funredhead Posted January 19, 2017 #1 Share Posted January 19, 2017 I am wondering how reliable it is for texting and calling? We used it or tried to on the breakaway a few years ago and we weren't able to stay connected to the wifi. I am also wondering about the current cost? Thanks for your help. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ravnmaniac228 Posted January 19, 2017 #2 Share Posted January 19, 2017 I was on the Getaway in October. Had no problem staying connected to wifi. I did not purchase the texting/calling package. My family (6) all have iPhones. We texted via iMessage. There is no charge for using iMessage as it works via wifi. My daughter is currently on the Epic and we have been texting back and forth all week. Sent from my iPhone using Forums Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
stickey_mouse Posted January 19, 2017 #3 Share Posted January 19, 2017 My family (6) all have iPhones. We texted via iMessage. There is no charge for using iMessage as it works via wifi. My daughter is currently on the Epic and we have been texting back and forth all week. Did you have the internet package? If iMessage uses wifi, how could it possibly be free? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
funredhead Posted January 19, 2017 Author #4 Share Posted January 19, 2017 Thank you for your responses. I'm also wondering whether you had an internet package, as the t&c of those packages says only 1 device can be logged in at a time. We are traveling with our kids. There are 4 of us in our stateroom. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ravnmaniac228 Posted January 19, 2017 #5 Share Posted January 19, 2017 When you board the ship turn your phone on airplane mode. Open Norwegian iconcierge. It will connect to wifi. This is how you check your onboard spending/balance, reserve shows/dinner. You do not have to purchase anything to connect to wifi. What you have the option of buying is the message service. You do not need that if you have an iPhone. As far as I know this is a iPhone exclusive perk. It does not work with android. I hope I explained that okay. Sent from my iPhone using Forums Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
funredhead Posted January 19, 2017 Author #6 Share Posted January 19, 2017 Yes, perfectly! Thank you so much for your reply. We all have iPhones so that will work nicely! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
stickey_mouse Posted January 19, 2017 #7 Share Posted January 19, 2017 When you board the ship turn your phone on airplane mode. Open Norwegian iconcierge. It will connect to wifi. This is how you check your onboard spending/balance, reserve shows/dinner. You do not have to purchase anything to connect to wifi. What you have the option of buying is the message service. You do not need that if you have an iPhone. As far as I know this is a iPhone exclusive perk. It does not work with android. I hope I explained that okay. Sent from my iPhone using Forums I understand how iPhones can message one another using wifi. However, as far as I know, use of wifi onboard is not free. The only exception (or so I thought) was use of NCL's app. The app itself has a built in text capability for an up-charge, but that's something else entirely. I still don't understand how you used iMessage for free. Sent from my iPhone using Forums Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bengalfang Posted January 19, 2017 #8 Share Posted January 19, 2017 I understand how iPhones can message one another using wifi. However, as far as I know, use of wifi onboard is not free. The only exception (or so I thought) was use of NCL's app. The app itself has a built in text capability for an up-charge, but that's something else entirely. I still don't understand how you used iMessage for free. Sent from my iPhone using Forums Hoping to understand this a little more myself! Any help is appreciated! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ravnmaniac228 Posted January 19, 2017 #9 Share Posted January 19, 2017 (edited) When you connect to iconcierge you automatically connect to ships wifi. That is how you keep track of onboard activity. This is one of the features of the iconcierge app. Since you are on wifi, iMessage is available to use. I am not technically savvy, I just know that is how it worked on October and is working now with my daughter who is currently on the Epic. Sent from my iPhone using Forums Edited January 19, 2017 by ravnmaniac228 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
stickey_mouse Posted January 19, 2017 #10 Share Posted January 19, 2017 When you connect to iconcierge you automatically connect to ships wifi. That is how you keep track of onboard activity. This is one of the features of the iconcierge app. Since you are on wifi, iMessage is available to use. I am not technically savvy, I just know that is how it worked on October and is working now with my daughter who is currently on the Epic. Interesting. Perhaps you found a loophole. Connecting to wifi is the way to access the paid internet, but you seem to have found a way to use the internet without being charged for it. Well done! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ravnmaniac228 Posted January 19, 2017 #11 Share Posted January 19, 2017 Don't get me wrong. You can't access the internet. It is only good for iMessage as far as I know. Sent from my iPhone using Forums Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
