With cell phones in airplane mode, how do couples communicate during a cruise

[RoyMartin]

I'm almost 60 so I know there's a way. I've just forgotten what it was like to live in a world without a cell phone in my pocket and my wife's purse. If I go one direction on this enormous ship and she goes another, how do we find each other? How have others dealt with this? Thanks.

[Mary229]

Through  the ship’s app .

if you have apple phones you can text if you have wifi

i think android has now introduced a texting app that works on WiFi

[sparks1093]

It's rare that we go separate ways onboard but if we do we have a plan of where and when to meet back up. We've found the ship's app (Carnival) to be spotty at best in the chat feature so we don't rely on it.

[CruiserBruce]

Never had a need. DW's cell is rarely leaves the cabin safe during cruises. We know what each other likes to do, where that will occur, and if needed, make plans to meet at the times and locations that matter.

[AKJonesy]

Mary229 brought up the ship's app.  As an example of this, Holland America's is called Navigator.  Download the app and it's pretty straight forward from there.  Depending on which line you are cruising you can pop over to your Roll Call here on Cruise Critic for your specific voyage and ask there as well.  

[Sea42]

I would suggest exploring the ship together until you feel comfortable with the layout. It can be a lot of fun discovering things together.

In the evening or at breakfast go over what things you would like to do, what time they are being held and where. Then make plans of when and where to meet up if necessary. Notes can be left in your cabin. The ship's app can make all of this much easier but you can get along just fine without it if you prefer.

Above all, enjoy, relax and have a wonderful time!

[LHT28]

we just  agree  where to meet /when

or meet back in the cabin

 

[ldubs]

2 hours ago, Mary229 said:

Through  the ship’s app .

if you have apple phones you can text if you have wifi

i think android has now introduced a texting app that works on WiFi

 

This is the spot on answer.   If you have wifi and iPhones, you are good to go.   

 

Additionally, if you have wifi, set your phones to wifi calling.  

Edited February 1, 2023 by ldubs

[Mary229]

13 minutes ago, LHT28 said:

we just  agree  where to meet /when

or meet back in the cabin

 

Your spouse must be well trained😂. We can’t seem to keep up with each other at a grocery store much less a cruise ship

[ldubs]

2 minutes ago, Mary229 said:

Your spouse must be well trained😂. We can’t seem to keep up with each other at a grocery store much less a cruise ship

 

Mrs Ldubs makes me wait in the car.  

[9tee2Sea]

We always set up a meeting point every morning during breakfast.  We tell each other we will meet at a certain location at a certain time. One of us likes to play Bridge, the other likes to wander and park in the Casino.  We do that for various times of the day.  We always make sure to meet in the cabin by 3 or 4 pm so we can get ready for dinner.  It is kind of nice to have your own time on the ship.

[Hlitner]

We simply communicate by talking to each other!  I know this is a novel idea in this new world where folks sit next to each other and text back and forth, but talking is still an option.   When we do go our own ways we always "talk" about where we will be going and when and where to later meet.  

 

I would add that some of us are old enough to remember a time before cell phones and devices.  Somehow, folks managed to make it work :).  We have been cruising for over 50 years and it is only in the last decade that onboard apps are starting to take hold.

 

Hank

[ldubs]

  

4 minutes ago, Hlitner said:

We simply communicate by talking to each other!  I know this is a novel idea in this new world where folks sit next to each other and text back and forth, but talking is still an option.   When we do go our own ways we always "talk" about where we will be going and when and where to later meet.  

 

I would add that some of us are old enough to remember a time before cell phones and devices.  Somehow, folks managed to make it work :).  We have been cruising for over 50 years and it is only in the last decade that onboard apps are starting to take hold.

 

Hank

 

Come on now.  Travel by covered wagon used to work too.  😀

[Toofarfromthesea]

1 hour ago, ldubs said:

 

This is the spot on answer.   If you have wifi and iPhones, you are good to go.   

 

Additionally, if you have wifi, set your phones to wifi calling.  

