.
TDH
Todd, not to start into a big discussion, but to explain Jim's comment about cell phones being a hot button for me....my family was forever affected by an inattentive cell phone user last September. Nobody died but we are still dealing with the injuries and other issues. Cell phone misuse almost made me a widower and single parent.
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