VM Android, No contract, Pre-pay: Cruise Ship Use?

[ClubSteeler]

Carnival Cruises web site says:
cell phone service is available on all ships in the Carnival fleet. While your ship is at sea, the cellular system is activated and you can make and receive calls, send and receive text messages, as well as view emails and browse the Internet with over 300 carriers worldwide. International roaming rates apply and are set and billed by your home carrier. Charges will appear on your regular cell phone bill. Please contact your carrier before your cruise to check rates for each service and ensure your plan allows you to roam.


So can anyone with VM tell me if my phone will work? Will I be able to text? What about data?

I'd mainly like to post some pics on FB for the grandparents to see.

And if it is Roaming.... and I am prepay, I can't unknowingly run up a big bill.. can I?

 

[mkbkr1]

You won't be able use the phone to make calls or send texts as VM doesn't allow roaming. However, if they have wifi, you should be able connect to the internet and send the pictures through your email. Check with Carnival and see if they offer wifi, either free or for a small fee.

 

[Deleted User]

i have been on a carnival cruise before and my mother in law had a VM phone. she got no service; but that was in 2009 (she had a x-tc). i can tell you that wifi is very expensive! i had a online class to take and my assignments were still due even though i was in the Caribbean (=]). i think i spent like $50 for the whole week for limited access. i think i only had 100 minutes of internet use so i had to make them count. and it was choppy in spots; i had to walk around the ship-laptop and books in hand with people staring-for a good signal if u have the money-go for it; but i say enjoy your vacation and you can text or check your email when you get back. thats what i would do. =]

 

[insertusername]

I'm not exactly what the cruise company is saying, but Virgin Mobile does not have any roaming agreements with other carriers. The only way you could connect to FB is if there's WiFi on cellular coverage (which I doubt).

 

[Deleted User]

you know what also if you have the money-some cruise ships have computer lab areas where you can get on the internet (for a hefty fee of course) you can check your email and even send texts online (if you have yahoo, or a other email company that can send sms by a online messenger) so you dont have to use your phone, but if you really want to keep in touch with family; its gonna cost you either way...

 

[TampaShooters]

Sorry, no cellular at sea for Virgin customers,
http://www.cellularatsea.com/roaming.htm

but there is Wifi.

All Carnival Ships have an Internet Cafe, and I believe they all have shipwide Wifi which you can use on your own equipment (For the same costs), but it is insanely pricey.

Activation fee - a one-time $3.95 charge applies to each user on their first login only.

Time Plans – offer guests the opportunity to enjoy a lower per-minute rate. These Time Plans are transferable between Internet Caf