Cruise takers: what do you do about your cell phone?

I am going to call my provider and add the international plan so that I can make a phone call here and there to check on my son who will be with my mom while I am on the cruise. It still is $2.99 a minute ...
Texting is .50 out going and I think .10 I coming per text.
My mom doesn't text anyway..

I am also going to take off the Internet roaming ...

Should I get a calling card ?? An use the pay phones on the island? Would that be better?

Cruise takers: what do you do about your cell phone?

I just did what you are doing and sucked it up that it was going to be pretty pricey for the few calls that I had to make while on the cruise. Not sure if there is a better way, and yes, the charges are a lot, but it didn't wind up being crazy amounts of $$ for the week.

Re: Cruise takers: what do you do about your cell phone?

We actually just used the phones in the room and paid for the charges. Not sure if it's any cheaper or more expensive, but for the 1 or 2 calls we made, it was fine.

Re: Cruise takers: what do you do about your cell phone?

My patents used their cell to call me a couple times the last time they cruised it was $30 per phone call.

Cruise takers: what do you do about your cell phone?

I've read that you should put your phone in airplane mode otherwise you will be getting charged for every text coming in, which could be an issue if you get email or facebook notifications via text.

Re: Cruise takers: what do you do about your cell phone?

Call your cell phone carrier and tell them you are going on vacation for x time. Ask them to add the ability to make calls from the specific countries you are going to go to, on your calling plan. You will then need to dial one of those three digit numbers for your phone to "upgrade" it. Just make sure they are not changing your calling plan. Some people have grandfathered in services and you don't want to loose those items.