Ferry roaming charges - also relevant for cruise ships

[Anonymous]

As this is trending at the moment I though I would add some inf that is available when u use the ferry's /cruise's website. This one is the one on the Brittany ferries web site and you get this inf when u buy the ticket. This will apply to most,although the satellites may vary the same principle applies ( Iceland and Norway are the most common locations for the satellites but there are more).  

Will my mobile phone work on board the ferry?

Yes, an offshore mobile telephone network is available during the crossing, additional charges will be incurred.

Skybridge is a satellite-based marine mobile provider and charges will be considerably higher than your standard tariff.

Wi-Fi Internet is also available on board and is provided free of charge to our customers. In order to use the service you must log-in to the Internet@Sea wireless network using the credentials on your boarding card or cabin key. If you are using data on your device solely via our onboard Wi-Fi connection then you will not incur any additional charges. Please ensure you have Wi-Fi enabled and have logged into Internet@Sea correctly and have disabled your mobile data and mobile data roaming in your device settings.

If you do not disable your mobile data roaming then your mobile may automatically use this service whilst onboard. Data charges via Skybridge will be considerably higher than your standard data tariff. Please refer to your devices operating instructions for details on how to enable and disable these features and ensure you are aware of any data services that may be enabled and attempting to connect.

[Anonymous]

My wife was charged £40 for using data on Brittany Ferries.  O2 are claiming it was non-EU data charges but she didn't get a text warning her about this.  It was about 7Mb.  We were still in the EU as we were crossing from France to UK and had paid the £1.99 that day.  What's worse is that the data was used whilst still in the harbour (I know this because we turned the data off before midnight) but the ship's system took over and we had no idea at all.  It's an absolute con.  O2 have refunded half and we are going to financial ombudsman to complain about the rest.

[jonsie]

Getting half back is something but these ships and ferries cripple you with charges totally beyond reason or fair. It should be down to these companies to warn you that you are connecting to their service with a notice of charges.

Compare this to when I fly to Thailand with Emarites who give you the option of using their wifi for £1 which gets you 500MB. Skyping at 36000 feet for next to nothing!

[Cleoriff]

Hi @Anonymous

This might sound like a silly question but...if you had turned data roaming off, I can't understand how the ships system took over while you were in the harbour? (or even when you boarded the ship if honest)

Not questioning what you say, but I honestly cant understand it...

[Anonymous]

Presumably the ship's signal was stronger than the French signal.  We turned data off before midnight because we knew the £1.99 daily charge would run out and we didn't need it overnight.  It was a very late ferry crossing.  We were the very last to be boarded at about 10.40 - I remember there being hardly any food left and the ferry left at 11pm.  

[MI5]

It's the ferry company you need to be chasing for compensation or redress. O2 (nor any other network) have any control over what the ferry's charge.

[Anonymous]

Sale of Goods Act means you have to go to the retailer which in this case is O2.  O2 can then choose to take it up with their supplier, which in this case is some telecom company used by Brittany Ferries. 

[MI5]

It's not goods that you've bought though.

[jonsie]

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@Anonymous wrote:

Sale of Goods Act means you have to go to the retailer which in this case is O2.  O2 can then choose to take it up with their supplier, which in this case is some telecom company used by Brittany Ferries. 

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Where on earth do you get that from? The SGA doesn't have anything at all to do with this.

[Anonymous]

SGA covers services too.  A telephone call is a service.  Data is a service.  Money exchanged hands with O2, not with Brittany Ferries so I have to go to O2.  Anyway, it's with the financial ombudsman now because O2 only refunded half the money so I'll see what they say about it.  

[MI5]

Be sure to let us know how that goes for you please.