For some of us, we just can’t be disconnected from our family, friends and places of work (if you still work). And of course, there are good reasons…like the Davises will be hearing news of grandchild #2 while away on our cruise or you found the perfect trattoria in Italy for mangia. Many of you are aware that only certain cell phones and certain companies can provide service overseas. AT&T is one company who uses GSM technology for their cellular service and that matches what is used in Europe. With the addition of a sim chip and an unlocked phone, those of you using AT&T should be able to make calls and reach each other when we are on our cruise. If you have AT&T and wish to take your cell phone overseas, contact a customer service representative to get more information on how to upgrade your phone.
Verizon also has an opportunity which allows their users to continue to communicate when in Europe using their current cellular number, but with a different phone. To do this does require a little work on your part, but Verizon also has it set up and packaged as simply as possible. Here’s the scoop.
Call Verizon at 1-800-711-8300 and speak with one of their well-informed representatives. For a quick overview, Verizon has a Global Traveler plan which provides a compatible phone, shipping and handling of the phone to your home, the return back to Verizon plus a choice of a calling plan which allows for reduced rates when calling home or within Europe.
This is a temporary type plan because the phone is sent to you on loan and the calling plan is only for the period you are loaned and using the phone. There is no charge for the loaner phone, you just pay shipping of $9.99 which includes arrival to your door and the return of the phone. The calling plan is in addition to your current calling plan and these charges are certainly not like those most of us have these days…that is to say virtually free, but they are not really too bad (considering the price of gas?).
What you get with Global Traveler for $9.99:
* A GSM compatible cell phone mailed to you approximately 3-4 days before departure.
* Return shipping label for return of phone in same box received (keep the box and packaging).
* Pre-programming to transfer your CURRENT cell number to the loaner phone. This means family and friends here can call you on your same cell number and they will not be charged for the call, nor have to figure out how to find the right country code, etc. Of course, YOU pay, so you may want to warn folks not to call just to chat.
How it works:
* Once you receive the phone, review the information provided carefully. There are several steps you must follow before and after you travel. For example, the phone must be returned within 30 days, or a charge of $199 will be assessed to your account.
* You can automatically transfer your “Contact” list to this loaner phone. Check the instructions provided for how to do this.
* You activate the phone a couple of days before departure after the Contact list is transferred (if desired) and your current phone will go out of service temporarily.
* You now use the loaner phone just as if it was your regular phone.
* Once in Europoe you will automatically fall into the calling plan rates that you have selected. There are 2 plans basically…roughly $1.29 per minute in all of our countries or a Value Pack plan which is $2.53 for the 2 weeks plus $0.99 per minute for calls made/received. The one exception is Croatia, which is about $0.50 more per minute on either plan. PLEASE review this information with the customer rep carefully as it does get confusing, especially regarding making and receiving calls to/from Europe and to/from the U.S.
* The phone will work on the Celebrity Summit as well, so family can reach you there on your same cell number and your friends on the cruise can find you (?). Those charges are a standard $2.49 per minute on the ship, not your regular rate or Traveler plan rate, so be careful of this option. How this works is that Celebrity has Verizon antennas on board which allow you to receive/make calls. When we get about 3 miles from port, the local antennas take over and your calls are routed through the system in that country (did you care?).
* When you return, you call Verizon again to let them know to turn off your loaner phone and reactivate your regular phone.
* Your next Verizon billing will contain all the charges for this service. DON’T FORGET, until you call them to tell them you’re back, you will be charged the European rates for calls made/received. Get back on your regular calling plan right away!!
Again, this is a very broad overview of the Verizon services. They will be happy to provide you great detail when you call. AT&T has their own calling plans and sim chips programs, so be sure you understand those programs before you subscribe. If you do not use one of these two carriers, call your current representative and ask them if they recommend a company for celluar phone service in European.
You can also check the Internet for cellular phones in Europe to see a wide array of companies that provide services on a loan type basis. There are also prepaid phones from cellular stores in most cities in Europe or at the airport. These rates are a little steeper, but the phone is a throwaway in the end. Your hotel concierge can point you in the right direction if you are arriving a few days before the cruise.
By the way, Verizon phones and your current calling plan are compatible with Mexico, so there is no need to exchange phones when traveling there. I hope this info provided a little bit of insight for you. Since this is a very personal decision, it’s important for you to check this out carefully before you commit to taking your phone to Europe. You can always be reached on the ship if there is an emergency (or vice versa). That information will be provided by Celebrity when you receive your cruise documents. Bon Voyage, Ciao, Adios and See you Aboard!!
Verizon also has an opportunity which allows their users to continue to communicate when in Europe using their current cellular number, but with a different phone. To do this does require a little work on your part, but Verizon also has it set up and packaged as simply as possible. Here’s the scoop.
