Need a Cell Phone Service Provider for your Caribbean Yacht Charter? Try Bmobile or Digicel

Advanced technology has enabled us to become a multi-tasking society. With cell phone technologies such as the Blackberry and the iPhone, we can send an e-mail while on a conference call and check stocks simultaneously.

While having a phone and e-mail at your fingertips, its easier than ever to work outside the office and now accomplish the amount of work that used to take two of you to do. This is a great tool for someone on the go but are you sure that you want to be reminded of work when you’re on vacation?

Being completely disconnected from the world may be one of the most attractive features for a luxury yacht charter vacation, but for a business owner or CEO, 7-10 days with no business contact may not be conceivable.

Many of today's cell phones work in the British Virgin Islands and other Caribbean destinations. You'll want to contact your provider before you leave for your caribbean yacht charter to ask them about using your phone while on charter. Most providers' websites have a "Usage" or "Travel Guide" section where you can put in your phone number, type of equipment and itinerary.

T-Mobile and AT&T (formally known as Cingular) operate on a GSM System or Global System for Mobile Service. Their roaming charges typically range from $1.99-$3.00 USD per minute for calls abroad.

Sprint does not utilize GSM technology but they do sell GSM rigged phones for a little over $500.00. Their phones that do work in the Caribbean typically cost $0.99 per minute and then anywhere from $1.20-$5.60 for roaming costs.

Nextel usually offers service in most major areas overseas, but you may need to purchase a Hybrid phone that has GSM capabilities.

As for Verizon, most of their phones may not work as well in the Caribbean. You may be required to purchase or rent one of their internationally inept phones.

US carriers will tell you whether or not your phone will work in that area (including calls, e-mail, voice mail and text messages) and also what the standard charges are (about $4/minute for calls for standard international roaming). The local telecommunications company in the BVI, CCT Communications (Boat phone) better known as Bmobile and its competitor, Digicel.

With certain companies you may also have the option to rent a cell phone that will work in this area. Another option is to rent a phone from WorldCell (www.worldcell.com). The Moorings, Footloose and NauticBlue recommend this company. They offer equipment based on satellite signals that will work anywhere. They also provide 24-hour technical service and customer support. Just order on line, and they will send you the phone, charged batteries, charger/adapter and instructions. When you return home, just send the equipment back in a pre-paid Federal Express packet.

Another company with similar service is www.mobalrental.com. These companies offer phone rentals for destinations worldwide. In the BVI, some charter companies offer a phone on board, but it is only good for making calls to the base. TMM offers cell phones with "pay as you go" credit. The cost is $10 for the phone rental, and the calls are 50 cents/minute for local calls and around $1/minute to the States and Canada (depending on the time of day). You may use this phone as much as you want and can even get an assigned phone number before you arrive, which you can give to family and friends. If you run out of credit, call the charter company and they will add minutes to your phone and you may pay them at the end of your charter. Calls to the charter company are no longer free, so call them from your phone onboard, and they will call you back using the office phone.

Although a Carribean yacht charter takes you to some of the world’s most remote locations, today’s global technology brings you the luxury amenity of cell phone service anywhere in the world. If the boss calls you can just tell him that you are “Out to Lunch….. Indefinately.”