You can't escape: Carnival brings cellular to the open sea
By Chris Ziegler 
posted Jun 24th 2006 8:22AM
posted Jun 24th 2006 8:22AM
Some of us take cruises to escape the crushing reality of being within reach at all times, but for everyone else, Carnival Cruise Lines has announced a partnership with Wireless Maritime Services to outfit its entire 21-ship fleet with cellular networks. WMS is a joint venture of Cingular and Maritime Telecommunications Network, but despite Cingular's affinity for GSM, the system supports both GSM and CDMA handsets and has roaming agreements in place with Sprint, Verizon, and T-Mobile, among several other major carriers. Staying in touch from the middle of the Atlantic ain't cheap, though: even Cingular's own customers can look forward to paying $2.49/minute for the privilege.[Via Mobiledia]
T-Mobile has roaming on a lot of cruise ships. Check out the drop-down about half way down.
http://t-mobile.com/International/RoamingOverview.aspx?tp=Inl_Tab_RoamWorldwide
I was just on a Royal Carribean cruise a couple weeks ago, and there was cell service (GSM at least) while we were at sea. I believe the rates were similar. So all that to say, sounds like Carnival is just catching up?
That is why you connect to the internet on their WiFi and skype.
How they catch you in the middle of Atlantic? I suppose they are making it with sattelite. Well, it's not cheap, but better I stay without phone and enjoy my journey :)