I've got 2 weeks floating round the Caribbean booked for January. The boat's WiFi is very expensive and apparently not very fast or reliable.
GigSky offer eSims which also aren't cheap but they do give you at-sea service. It isn't crucial but SWMBO would like it if we know it is likely to work, just to "keep in touch".
Has anyone used them, or got any other recommendations? It's only really while we are sailing as I'm sure the ports will have WiFi scattered around for us to find.
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>> GigSky offer eSims which also aren't cheap but they do give you at-sea service. It
>> isn't crucial but SWMBO would like it if we know it is likely to work,
>> just to "keep in touch".
Not sure how an e-sim on your land based mobile phone is going to pick up a cell that doesent exist at sea.
And at $26 for 7 days 1gb, I think its the right time to tell your missus she does not keep in touch on your 1 day (or 2 at most) "days at sea"
Done several caribean cruises, yes the ships wifi is useless, yes you get wifi in ports and cafes (and in french or dutch islands eu roaming).
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Marella something, Explorer I think. Cheapo (!!) Tui cruise but we upgraded to a cabin with a decent sized balcony also upgraded the flight (which is also TUI so I don't think it'll be that much better but has a bit more space and china crockery LOL)
It uses the boats own cellular-at-sea apparently. They claim it's much better than ship wifi though, but I've found mixed reviews - hence the query here.
In the scheme of things I'm prepared to allow her 10Gb for the fortnight (well, as her phone doesn't have eSim ca[ability I'll put it on mine and hotspot) which wil be getting on for another £100. But it's Big Birthday year - hence the upgrades, and a cruise in the middle of two 7 week hols in Portugal!!
We cruised with TUI a few times some years ago and always had a good time - it's not too stuffy like others I can mention, and the boats aren't the size of floating towns! You can even wear your mankini in one of the eateries (enough to put you off your toad in the hole I imagine!)
Also there don't seem to be many excursions other than to beaches or volcanoes so our excursion spend will keep us within budget. She does want to do the Death in Paradise tour though, and you'll be pleased to know we have booked a train ride someplace.
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probably the same Tui boat we used then, the boats own cellular at sea, is suprisingly primitive and slow. (technically for boat operation, there is just no need for it to be better)
You will love Deshaies in Guadeloupe, (EU mobile roaming!!!)
Is the train ride in Costa Rica? The small wild bananas there are fab.
Ruddy trump has more or less made Cuba a no go area for travelers now.
Last edited by: Zero on Fri 19 Sep 25 at 19:15
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This is our itinerary
Pointe-A-Pitre, Guadeloupe < This is likely the Death in Paradise trip (didn't realise that was EU roaming!)
Castries, St Lucia < West Coast and volcano trip booked
St George's, Grenada
Scarborough, Tobago
Bequia, Grenadines
Bridgetown, Barbados
Roseau, Dominica
St John's, Antigua
Basseterre, St Kitts < St Kitts is the railway excursion www.stkittsscenicrailway.com/
Philipsburg, St Maarten < Sky Explorer booked tinyurl.com/29emptet
Road Town, British Virgin Islands
At sea
Barbados
Barbados to Gatwick
A couple of places have rum distilleries which might be a day out and Dominica had some sulphur springs which nearly got me interested but we're really quite happy doing just a few days out and other than that nosing round the ports or nearby beaches (I like snorkelling in small doses).
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I didn’t think all U.K. neftworks gave free roaming in the EU area. Best check your supplier.
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>> I didn’t think all U.K. neftworks gave free roaming in the EU area. Best check
>> your supplier.
A man who spends months every year in portugal is bound to have an EU roaming contract.
My ultra cheap tesco sim only deal does.
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So does my ID mobile £6 per month deal must for example EE do make a charge. That’s why I suggest checking with your supplier
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>> Pointe-A-Pitre, Guadeloupe < This is likely the Death in Paradise trip (didn't realise that was
>> EU roaming!)
Its like stepping ashore in France, very wierd.
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The Departements Outre Mer are on my bucket list.
I'd particularly like to visit St Pierre and Miquelon; the Outer Hebrides with French cuisine!!
