Cruise passenger's $1300 blunder that could cost you more than you think
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Imagine boarding a cruise with excitement, only to return home to a shocking surprise on your phone bill.
What seemed like a harmless decision led to a costly mistake, one that could easily happen to anyone.
Now, the question is: how can you avoid making the same error?
When cruising on international waters, switching off international roaming can be just as crucial as turning off your phone during take-off.
One Royal Caribbean passenger learned this lesson the hard way after returning home to a massive $US1300 (AUD 2000) phone bill, as reported by social media personality Jayson Judson.
The unnamed passenger had purchased a Wi-Fi package when boarding the cruise, mistakenly thinking it would cover their phone service.
Unfortunately, while they were cruising, their mobile phone silently accumulated roaming charges and downloaded updates in the background.
The issue stemmed from a simple mistake: the passenger didn’t activate ‘Airplane Mode’ or turn off international roaming on their phone.
Royal Caribbean’s blog explains: ‘Data usage is especially troublesome because smartphones will use data even when you are not actively using your phone’.
It went on to say: ‘Phones will continuously check for updates or notifications, as well as run app updates in the background.’
‘All of this uses data, and that can drive up your bill without you even using the device.’
By leaving their phone connected, the passenger unknowingly allowed these background processes to rack up a hefty bill.
However, if the phone had been set to Airplane Mode, it would not have connected to any cellular networks, avoiding the expensive charges.
As the Royal Caribbean blog advises: ‘Don’t worry, you can still use Wi-Fi while your phone is in airplane mode, which means you can connect to the ship’s Wi-Fi or use a Wi-Fi hotspot in one of the ports of call you visit’.
Have you ever had a similar phone mishap while traveling? Share your stories in the comments below.
What seemed like a harmless decision led to a costly mistake, one that could easily happen to anyone.
Now, the question is: how can you avoid making the same error?
When cruising on international waters, switching off international roaming can be just as crucial as turning off your phone during take-off.
One Royal Caribbean passenger learned this lesson the hard way after returning home to a massive $US1300 (AUD 2000) phone bill, as reported by social media personality Jayson Judson.
The unnamed passenger had purchased a Wi-Fi package when boarding the cruise, mistakenly thinking it would cover their phone service.
Unfortunately, while they were cruising, their mobile phone silently accumulated roaming charges and downloaded updates in the background.
The issue stemmed from a simple mistake: the passenger didn’t activate ‘Airplane Mode’ or turn off international roaming on their phone.
Royal Caribbean’s blog explains: ‘Data usage is especially troublesome because smartphones will use data even when you are not actively using your phone’.
It went on to say: ‘Phones will continuously check for updates or notifications, as well as run app updates in the background.’
‘All of this uses data, and that can drive up your bill without you even using the device.’
By leaving their phone connected, the passenger unknowingly allowed these background processes to rack up a hefty bill.
However, if the phone had been set to Airplane Mode, it would not have connected to any cellular networks, avoiding the expensive charges.
As the Royal Caribbean blog advises: ‘Don’t worry, you can still use Wi-Fi while your phone is in airplane mode, which means you can connect to the ship’s Wi-Fi or use a Wi-Fi hotspot in one of the ports of call you visit’.
Have you ever had a similar phone mishap while traveling? Share your stories in the comments below.
