Staying Connected- Mobile Phone by Karen

My dear close girlfriend and fellow cruise travel buddies, Karen and her husband Buzz will be joining us for Roger's B-day Cruise. Karen and I go way back, no Laura, not as far back as you my childhood gal pal, but definitely longer than Roger and that’s a long time…However ask either of us later will ya, as that’s yet another story.

I met Karen when I worked with the City of Irvine and one of Karen’s main responsibilities with the City was our City’s phone system. I asked Karen to help me out and share her expertise and wisdom to keep me connected with our Verizon cell phone during this cruise. I thought the following information might be helpful to all of you as well. There are so many different cell phone carriers these days, so be sure to check with your own carrier before you sail so that you can stay connected. Here are some general guidelines and tips that Karen shared with me….Diana

Helpful tips from Karen...

• It does NOT require a special phone to make/receive calls in Mexico. Your same phone today will work there. This should include Ensenada and most port towns but as you stray from the port areas you will possibly have sporadic service because there aren’t as many cell towers inland.

• To use your existing phone in Mexico (or make any other international calls actually) you must add “International Dialing” to your features before you leave. This does not cost extra, it just allows you to dial the U.S. country code 001 and then the area code and number, 1-XXX-XXX-XXXX, when traveling internationally, including Mexico or Canada. Simply call your carrier and ask them to add this feature to your phone. It will allow you to make/receive calls in Mexico or any country for that matter....for the appropriate charges.
• SO, the big message is....when you dial from Mexico or you receive calls from the U.S. to your phone you will incur Roaming Charges of approximately $0.99 per minute. Other long distance rates will also apply, so it's important to look online or speak with a representative from your carrier to learn their international rates.

• Additionally, if one is using their phone aboard the ship, the charges are muchhigher. That rate is approximately $2.49 per minute because the ship charges that rate aspart of the service of providing cellular coverage on board. For purposes aboard the ship, my carrier suggested that text messaging might be a better way to go. Those charges inMexico (or in waters traveling to Mexico) are part of your text messaging bundle in yourcalling plan package (if you subscribe to text messaging). You can add the text messagingfeature if you don't have it for about $5.00 per month.

• The bottom line is to be sure your features on your cell phone include International Dialing capability in order to make/receive calls in Mexico. Check with your carrier to be sure you understand all other rates and charges or options available to you. Adios and Salute....see you aboard!!!

Photo provided by Cell Phone 1 FlickrJonJon2k8