Using Cell Phones in Bermuda
While in Bermuda as a tourist, you will most likely make a few calls back home and make some local calls as well. You may be carrying your cell phone (with international dialing and roaming activated), or may decide to take a pre-paid SIM Card in Bermuda with data & talk-time plans, or try out a rental cell phone in Bermuda. All these options are available in Bermuda and discussed in the sections below.
When dialing an international call from Bermuda, you will need to use the following dialing rules for calling a land line number: For USA and Canada: 1-(Area Code)-(Local Number). Other countries: 011-(Country Code)-(Area Code)-(Local Number).
If you are making an international call from Bermuda to someone's cell phone, then don't dial the Area Code. While using calling cards, follow the instructions as stated in the card. For making calls within Bermuda (i.e. for making local calls) from your international roaming cell phone, note the following:
Bermuda's country code is 441 and the local phone numbers are 7 digits long. So, if you are calling a Bermuda phone number, you will need to dial 1, then 441 as the country code and then the local seven digit number. So for example to call a local taxi, dial 1-441-(7 digit number).
In case you want to make a call to a Bermuda number before you start your travel, that is from your own home country, then use the following rules:
1) USA and Canada, dial 1-441-(seven digit number).
2) Other countries, 001-441-(seven digit number).
Cell Phone Services in Bermuda
Most of the cell phones, particularly ones using GSM technology and having international dialing service activated will work in Bermuda. For example if you are from the U.S. and using a regular cell phone carrier service from Verizon/AT&T/Sprint etc, your cell phone will work in Bermuda.
However, make sure that you call up the operator and set up the International Dialing and Roaming in your phone. Otherwise your cell phone won't work. Also be careful. The international roaming rates can be quite high. So check out the rates before you start. Most operators charge even for incoming text messages (on which you really have no control). Some operators charge you for the roaming even if you do not use the phone but only switch it on in Bermuda.
Some of these cell phone service operators (carriers) also have arrangements with cruise ships so that you can use your cell phone even while on a cruise and out of range from Bermuda's mobile towers. Remember that cruise ship rates for cell phone usage are different and much higher. Operators like AT&T offer different plans while you visit another country compared to what you might be used to at home.
Not all cell phones have international capability. So if you want to verify whether your cell phone will work in Bermuda, you can call 1-703-222-7161 in the US, or alternatively visit this link: intouchglobal.com/travel.htm and fill up a short form. This is a free service and they will let you know about your cell phone's capability.
The international activation in your cell phone will not cost much. But the roaming charge while in Bermuda can be substantial - anywhere between $1 to $5 a minute depending on the operator and time of call.
Pre-Paid Local SIM Cards
A good option is to buy a pre-paid SIM card in Bermuda once you arrive. There are various plans offered by the operators including packages with local and international calls, SMS, Data etc (it will be cheaper compared to using international SIM cards with roaming facility).
You will get a Bermuda local number and be able to make both local and international calls, send text messages and have enough data to use social apps like Facebook, WhatsApp, Twitter, etc. However your cell phone must be unlocked so that such SIM cards can be used. Note that some of the operators auto-renew the plans and keep charging the credit card... so you should deactivate the card as soon as your intended use is over.
There are two major Cell Phone operators in Bermuda - Digicel and One Communications or OneComm (formerly CellOne). You can get their prepaid SIM cards at several outlets throughout the island.
Digicel. Their headquarter in Bermuda is located at 46 Cedar Avenue, Hamilton City. 24x7 Call Center number: +1 441 500 5600. They offer several bundled plans such as for 1 day, 7 days, 14 days, etc. These bundles include data, talk time, unlimited social media use for facebook, twitter, whatsapp, etc. You can purchase the plans online through their website as well.
OneComm. 18, Church Street, Hamilton. Open Monday to Saturday, 9am to 5pm. They also have kiosks at St. George's (The Money Shop, 36 Water Street), Southampton (Heron Bay Plaza, 227 Middle Road, Monday – Saturday, 7am to 9pm, Sunday, 9am to 7pm), Hamilton Parish (Pizza House, Shelly Bay Plaza, 110 North Shore Road), Royal Naval Dockyard (Clock Tower Mall, 6 Clock Tower Parade), Hamilton City (30 Victoria Street, Hamilton, Available 24/7). Customer Care Number: (441) 700 7000 (7am-1am, 7 days a week).
They offer several bundled plans including daily, weekly, fortnightly, monthly, etc, that include unlimited local talk & text, data (with limits), etc. You can also make international calls and send international text messages, but that can attract extra charges. For initial Prepaid Data Plan activation, you need to visit their store or call the Customer Care number given above.
Renting Cell Phones in Bermuda
You can also rent a cell phone in Bermuda on a daily rate.
Bermuda Cell Rental offers ready-to-use mobile phone rentals that includes a pre-paid SIM card with a Bermuda phone number which is available to you in advance.
You pay $5 a day and you get unlimited local in/out calls, local in/out texts and incoming international texts, overseas incoming calls and texts.
Outgoing international calls are 60 cents a minute.
Outgoing international texts are 25 cents each.
There is no extra charge for voice mail, call waiting, three way calling and calling number ID.
