Texting while on the ship

[Whitnee1]

For IPhones if you have no intention on using data while on board it is important to disable cellular data.Ifyou don't your apps "ping" frequesntly for updates which will cause you to be charged for data usage while on the ship. The second thing is to put your phone in "do not disturb". This will block incoming phone calls soyouwill not be charged even if you don't answer it. While in this mode you can elect to allow calls from specific persons in your contact list to go through in the event of an emergency. While in do not disturb any incoming calls will show up as a missed call.

[ddebaets]

Following! I have Verizon and have been trying to figure out what to do about cell service while gone, Thank you!

[BOLTFISH]

From the sounds of it (1), have an international plan if you plan on using more than occasionally, if not the rates are not outrageous for here/there use (2), keep it off or in airplane mode and check it sporadically throughout the day. (3) hope you don't get a call when your sporadically checking it. :)

 

I will have to reach out to Verizon and see what I need to do about ports of call. I will update after speaking with them.

[reallyitsmema]

From the sounds of it (1), have an international plan if you plan on using more than occasionally, if not the rates are not outrageous for here/there use (2), keep it off or in airplane mode and check it sporadically throughout the day. (3) hope you don't get a call when your sporadically checking it. :)

 

I will have to reach out to Verizon and see what I need to do about ports of call. I will update after speaking with them.

 

You can also just use the interactive trip planner on their website. You put in the ship you are sailing and the countries you are visiting. It will tell you which plans could be used on your trip and also what the prices are per minute and gives you dialing instructions for each country. Very easy to use.

[LilBlackDress]

Taking off on the Adventure on Sunday.

 

Talked to my provider att. They told me that texting is "free incoming text" and $.50 for all outgoing text.

 

Can someone tell me if this is just while on the islands or during the day. Or is it also at night and while on the ship? Just wanted to make sure the ships signal doesnt somehow overide and make texting more expensive.

 

Can't remember if I received any text on the sea days or at night on any of my other cruises.

 

WOW, I would be thoroughly confused reading all the replies... Adventure only has one Sea day... Check with AT&T about the other islands you will be stopping at (Barbados, Antigua etc or St Kitts etc) Most excursions will get you back to town with over an hour left so you can shop. Also if you go into town on your own you can look for a cyber cafe, take 5 mins and check in. We were able to find WiFi at the stops we looked for it. But to be fair we didn't look every day...the boys (22 & 25) looked more than us.

 

I haven't had AT&T for a few years, but I remember some islands were covered & some were international charges.... Check in via txt (or email at a cyber cafe) on the islands covered through your plan.

 

Take a DEEP Breath....Now, Enjoy the sea day, Enjoy your cruise.

[BOLTFISH]

You can also just use the interactive trip planner on their website. You put in the ship you are sailing and the countries you are visiting. It will tell you which plans could be used on your trip and also what the prices are per minute and gives you dialing instructions for each country. Very easy to use.

 

Just did both (called and looked up the planner)... I had gotten confused by an earlier post noting that Verizon users needed a shore and ship plan.

 

I'm sure most of you already know this, but I needed to hear it six times before it sunk in. For those of us that don't understand wireless billing, here is the Verizon skinny...

 

One "Cruise Plan", that works for your time underway and your time on shore. $40 bucks will get you 100 talk minutes, Unlimited incoming text messages and 100 outgoing text messages. It also gives you 100MB data. The overage was fairly descent as well. Its also a bonus if your cruise dates happen to coincide with one billing date. Verizon dude mentioned that to me, not sure why though.

 

If you choose to not have a plan, you still need to ensure your phone is setup for international calling. You will then be charged $2.49 a minute for talk and .50 for outgoing texts and .5 for incoming texts. Data, will cost you though. If you don't have a plan and want to only use Wi-Fi and sporadically use the phone, they suggest airplane mode to ensure your not receiving texts/calls and you can use Wi-Fi all you want.

