Forum Discussion

dborja's avatar
dborja
Roaming Rookie
Hace 2 años

Coverage on Royal Princess cruise?

We are going on a West Coast cruise on the Royal Princess (San Francisco-San Diego-Ensenada). Will we be able to connect to the land towers to get our normal "free" data, SMS and talk services? Otherwise, are we subject to the no data, $0.55/txt and $5.99/min talk?

  • Getting anywhere within 2 miles of most cruise ships will have your device potentially connecting to the ships cell tower.  Whatever the rates are for their ship is what you will be charged.  Cruise ships have the most ridiculous rates I have ever seen.  

  • syaoran's avatar
    syaoran
    Transmission Titan

    Getting anywhere within 2 miles of most cruise ships will have your device potentially connecting to the ships cell tower.  Whatever the rates are for their ship is what you will be charged.  Cruise ships have the most ridiculous rates I have ever seen.  

  • Cali_Cat's avatar
    Cali_Cat
    Bandwidth Buddy

    Simple - while onboard, disable cell and only use wifi (assuming you are ok paying for wifi). On dry land enable and use TMO roaming as long as your plan includes it.

  • formercanuck's avatar
    formercanuck
    Spectrum Specialist

    While it may be possible between parts of San Diego and L.A., you'll have large gaps between L.A. and San Francisco.  Also, you'll have to try and ensure that you don't roam on the ship,  or it can be quite expensive.   You'd be better off using ship WiFi

  • dborja wrote:

    Thanks for the responses! It looks like our best bet is paying for the ship's wifi while we're underway. Our plan (One Plan Unlimited 55) gives us free talk, SMS and data in Mexico


    just make sure you are fully away from the ship before you start making calls/sending texts/using mobile. just because youre in Mexico doesnt mean youre not still connecting to that ship.

  • dborja's avatar
    dborja
    Roaming Rookie

    Thanks for the responses! It looks like our best bet is paying for the ship's wifi while we're underway. Our plan (One Plan Unlimited 55) gives us free talk, SMS and data in Mexico

  • dborja's avatar
    dborja
    Roaming Rookie
    fireguy_6364 wrote:
    dborja wrote:

    Thanks for the responses! It looks like our best bet is paying for the ship's wifi while we're underway. Our plan (One Plan Unlimited 55) gives us free talk, SMS and data in Mexico


    just make sure you are fully away from the ship before you start making calls/sending texts/using mobile. just because youre in Mexico doesnt mean youre not still connecting to that ship.

    Thanks! Good tip. I'll see about setting our iPhones to connect only to T-Mobile once we're on land. Otherwise, we'll make sure we are well away from the ship before turning on our cellular service.