Call Verizon at 1-800-711-8300 and speak with one of their well-informed representatives. For a quick overview, Verizon has a Global Traveler plan which provides a compatible phone, shipping and handling of the phone to your home, the return back to Verizon plus a choice of a calling plan which allows for reduced rates when calling home or within Europe.
This is a temporary type plan because the phone is sent to you on loan and the calling plan is only for the period you are loaned and using the phone. There is no charge for the loaner phone, you just pay shipping of $9.99 which includes arrival to your door and the return of the phone. The calling plan is in addition to your current calling plan and these charges are certainly not like those most of us have these days…that is to say virtually free, but they are not really too bad (considering the price of gas?).
What you get with Global Traveler for $9.99:
* A GSM compatible cell phone mailed to you approximately 3-4 days before departure.
* Return shipping label for return of phone in same box received (keep the box and packaging).
* Pre-programming to transfer your CURRENT cell number to the loaner phone. This means family and friends here can call you on your same cell number and they will not be charged for the call, nor have to figure out how to find the right country code, etc. Of course, YOU pay, so you may want to warn folks not to call just to chat.
How it works:
* Once you receive the phone, review the information provided carefully. There are several steps you must follow before and after you travel. For example, the phone must be returned within 30 days, or a charge of $199 will be assessed to your account.
* You can automatically transfer your “Contact” list to this loaner phone. Check the instructions provided for how to do this.
* You activate the phone a couple of days before departure after the Contact list is transferred (if desired) and your current phone will go out of service temporarily.
* You now use the loaner phone just as if it was your regular phone.
* Once in Europoe you will automatically fall into the calling plan rates that you have selected. There are 2 plans basically…roughly $1.29 per minute in all of our countries or a Value Pack plan which is $2.53 for the 2 weeks plus $0.99 per minute for calls made/received. The one exception is Croatia, which is about $0.50 more per minute on either plan. PLEASE review this information with the customer rep carefully as it does get confusing, especially regarding making and receiving calls to/from Europe and to/from the U.S.
* The phone will work on the Celebrity Summit as well, so family can reach you there on your same cell number and your friends on the cruise can find you (?). Those charges are a standard $2.49 per minute on the ship, not your regular rate or Traveler plan rate, so be careful of this option. How this works is that Celebrity has Verizon antennas on board which allow you to receive/make calls. When we get about 3 miles from port, the local antennas take over and your calls are routed through the system in that country (did you care?).
* When you return, you call Verizon again to let them know to turn off your loaner phone and reactivate your regular phone.
* Your next Verizon billing will contain all the charges for this service. DON’T FORGET, until you call them to tell them you’re back, you will be charged the European rates for calls made/received. Get back on your regular calling plan right away!!
Again, this is a very broad overview of the Verizon services. They will be happy to provide you great detail when you call. AT&T has their own calling plans and sim chips programs, so be sure you understand those programs before you subscribe. If you do not use one of these two carriers, call your current representative and ask them if they recommend a company for celluar phone service in European.
You can also check the Internet for cellular phones in Europe to see a wide array of companies that provide services on a loan type basis. There are also prepaid phones from cellular stores in most cities in Europe or at the airport. These rates are a little steeper, but the phone is a throwaway in the end. Your hotel concierge can point you in the right direction if you are arriving a few days before the cruise.
By the way, Verizon phones and your current calling plan are compatible with Mexico, so there is no need to exchange phones when traveling there. I hope this info provided a little bit of insight for you. Since this is a very personal decision, it’s important for you to check this out carefully before you commit to taking your phone to Europe. You can always be reached on the ship if there is an emergency (or vice versa). That information will be provided by Celebrity when you receive your cruise documents. Bon Voyage, Ciao, Adios and See you Aboard!!
Photo provided by FlickrJonJon2k
4 comments:
Thank you Karen. I had looked in to the various options at one point and it was just too early to try to figure it out! I have Verizon and I think I will be using it to organize with my friends on the ship, so... Thanks again.
Kay...you mentioned that your cell phone is Verizon. What do you mean that "you will be using it to organize with your friends on the ship".
Both Karen and I have Verizon as well and so do others on board this cruise, including my family.
Can you elaborate on what you mean by organize with your friend? is it with your Verizon phone? is there something that I missed?
Thanks for your follow-up,
Diana
Nothing special or secret, just keeping in touch with people when plans are made and changed or things come up. For example, if we plan to meet at X bar for a drink and that bar is packed and decide to change the plan to meet at Y bar instead! Either on the ship or off.
I just spent several days at a conference and we played cell phone tag most of the time arranging meetings at the bell desk or this restaurant or that set of elevators. Even if we don't really use the phones quite so extensively while we are in Europe ($$$$$), it will still give me piece of mind to know that I CAN call and get a hold of shipmates (like you!) in case of a change in plans.
I am also not expecting any exciting phone calls from home while we are gone, so that is not as important to me as being in touch with shipmates.
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