stickey_mouse Posted January 19, 2017 #12 Share Posted January 19, 2017 I did some digging on the forum, and it appears that many have recently discovered the ability to use iMessage while onboard. It shouldn't work, but it does! I would expect NCL to close this loophole the next time it updates the app/wifi system. Until then, mum's the word! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare mking8288 Posted January 19, 2017 #13 Share Posted January 19, 2017 (edited) When you connect to the ship's WiFi or wireless connection, you are being bridged to the ship's server in a closed loop, the inTRAnet - it stayed there behind the firewalled partition - it does NOT go beyond to the inTERnet, which has to go thru satellite orbiting high above the earth, traveling a distance in excess of 2,200 miles to reach other servers and I.P. addresses. Think of the ship only WiFi inTRAnet as the intercom system on your multi-line office system. Think of the WiFi InTERnet as the outside telephone lines connecting to other locations - which has to be switched, with extra steps. Behind the scene server software & hardware do these transparent switching as part of the registration & activation steps, and, unless you are authorized or allowed to get to an outside line or circuit - you can't connect elsewhere. The iMessaging loophole is for TXT messaging or SMS only, not graphics or web browsing like accessing emails. As a matter of fact, depending on the smartphone's OS design & security settings, SMS messgage "headers" with one's "home" cellular or mobile carrier has been received and the first segment or portion of the TEXT message can be seen & read, however, you won't be able to see the full message or the rest, including any attachment, without given full access to the inTERnet server. For most non-tech geeks, this, is a very simplistic way of explaining it - most of the iConcierge features are (still) free to use, calling texting are not free and require additional steps and the extra "switches" to be turned on or enabled, as in "paying" for usage. Extra F.Y.I. - those prepared to use/paid for inTERnet usage and/or getting the unlimited $30 a day plan, or possibly have the "Free At Sea" 250 minutes plan or other time-based package - unofficial report posted very, very recently indicated that an extra step is needed to optimize the user's cache & compression experience in web browing, by downloading & installing a free APP by MTN, called "SpeedNet" on Play Store (iOS & Android). Edited January 19, 2017 by mking8288 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ravnmaniac228 Posted January 19, 2017 #14 Share Posted January 19, 2017 The iMessage only allows you to read and send text. No pics or other attachments. Sent from my iPhone using Forums Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
zqvol Posted January 19, 2017 #15 Share Posted January 19, 2017 When you connect to the ship's WiFi or wireless connection, you are being bridged to the ship's server in a closed loop, the inTRAnet - it stayed there behind the firewalled partition - it does NOT go beyond to the inTERnet, which has to go thru satellite orbiting high above the earth, traveling a distance in excess of 2,200 miles to reach other servers and I.P. addresses. Think of the ship only WiFi inTRAnet as the intercom system on your multi-line office system. Think of the WiFi InTERnet as the outside telephone lines connecting to other locations - which has to be switched, with extra steps. Behind the scene server software & hardware do these transparent switching as part of the registration & activation steps, and, unless you are authorized or allowed to get to an outside line or circuit - you can't connect elsewhere. The iMessaging loophole is for TXT messaging or SMS only, not graphics or web browsing like accessing emails. As a matter of fact, depending on the smartphone's OS design & security settings, SMS messgage "headers" with one's "home" cellular or mobile carrier has been received and the first segment or portion of the TEXT message can be seen & read, however, you won't be able to see the full message or the rest, including any attachment, without given full access to the inTERnet server. For most non-tech geeks, this, is a very simplistic way of explaining it - most of the iConcierge features are (still) free to use, calling texting are not free and require additional steps and the extra "switches" to be turned on or enabled, as in "paying" for usage. Extra F.Y.I. - those prepared to use/paid for inTERnet usage and/or getting the unlimited $30 a day plan, or possibly have the "Free At Sea" 250 minutes plan or other time-based package - unofficial report posted very, very recently indicated that an extra step is needed to optimize the user's cache & compression experience in web browing, by downloading & installing a free APP by MTN, called "SpeedNet" on Play Store (iOS & Android). SpeedNet has horrible reviews and should not be installed on any device in spite of what they claim. It is a major security risk. