Going on a first cruise to Belgium

Neil49

martindow said:

If you decide not to buy the ship's internet, how do you stop your phone inadverantly connecting to it and racking up charges?  Apologies if this is a naive question - I've never been on a cruise.

How desperate are you to have a phone connection at all? If you don't want to pay EE for an EU roaming package (hardly worth it for a few days), within your phone settings you can turn off roaming and you can turn off data. When in Belgium you can connect to free WiFi while ashore (follow the crew to find it) to check emails and make WhatsApp calls etc and not rack up any charges.

Alternatively, get a 1 month Lebara sim for less than a £ and use that for data and calls (albeit with a different number) 

NoodleDoodleMan

I switch my 'phone off at sea and only reconnect when within range of a land based network - near the coast or port.

As for internet - wait until the ship docks and follow the crew - they quickly find free WiFi sources.

Often we drop into a local cafe or bar with outside tables for a drink on the way back to the ship - as a customer the waiter will happily give you the establishment's WiFi details.