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If you have an Android phone you can share one phone's WiFi connection with others through the hotspot feature, so you'd only need to buy one pass. Or grab a portable travel router and plug it in in the cabin, then you can connect as much stuff as you want to it.
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>> Or grab a
>> portable travel router and plug it in in the cabin, then you can connect as
>> much stuff as you want to it.
Lot of cruise companies are banning the use of portable routers on board.
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>> Lot of cruise companies are banning the use of portable routers on board.
How?
Can they block them?
I suppose they can prevent them connecting to the ship's (satellite based?) on board mobile connection.
Last edited by: Bromptonaut on Sat 20 Sep 25 at 10:19
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>> >> Lot of cruise companies are banning the use of portable routers on board.
>>
>> How?
>>
>> Can they block them?
Its a policy ban, on the list of things you cant bring on board. Dont think there is much they can do to block them (there is ways and means for a clued up IT department to disable one but they dont have one of them on board)
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Yes my ID SIM has 30Gb of EU data which is plenty when I'm away for weeks as most time is spent on cafe and home wifi.
Some years ago I bought a 4G hotspot device for exactly what FF suggests but it needs it's own (real) SIM so would be expensive for this trip, and in fact it's never yet been used.
Susan Calman did a cruise programme which I don't regularly watch but she went on a 100 passenger super yacht cruise round the Caribbean. It was expensive but nowhere near as pricey as I thought it might be, and I did make myself a mental note if I enjoyed this one to maybe look in more detail at that one. www.emeraldcruises.co.uk/tours#general_q=caribbean&t_q=caribbean Probably more than I'd want to spend but it did look good, and was able to visit some of the smaller islands which the big ships don't do.
Last edited by: smokie on Sat 20 Sep 25 at 14:58
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A few years ago I did a SCIC cruise…Turkish gulet cruise. A small company who lease their yachts. Dutch girl runs it, I think she was a ex director of Eurocamp. Very informal, I remember 2 S Africans, 2 Dutch, 1 German, 3 Turkish. And me.
We ate on deck all the time, never wore footwear, delicious fresh food, beer & wine included, no itinerary..every morning we discussed with the captain where we wanted to sail, where possible with the sails up. Most of us slept out on deck. Swam laps around the gulet pre breakfast, kayaks, wind surfers, masks & snorkels provided.
My perfect kind of cruise…also does Greek islands.
Check out their video
Last edited by: legacylad on Sat 20 Sep 25 at 18:12
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SWMBO has joined a couple of cruise FB groups - specifically ones for this boat and this cruise. Filtering out the carp, there is some useful info and connections there. The answer to my orig question (if I MUST have connection, which apparently I MUST!) is Red Bull Mobile esim.redbullmobile.com/internet-on-cruises/ - €15 for 1Gb which doesn't seem too shabby for the amount I will let her use :-)
No streaming the Archers I'm afraid LOL, that'll have to wait till we dock and she can download it!! And I'll have to take the hit of not checking into poker and backgammon each day just to maintain my rank...
Pleasantly surprised by the info she's getting form the groups, except the Dress to Impress group who are probably old skool cruisers who think formal-wear is the only wear for cruise dinners :-) I used to do all that but no way am I taking my dinner suit and dickie bow on holiday ever again!!!
Last edited by: smokie on Tue 23 Sep 25 at 23:01
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I agree with your last sentiment.
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>> I used to do all that but no way am I taking
>> my dinner suit and dickie bow on holiday ever again!!!
Other than a hired Morning Suit for my daughter's wedding I've not worn formal attire for well over a decade and am unlikely to do so again.
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I’ve worn formal attire thrice...my Uncle was a mason so I had to hire a morning suit at his inauguration...with the job of escorting the daughter of the outgoing Grand Master (?). She didn’t have a fella to escort her...
My ex MiL was a snob so my wedding do was morning wear, until after ceremonies & food when we changed into civvies.
Likewise when acting as Best Man another formal wear occasion...my pal lived in the Parish so got wed at Bolton Abbey Priory, reception later at Craiglands in Ilkley.
Now only own one tie, a black one, and recent plantings & burnings didn’t necessitate use of.
My favourite cruise is the two nighter from Portsmouth to Santander or Bilbao...
