Testing WMS’s Cellular at Sea Service for Verizon and AT&T Users

What: Cellular service plans offered by Verizon and AT&T, both powered by WMS.

Where: Onboard Windstar Cruises’ Star Breeze in French Polynesia.

Conclusion: A high-value option for cruisers who want to stay in touch by phone with family and friends back home.

During a recent Windstar Cruises sailing in French Polynesia, TMR had the chance to test out both Verizon’s and AT&T’s cellular at sea service. To do so, WMS sent me two iPhones, one for each mobile carrier. (I have T-Mobile, which does not offer a lower-priced WMS-powered day pass, and does not offer any type of cellular at sea data options.)

To test the service plans, which both cost $20 a day, I used each phone to make calls for two nights in a row each. In both cases, when I turned the phone on – not in airplane mode – I received a message telling me that the plan was available and/or active and $20 would be charged as soon as a made a phone call or sent a text.

I got this message each day, regardless of whether I had made a phone call the day prior or not.

(Normally, Verizon users must text “CRUISE” to 4004 before or at the start of their cruise to opt into the daily pass, but the phone I was sent was already opted in.)

Making phone calls was simple. Just use it as you normally would. The only difference is that you must dial the country code for the U.S. even though the phone registers as a Florida telephone number for whoever you are calling.

The connection for both phones was excellent and no matter how many calls you make, the daily price is capped at $20. And, again, you are only charged on the days you make a phone call or send a text.

Both plans also offer a limited amount of data, which I did not try out as I already had the onboard Wi-Fi package, which I used extensively.

When advising your clients about using these plans, the Verizon plan to recommend is the Cruise Daily Pass, while AT&T’s is the International Day Pass.