They can deliver the phone at any place within Bermuda including at the airport and pick it up. There will be a one-time delivery and pick-up charge of $25 (for any number of phones for the same date and location).
You can call them at (441) 232-2355 (24 hours) to arrange phone collection.
Bermuda Public Phones
There are many public telephone booths all over Bermuda. These are the traditional British boxes that are red in color. One of the places where you can see such red telephone booths is at Royal Naval Dockyard (cruise port) right next to the store Island Outfitters. Local calls at payphones cost 50¢ and you need to drop two quarters. In most of the public telephone booths, US coins are also accepted.
Photo: John Hoey, cc by-sa 2.0
Useful local phone numbers in Bermuda
911 - Police, Ambulance and fire
411 - Local directory assistance.
Note: You can call the above numbers while in Bermuda only.
|
 By Raj Bhattacharya
Raj, a seasoned travel writer and Bermuda destination expert, has extensive global travel experience. This website reflects his profound insights, garnered over nearly two decades of dedicated findings and research on the island. Raj has assisted countless Bermuda-bound visitors by providing direct, personalized responses to their queries and imparting his wealth of knowledge through this platform. This site serves as an indispensable guide for those seeking informed and reliable insights into Bermuda's treasures.
|
Related Articles
|
Visitors' Comments and Messages
Dennis Taylor (March 2023)
Hello Raj, We appreciate the information you have supplied on your website regarding cell phone usage in Bermuda. Looks like we would be interested in purchasing the "$10 for 7 days" prepaid SIM from Digicel for our Apple iPhone. However, we will be staying in St George only. Might Digicel have an office in St George? Thanks for any guidance you might be able to offer.
Raj (bermuda-attractions.com) March 2023
Hi, Digicel has a franchise outlet 'All Talk Cellular' in St. George located at 1 King Street (next to Bank of Butterfield, Kings Square). Note that the pre-paid plans change quite frequently... the $10 plan was available when I last updated the article. You can visit their website or contact them for current plans. Also, you should have an unlocked phone for a pre-paid SIM to work.
Stephen W. Campbell (February 2020)
We're uncertain about how to obtain cell phone service/access while in Bermuda. Our US based carrier (T-Mobile) does not provide service off-shore. We are staying at a cottage that does not have a local phone. We will need the ability to contact taxis, restaurants for reservations, among others. Any suggestions? Thanks in advance for your help.
Raj (bermuda-attractions.com) February 2020
You can buy a local pre-paid SIM card while in Bermuda or try to get it arranged through your hotel before you arrive. There are various plans for talk time, text and data, for example, Digicel pre-paid plan starts from $10 for 7 days (for 100 minutes talk, 100 texts and 100MB data). But be careful, some of these operators auto-renew the plans and keep charging the credit card... so you must deactivate the card as soon as your intended use is over.
Anne (November 2017)
Hi Raj, GREAT WEBSITE! Quick question. My husband and I are moving to Bermuda from UK. We have the Apple IPhones (5s and 4s). We are with Service Provider O2 in UK. Are we able to take them with us and get them unlocked over there and get a local Bermudian sim card put in by a local cell provider. Phones are pretty expensive to buy there so we would like to know this in advance.
If there is a cell phone you would recommend that we buy here before going over (tied in with cell provider there/same company) which would be easier to unlock and then use same cell provider in Bermuda.? Many thanks for your help in advance.
Raj (bermuda-attractions.com) November 2017
Hi, there are couple of stores in the island that can help you unlock your O2 phone. I suggest you contact them and confirm before arriving.
1) Audio Visual Electronics Ltd.
They can unlock phones locked with At&t, T-mobile, Verizon, Sprint, Rogers, Bell, Telus, Vodafone, Orange, O2 etc. They have two outlets in Bermuda ... a) 4 Washington Street, Hamilton (near the central bus terminal), Open Monday thru Saturday from 10 AM to 6 PM. Phone: 441-292-1354; b) 29 Mangrove Bay Road, Somerset (next to HSBC bank), Open Monday thru Saturday from 10 AM to 9 PM. Phone: 441-234-3305
2) Computerzone
39 Dundonald St , Hamilton City. Phone: 441-295-7037
Note that Bermuda only has two local cell phone carriers (Digicel and Cellone). None of the overseas carriers directly operate in the island ... so a phone locked with an international carrier won't work here.
Anym (February 2016)
Hi! Can you please tell me if they have pay telephones in Dockyard. Our cell phone service does not have international calling but I do have a phone card.
Raj (bermuda-attractions.com) February 2016
Hi, Payphones are available at the dockyard, near the cruise terminal as well as several other places in the dockyard.
Ruth (September 2012)
One more question as our vacation draws near, what is the cell phone service like in Bermuda? Verizon is our carrier and was wondering if we should count on being able to use our cell phones to call home.
Raj (bermuda-attractions.com) September 2012
Yes, Verizon will work in Bermuda provided you have a regular connection (service). Make sure International dialing and roaming is set up before you arrive in Bermuda. You may need to call up the operator to do so. Also check out the current rates (it can be expensive... I understand there is a charge even for receiving text messages while in Bermuda).
|
