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Posted: 7 years ago | 2223 Views

Mobile phone at sea......Connection to a network

I'm interested in purchasing a new smart watch. These watches obtain their 'time' from being bluetooth connected to your smartphone (e.g. iPhone, Android such as Samsung) which its time is phone network feed.

If on a voyage (especially a relocation cruise) no land based phone network available to feed 'time' signal to smartphone and then by default to smart watch. Your watch will retain last synced time and will not adjust as the ship cruises into and through timezones. The time will be next updated once connection to a land phone network reestablished.

Do mobile phones at sea obtain a time signal from ships 'maritime cell network' which would be satellite feed? If so, I assume no charge and only a charge if you make a phone call and/or send a SMS text.

Can anyone assist here!

Tags: technology iPhone phone network ship satellite

10 Answers

Posted: 7 years ago

I don't even own a smart phone.
Posted: 7 years ago

There is always a bar open somewhere -- why worry about a particular bar!Big Smile
Posted: 7 years ago

Your 100% correct. Its just I don't want to be late for bar opening time!
Posted: 7 years ago

Your 100% correct. Its just I don't want to be late for bar opening time!
Posted: 7 years ago

I still use my "smart"phone while on board, albeit in the airplane mode.

I have downloaded port guides, Cruise Mate app (for ship maps), and an alarm clock (in case of an early port arrival), as well as various reading material.

It also makes a decent enough camera.
Posted: 7 years ago

Hold On..... You are on a cruise ship in the middle of a cruise...... Why the hell are you worried about the time? If my phone is really smart... It will turn itself off and stay off until we get home and get ready for work.
Posted: 7 years ago

It may be a smart watch, but I guess I'll wait for the summa cum laude watch. That one will be really smart. I guess you'll just have to go back to a watch with hands and a face. Perhaps a nice Swatch watch.
Posted: 7 years ago

My Sprint I Phone can go kind of nuts when out to see.... I just put it on Airplane mode to keep it at home port time and to stop any roaming fees.

I would suggest you also bring an old time watch that you can set to Ship time so your not late returning from a port just to see your ship sail away.
Posted: 7 years ago

Be careful with any self adjusting time piece. Ship's time is not always Port's time.

Best to get yourself a disposable $10 special from the gift shop or WalMart.
Posted: 7 years ago

My Microsoft ATT phone does NOT update time from a maritime cell network.

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