Keeping in touch on the gem 9/5/15

[Erinchristine38]

Me, my DH, and two children (8 and 8 months) will be going on the gem. Leaving from NYC to the Bahamas on September 5.(best birthday gift ever). This is our first cruise and I am having alot of anxiety about conquering the unknown with children. There is bound to be some point that we all split up.. Is there anyway for DH to get in touch w me if we aren't together on the boat? Does anyone have any suggestions on how to keep in touch with people at home so I can check on the dog and my oldest can check in with her dad?

 

Thank you in advanced!

[mking8288]

Welcome to CC - the SEARCH function would yield numerous "current" tips & info about using iConcierge on the ship and at GSC, where there is no land-based cellular coverage - while docked at Port Canaveral, you will have native "home" signal from your provider. Nassau, Bahamas would be roaming coverage and for a few hours of docking - shouldn't be a major hardship (think of flying cross country on a plane without GoGo WiFi)

 

http://boards.cruisecritic.com/showthread.php?t=1790546&highlight=gem+and+iconcierge

http://boards.cruisecritic.com/showthread.php?t=2072883&highlight=gem+and+iconcierge

http://boards.cruisecritic.com/showthread.php?t=2072883&highlight=gem+and+iconcierge

http://boards.cruisecritic.com/showthread.php?t=2072883&highlight=gem+and+iconcierge

http://boards.cruisecritic.com/showthread.php?t=2109709&highlight=gem+and+iconcierge

http://boards.cruisecritic.com/showthread.php?t=2109709&highlight=gem+and+iconcierge

http://boards.cruisecritic.com/showthread.php?t=2248220&highlight=gem+and+iconcierge

 

Please go thru these & read, and feel free to come back with specific questions - plenty of keyboard experts sitting around to help if these posts aren't sufficient, be specific.

 

P.S. Satellite internet speed via the GEM, currently, is slower than the *AWAY class ships with newer & faster hardware and technologies deployed ... upgrades expected to be seen this November after a re-scheduled dry dock (maybe sooner, but don't recall reading of any recently)

 

FaceTime for those on iOS and Skype users seemed to have success getting thru, using (paid) WiFi on select ships, with all the given limitations and disclaimers. Direct stateroom/ship calling to land numbers is expensive - most current rates is on NCL's website under FAQ. SMS or texting is generally the most economically way to check-in and get daily alerts, as in "Everything is fine, okay, enjoy vacation - goldfish in the tank and the pet are ..."

 

Also, keep in mind that depending on where you are within the ship (i.e. Inside stateroom or dining room, etc.) - "radio" signals are subject to interference and blockage due to the ship's massive hull & steel superstructure, etc. Sticky's on the mirror wall and/or voice mail left with the stateroom telephone VM system are other "old fashion" methods.

Edited August 17, 2015 by mking8288

[CruisinHarvey]

I assume you're going to Florida. Obviously you can use your cell phone there. Most folks can also use their cells on Nassau. So, even if you don't want to the pay the terribly high rates of calling from the ship, you'll be still be able to check in while at those 2 ports. As for on the ship, unfortunately, the Gem doesn't have Iconcierge yet, or you could use that. What most folks have done in the past was bring along walkie talkies. Even fairly strong ones are pretty cheap.

 

Enjoy your cruise. We we're on the Gem in June. It's a well maintained ship. We'll be taking the Breakaway out of same pier you'll be using(88) the next day after you.

Edited August 17, 2015 by CruisinHarvey

[karen_cpa]

On the ship, I always see families using walkie-talkies to stay in touch.

 

With this particular itinerary you aren't really out of touch for more than 2-3 days at any given time.

 

You set sail on Saturday at 3pm. Your phone should work for another hour or so as you sail past the Statue of Liberty and under the Verrazano Bridge.

 

By Monday at around 2-3pm, you are docked in Port Canaveral, FL and everything on your cell phone will work. It may even work sooner as you are pretty close to the coast while docking. You don't leave Port Canaveral until 9pm if I remember correctly, and again your phone will still work a good hour or so after sail-away since you stay pretty close to the coast for a bit.

 

Wednesday you are in Nassau and there are various restaurants (some big chains like DD, Starbucks, Burger King, and then smaller restaurants) that all have wi-fi you can connect to. DH had to check in with work and the walk to DD was about 15 minutes. Starbucks was definitely closer, and there are a lot of restaurants very close to the ship.

 

From the time you leave Nassau (about 6pm) until you dock again Saturday morning is the longest stretch you go without a working cell phone.

 

You can also talk to your wireless carrier about international plans. The on-board WiFi was 75 cents a minute if you didn't buy a plan, that would be good for a quick FB message or something.

 

Hope that helps!

 

P.S. - My times may be a bit off as in both FL and Nassau we waited well after the embarkation time, as we left behind a family of 4 in FL, and 2 young gentlemen in Nassau.

Edited August 17, 2015 by karen_cpa