I hear the cruise lines are going to soon have cell phone use on the ships. This is great news for me! I'm one who likes to keep in touch with the family back home, and not pay mega bucks for it!! In this world of high technology, this should have happened a long time ago. Of course, it should be like the theatre....turn the volume off in the dining rooms and shows!! Come on people...we are on vacation!!

They never said anything about "not paying mega bucks for it". Probably the reason it has not happened sooner is that there was no $$ in it for the cruise lines. I'm sure they found some way of getting a cut from the usage.

I'm sure that there is going to be a COST for cell phones - "just like checking your e-mails

Actually I am one of many who lamented the cell phone access on ships. It is a shame that we now can't get away from having people with cellphones welded to their ears in the middle of the Caribbean. I'm convinced many people talk on cellphones just for the sake of talking!

I'm 100% with you Dave. And I am partly responsible for this I design the cell equipment that makes this possible. They are a great tool, but people need to learn to respect others (like THAT is ever going to happen) and not talk on them when it could disturbe others.

Maybe that is the bigger reason the lines have not offered cell coverage on the ships yet (the techology to do so has been availble since at least 1998) They don't want cell phones ringing in the shows or in the dinning room because they know people won't have the brains to slience their ringers.

Jim,

Yes indeed, they are a great tool. In fact I just got an LG Chocolate for myself and also have a work-issued cellphone. I probably average 10 minutes a month. I just don't understand what everyone has to talk about all the time. Can you hear the conversation from the buffet? "Hi Honey. I am at the buffet for lunch. Let's see - they have roast beef carved to order, fried shrimp, etc. What do you think I should get? Okay. I'll call you back when I get my first plate finished and we can go over the dessert choices. And don't forget that I'll call you from the dining room tonight and let you talk to my waiter! I just know he is looking forward to talking to you! This is sort of like you taking the cruise with us!"

Damn. Gimme another beer, bartender!

Dave, you are too funny!! But, unfortunately, you are probably right! It is crazy that people can't go to the bathroom without their phone...but there are also those of us who have elderly family, and children at home that we just need to check in on. Our last cruise ended with us learning that we had an unexpected death while we were on the ship. I guess I just need to stay in touch....for a little more peace of mind.

I'm sure the cruise lines will get their $$ out of it somehow....I doubt those "free network" calls will somehow "not apply" on the ship!

Cell phones are a peeve of mine - or should I say the rampant and irresponsible use of them. I swear, I think people will sit at home all day with a landline phone at their disposal and will wait until they get in the car before they start calling people. It's like they put together three lists - one for the grocery store, another list of who they need to call while driving to the store, and then who to talk to while pushing the cart down the aisles. I wonder how much stuff they fail to buy because they were lost in their wonderous conversations?

Excuse the rant! I understand people have valid needs for using a cell phone on a vacation. But just like booze and boiled shrimp, you've got to know your limitations.

There's limits to booze and boiled shrimp?? Say it isn't so!

Its not so much the constant talking that cracks me up, its the fact that they act like no one else can hear the conversation. Or the ones who use the earpeice. There use to be a time when if you saw someone walking down the street holding a conversation with themselves you would assume they just escaped the hospital...

Unfortunately, I fear you have nailed the exact reason cell phones should not be allowed on a cruise. But you forgot the converstaions in the shows. RING RING "Hello.. Yes we are in the show... WHAT! I can't hear you ... oh.. we are down by the stage on the left side... NO, THE LEFT SIDE... BYE. RING RING... HELLO! NO, you may NOT got to the buffet... bye...

Oh yes, those with the bluetooth earpiece are the real champions - or should I say "chump"ions? They miss out on nothing, no matter how inconsequential it may be. In some way, I think many cell phone addicts are really control freaks who cannot stand to be out of contact for a moment.

Don't ya love it when they walk through the Grocery Store talking in front of everyone?

Sometimes I hear someone talking behind me and think they are talking to me. And the best one in the Movies! That is beyond rude.

We get it, you have a cell phone. Have had one since 1991.

I blame it on the rude society and how people were raised to respect others.

" oh Johnny got mad at a neighbor boy and threw a rock in their window" "Oh just give him a time-out" was a recent public cell phone conversation I heard in my face in the produce isle.

I would have been "whooped" for doing that. I would have also had to pay for it.

I do think it is the me, me, me and slack ass parents that raised the new generation of rude.

Is the only explanation I can think of

After 7 years with a cell phone, I turned it over to my wife. I reconciled how many minutes I had used over the time I'd carried it around. 7 years=15.4 hours. How many of us actually think that everyone will actually turn off their cells during dinner or the shows?

Many will be nice about it, and do so. But part of me wishes minutes were still $0.30 each. That way people will say what they need to say and hang up the "damb" phone.

Marty- I agree with that. The "unlimited minutes" plans have certainly contributed to the problem. I am certain there are those that use their phone for business reasons (I am one and for that there are a usefull tool.) Its the mindless chit chat on the phone in public places that disturbs others that is a problem. I silence or turn off my phone when we go to dinner or a show etc. I expect others to do so too. IF the cruise lines allow cell phone use, hopefully they will price it to discourage the unnecessary talkling and Dave's scenario.. the cruise by Cell Phone Proxy...

Jim,
You are in the "business" - mobile phones keep you employed. I was a partner in a long distance company terminating voice and data traffic to a number of asia pacific region countries from the US. I used to marvel at the proliferation of mobile phones in the asian countries I was doing business in and the service being offered there that was not available here. We got out of the LD traffic business and moved into providing entertainment to mobile phone users. For those of you that find voice usage "outrageous" - just wait until full scale Java enabled gaming (e.g. MMOG) is commonly available here as it is in asia!

Well folks, there is one thing....at least they won't be driving while on their cruise.
I'm a funeral director and I can't tell you how many people I have buried that were killed by another driver talking on a #*^%&@ cell phone!

I must agree with 2 Roses as a Funeral Director also in New England, i have had my share of cell phone drivers causing fatal accidents

That is a terrible thing. I just wish people would be more considerate of other people in public places. If is an emergency that is fine, but all I hear is mindless chatter as someone else said.

It boils down to rude people. Where I live is customary to hold the door behind you if someone is behind you comming into a store. They say thank you, you say welcome. Then there are ones that will let it slam in your face.

Common courtesy in society seems to be going by the wayside.

I must join in. Yes, I have a cell phone, who doesn't? But, I never use it "just for the fun of it" like so many rude people do. Our local theater has posted signs, but do people abide by the rules? And, in restaurants, give me a break. So, I can just see it now on the cruise, as many above have already stated. Just say NO to cruise cell phone use! "Honey, can I go get ice cream?"

Although I have one, it is for emergency use only. This morning, driving into work, 80mph, bumper to bumper in the rain. The woman attempting to drive in front of me was TEXT MESSAGING at 80mph. She almost took out the vehicle to the right of her, then slammed on her brakes, sending her mini-van into convulsions. Thank God for a shoulder because she would have caused a 2 mile chain reaction wreck. Gotta love it. After the rest of us changed our clothes, we watched her pull across 3 lanes of traffic, still texting. Like 2Roses said, at least they wont be driving. TGIF!!

quote:

Just say NO to cruise cell phone use!

Hmmm, where do walkie-talkies fit into this scenario?