 

They have a higher plan that is $85 bucks that basically doubles the aforementioned plan.

[lalenalei]

We embark in three days and I've just signed up for AT&T Passport Plus for $60. Unlimited outgoing texts (including pictures and video), unlimited wifi at their hotspots, talk at $.50/min, and 300MB of data. Incoming texts are based on your regular plan, so mine are also unlimited.

 

On the ship, I use iMessage and it works fabulously. Will pay for wifi. No need to talk/text for me (my clients can wait until I hit land if they don't have iMessage or email me). Yes, make sure to turn off cellular data, updates, etc. Turn on DND and airplane mode. I'm sure I'm forgetting something...

 

Does anyone know the current rates for Mariner's wifi?

[ritraveler]

ok so I'm still not sure about this...I'm sorry .. feel like an idiot...so if 2 people have i-phones and both of us have verizon ..if we just want to be able to text each other ...mostly on the ship ...do I also have to purchase some kind of cellular or WIFI plan from RC in addition to my optional plan from Verizon?

[blackshirt]

ok so I'm still not sure about this...I'm sorry .. feel like an idiot...so if 2 people have i-phones and both of us have verizon ..if we just want to be able to text each other ...mostly on the ship ...do I also have to purchase some kind of cellular or WIFI plan from RC in addition to my optional plan from Verizon?

If you just want to text each other, no additional plan is needed but you will pay per text message. I believe Verizon charges $0.50 per sent text and $0.05 per received text. Since you have iPhones, an alternative would be iMessage but that would require either cellular data (very expensive without a plan) or WIFI.

[blackshirt]

WOW, I would be thoroughly confused reading all the replies... Adventure only has one Sea day... Check with AT&T about the other islands you will be stopping at (Barbados, Antigua etc or St Kitts etc) Most excursions will get you back to town with over an hour left so you can shop. Also if you go into town on your own you can look for a cyber cafe, take 5 mins and check in. We were able to find WiFi at the stops we looked for it. But to be fair we didn't look every day...the boys (22 & 25) looked more than us.

 

I haven't had AT&T for a few years, but I remember some islands were covered & some were international charges.... Check in via txt (or email at a cyber cafe) on the islands covered through your plan.

 

Take a DEEP Breath....Now, Enjoy the sea day, Enjoy your cruise.

Just want to point out that a wifi hotspot won't help with normal SMS/MMS text/picture messages as they only work over cellular. You need a messaging app that works over wifi (like iMessage) to "text" over wifi.

[niksmom630]

Sue, thank you so much. Getting lot of mixed replies here. But this is what ATT told me and just wanted to double check. Will turn off data/roaming. And just rely on text

 

Also thanks to whoever said an ignored call is just $1. No need to an weber if I don't think its an emergency

 

Hi Donna,

Hope all is well with you! I have AT&T--Didn't buy the package. Just relied on texts--whether in port or at sea--free incoming and $.50 outgoing--and turn off cellular data and data roaming..

 

Enjoy your cruise and wishing you good luck in the casino! ;)

 

Chris

Edited March 19, 2015 by niksmom630

[garycarla]

We always have at least phone, often both turned on on every cruise. Usually $2.50 a minute, but we just deal with it.

 

SOME BAD INFORMATION ABOVE - or at least it can be read wrong.

 

While at sea, you will almost (not always) get just the ship signal. If you are close to land, you might get the signal from shore, or if in port. It will ALWAYS say which carrier on your phone.

 

Just do not assume if you are on the ship, that you are using the ships towers.

[KansasK]

I have AT&T for my phone. I was on the Oasis in February. Just sending text was not expensive, but sending a picture was expensive. I would buy one of their packages that let you do this. I got nailed at $19.99 for a megabyte for data because they said my phone was roaming. I used to send photos on my old phone while on a ship at a small charge, but my new phone must take larger megabyte pictures. I got them to reduce the charges by half, but I still have to pay over $200.00.

