The month abroad restriction is not strictly enforced, but I would definitely rig it so I had a month or two before I left. I'm forever stuck with Blackberry because I have the old international roaming plan and don't have that restriction.

I looked online at the semester at sea program at issue. The poster has more than 20 days at sea. This includes 10 days crossing the Atlantic each way.

It may be time to sign up for Internet-holics Anonymous, e.g.: "My name is Stuart. It has been thirty seconds since I've last been on the net."

Also see if you can buy the GSM cards they sell the crew. It is no bargain, but it is cheaper than the GSM roaming rate. With ATT's discounted international discounted roaming rate, the per minute for a phone call is $2.49:

http://www.wireless.att.com/travelgu...=1580&MNC=CING