Thursday, January 27, 2011

86 DAYS TO GO . . .

      THURSDAY JANUARY 27, 2011

      TODAY'S TOPIC IS TELEPHONE AND INTERNET USAGE ON BOARD YOUR CRUISE.  JUST LIKE A HOTEL ROOM, THERE ARE PHONES IN EVERY CRUISE SHIP STATEROOM.  YOU CAN EVEN RECORD A PERSONAL GREETING ON YOUR VOICEMAIL LIKE YOU WOULD AT HOME.  YOU CAN CALL ROOM SERVICE, GUEST SERVICES, OR OTHER SHIP LOCATIONS, OR JUST ROOM TO ROOM AND LEAVE A MESSAGE FOR FAMILY OR FRIENDS FOR FREE BY DIALING 7 + STATEROOM NUMBER.  ANY PHONE WITH A MESSAGE WILL HAVE A RED BLINKING LIGHT, AND CHECKING YOUR MESSAGES IS JUST AS EASY.  YOU CAN ALSO LEAVE AND CHECK MESSAGES FROM HOUSE PHONES THROUGHOUT THE SHIP.  BUT THIS IS THE LIMIT WHEN IT COMES TO FREE PHONE CALLS.
     ANY CALLS YOU MAKE OFF THE SHIP FROM YOUR STATEROOM PHONE ARE (CURRENTLY) BILLED AT $6.95/MINUTE AT SHIP-TO-SHORE RATES.  (DISNEY USES SEAMOBILE - http://www.seamobile.com/)  AND YOU CANNOT CALL TOLL-FREE NUMBERS OR USE A CALLING CARD FROM YOUR STATEROOM PHONE!  IF SOMEONE NEEDS TO REACH YOU THEY CAN CALL 1-888-DCATSEA, BUT WILL BE PROMPTED FOR A MAJOR CREDIT CARD AND WILL BE CHARGED $6.95 FOR EACH MINUTE THE CALL IS CONNECTED.
      A BETTER OPTION MAY BE JUST TRYING YOUR CELL PHONE FROM YOUR STATEROOM, SINCE DISNEY HAS ENABLED USAGE FROM THERE.  ONCE YOU'RE 8-10 MILES OUT TO SEA THE WMS (WIRELESS MARITIME SERVICE) KICK IN AND ALLOW USAGE FROM YOUR STATEROOM ONLY.  YOU MAY HAVE TO CHECK WITH YOUR PROVIDER TO SEE IF YOUR PHONE WILL WORK SUCCESSFULLY OR NEED TO ADD INTERNATIONAL SERVICE.  SOME HAVE HAD SUCCESS WITHOUT ADDING IT, EVEN THOUGH THEY WERE TOLD THEY WOULD HAVE TO.  IF YOU'RE NOT GOING TO USE YOUR CELL, TURN IT OFF!  YOU COULD STILL INCUR AN ASTRONOMICAL CHARGE IF SOMETHING IS CONNECTED.  OR YOU COULD USE A CALLING CARD WHILE IN PORT, WHICH WOULD OBVIOUSLY BE A LOT CHEAPER.
     MOST OF DISNEY'S STATEROOMS HAVE WIRELESS INTERNET CAPABILITY, ALTHOUGH SOMETIMES IT CAN BE SPOTTY OR SLOW AT PEAK USAGE POINTS.  BUT IF YOU WIRELESS YOU CAN ROAM TO SOME OF THE OTHER PARTS OF THE SHIP THAT HAVE STRONGER SERVICE, NORMALLY RIGHT IN THE MIDDLE.  THERE ARE ALSO COMPUTER TERMINALS AVAILABLE TO GUESTS, WHO DID NOT BRING A LAPTOP OR THE LIKE WITH THEM, IN CAFES ON BOARD.  THERE ARE USUALLY ENOUGH TERMINALS THAT SOMETHING IS ALWAYS OPEN.  NOTE THAT VOICE OVER INTERNET PROTOCOL SERVICES SUCH AS SKYPE OR ICHAT HAVE BEEN BLOCKED ON DISNEY SHIPS.  YOU CAN EXPECT TO PAY ABOUT .75 CENTS/MINUTE FOR INTERNET ACCESS.  YOU CAN HOWEVER PRE-PUCHASE YOUR MINUTES IN BUNDLES FOR LESS IF YOU PLAN TO USE IT A LITTLE MORE.  YOU CAN CONTACT RESERVATIONS OR GUEST SERVICES FOR UP-TO-DATE INTERNET PACKAGE PRICES PRIOR TO SAILING.  JUST MAKE SURE YOU LOG OFF WHEN YOUR DONE, BECAUSE EVERY SECOND COUNTS, LITERALLY. 
      THERE ARE ALSO INTERNET CAFES CHARGING FAR LESS AT EVERY PORT IF YOU CAN AFFORD TO WAIT.  PORT TOWNS REALIZE WHAT CRUISERS NEED AND ARE LOOKING FOR AND CONTINUE TO GROW AND ADJUST ACCORDINGLY.  THAT'S WHY THEY'RE BLANKETED WITH JEWELRY STORES, SOUVENIR SHOPS, AND LIQUOR STORES.  SO DECIDE WHAT YOU NEED AND HOW IMPORTANT IT IS TO YOU TO STAY IN TOUCH DURING HOW EVER MANY DAYS YOU ARE CRUISING.  PERSONALLY, IF IT WEREN'T FOR THE HANDFUL OF HOURS BEFORE AND AFTER THE CRUISE IN FLORIDA, I DON'T THINK I'D EVEN BRING MY PHONE.  BUT THAT'S WHY THERE ARE CHOICES.
     SEE YA REAL SOON!   ºOº

No comments:

Post a Comment