<p>This may have been covered before and if so just point me to the thread. My S heads out to sea in June probably into the Mediterranean. Is there a midshipman out there who can offer a cell phone solution that will work when he is in port?</p>
<p>probably the most economical way to go about it is take his phone, or buy a cheap secondary phone, to a shop and have it "unlocked" so he can buy sim cards in port and use it for much cheaper than it would cost to use a sat phone or a pay phone.</p>
<p>My son traveled to Africa last summer and that is what he did. Buy a sims card and a calling card that you will have good service at a resonable cost.</p>
<p>Give him a stack of postcards and tell him to write home. Cut the strings!! Helocopter parents!!</p>
<p>Well Oliver you make quite the assumption - that he would use the phone to call home. Now there is no need for you to be a condescending Navy Capt.</p>
<p>Yup. My mid would be chatting with his buddies, sending pics of where he was.
Only thing I get is the bill. ;) (Naw... just joshing.. well. Sorta)
But TMR is right.</p>
<p>You can also get a world phone which has all the sim cards necessary already installed. When my son was due for upgrade on phone this past March I went ahead and got him a world phone (he goes to sea this November). My husband has one and has had no trouble using it in any country to which he travels. We have Verizon by the way. Oliver, you do make quite the assumptions. Did it ever occur to you that the Mids may just want to call home to share their experiences; or may need a phone in case of an emergency in a foreign country where pay phones are few and far between?</p>
<p>My daughters experience indicates to me that he can buy sim cards in ports.
She called me very excited from Dubai, Singapore, etc.</p>
<p>For the most part, you can't call him because you won't know when he is in port. So the 'helicopter' crack is silly.</p>
<p>Hope his seatime goes well.</p>
<p>spoke w TMobile - after 90 days they will send you the instructions to unlock your phone; once complete i believe he will be able to buy a sim card in port.</p>
<p>
[quote]
Did it ever occur to you that the Mids may just want to call home to share their experiences; or may need a phone in case of an emergency in a foreign country where pay phones are few and far between?
[/quote]
</p>
<p>Nope. At least not in my case..</p>
<p>I had my older son as a deck cadet on two occasions (for a total of over 100 days).. No need for sim cards or calling cards where we were. I just had the Mate dial the cadets room on the internal phone and tell him to get is butt up to the bridge.. tout d'suite .. "rise and shine for Matson Line".. Cause we all needed to spend some quality time together up there at the "top of the ship" and share some of those REALLY GREAT merchant marine experiences.:rolleyes: But, more importantly, we needed a "gadget" to put up flags, make coffee, keep the bell book and go fetch stuff. ;)</p>
<p>I can hear the choppers flying in!</p>
<p>yeah, but the difference was DD2 was looking at a helicopter "gunship" :)</p>
<p>....and make copies don't forget. LOL Young legs and all that. ;)</p>