Carnival Passenger Faces Shocking Phone Bill After Cruise – Here’s How to Avoid the Same Mistake

One unfortunate Carnival Pride passenger got a nasty shock after their cruise was over—thanks to their lovestruck daughter and a sky-high phone bill.

The 7-night cruise from Baltimore to the Caribbean might have been smooth sailing, but young love didn’t take a holiday. Unable to handle a week away from her boyfriend, the passenger’s daughter made calls and used mobile data throughout the trip, racking up a hefty $411 in roaming charges.

“She called her boyfriend in Silver Spring and used data for messaging,” the exasperated parent explained to Carnival’s Brand Ambassador, John Heald, before pleading for some financial relief. “Carnival and my travel agent said there’s nothing they can do. John, I hope you’ll show some compassion and cover at least 50 percent of these charges.”

Unfortunately for the parent, Heald—known for his dry humour—wasn’t about to bend the rules. He took to social media to share the story as a cautionary tale, reminding cruisers to always switch their phones to airplane mode.

“The Cruise Directors always announce this,” he wrote. “Putting your phone into airplane mode will protect you from unexpected charges like this.”

The post quickly went viral, with thousands of cruise-goers chiming in. Many shared their own horror stories of expensive post-cruise phone bills.

One passenger recalled a friend’s teenage son who ignored warnings to switch his phone settings. “When they got home, the bill was almost $1,000,” they said. Ouch.

Staying Connected on a Carnival Cruise – Without the Nasty Bill

Carnival Cruise Line has a roaming agreement that lets guests make calls and send texts at sea. But there’s a catch: international roaming charges are set by your mobile provider, not the cruise line.

According to Carnival, “Any questions or issues regarding billing must be handled through your carrier. WMS (the onboard wireless provider) has no involvement in the charges applied to your bill.” In short: if you rack up roaming fees, you’re on your own.

Smarter Ways to Stay in Touch at Sea

If you absolutely must stay connected, there are better options than letting your phone roam wild. Carnival offers Wi-Fi plans starting at $18.70 per person, per day, allowing passengers to browse, stream, and chat via social media. A week of DMs would have cost this lovesick teen a third of what she ended up paying.

Even better, Carnival’s Hub App is an easy, budget-friendly way to communicate onboard. It works in airplane mode, so you won’t get hit with roaming charges, and for around $5 per day, you can message friends and family on the same cruise.

So, if you don’t want to return home to a gut-wrenching phone bill, do yourself a favour: switch to airplane mode, use onboard Wi-Fi, and maybe—just maybe—enjoy the cruise without checking your phone every five minutes.

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