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>> My ex MiL was a snob so my wedding do was morning wear, until after
>> ceremonies & food when we changed into civvies.
Ditto.
At both kid's weddings I was back in my trademark Rohan Bags and loose shirt as soon as speeches were done.
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>>My favourite cruise is the two nighter from Portsmouth to Santander or Bilbao...
We just got back. I thought I might not like the 35 hour ferry trip but it was OK. I hadn't really taken in that the return was to Plymouth, only 23 hour trip but a much longer drive home. Had I realised I would have booked an extra night so as to come back to Pompey.
The Picos de Europa was fantastic, really enjoyed it.
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>>
>> The Picos de Europa was fantastic, really enjoyed it.
>>
Had 8 days just outside Potes late May with my CBlanca Mtn Walkers group. Two weeks ago arrived Soto de Cangas for 4 nights..wanted to explore NW Picos. Added 4 nights, then another 3 in same hotel…€41 B & B en suite. Short drive to coast a few afternoons…then a Casa Rural outside Ponferrada which has the most amazing Energy Museum in a former coal powered power station. Must have cost millions to convert.
Now a week on the N coast…Foz, Ribadeo, Ribadesella..warm & sunny, deserted beaches ( apart from Praia das Catedrals yesterday). Easy coastal walking.
Leon this weekend, then Salamanca , Albarracin, finally CBlanca for start of our groups walking season early October.
Picos is magical…if you get good weather and avoid the summer crowds in the honey pot areas.
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I have a few black tie events a year, i quite enjoy them. Looking on here, obviously not for everyone! :-)
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I was in Round Table for many years and remained affiliated for some years after and have been to countless Ladies nights (also at the Masons) and other black tie events.
There was a time when we enjoyed dressing up to go out but no longer I'm afraid. :-)
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So now we turn from mobile phones to cash.
There is a apparently a near-universal acceptance of US dollars, which I can get from Tesco but usually in fairly high denominations which I'm not sure is negotiable
But they give you your change in local currency, which isn't much good as by tomorrow you're somewhere else - new island, different currency!! So your two cups of latte will effectively cost $20 or whatever.
Or have I been misled?
And/or where can I get a supply of one dollar bills??
I hear that many but not all bars and cafes do take cards. Not so sure about taxis though.
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Too late now but we try and keep a float of notes and coin in Euro and have a few dollars from a trip to the US c2019 but no plans to return there.
Are any of the early calls in places where the dollar is actually currency (US Virgin Islands?).
I guess you could ask Tesco (other currency exchanges are also available) for low denomination notes; they can only say no.
Hindsight territory I know but....
I actually keep 20-30 Euro in my wallet all the time as we're in (eg) the Canaries or Madeira but mostly France five or six times a year. There's a purse of euro coin in the car. We usually remember to pick it out when flying.
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You can get cash on board from the purser, cards accepted anywhere in the tourist areas, you can order currency from your bank in whatever denominations you like, M&s big stores have exchanges, take your euro stash, accepted on some islands,
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Yes I'd read that bars and restaurants would likely take card but what about taxis and small "sundries", or street trader fare.
I've always assumed the boat would have exorbitant exchange rates so never used them previously, but I suppose but for the small amounts involved it wouldn't add up to much in the scheme of things! ISTR asking Tesco previously for small denominations but they could only give me what was sent for me.
We do run a significant Euro stash but each time I go the US I think it'll be the last time so do my best to spend all USDs :-) I rarely carry cash (or cards now) anywhere except I do always have an emergency 20 note in the local currency tucked away in my phone case.
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>> Yes I'd read that bars and restaurants would likely take card but what about taxis
>> and small "sundries", or street trader fare.
We used Dollars or Euros. Euros came from our stash, dollars we got on board.
>> I've always assumed the boat would have exorbitant exchange rates
They are, but in the scheme of the total holiday cost and the small amounts involved, its not worth being bothered by it.
Did I see bermuda on your itinerary? The locals will take Euros, pounds or Dollars, its a very financially savvy place. Guadeloupe currency is Euros.
Taxis always negotiate the price up front.
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No Bermuda isn't on this tour.
Guadelope is, along with St Maarten both of which are Eurozone.
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Caribbean cruising and mobile phones - Zero
