LongHill44 Posted June 25, 2018 #1 Share Posted June 25, 2018 With our cruise coming up and having teenaged kids, the thought of a few hundred dollar phone bill is scary. Between Facebook, texts, iMessages and whatever else, I have two questions: 1- What have you found to be the best and easiest way to keep in touch with those at home? 2- What have you found is the cheapest way to keep in touch with those at home? Thanks for all in the input........... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BoDidly Posted June 25, 2018 #2 Share Posted June 25, 2018 Facebook Messenger , not the video. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
firemanbobswife Posted June 25, 2018 #3 Share Posted June 25, 2018 Just like you said in your other thread - iMessage or FB Messenger. It will only cost you the Social plan. And it’s cheaper to buy ahead of time. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bnorris10 Posted June 25, 2018 #4 Share Posted June 25, 2018 Just get the social package and keep in touch via Facebook messenger Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
K&RCurt Posted June 25, 2018 #5 Share Posted June 25, 2018 I give them the emergency contact number for the ship. If it is not an emergency, I do not want to hear from anyone at home when on vacation. Everyone can catch up when we get home. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kona_wahine Posted June 25, 2018 #6 Share Posted June 25, 2018 Facebook messenger Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
A&Jfamily Posted June 25, 2018 #7 Share Posted June 25, 2018 We all, teens included, go into airplane mode. We need downtime, and time to reconnect as a family and I have refused to pay for it. If my kids want to talk to someone at home, they can pay for it and they have always decided that was not a smart way to spend their money. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Baby_Bear Posted June 25, 2018 #8 Share Posted June 25, 2018 You could do the social package at $4 per day for messages. Also, most of the ports have free WiFi or if you are eating at a local restaurant, they usually have secured wifi and you can access your emails, etc. and call home using Skype or Whatsapp. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
crusinpsychRN Posted June 25, 2018 #9 Share Posted June 25, 2018 Don't. Not until I return and call for my ride. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tap_out Posted June 25, 2018 #10 Share Posted June 25, 2018 With the social plan are you able to use the calling feature through Facebook Messenger? Besides the internet packages are you able to buy just the minutes like you use to be able to? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
firemanbobswife Posted June 25, 2018 #11 Share Posted June 25, 2018 With the social plan are you able to use the calling feature through Facebook Messenger? Besides the internet packages are you able to buy just the minutes like you use to be able to? No and no. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
riffatsea Posted June 25, 2018 #12 Share Posted June 25, 2018 Unless you have small children or aging parents at home I see no need to be in contact while on vacation. I would not encourage teens to just chat or message with their friends at home. I would want them to be in the moment with you on their trip. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BNBR Posted June 25, 2018 #13 Share Posted June 25, 2018 Here comes all the parenting advice..... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cruisinmsk Posted June 25, 2018 #14 Share Posted June 25, 2018 You are probably asking about social media, but last week on the Magic we just used the in-room phone to call home and quickly check in. It's $2.00 a minute but for us, it was the best choice. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bobandsherry Posted June 25, 2018 #15 Share Posted June 25, 2018 Check with your cell phone provider. I'm with T-Mobile, when on ship incoming texts are free, outgoing is 50 cents. I tell me adult kids and dog sitter to send a text if anything urgent. I can then send text if needed. Happened one cruise our pup got ill, a couple of quick texts with dog sitter. Under $5 for the week. When I get to most ports of call I have free data and can then go with other means if necessary. Sent from my LG-H872 using Tapatalk Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cruisinqt Posted June 25, 2018 #16 Share Posted June 25, 2018 We usually use Facebook messenger. It has its own separate app that you just tap and send messages back and forth just like your regular text messages on your phone. Super easy. But if we have several ports that have free WiFi near the ship we skip the WiFi package and check in with them for free while in port. I have ZERO guilt for checking in with family or friends while we are on our cruise. I love my family and friends and if I miss them and want to communicate with them that’s perfectly fine. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
