Android phone on cruise, need data
 

If I have an unlocked GSM Android phone, and I want a sim card that will provide data service (preferably prepaid, but postpaid is ok too), then what should I get? Would an AT&T sim and one of their data connect passes work? Do I need a "global" one? (It's a Princess ship, the Sapphire.)

I know it's not cheap, but neither is the ship's wifi, and the service is usually slower than 3G. Thanks for any help!

If yo uhave not seen it yet, see the details on this page for AT&T and princess ships

http://www.wireless.att.com/travelgu...=1633&MNC=CING

It may help. It says you don't need international plans for voice access, but will be charged international rates, but does not say if it is the same for data.

The actual provider of the service on Princess has their page here

http://www.mcp.com/princess/

it may be easier to just contact them and see if they can tell you any options, again they are quite vague on their website.

Thanks. The vague information on most of the sites I have checked on this issue (AT&T, T-Mobile) is frustrating.

Tmobile on their website says it's $15 a meg, at 2GS speed.

I'm not sure which would frustrate me more, the slow speed or the ever increasing bill

http://www.t-mobile.com/internationa..._RoamWorldwide

choose the ship in the pull down list of countries

Which is cheap compared to Verizon

http://b2b.vzw.com/international/Cru...ips/index.html

at just over $20 per mg.

I would take another look at wireless on board, that may be a much better way to go in the long run.

Ugh. I may do that. I just wish there was a better option for decent data connectivity onboard.

Not while using the ship's on-board tower. Rates are insanely expensive. All US carriers are $2.49/min, except TMobile which is $4.99/min. The best option is SMS.

Satellite bandwidth is expensive. You're lucky there's an option at all.

If you want cheap Internet access your best bet is to stay at home.

There really isn't a better option for on-board data access than the wifi service they offer.

The only time I would ever get data through my phone provider is if my employer were picking up the tab, and even then, I would feel guilty submitting a HUGE tab when wifi would do just fine.

Realize that the 3G goes over the same satellite link as the onboard internet, so I don't see how it could be faster...

Keep in mind too that the internet on the ship is usually priced per minute.

The internet on your phone on the ship is usually priced per Megabyte, and it's probably at 2G speed or maybe 3G. I have had some fairly decent speeds on the ships WiFi or onboard machines

There is also usually a bonus for booking the block of time the first night which also cuts the cost a bit.

Paying per minute unless you are only sending tiny text files is probably going to be much less expensive than paying by size.

Surf via cheap wifi in your ports of call.

Unplug and enjoy vacation.

It was difficult for me to do so on a cruise I took last winter, but I'm glad I did. Connectivity is an addiction!

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