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If you're in international waters (literally out at sea), any wifi will be weaker than on land. You can keep in touch outside your coverage area using messaging apps, provided you can connect to hotspots. You still can’t use SMS texts if you do not have any cellular data. Depending on your cell phone carrier, you might also be able to prearrange a cruise ship package with talk, text, and data included. Most people today use texting as an easy and convenient way to keep in touch with friends and family. Here’s everything you need to know about text messaging on a cruise ship, and how to text on your next cruise for free.
Turn Off your Phone When Not in Use
Since many of these networks are public, you should be cautious about which sites you visit while connected. Nor is there any charge for sending or receiving individual messages. But, you will need access to the cruise ship’s wifi which typically requires some type of paid package. Why would you want or need internet access while on your cruise vacation? Or, perhaps you want to stay in contact with family and friends back home.
Using messaging apps to text for free when you’re in port
If something seems off, contact the service provider's customer service. It's up to you to make sure your phone settings are adjusted to keep you from roaming at sea. In some cases, it may not be entirely possible to avoid charges altogether. You can lessen the charges by taking advantage of free Wi-Fi networks at docking points. Otherwise, you might incur insurmountable roaming fees without knowing. Your calling rates will be exceptionally high compared to what you normally incur while at home.
How to avoid hefty charges from at-sea providers
But if you’re hoping to be texting on Carnival cruise holidays, or wanting to know if there’s a Royal Caribbean texting app, then these are the links you need. Your smartphone will likely go everywhere you go on board a cruise ship, so plan ahead to make sure any and all fees are managed and expected. If you want to avoid extra charges from your mobile phone service provider, put your smartphone on "airplane mode" sometime between boarding and when the ship sets sail.
Using messaging apps for texting on a cruise ship
Sure, there might still be a few holdouts with flip phones, but most travelers these days use a smartphone, or a mobile phone that’s internet enabled. Of these, the two main types are Apple’s ubiquitous iPhone and Google/Android phones. The use of a complimentary messaging system while onboard has already proved to be very helpful to guests. As a traveler who likes to save when they can, I appreciate Royal Caribbean deciding to include this feature as a complimentary service in their app. When sending messages, most of the time it appeared that once a guest hit ‘send’, the message would send twice in the app.
How Can You Text at Port for Free?
My phone tended to drop the connection to the ship Wi-Fi as I moved through the ship. That meant that if my wife sent me a message, I wouldn’t receive it or get a notification unless I logged back onto the Wifi again. We’ve used it ourselves on lots of Royal Caribbean and Carnival cruises ever since we discovered it by accident a few years ago. My next cruise is on Norwegian Cruise Line, so I’ll let you know if it works on their cruise ships. First is the Unlimited Wi-Fi Package ($30 per day) that includes access to things like Facebook, Twitter, and Snapchat, along with the rest of the web. This includes apps like WhatsApp, iMessage, and FaceTime, allowing you to keep in touch.
Check if You Have International Coverage
Once you’re logged in, open your browser to finish the process. Ship Mate is a leading mobile cruise app that provides its users with direct messaging services that can be used in place of texting. It has more than 2,000,000 downloads and offers tips, reviews, cruise countdowns, roll calls, amongst other tons of features. Confirm that the areas covered have access to calls, texts, and the internet. You may be surprised to find out that the locations you’ll be traveling to are all covered. This will be of great benefit to you and your family because you’ll be able to travel on a cruise ship without having to buy new plans or change anything.
Royal Caribbean's chat feature is now available on every cruise ship - Royal Caribbean Blog
Royal Caribbean's chat feature is now available on every cruise ship.
Posted: Tue, 06 Jul 2021 07:00:00 GMT [source]
The Royal Caribbean app can be found in the app store for most smart phones. For many frequent cruise travelers, the first step to planning any voyage is downloading the cruise line’s app. Royal Caribbean’s app has many helpful features for guests to use and enjoy complimentary while onboard, and prior to their trip.
If you’re too far out at sea, it’s not likely that your phone will be able to get reception from on-land cell towers. So instead, you can hook up to your cruise ship’s available network. Of course, most ships offer unlimited WiFi services or their cellular services. Typically, texting on any mobile device is only available if you are connected to a ship’s wireless internet. On certain ships, you can use the cruise line’s app to send messages to others on the same ship. You can sometimes get a free wifi package as a special offer when you book your cruise.
Internet access is part of your cruise fare, so you can keep in touch through a messaging app. Therefore, you can send and receive only text messages (no pictures) in your phone’s app wherever there is service. I love sharing my best cruise tips with you, along with reviews of cruise destinations, shore excursions, cruise ships and cruise lines. Are your friends, family, and coworkers used to you replying to texts right away?
My advice for someone using a Royal Genie on a Royal Caribbean cruise - Royal Caribbean Blog
My advice for someone using a Royal Genie on a Royal Caribbean cruise.
Posted: Thu, 31 Mar 2022 07:00:00 GMT [source]
In an emergency situation while at sea, traditional text messaging may not be an option. Alternative options include using satellite phones or the ship’s emergency communication system. It’s important to be prepared for any situation while on a cruise. Overall, there are plenty of maritime network alternatives available for sending messages on a cruise ship, so there’s no need to break the bank. Before your cruise, consider installing and testing a couple of messaging apps to determine which ones work best for your needs.
You may experience lag time on calls or slow connection speeds. I don't recommend this option at all because of the crazy high prices carriers charge for roaming. I mention it purely because it exists, and some people have work phones that don't care about running up a bill. The best part of relying on the cruise ship phones to reach someone else onboard is it's totally free.
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