coevan Posted June 25, 2018 #17 Share Posted June 25, 2018 Check with your cell phone provider. I'm with T-Mobile, when on ship incoming texts are free, outgoing is 50 cents. I tell me adult kids and dog sitter to send a text if anything urgent. I can then send text if needed. Happened one cruise our pup got ill, a couple of quick texts with dog sitter. Under $5 for the week. When I get to most ports of call I have free data and can then go with other means if necessary. Sent from my LG-H872 using Tapatalk You can not send or receive texts at sea, there is no tower. The 50 cent texts is from land. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bobandsherry Posted June 25, 2018 #18 Share Posted June 25, 2018 (edited) You can not send or receive texts at sea, there is no tower. The 50 cent texts is from land.You are just flat out wrong. https://help.carnival.com/app/answers/detail/a_id/1129/~/cellular-phone-service Additionally, here's screen capture of text from last cruise, clearly shows cost while on cruise ship. Here's article from Cruise Critic as well... https://www.cruisecritic.com/articles.cfm?ID=1752 And as I had mentioned, I have done it so I can speak first hand at it being available. You can indeed text while at sea. Sent from my LG-H872 using Tapatalk Edited June 25, 2018 by bobandsherry Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tap_out Posted June 25, 2018 #19 Share Posted June 25, 2018 No and no. So even though its not video you cant make the standard call? what package would that fall under? Fyi we are leaving are 2.5 year old at home. So yeah we need to communicate Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
firemanbobswife Posted June 25, 2018 #20 Share Posted June 25, 2018 So even though its not video you cant make the standard call? what package would that fall under? Fyi we are leaving are 2.5 year old at home. So yeah we need to communicate My friends were on the Glory the week before I was (they did a B2B). When they were in Miami they tried to FB call me, WhatsApp call me and I think even Viber call me. Couldn’t get it to work. They aren’t from the US so didn’t have cell data and were going solely off the Social wi-fi Package. I don’t know if calls work with the Premium plan or not, I haven’t tried it. In a lot of cases the internet is so painfully slow that it takes forever to even get a page to load so getting a call to go through may be pretty near impossible. Can you just text their caretaker? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LongHill44 Posted June 25, 2018 Author #21 Share Posted June 25, 2018 We usually use Facebook messenger. It has its own separate app that you just tap and send messages back and forth just like your regular text messages on your phone. Super easy. But if we have several ports that have free WiFi near the ship we skip the WiFi package and check in with them for free while in port. I have ZERO guilt for checking in with family or friends while we are on our cruise. I love my family and friends and if I miss them and want to communicate with them that’s perfectly fine. So you used Facebook mess through the social plan? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
firemanbobswife Posted June 25, 2018 #22 Share Posted June 25, 2018 So you used Facebook mess through the social plan? Yes I used it all the time. If you look at the flier I posted in your other thread you can see that it’s supported. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bookworm1985 Posted June 25, 2018 #23 Share Posted June 25, 2018 I disconnect on cruises. If it is a true emergency, they can call the ship. Sent from my iPhone using Forums Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bar1068 Posted June 25, 2018 #24 Share Posted June 25, 2018 My friends were on the Glory the week before I was (they did a B2B). When they were in Miami they tried to FB call me, WhatsApp call me and I think even Viber call me. Couldn’t get it to work. They aren’t from the US so didn’t have cell data and were going solely off the Social wi-fi Package. I don’t know if calls work with the Premium plan or not, I haven’t tried it. In a lot of cases the internet is so painfully slow that it takes forever to even get a page to load so getting a call to go through may be pretty near impossible. Can you just text their caretaker? I've been on several cruises on different ships using mainly the Value network plan, and for various reasons had to make phone calls from the ship and have mostly been successful. Was just on the Sunshine last month with Value plan had some personal business I needed to address and no issue with wifi calling from my iphone, which is how I make the calls I've made. We've made calls from the handful of TA's we've been on as those were during our grand-kids birthdays, and we called them for bday wishes, plus they get a kick of talking with us "on the big ship from the big ocean"!! Thing that is really really odd, we've stayed connected for various reasons back home and STILL somehow managed to enjoy our cruises!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Joebucks Posted June 25, 2018 #25 Share Posted June 25, 2018 I use Facebook messenger. I can talk to my family and friends for cheap. Somehow it doesn't ruin my vacation in doing so Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Please sign in to comment
You will be able to leave a comment after signing in
Sign In Now