The bandwith on a cruise ship is both expensive and horrible speedwise. It would probably cost you less to just use their phone to call the person you are trying to reach.

It's about fifty cents per minute, and you will be saying What? I didn't get that, say it again? Sorry missed that try again over and over again so it will add up.

Cell costs are billed by your carrier, not the cruise ship, and are no where near $8 a minute that the cabin phone costs. AT&T is $2.50 per minute or $30 for 50 minutes, sprint is $2.99 per minute.