cell phones - verizon

[mcpenguin5]

I know I have read some information like this in here, but I can't seem to find it. I have a cell phone with Verizon Wireless, and I was wondering if it would work in St. John. I remember years ago, when I had one of those original Motorola FlipPhones, it worked on the northern part of the island, but those were analog days. So much has changed.
Is it worth it to bring the cell phone, or should we just leave Verizon at home?
McPenguin5

[CariBert]

Well, I have found only two of the major providers that work there. They would be AT&T and Sprint. Others may work now in some parts of the Island, but those are the two major players.

-Bert

[Nancy_B]

I have a Verizon blackberry. The cell service was spotty and the data service was even spottier. The cell would work great on all the beaches but it wouldn't work at our villa above great cruz bay. I think it's still better to have it with you then nothing at all.

[Kat]

We were there in July and our Verizon phones worked about 75% of the time. I was suprised how well they worked.

[mcpenguin5]

Thanks! I will bring it then. I think this corresponds with what found that first trip. The North shore, on the beaches, seem to pick up a cell from somewhere. At least it will afford us some measure of ability to contact people if we get into trouble at one of the beaches.
I appreciate your help with this. I would hate to pack it and worry about losing it if we couldn't even make calls.
McPenguin5

[Lulu76]

Unless something's changed, aren't the fees for using Verizon on STJ pretty steep? I think I've heard that here before.

[California Girl]

I have Verizon and I called them and told them that I was going to the USVI and asked if I needed to make any special arrangements to use my phone down there. I seem to remember they had me dial a number, or somehow coded my account and I didn't have any extra weird charges on my bill. I was able to send text messages & photos from Trunk Bay, but it was off & on at our villa on Ajax Peak. Mostly off.

[tjwgrr]

Unless something's changed, aren't the fees for using Verizon on STJ pretty steep? I think I've heard that here before.

Probably depends on what type of package you currently have.

We have Alltel's National Freedom package and our phones worked well in most areas of STJ. Never had any roaming charges, but PR and USVI are covered under this plan. Even though Alltel has no towers on the islands, Alltel has roaming agreements with Verizon.

[toes in the sand]

In 2001 we used our Verizon phones on StJ and had great service and coverage. We brought our Verizon phones with us in December 2007 and turned them off because the areas with service (without roaming) were so limited that the phones were only good for must make calls. We ended up using our friends Sprint phones.

[Steve S]

We switched from ATT to Verizon this year and will be taking an ATT Go Phone with us just for the island.

[Lulu76]

I have T-mobile and it works great, but apparently while the VIs and PR are covered under my nationwide roaming plan, it costs .69/minute to make calls there. I've been spending lots of quality time on my cell with the house and car people lately, so I am planning to call and ask about that when my bill comes. When I planned the trip last year, none of those calls were billed to me, but when I got home last time I noticed a few bucks on my bill that was for Baked in the Sun, Destination St. John, STJ Car Rental. We'll see, because that seems to be a new charge.

I'm very confused about the Verizon situation because one of the girls going with us this time called and they told her it'd be 1.99 per minute while she was on STJ.

[Ksea]

I have Verizon and did the same thing as California Girl. I think my bill was a few dollars (less than $10) more that month...but nothing shocking! The phone worked very well in Cruz Bay. I did not have to use it anywhere else.

[lark22]

Virgin Mobile prepaid phones work really well in town and on most of the North Shore, and the rates on island are the same as on the continental US...no roaming fees, etc. (I think they use the Sprint network). You can pick up a phone at Best Buy, Radio SHack, etc., and you can usually get the most basic model for free when you buy $20 worth of air time.

[susan & herb]

We have Verizon and have always gotten spotty service on the island Cruz Bay was OK but it went downhill from there. In May we stayed in Coral Bay so I purchased an AT & T throw away phone for $20 and bought some minutes. Phone worked great even in Coral Bay and the calls were very cheap.

[jayseadee]

How is the Verizon service on St. Thomas? Any less sporadic than St. John?