Communication to US from Caribbean

I am taking a cruise in January , and will be stopping in Antigua , St.
Thomas , Barbados, Grenada, and Tortola . I am trying to figure out the most
reasonable way to communicate with the US while I'm gone for the 11 days .
Mostly just check my voice mail , check in with my office , and make sure
there are no family emergency's while I'm gone. Probably 10-15 minutes of
phone time every day or two would be sufficient . The ship to shore service
is very expensive , my cell phone would even be cheaper , but that's still
$2.50 a minute for international roaming . I can use my AT+T card if I can
find a phone that will take it , but that isn't even any cheaper and I risk
fees and sur charges the phone company there might add on. I would be much
more comfortable with a pre paid phone card , at least then I don't have to
worry about getting some huge bill in the future .

Has anyone had any experience with the local phone service , phone cards ,
internet cafe's , and does anyone know if text messaging from a cell phone
works ? I know the ship has the cell towers onboard and Verizon will work -
but like I mentioned , big roaming charges.

Any other ideas would also be appreciated as well.

Thanks in advance.


Ray Kloc

Well...I have an obligation to my clients as well as my family . The cruise
is 11 days , and a lot can happen in that time, and while I'm not intending
to work then , I do need to check on certain things from time to time . In
fact , if I make a few calls in the morning every other day and then have
the peace of mind knowing that there aren't any buisness problems that only
I can solve , and my elderly father is ok , my vacation is far better than
it would be if I was worried about those things.

"JP" <john5240@> wrote in message
news:rBR%g.4296$Wp3.4195@trndny05...
> It is beyond belief, that you go on a cruise and must maintain contact
> with
> your office. What kind of a vacation is that? Why not just forget about
> work
> and enjoy yourself? If you are the type, who cannot forget about work, why
> not stay at home and watch movies about adventures on the ocean? A lot
> cheaper and you will be closer to work, if something terrible happens.
>
> JP
>
>
> "Ray" <raymondkloc@> wrote in message
> news:eSO%g.2974$T_1.1679@newssvr14.news.prodigy.co m...
>> I am taking a cruise in January , and will be stopping in Antigua , St.
>> Thomas , Barbados, Grenada, and Tortola . I am trying to figure out the
> most
>> reasonable way to communicate with the US while I'm gone for the 11 days
>> .
>> Mostly just check my voice mail , check in with my office , and make sure
>> there are no family emergency's while I'm gone. Probably 10-15 minutes of
>> phone time every day or two would be sufficient . The ship to shore
> service
>> is very expensive , my cell phone would even be cheaper , but that's
>> still
>> $2.50 a minute for international roaming . I can use my AT+T card if I
>> can
>> find a phone that will take it , but that isn't even any cheaper and I
> risk
>> fees and sur charges the phone company there might add on. I would be
>> much
>> more comfortable with a pre paid phone card , at least then I don't have
> to
>> worry about getting some huge bill in the future .
>>
>> Has anyone had any experience with the local phone service , phone cards
> ,
>> internet cafe's , and does anyone know if text messaging from a cell
>> phone
>> works ? I know the ship has the cell towers onboard and Verizon will
> work -
>> but like I mentioned , big roaming charges.
>>
>> Any other ideas would also be appreciated as well.
>>
>> Thanks in advance.
>>
>>
>> Ray Kloc
>>
>>
>
>

Thank you all for input...and anyone else who may have some experience to
share as well !


Ray


"Ray" <raymondkloc@> wrote in message
news:eSO%g.2974$T_1.1679@newssvr14.news.prodigy.co m...
> I am taking a cruise in January , and will be stopping in Antigua , St.
> Thomas , Barbados, Grenada, and Tortola . I am trying to figure out the
> most
> reasonable way to communicate with the US while I'm gone for the 11 days .
> Mostly just check my voice mail , check in with my office , and make sure
> there are no family emergency's while I'm gone. Probably 10-15 minutes of
> phone time every day or two would be sufficient . The ship to shore
> service
> is very expensive , my cell phone would even be cheaper , but that's still
> $2.50 a minute for international roaming . I can use my AT+T card if I can
> find a phone that will take it , but that isn't even any cheaper and I
> risk
> fees and sur charges the phone company there might add on. I would be much
> more comfortable with a pre paid phone card , at least then I don't have
> to
> worry about getting some huge bill in the future .
>
> Has anyone had any experience with the local phone service , phone cards ,
> internet cafe's , and does anyone know if text messaging from a cell phone
> works ? I know the ship has the cell towers onboard and Verizon will
> work -
> but like I mentioned , big roaming charges.
>
> Any other ideas would also be appreciated as well.
>
> Thanks in advance.
>
>
> Ray Kloc
>
>

In article <9KadnZU-SKrzNt3YnZ2dnUVZ_oKdnZ2d@>, Ermalee
<ehm369.@.comcast..net> wrote:

> As an added piece of info, our Verizon cellular phone worked well in
> Bermuda last week. I will know the roam rate when the bill arrives :-).

..69 cents a minute is the Verizon roam rate in Bermuda.

--
Charles

In article <woa0h.7893$PA3.7749@trndny04>, JP <john5240@>
wrote:

> I just have a little different opinion than some people
> about taking vacations.

What you have is an idealized opinion about vacations. The real world
for many people is a compromise. In order to earn a living and take
their cruise vacations, or to get away from complicated personal
situations at home and take a cruise, many must keep some contact with
the outside world even on vacation. Or else not take the cruise.

--
Charles