Social WiFi and iMessage

[30scruiser]

Good evening! Can someone please verify that iMessage works well with the social WiFi package? On the Carnival website it says it’s not included but I believe people said it does work? I need something to keep in touch with my mom who is watching my kids.

[coevan]

the text part will, forget about any pictures. Depends which ship and what time of the day as to the speed. Which can be painfully slow

[30scruiser]

41 minutes ago, coevan said:

the text part will, forget about any pictures. Depends which ship and what time of the day as to the speed. Which can be painfully slow

Thanks. We’re on the Pride which is reportedly getting its WiFi upgraded in dry dock this week so fingers crossed 🤞 

[pops72106]

 Almost every cruise they cut off I-message and u cant turn it back on until u get to a port with wifi. U need to get whats app, it works on any wifi and yes it is supported by Carnival. My wife cruises alone sometimes and we have no issues texting or sending photos from the ship to the states or back to the ship, It also has a phone feature that u can call over the internet.

Edited February 10, 2019 by pops72106

[pops72106]

https://www.whatsapp.com/ or u can go to the app store on ur phone

[coevan]

We have used iMessage on every Carnival cruise, never a problem. Not sure CCL has the ability to cut off iMessage

[blarko]

I have used iMessage with the social WiFi package with no problem whatsoever 

[pops72106]

Don't know how many cruises u have been on, but I will say that on our last 15-20 cruises over the last 4 years at least 1/2 had I-Message shut off. Whatsapp never fails and it works without having to be on a i-phone. 

[Titan_Cruiser]

We have communicated with our sons via iMessage with no problem the last 5-6 cruises. We have carried on long text conversations and it is almost as quick as being on land. It will not send pictures. 

 

I have also communicated with a few android users using WhatsApp. It will send pictures.

 

We have even talked with one of our sons a couple of times over the WhatsApp Voice Call option. It has a slight lag but it works. We talked for over 20 minutes each time.  

[mjrcruiser]

I can never get iMessage to work. Are there any settings on your phone that need to be changed once on board?.....besides airplane mode, etc.  I don’t fully understand the technical side...😣 

[sayvan]

Just off the Horizon last week and had the social plan and had no issues at all with the iMessage. Actually found the WiFi to be great and never had any connection issues. 

[30scruiser]

Thanks everyone! Very helpful. I just need it for communicating with my mom and prefer to use something that she is already comfortable with rather than trying to get her to use a new app.

[coevan]

18 hours ago, mjrcruiser said:

I can never get iMessage to work. Are there any settings on your phone that need to be changed once on board?.....besides airplane mode, etc.  I don’t fully understand the technical side...😣 

 

 

Did you have the wi-fi package? It's pretty much just texting through wi-fi. There is no way Carnival can turn off iMessage

[mjrcruiser]

59 minutes ago, coevan said:

 

 

Did you have the wi-fi package? It's pretty much just texting through wi-fi. There is no way Carnival can turn off iMessage

 

I did.....I am sure it was just me not knowing what I was doing.  I like to think I'm "tech savvy"....LOL   NOT!!    We sail again in May so I'll be sure to have the WhatsApp as a "fail safe" to stay in contact with the pet sitter/family, etc.  

[coevan]

do you have the blue and white IM icon on your phone, if so, you have it. Under settings go to messages and make sure IM is turned on.

[JimP81]

5 hours ago, coevan said:

 

 

Did you have the wi-fi package? It's pretty much just texting through wi-fi. There is no way Carnival can turn off iMessage

They absolutely can block the ports iMessage uses. When you buy the social package it explicitly says iMessage does not work on that package. 

[Lee Cruiser]

On 2/9/2019 at 6:54 PM, pops72106 said:

 Almost every cruise they cut off I-message and u cant turn it back on until u get to a port with wifi. U need to get whats app, it works on any wifi and yes it is supported by Carnival. My wife cruises alone sometimes and we have no issues texting or sending photos from the ship to the states or back to the ship, It also has a phone feature that u can call over the internet.

 

My wife uses i-message on the social wi-fi plan every cruise.  She has never had a problem with it.

Edited February 11, 2019 by Lee Cruiser

[Lee Cruiser]

30 minutes ago, JimP81 said:

They absolutely can block the ports iMessage uses. When you buy the social package it explicitly says iMessage does not work on that package. 

 

My wife uses i-message on every cruise with the social wi-fi plan without a problem.  The value plan information also says you can't use cellular dependent wi-fi calling.  But I use AT&T wi-fi calling to text on every cruise.

[Lechon]

12 hours ago, JimP81 said:

They absolutely can block the ports iMessage uses. When you buy the social package it explicitly says iMessage does not work on that package. 

 

But yet, iMessage does work on the social plan. Or it did on the Inspiration In October last year. I can confirm that I was able to send and recieve texts...pics, gifs, video didn’t work.

 

carnival also explicitly states things in their rules, but do not enforce, so maybe iMessage on the social plan is one of them.

 

or, maybe, officially, iMessage supported...and those of us just lucked out.

Edited February 11, 2019 by Lechon
additional

[michiganredrose]

I have found iMessage to be hit or miss on my last few cruises. Facebook messenger worked consistently for me. 

[mjrcruiser]

20 hours ago, coevan said:

do you have the blue and white IM icon on your phone, if so, you have it. Under settings go to messages and make sure IM is turned on.

 

Thanks, I do!!  I appreciate your help!  

[jakeT]

I find, and maybe it’s my phone, that apple closed it down, and asked for your Apple ID. What since you don’t have real WiFi, this can not be done on the ship.  Have to go into port get free WiFi and fix my phone