[murlock]

We are traveling in Europe this spring for two months on two cruises in the Meditteranean and one tour of Europe by tour bus. We are wondering what would be the most cost effective way to email and talk with family and business associates in the United States. Should we invest in an iphone, use a laptop or tablet with skype? Help! I know we will have to purchase a plan while on the ship.

[graciegirl]

Skype is wonderful....and free. When our granddaughter was studying in Salzburg a couple of years ago it was amazing to see and talk to her on Skype.

[pooh]

When we were in Scotland, I brought along my iPod. Didn't have an iPhone at the time. Used the iPod to "visit" with our family in the US....of course, family all had idevices....so no charge. Our apartments had Internet so no problem using the iPod. Now we have iPhones so we can probably do FaceTime anywhere.

[rjm1cc]

Shipboard communications can be expensive so I would limit communications to when you are in port and can get free wifi.
You can sign up with your cell phone provider for overseas service and also less expensive service on the ship. I would do this for emergency calls. Be sure your phone is not automatically updating programs etc. while you are on the ship.
You might be able to get a local sims card and install in your phone. This should give you cheaper cell service for in country use.

[jackz]

If you have a vonage phone with a local number and you will have an internet connection you can hook up your vonage phone while overseas and call the USA as a local call. Additionally, those in the USA can call you at your USA vonage number.

Also look at Magic Jack which will also work with an internet connection and allow you to make USA calls as a local call from Europe.

I second the suggestion to not make calls from the ship in Europe based on the costs involved. Use your devices while on a port stop.

[murlock]

Thanks so much!

Originally Posted by jackz

If you have a vonage phone with a local number and you will have an internet connection you can hook up your vonage phone while overseas and call the USA as a local call. Additionally, those in the USA can call you at your USA vonage number.

Also look at Magic Jack which will also work with an internet connection and allow you to make USA calls as a local call from Europe.

I second the suggestion to not make calls from the ship in Europe based on the costs involved. Use your devices while on a port stop.

[swrinfla]

I'm one of those weird people who have absolutely no desire to communicate with anyone at home when I'm traveling!

I've been getting hints from my daughters that some form of better communication may be in order, especially after my incident in Alaska last July! I'm still working on that!

Yes, I'm very intrigued by the concept of talking with someone by way of a Skype connection, but you must understand that that is a very low priority!

Perhaps it's a Good Idea to remember that I have only recently [that is, within the last couple of months] joined the 21st-Century!

SWR