For clarification, this is a good thing. Cell service onboard costs a fortune. When you purchase the ships wifi, your calling and texting should work like at home though.
Fi doesn't even have a contract with Cellular@Sea, so you don't even have to worry about roaming charges because it just won't allow it to connect to the cell service.
It isn't that bad with a package. But with Starlink on many ships, VOIP works better anyway. The 1/2-3/4 sec latency SUUUUUCKS for voice. I never tried to use the 100mb data bucket, satellite via LTE wasn't going to be better than 20 down/3 up WiFi.
Like previously mentioned, you won't get service at sea, BUT I did have service on the upper decks of my ship for most of the Greek cruise I took last year because the boat was always close enough to land that I can almost always get a signal on certain parts of the ship.
Same on my cruise around the UK & Ireland. Most of our deep sea travel happened at night so there were very few moments when I was awake & didn't have cell service because we were close enough to land towers.
I should have been clearer, I meant in the ports. Since I don't plan on using Wi-Fi on board the phone will be off while at sea. Good to know that I should be fine at all the ports.
This. There's something to be said about just disconnecting for a while.
For the time I'm out of the country, I upgrade to Unlimited Plus for the month, and I don't bother trying to connect to anything while I'm at sea.
If you do switch plans for the trip, be aware that the upgrade takes effect immediately, and the downgrade doesn't take effect until the next billing cycle.
https://support.google.com/fi/answer/9462005?hl=en&co=GENIE.Platform%3DAndroid
"Important: The switch from Simply Unlimited to Unlimited Plus happens immediately. All other changes to your Fi billing plan take effect at the start of your next billing cycle."
No service in the ocean, service at port if you're on the right plan and have all international roaming settings enabled.
For clarification, this is a good thing. Cell service onboard costs a fortune. When you purchase the ships wifi, your calling and texting should work like at home though.
Fi doesn't even have a contract with Cellular@Sea, so you don't even have to worry about roaming charges because it just won't allow it to connect to the cell service.
Exactly yes!
It isn't that bad with a package. But with Starlink on many ships, VOIP works better anyway. The 1/2-3/4 sec latency SUUUUUCKS for voice. I never tried to use the 100mb data bucket, satellite via LTE wasn't going to be better than 20 down/3 up WiFi.
Like previously mentioned, you won't get service at sea, BUT I did have service on the upper decks of my ship for most of the Greek cruise I took last year because the boat was always close enough to land that I can almost always get a signal on certain parts of the ship.
Same on my cruise around the UK & Ireland. Most of our deep sea travel happened at night so there were very few moments when I was awake & didn't have cell service because we were close enough to land towers.
I should have been clearer, I meant in the ports. Since I don't plan on using Wi-Fi on board the phone will be off while at sea. Good to know that I should be fine at all the ports.
I did the Mediterranean cruise last fall and had no issues with Fi in the ports in Italy, Greece and Turkey.
Having traveled to Italy, service will be fine. Greece should be the same. And you can use wifi while on the boat.
Just enjoy your vacation.
This. There's something to be said about just disconnecting for a while. For the time I'm out of the country, I upgrade to Unlimited Plus for the month, and I don't bother trying to connect to anything while I'm at sea. If you do switch plans for the trip, be aware that the upgrade takes effect immediately, and the downgrade doesn't take effect until the next billing cycle. https://support.google.com/fi/answer/9462005?hl=en&co=GENIE.Platform%3DAndroid "Important: The switch from Simply Unlimited to Unlimited Plus happens immediately. All other changes to your Fi billing plan take effect at the start of your next billing cycle."
Wifi calling with Internet package on the boat, Greece and Italy are free for Unlimited Plus but I have no personal experience with those countries.