Phone Options on Grand Princess?

We're taking the Grand Princess just before x-mas. What is the best option
for making 1-2 phone calls per day?
Thanks
LT

I intend to try out voice over IP (VOIP) using a wireless internet
connection
on my next voyage. In the past left the computer at home. Next time
it's coming along.

Anyone with luck using VOIP for calls with the Princess ships?

Mike
www.mythictravel.com

LT wrote:
We're taking the Grand Princess just before x-mas. What is the best option
for making 1-2 phone calls per day?
Thanks
LT

"Michael A." wrote in message
...
I intend to try out voice over IP (VOIP) using a wireless internet
connection
on my next voyage. In the past left the computer at home. Next time
it's coming along.

Anyone with luck using VOIP for calls with the Princess ships?

I would suspect that they have blocked the ports for VOIP to prevent this.
My experience with using VOIP over satellite links has been less than
outstanding. VOIP requires a pretty high-speed low-latency connection.
Princess' disclaimer says, "Ship Internet access is not guaranteed at all
times due to the nature of satellite communications, which are subject to
itinerary and possible disruption from weather patterns and various
obstructions. Also, Internet access via satellite is significantly slower
than high-speed connections on shore."

On my recent cruise I used my cell phone through their onboard system. I
forwarded all incoming calls to voicemail where I requested that the caller
send a numeric page, text message or e-mail. Calls with their cell phone
system were $5/min. Text messages were 15c each outgoing and on my plan free
incoming.

Since most cruise ships are near land every day or so using your cell phone
on shore can be a cheaper option. There are many alternatives to high priced
cellular roaming.

--
Donald R. Newcomb
DRNewcomb (at) attglobal (dot) net

Hi, LT,

We just got off the Grand P. (and it was a nice cruise). They now tout cell
service at sea. We didn't try making voice calls, so I can't tell you
anything about reception. After reading about the feature in the daily
newspaper (Princess Patter), my husband got out his Treo and was able to
connect and download his email (Sprint). We did see/hear passengers using
their cell phones, and I once saw a passenger placing a VOIP call from his
laptop standing in the atrium outside the library/internet area. We used our
laptop and the ship's computers to connect to the 'net a couple of
times--the satellite connection was so slow, I cannot imagine it would be
reliably robust enough to place important phone calls.

You might want to ask this question in the Princess forum on Cruise Critic
and indicate which cell network you use to get better feedback on your
chances. Also, join the Roll Call for your cruise if you haven't already and
ask them the same question.

Note, you should check with your cell provider charges for such calls
and whether there is any international service you can temporarily activate
to reduce costs. I did place one cell call to the US from land in Cozumel
and was prompted to agree to pay International roaming charges before the
call went through. It will be interesting to see what that call cost me. I
have heard other folks talk about unexpectedly incurring outrageous charges
for cell usage.

Good luck in figuring out a workable system. Have a great cruise!

Diana Ball
Austin, TX

Thus spake "Donald Newcomb" :

"Michael A." wrote in message
...
I intend to try out voice over IP (VOIP) using a wireless internet
connection
on my next voyage. In the past left the computer at home. Next time
it's coming along.

Anyone with luck using VOIP for calls with the Princess ships?

I would suspect that they have blocked the ports for VOIP to prevent this.
My experience with using VOIP over satellite links has been less than
outstanding. VOIP requires a pretty high-speed low-latency connection.
Princess' disclaimer says, "Ship Internet access is not guaranteed at all
times due to the nature of satellite communications, which are subject to
itinerary and possible disruption from weather patterns and various
obstructions. Also, Internet access via satellite is significantly slower
than high-speed connections on shore."

I successfully used Skype on the Elation last year. It was a short
call and there were some quality issues, but it worked. Skype is
notorious for finding a path out. It'll even use port 80 if it needs
to. Unless they block on protocol, Skype will work.


On my recent cruise I used my cell phone through their onboard system. I
forwarded all incoming calls to voicemail where I requested that the caller
send a numeric page, text message or e-mail. Calls with their cell phone
system were $5/min. Text messages were 15c each outgoing and on my plan free
incoming.

Roaming was around that same rate on the Rhapsody this fall. I turned
on international roaming so I could call from Grand Cayman and
Cozumel, if needed. Rates were $1.59 a minute for Grand Cayman and
$.43 a minute for Mexico. Text messages were $.10 a pop regardless of
where we were. When we were in Australia last year, I did a lot of
texting to our house/dog sitter.


Since most cruise ships are near land every day or so using your cell phone
on shore can be a cheaper option. There are many alternatives to high priced
cellular roaming.

Check your air provider for international roaming rates. Cingular
charges $4.95 a month for rates that are about a half to a third of
what they would be without the plan. It will pay for itself in about
5 minutes. But not onboard the ship. Of course, you'll need a quad
band GSM phone to make it work.
--
dillon

If you can't figure out how to unmunge my
address, email me and I'll explain it.