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare mking8288 Posted January 19, 2017 #16 Share Posted January 19, 2017 SpeedNet has horrible reviews and should not be installed on any device in spite of what they claim. It is a major security risk.Thanks, noted - there are very few reviews on Android like you said. However, nothing on iOS - insufficient data. From the revision history, looked like MTN at least tried to keep it updated & fixed the bugs ... unlike iConcierge, which is just as bad & haven't been updated in well over a year now running Android. Anything specific on the risks, did you sandbox & run it or had it scanned by security softare ? We will be on the GEM in May but unlikely to use anything from the ship for data ... much rather count on Google Fi and VPN-secured WiFi once we have land towers. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
skatie Posted February 7, 2017 #17 Share Posted February 7, 2017 Thanks everyone for the details. Just so I'm crystal clear....do I have this right... - before leaving home the four of us download the iconcierge app to our iPhones. -Once on board we put phones into airplane mode and enable wifi. -We can use the app to check out bills and entertainment etc, but unless we pay the $9.95 per device, we can't call each other while onboard -We can text each other and our friends and family back in Canada for free using iMessage (no pictures, just word texts)- do we need to be signed into the NCL app and use the iMessage button there or just go through the iMessage icon on our phones? Thanks! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
stickey_mouse Posted February 7, 2017 #18 Share Posted February 7, 2017 I just left the Getaway yesterday, and iMessage did NOT work for any of us while onboard. Sent from my iPhone using Forums Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
norway olin Posted February 7, 2017 #19 Share Posted February 7, 2017 I just left the Getaway yesterday, and iMessage did NOT work for any of us while onboard. Sent from my iPhone using Forums Can you verify that you had a wifi intranet connection on board? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
stickey_mouse Posted February 7, 2017 #20 Share Posted February 7, 2017 Can you verify that you had a wifi intranet connection on board? Yes, of course we did. Sent from my iPhone using Forums Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
babybird626 Posted February 7, 2017 #21 Share Posted February 7, 2017 I was on the Getaway in October. Had no problem staying connected to wifi. I did not purchase the texting/calling package. My family (6) all have iPhones. We texted via iMessage. There is no charge for using iMessage as it works via wifi. My daughter is currently on the Epic and we have been texting back and forth all week. Sent from my iPhone using Forums Just got off the getaway wish I had known to use imessage. I guess I should have know that, or it should tell you that some place, but wifi was on and off constantly anyway. I found my husband by looking at his account activity and found which bar he was at :> Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ravnmaniac228 Posted February 7, 2017 #22 Share Posted February 7, 2017 Just use regular text app. I only use Norwegian app to check account and check on things to do. An abbreviated daily is on the app. People back home must also have iMessage. You can not text droids. Sent from my iPhone using Forums Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
stickey_mouse Posted February 7, 2017 #23 Share Posted February 7, 2017 Perhaps NCL recently updated the app and closed the loophole. Every time I tried to send an iMessage, it would fail to send. It wasn't just me/my phone, everyone in my party tried it and had a 0% success rate all week long. Sorry to be the bearer of bad news! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ravnmaniac228 Posted February 7, 2017 #24 Share Posted February 7, 2017 Perhaps NCL recently updated the app and closed the loophole. Every time I tried to send an iMessage, it would fail to send. It wasn't just me/my phone, everyone in my party tried it and had a 0% success rate all week long. Sorry to be the bearer of bad news! How long ago? I was on the Epic January 14-21 and it worked fine. Sent from my iPhone using Forums Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
stickey_mouse Posted February 7, 2017 #25 Share Posted February 7, 2017 How long ago? I was on the Epic January 14-21 and it worked fine. Sent from my iPhone using Forums We were on the Getaway last week. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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