Wireless Question

[BcIcemen]

If on shore and using free wifi can I text for free? I will be in San Juan, St Thomas, Barbados, St Kitts and St Marteens. Thanks

[isaiahsnana]

You can use a messenger app like Facebook or What's App other wise you are using your phone which may have roaming charges - you need to check with your carrier - as to the cost of international texting.

[love my grandkids]

I can we had roaming with Verizon at all these stops.

[jamesr3939]

You can, just make sure you have turned off the cellular signal otherwise it will default to cellular. On our last cruise I used my IPad, which is WiFi only, to text using the ships WiFi. I never used it for shore based WiFi but don't see why it would be any different. I have also used it to FaceTime, but that was on Oasis of the Seas which just turned on their new WiFi system.

[freedomcruiser891]

If you use iMessage it's using Internet and not phone service! We always use iMessage both on the ship and in ports with wifi

[lizardhowson]

If on shore and using free wifi can I text for free? I will be in San Juan, St Thomas, Barbados, St Kitts and St Marteens. Thanks

 

San Juan and St. Thomas are US Teritories, so if you have a cell phone on a US carrier, you can use your cell phone just as you do at home for calling, texting, Internet.

 

In the other ports, Wifi will allow texting and Internet. You can also call on wifi if your carrier has Wifi calling rolled out

[Jeepenfun]

if you can get hooked up to a decent wifi connection speed wise then use Skype. free calling and video calling and messaging. I know FB messenger does it too but in voice or video calling there is a delay in sound and video.

[NS-Cruiser]

If on shore and using free wifi can I text for free? I will be in San Juan, St Thomas, Barbados, St Kitts and St Marteens. Thanks

 

 

I have been in all those ports, and I used my iPhone set in Airplane mode, with wifi switched back on, without any issues... If you switch Airplane mode off, then it will default to cellular data, and you will get big roaming data charges....

 

So short answer, "yes, you can do it, just be careful what signal you are using"

 

 

Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk

[Sweet Dutch Girl]

New phones will default to best available "source" when searching for a connection. Even if you think you are attaching to WiFi your phone may be attaching to a satellite feed (data) and you could end up with a huge bill from your service provider. Before cruising check that your phone does not default to "best available" or similar.

[E&B]

New phones will default to best available "source" when searching for a connection. Even if you think you are attaching to WiFi your phone may be attaching to a satellite feed (data) and you could end up with a huge bill from your service provider. Before cruising check that your phone does not default to "best available" or similar.

 

 

Not a phone guru, but I think this only happens if you still have cell service and/or data service on but have connected to wifi. If you turn on to airplane mode and then only turn on wifi, you only get wifi and the phone won't turn in cell or data. Any tech gurus out there who can confirm this?

Edited October 16, 2015 by E&B

[Sweet Dutch Girl]

Not a phone guru, but I think this only happens if you still have cell service and/or data service on but have connected to wifi. If you turn on to airplane mode and then only turn on wifi, you only get wifi and the phone won't turn in cell or data. Any tech gurus out there who can confirm this?

 

A quick google search "phones that choose data over wifi" will show countless examples of how this works. Since I have had my phone subscriber turn this off my phone no longer searches but my connections can sometimes be pretty iffy through WiFi. Sadly some phones do not give you the option since they are just looking for the best connection.

[ladygal4.4]

I always turn my cell service to off, so that way only the wifi is open. Haven't had a problem yet and I've traveled to S.

America and India

 

 

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[love my grandkids]

San Juan and St. Thomas are US Teritories, so if you have a cell phone on a US carrier, you can use your cell phone just as you do at home for calling, texting, Internet.

 

In the other ports, Wifi will allow texting and Internet. You can also call on wifi if your carrier has Wifi calling rolled out

 

My earlier post had a typo.

 

When in St Thomas and San Juan last week using Verizon, my phone went to roaming as we wandered around