Internet and phone access while on a cruise around NZ

voteoften on 23/06/2013 - 21:23

My daughter and I are going on a cruise around NZ that will then go to sydney where we will disembark. About 2 or 3 days into our cruise, my ex and his wife (My daughters step mum) will have some sort of scheduled induced birth.
This is my daughter's only sibling so far and all parties will be keen to do all sorts of communicating.

Can anyone advise on the best way to get phone and/or internet access without paying international roaming. I don't know the mobile coverage in NZ, but assume that there will be coverage at a minimum a few hours before land excursions and a few hours after the ship pulls anchor.

We will be in Auckland for a full dayy, but I don't want to waste too much time shopping around, etc.

Can anyone advise on phone and or internet options for visitors to NZ? I am more keen to have internet access than phone access, but would like both. Cruise ship rates for any sort of communication are the highest in the world, probably higher than for those in Antartica (which is probably free to all the people there anyway.)

Thanks everyone.

General Discussion

Comments

  • orourke on 23/06/2013 - 23:43

    Just find a telecom new zealand store in Auckland, look here is one on the main street in auckland for tourists
    http://www.telecom.co.nz/helpandsupport/helpandsupport/other…

    Buy a prepaid sim for your phone. Buy a browse pack with some credit that you've loaded on there and off you go.

    • ESEMCE on 24/06/2013 - 09:29

      I thought Vodafone had the best coverage in NZ?

  • YadaYadaYada on 24/06/2013 - 12:48

    In the scheme of things, sending text messages is the cheapest form of data roaming communication, relatively speaking. If you can get away with that, at least you can fix your costs.

    • voteoften on 25/06/2013 - 23:39

      That won't happen.

  • voteoften on 25/06/2013 - 23:40

    Thanks everyone.

    • ESEMCE on 27/06/2013 - 08:25

      Also, once you get more than ~20K from the shore, you'll likely have 2 options, super expensive satellite (assuming you have a satellite phone- highly unlikely) or super expensive cruise liner rates..

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