Iphone 6 usage in multiple European Countries
 

I am taking a Baltic cruise in a few weeks on the Celebrity Silhouette. I have the internet package on the ship. I want to be able to use my IPhone 6 just to make and receive calls and text messages. Anything else I can do on the ship. We are going to be in Sweden 2 days, Russia 2 days, Denmark 2 days, Amsterdam 2 days, and 1 day each in Finland, Estonia, and Germany. 3 days at sea. I'm with Verizon. On prior European trips I've only been to one country and just bought a SIM card for that country; I'm not sure what to do when I'm visiting so many. I can quickly demonstrate my level of computer/software/smartphone sophistication by revealing that I still have an AOL email address.

What is the simplest, reasonably economical way for me to be able to make phone calls occasionally if I need to? These will be rare. I don't want to accumulate a fortune in data or roaming charges, so I know I need to do some things with my data. I do want to be able to text.

Thanks to all.

Steve

Here's a long recent thread discussion some options:

http://www.fodors.com/community/euro...damsterdam.cfm

I bought the Dutch Vodafone SIM mentioned in that thread - worked great for me in Slovenia, Italy, and France. UK SIMs were also mentioned in the same thread. I used Google Hangouts to make (and receive) calls on my phone to/from the US for free, using WiFi and mobile data.

Now that EU roaming charges have been eliminated, you can in theory buy a SIM in any country and use it in the others - though I'm not sure every SIM offers roaming at all. The Dutch Vodafone SIM with the "YOU" package definitely has free roaming data - except not in Russia. Maybe you will need a Russian SIM or just live without one for a few days and use WiFi here and there.

Well, if you had T-Mobile, you wouldn't have to worry.

Unless you are near the coast during your sea days and able to pick up a terrestrial signal you will be using the maritime service which is not covered by a prepeaid normally and s expensive.
You don't say where you cruise starts from, but you should check what prepaid services are offered for the departure country.
Russia will be expensive to use a phone, as it is of course not covered by the free roaming in the EU.
You can check fees on the websites of the service provider.
Note that if say you buy your SIM in the Netherlands and want to call France while still in the Netherlands you will be charged a higher rate. The inter country roaming rates only apply once you are actually roaming.
If you want to call the US then you are better off using VOIP. Calls out of Europe are expensive.

I used ThreeUK over the last month in Europe. I have a few days left on it, roaming back home now. It could work for you, except in Russia, but you need to look at each individual country and figure out how much you will use it and how much it burns up your pool.

http://www.three.co.uk/feel-at-home

You can get 1 gig for about $20. I got 12 gig, which cost about $30 and was ten times more than I used. But I only got it for data. You may find that using Hangouts will be most cost effective.You don't say where you will be calling to when you are overseas. If it is back to the US, Hangouts will be free as long as you have WiFi or a good data signal.

IF you have internet which supports something like SKYPE you might try that but having BEEN on several Celebrity ships and used the internet I wouldn't count on anything.

T-Mobil, which I also have and use in Europe is NOT "the answer" either from a ship necessarily.

We get a Verizon International plan every time we travel. As you enter each new country Verizon sends you a "Welcome to Country Name" and gives you codes you need to use your phone in that country.

AND BTW keep your phone either on airplane mode or turned OFF aboard because if it RINGS (thanks to that tower the ship has) and even if you DON'T answer, some plans will charge you anyway. CHECK with your carrier.

Thank's for the responses. Please keep them coming.

In reference to start and finish, we're arriving in Stockholm 2 days before the cruise starts, and staying in Amsterdam 2 days after the cruise finishes.

Would help to know your expected pattern of usage. How many calls ? Where to where? How much data?

What's a data? :)

I will use the ship internet to deal with my emails. Included in my package. I will not use streaming video or sound on my iphone.

I'd like to be able to text back and forth to the US, perhaps spend 20-30 minutes a day checking in on my 17 and 20 year old children, calming down my manic legal clients that pay me enough to take this nice trip, etc. Possibly may use to look up phone numbers of local restaurants for reservations, and or google things if I'm lost or looking for something.

THANK YOU AND EVERYONE ELSE FOR REPLYING!!!

What's a data? :)

I will use the ship internet to deal with my emails. Included in my package. I will not use streaming video or sound on my iphone.

I'd like to be able to text back and forth to the US, perhaps spend 20-30 minutes a day checking in on my 17 and 20 year old children, calming down my manic legal clients that pay me enough to take this nice trip, etc. Possibly may use to look up phone numbers of local restaurants for reservations, and or google things if I'm lost or looking for something.

THANK YOU AND EVERYONE ELSE FOR REPLYING!!!

Texting is not expensive on an intetnational plan with Verizon.

I don't know which time zones your clients and your kids live. If when you think you are away from the ship that you needed phone access is 3am their time, unless they are night owls, that capability is unlikely to be a relevant factor.

HappyTrvlr, we are on the same page tonight. It's just too simple to use the Verizon International plan, and it comes in different flavors with varying prices.