A passenger enjoying a relaxing vacation onboard a Royal Caribbean cruise ship was quickly brought back to reality when they received an enormous cellphone bill because of one particularly costly mistake.
What started as a week of sun-soaked memories ended with a staggering $1,300 cell phone bill, leaving the cruiser furious and demanding answers from the cruise line.
The passenger, who has not been named, thought they were covered for all cellphone use after purchasing Royal Caribbean’s WiFi package, but they returned home to find the eye-watering bill
While they had been sipping cocktails and soaking up the ocean breeze, their phone was silently racking up roaming charges, downloading updates and background data like it was on a high-seas spending spree all because of a simple mistake.
Despite the WiFi plan, their phone had not been set to ‘Airplane Mode.’
It meant that during the course of the cruise, the phone had continued to rack up massive roaming charges as it continuously downloaded data in the background.
To make matters worse, their child had also unknowingly added to the charges, using the phone to constantly stream videos throughout the trip.
When the furious passenger called Royal Caribbean demanding answers, the cruise line quickly washed its hands of the matter, citing their clear policy that it is the responsibility of the passenger to activate Airplane Mode on their own device.
A passengers enjoying a relaxing vacation onboard a Royal Caribbean cruise ship was quickly brought back to reality when they returned home after receiving an enormous phone bill
A cruiser faced a staggering $1,300 cell phone bill and demanding answers from the cruise line – but it was their fault after failing to place their cellphone into ‘airplane mode’
While some carriers, like T-Mobile, have been known to retroactively adjust bills for roaming charges, others, like AT&T and Verizon, are less forgiving.
It is far from being an isolated incident. Smartphones often silently rack up charges at sea, even if they’re locked away in a the cabin’s safe.
Background apps, updates, and downloads all continue to contribute to the cost.
Popular YouTube personality Jayson Judson brought the story to light, warning viewers about the hidden financial traps lurking on cruises.
It’s not just cell phone bills – cruise ships can have a knack for sneaky charges that can drain your wallet faster than you can say ‘bon voyage’ and they rarely accept responsibility for passenger oversights.
And while adults may overlook the necessity of Airplane Mode, children often have no understanding of roaming charges or how they differ at sea.
It’s also not just about avoiding hefty phone bills; parents also face another major spending trap onboard: arcades.
It’s all too easy for children to swipe their way to hundreds of dollars of spending and all without parents realizing it until the final bill arrives by using their room key to rack up charges
Arcade machines often require scanning a cabin room key in order to use, but the costs aren’t displayed.
Because of that, it’s all too easy for children to swipe their way to hundreds of dollars in spending in a single day – all without parents realizing it until the final bill arrives.
Preparation is the key. Parents are urged to set spending limits on your room key card before boarding, switch all devices to Airplane Mode, and keep a watchful eye over the activities children are taking part in, before they go racking up charges all over the ship.