 

Be suspicious!

[paulh84]

We always have at least phone, often both turned on on every cruise. Usually $2.50 a minute, but we just deal with it.

 

SOME BAD INFORMATION ABOVE - or at least it can be read wrong.

 

While at sea, you will almost (not always) get just the ship signal. If you are close to land, you might get the signal from shore, or if in port. It will ALWAYS say which carrier on your phone.

 

Just do not assume if you are on the ship, that you are using the ships towers.

 

My Verizon phone always said Celluar at Sea while at sea with the cruise package. I iMessaged constantly on my cruise due to my house getting an offer after 6 months while we were on vacation. Horrible timing but what can you do...

 

Ive used my phone all over the U.S., Europe and Asia. I'd always trust what their trip planner says over a live person. You also typically get alerts when you're about to run out of data, minutes, etc so there should be no big surprises.

[BOLTFISH]

We always have at least phone, often both turned on on every cruise. Usually $2.50 a minute, but we just deal with it.

 

SOME BAD INFORMATION ABOVE - or at least it can be read wrong.

 

While at sea, you will almost (not always) get just the ship signal. If you are close to land, you might get the signal from shore, or if in port. It will ALWAYS say which carrier on your phone.

 

Just do not assume if you are on the ship, that you are using the ships towers.

 

Lots of posts in this thread... Which one provided bad scoop so we can clarify for everyone.

[waterbugohio]

Hi Donna,

Hope all is well with you! I have AT&T--Didn't buy the package. Just relied on texts--whether in port or at sea--free incoming and $.50 outgoing--and turn off cellular data and data roaming..

 

Enjoy your cruise and wishing you good luck in the casino! ;)

 

Chris

 

Chris, hope all is well with you. Thanks for the info. That's what I thought I did last cruise, but just wanted to double check. Thanks for the luck in the casino!! Now just how did you know that's where to find me??? Haha

[Whitnee1]

The only islands I have ver seen included in for AT&T was St Thomas and Puerto Rico as they are US posessions. If you want to know where there is free WiFi in port just follow the crew members getting odd the ship. :):)

[audicruise]

Does any one know about the RoyalIQ app that you put on you phone and it allows you to text others on the ship for a fee?:confused:

[BOLTFISH]

Does any one know about the RoyalIQ app that you put on you phone and it allows you to text others on the ship for a fee?:confused:

 

According to their web site, its only available onboard Quantum, Anthem and Ovation. It says it is coming soon to Oasis and Allure

 

No prices listed, it does mention fees though. My guess, it will be expensive but convenient.

 

Royals IQ Site http://www.royalcaribbean.com/royaliq

Edited April 8, 2015 by BOLTFISH

[Justmekaren918]

I this past trip I signed up for Royal package and it seems AT&T is still seeking money; possibly $175.00 on data charges! I literally went in and physically shut every app down indv. and no updates til I was home! Phone again thought I was in Mexico when bk in Fl.

 

Not sure it took me forever to get signed into Royal's plan! I noticed I occasionally got disconnected, and I was 4G hooked to something! I wanted to keep phone on entire trip incase the kennel was calling on Nikki! Thankfully Nikki did great, and 28 days til she is 16 years old! [emoji3]! Time flies!

[pseudoware]

If you have a T-Mobile Simple Choice plan, receiving texts on board are 50¢ each, but voice is spendy at $5.99/min. Data is $15/MB.

 

The beauty of this plan, however, is the free int'l text & data once on land in over 120 countries, and voice at only 20¢/min.

 

I keep a pay-as-you-go T-Mobile sim active for about $1/month, and when it's time to travel, I temporarily switch to the cheapest Simple Choice plan for a month for $50.

 

No more changing sim cards from country to country, or worrying about per unit data or text charges while abroad. FTW.

 

Sent from my LG-D850 using Tapatalk

Edited April 8, 2015 by pseudoware