Keeping in Contact with family

[twinkle toes]

Hi! We have 4 going on our cruise. If we are all going different directions, how do you keep track of where everyone is? We always use our cells on the homefront since our plan allows us to call each other for free, but what do you do when you are on a cruise? I'm not that knowledgeable when it comes to cellphone technology. Do you get charged roaming charges if you call someone else (family member) on your own plan? If I called my kid's phone standing right next to me at the port, would I get charged a roaming charge since we would be in FL and our plan is from IL? I'M SO CONFUSED:confused:

[Mommytofour]

I'd say the best thing is to call your cell phone provider. I'm sure they can answer all your questions. But also ask them if your phones will work on the ship and how much that would be. We had some friends who used walkie talkies and that worked out pretty good.

[cb at sea]

First--the ship isn't THAT big that you can't find each other! Even if your cell phone gets a signal (and that's a big IF) you may be charged roaming charges, and that can really add up!

The best thing is to have a working schedule (ie: kids in AO til lunch--meet at the Windjammer at 11! Mom and dad will be at the pool until 2, Mom's getting ready for dinner, dad's in the casino....) you get the picture! Have folks leave a note in the cabin if something changes radically! If everyone knows where everyone is supposed to be, it's NOT hard to locate them!

[blindrid]

We have found the old fashioned way works best. What you'll find is that each person ends up pretty much in the same place, depnding on time of day. For example, during day - early, check buffet, later AM - activities pretty much around pool. Evening, plans for dinner, and if you can't find me later in evening, check the casino. It's really not that hard as the ships aren't that big. We typically try to let each other know where we're going.

 

Cell phones are pretty high dollar and I, for one, would scream if I hear a cell phone ring while I'm asleep next to the pool - ours gets truned off when we leave and don't turn back on until we disembark.

[karen&roy]

We use Verizon and we did not have roaming charges phone to phone in Fl but out at sea YIKES I had no idea until I received my phone bill after the cruise. In port in St Thomas we were fine just as in St Thomas as we are in US Virgin Islands. You need to call your provider and find out instead of finding out the hard way like I did:confused:

[ehfl]

It's expensive to use your cell phone on ship or in port. Walkie talkies can be unreliable because of all the metal in the ship, and the cross-talk with other people that have them.

 

Best thing to do is the simplest....just decide what activities you want to do as a family (such as lunch, dinner, etc.) then decide when and where to meet. Then, let everyone have fun, and do what they want, without being tied to a cell phone....that's kind of the point of being on vacation.