Thread: Cell Phones in Alaska

Originally Posted by SailKeyWest

Sorry, but if it says Rogers, does that mean that it will be way more expensive to use it?

Depending on your cell phone provider, you may be Internationally Roaming, which might not be included in your covered minutes, depending on your plan.

Yes, check about the charges on both your phone and with the cruiseline before trying to use it. One guy posted on another board that he didn't turn his DROID phone off, even though he did NOT use it, he came home to a $2400 phone bill because his phone kept getting pinged while on the ship! I guess phones with apps will get pings that update them or something, not sure.

Yeah with these devices, you need to make sure you turn 'data roaming' option off, and a tip, when you are cursing close to land (i.e leaving home port or even cursing close to port in Alaska) make sure you set your phone to 'home network only' as apposed to 'automatic' because the tower service from land might still be available, but it's automatically switching to the ships because of a stronger signal. even if you are less then a mile or so out the ships server will take over, when sometimes service from land works just fine! Try checking your wireless carriers website and find their coverage locator, enter in the location and find out yourself!
-Matt

I have an iPhone (AT&T) and used my cell phone with no extra fees/charge during our Ketchikan, Juneau and Skagway port visits in Alaska last June. The ony day I would've incurred charges (and therefore didn't use it at all) was the evening we were in Victoria, B.C..