 

If you have the internet package you don't even need an iphone or wifi calling, just use WhatsApp.

[ldubs]

2 minutes ago, Toofarfromthesea said:

 

If you have the internet package you don't even need an iphone or wifi calling, just use WhatsApp.

Well, you need a cell phone of some kind, but yeah, I like WhatsApp.  One of our sons lives and works in another country.  We use it all the time to talk to him.   Good suggestion! 

Edited February 1, 2023 by ldubs

[shipgeeks]

Our phone never leaves the safe while we're on a cruise.

We spend a good part of our days aboard together, so talking works.  If one has gone to promenade deck early, and feels the need to alert the other to a spectacular sunrise, or a request to bring sunglasses, public wall phone to cabin phone works.

If one goes to buffet before the other, there is frequently a server who will say "Sir is over there by the window; I will take you to him".

Other than that, the cabin is our default meeting place.  It has never failed us yet.

[Hlitner]

1 hour ago, ldubs said:

  

 

Come on now.  Travel by covered wagon used to work too.  😀

I would find that preferential to a large tour bus :).  We have been on numerous cruises when the Wifi, Internet, or both go out of service for hours/days.  It is fascinating to watch the panic in the faces of some cruisers.    I must admit, that DW and I fight the tendency to become addicted to the phones.  One rule, in our home, is to not use our phones during dinner with one exception...if the Grandchildren are calling.

 

Hank

[sverigecruiser]

9 hours ago, RoyMartin said:

How have others dealt with this? Thanks.

 

We cruise because we want to spend time together so for us that is no problem.

[jsn55]

My husband and I share a cabin when we cruise.  We have breakfast delivered.  We make plans for the day.  We talk to each other.  Works just great.

Edited February 1, 2023 by jsn55
clarity

[Reina del Mar]

Talk !!!

 

Make arrangements before going your separate ways.

[Mum2Mercury]

1. Talk to one another 

2. Leave sticky notes in the cabin 

 

Seriously, we have no problem when it's just the two of us.  

[RoyMartin]

Thanks for all the great answers. This is our first cruise (in case that's not obvious) so we're not sure what to expect. The ship seems so huge. I know neither of us will be interested in the shopping mall or the casino but we there's a lot of ground to wander. We have an eight-year-old son who's unlikely to want to go to the children's program. He's a brilliant but not typical child. The kind who enjoys time with adults more than other children unless he finds another kid like himself. We home school so he's not used to being away from us. So I'm imagining one of us (or both of us) spending a lot of time trying to do things that interest him.

It probably won't seem hard to keep track of each other once we're on board. We weren't planning on getting wifi. We were hoping for a week free from computers and internet. Does the app work without the wifi package? We'll be on a Royal Caribbean ship, "Ovation of the Seas". They call it a Quantum class ship.

[crystalspin]

1 hour ago, RoyMartin said:

Does the app work without the wifi package? We'll be on a Royal Caribbean ship, "Ovation of the Seas". They call it a Quantum class ship.

Welcome to Cruise Critic, Roy!

 

On HAL, the Navigator app works with or without an internet subscription. Ask about RCI's policy (almost sure it will be similar; they WANT you to use it!) here:

https://boards.cruisecritic.com/forum/51-royal-caribbean-international/

[RoyMartin]

36 minutes ago, crystalspin said:

Welcome to Cruise Critic, Roy!

 

On HAL, the Navigator app works with or without an internet subscription. Ask about RCI's policy (almost sure it will be similar; they WANT you to use it!) here:

https://boards.cruisecritic.com/forum/51-royal-caribbean-international/

Thanks so much, Crystal. Will check it out.

[navybankerteacher]

4 hours ago, Hlitner said:

...One rule, in our home, is to not use our phones during dinner with one exception...if the Grandchildren are calling.  

 

Hank

Seconded - and that can be a safe protocol to follow if the grandchildren are largely civilized enough to not call at dinner time unless necessary.   Our grandchildren do not have access to their phones when having dinner at their, or our, homes.