VACATION

Beware the Hidden Costs: How a Cruise Traveler’s $1,300 Phone Bill Could Have Been Avoided

January, 11, 2025-03:35

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Beware the Hidden Costs: How a Cruise Traveler’s $1,300 Phone Bill Could Have Been Avoided

A traveler relishing a serene getaway on a Royal Caribbean cruise faced a rude awakening when an enormous cellphone bill arrived due to an expensive oversight.
What began as a week of sun-drenched bliss culminated in a shocking $1,300 phone bill, leaving the passenger seething and seeking clarification from the cruise company.
The unidentified customer believed that purchasing Royal Caribbean's WiFi package had covered all phone use, only to return home to a shocking financial fiasco.
While they reveled in cocktails and the sea breeze, their phone quietly accrued roaming fees, downloading updates and background data like it was on a spending spree—thanks to one simple error.

Despite being on a WiFi plan, the phone had not been switched to 'Airplane Mode.'
This oversight meant massive roaming costs piled up as data continued to download in the background throughout the cruise.

To complicate matters, their child had also unwittingly contributed to the charges, regularly streaming videos on the device during the trip.
When the irate passenger reached out to Royal Caribbean for clarification, the cruise line brushed off the inquiry, citing their explicit policy that passengers must activate Airplane Mode on their devices. While certain providers like T-Mobile may adjust bills for roaming charges retroactively, others, including AT&T and Verizon, often do not.

Such issues are far from rare. Smartphones frequently rack up charges at sea, even if stored securely in a cabin safe.
Background apps, updates, and downloads continually add to the bill.
YouTube influencer Jayson Judson highlighted this issue, cautioning viewers about unexpected expenses on cruises.
The threats extend beyond cellphone bills; cruise ships can impose hidden fees that drain your budget before you have a chance to say 'bon voyage,' and they rarely admit fault for passengers’ errors.

While adults might dismiss the need for Airplane Mode, kids often lack awareness of roaming costs or their distinctions at sea.
Additionally, another potential pitfall awaits parents onboard: the arcades.

It’s easy for children to rack up hundreds of dollars in charges without parents realizing the extent until the final statement appears, as they use their room key to make purchases.
Arcade machines generally require room key scans to operate, but the associated costs are usually not displayed.
Consequently, children can effortlessly spend hundreds in just a single day without any parental oversight until the bill arrives.
Planning ahead is crucial. Parents are advised to impose spending limits on their room key before embarkation, ensure all devices are switched to Airplane Mode, and closely monitor their children's activities to prevent runaway charges on the