Georgetown, Great Exhuma, Bahamas: Verizon Cell Phone Coverage

[dmikalsen]

I am planning to anchor off of Great Exuma, Bahamas near Georgetown.
Does anyone have personal knowledge re. Verizon Cell coverage in and around Georgetown?

[GordMay]

Greetings and welcome aboard the CF, dmikalsen.

[Unicorn Dreams]

The last time I was there they onlt has Batelco??? phone service, this could have changed. You can use your phone if you have a SIM card you can swap out for there's..

Welcome aboard CF.

[Lowcountry]

You will not get any cell coverage for Verizon anywhere in the Bahamas (unless something has changed recently). AT&T has very spotty service that works in some places in the Abacos.

[ActiveCaptain]

Verizon service may exist in some places although it's not reliable.

An article all about mobile phone issues in the Bahamas is part of our 19 part series on using mobile phones onboard.
That explains why there are issues and what you can do about it.

[gettinthere]

Some Verizon phones have SIM cards. You can buy a Batelco SIM card and use that in your Verizon phone.

Lots of good updated info on using cell phones in the Bahamas Cruising Guide...
Telecommunication

[doug86]

Originally Posted by gettinthere

Some Verizon phones have SIM cards. You can buy a Batelco SIM card and use that in your Verizon phone.

Just to avoid confusing the OP, there is a difference between a Verizon phone and Verizon coverage. The original question was about coverage. I don't believe there is any Verizon coverage in Georgetown. A Verizon phone that accepts a SIM card (not many models to choose from) should work on the BalTelCo system only if you have a BalTelCo SIM, but then you are not using Verizon. (oh, forgot the international SIM card option that Verizon does offer, but man that's pricey!)

My Verizon phone did get a signal in Nassau, but I never attempted to dial out. I did receive a few voice message alerts.

[FloatyThing]

I don't know about off Georgetown specifically, but last year I took my quad band Blackberry (has a SIM card) with me to the Abacos and had great coverage. I purchased the international service from Verizon prior to going and got an unlimited international data package. I think phone calls where $2/min, but data was unlimited and "free", except for the initial cost of the data package ($30? I think?). Texting was a per txt cost, so I didn't us it....Email was my primary means of communication.

I would assume if Verizon SIM card coverage works in the Abacos, where ever Batelco coverage is should work for you.

Keep in mind, Verizon will ONLY work in the Bahamas if your phone has a SIM card and you activate the international coverage with them.

[Double-Wide]

The best way is to use a Batelco sim card but your phone must be unlocked first. I have a Batelco sim card that I would like to sell as well as a zoom air card for wifi anyplace you have phone service. I found it worked in about 80% of the EXumas.

Also, we learned this spring that there is digital broadcast TV service from the north part of Great Exuma to Samson Cay. They saw 2 Bahamas channels as well as NBC, CBS FOX & ABC from Miami. We were able to watch the earthquake coverage with live reports on the Today show while anchored at Black Point.

Cam
Double-Wide

[cheoah]

An international capable phone from Verizon should be able to access the Batelco network, but at the $1.99/ min voice and quarter/nickle to send/receive text. Worked for me in Abaco last summer, presume this pricey option would work in Exuma although no personal experience with signal in Gtown.

[skipmac]

Originally Posted by FloatyThing

I don't know about off Georgetown specifically, but last year I took my quad band Blackberry (has a SIM card) with me to the Abacos and had great coverage. I purchased the international service from Verizon prior to going and got an unlimited international data package. I think phone calls where $2/min, but data was unlimited and "free", except for the initial cost of the data package ($30? I think?). Texting was a per txt cost, so I didn't us it....Email was my primary means of communication.

I would assume if Verizon SIM card coverage works in the Abacos, where ever Batelco coverage is should work for you.

Keep in mind, Verizon will ONLY work in the Bahamas if your phone has a SIM card and you activate the international coverage with them.

Data plan $30 intial cost then free? Surely there was a monthly base charge for service or the international plan or did you have to get it with another package?

If no charge for the data plan then I would just use my BBerry and do emails, forget phone calls and texting.

[FloatyThing]

Originally Posted by skipmac

Data plan $30 intial cost then free? Surely there was a monthly base charge for service or the international plan or did you have to get it with another package?

If no charge for the data plan then I would just use my BBerry and do emails, forget phone calls and texting.

We where there 2 weeks and I think pro-rated, it was around $30. Not sure what the normal monthly fee was, but data was unlimited usage once you paid the monthly fee.

I told everyone to NOT txt or call me, rather email me only and it worked out great! I uploaded pictures from my BlackBerry daily to Flicker, posted on FaceBook, as long as it was data, it was "free".

[FloatyThing]

I should have looked this up first. Here is their current Bahamas cost plans:

Calling From Bahamas

Remember, you have to have a phone that supports GSM (quad band, I think). Most Verizon phones don't have GSM (SIM card) capabilities.

[b-rad]

I was in nassau in novemeber and my verizon service was terrible.