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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. Once you have typed in the cruise ship’s sailing details, you will get access to deck plans, details about the ports of call, dining information, and onboard entertainment options. When on a cruise ship, there are no cell towers that can receive and transmit signals.
How to Text on a Cruise Ship for Free (Apps, Tips and Hacks)
I usually opt for using the ship’s wifi or messaging apps to send messages while on a cruise. Most cruise lines offer wifi packages for purchase, but some may also offer free wifi as part of promotional offers or onboard credit. However, it’s important to note that wifi signal strength can vary depending on your location on the ship and the number of people using the network.
Royal Caribbean App
Other carriers offer discounts depending on the country visited and the plan bought. If you plan to sail with over 20 cruise lines, consider purchasing a cruise ship calling package. Once you key in your sailing details, you get access to deck plans, information about onboard entertainment services, details about the ports you’ll be docking at, and all the dining information. If your carrier doesn’t offer services overseas, consider moving to one that does to cater for your traveling needs so you can text for free from a cruise ship.
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You need to download the app on your device and then pay a small fee to activate it. The app also has other features that are useful to travelers, such as shore excursions, shows, and restaurant reservations. You can download and install several apps on your device that will enable you to send or receive text messages. These include Facebook Messenger, Android Messages, WhatsApp, EvolveSMS, and Viber. Don’t use any sensitive personal information that thieves and hackers might access. However, if you find out that your carrier does not provide this service in the ship’s ports of call, look for another carrier that allows you to text for free while you are onboard a cruise ship.
It’s so small it barely takes up any room in our luggage (and we use carry-on only, so we understand how precious space is). Our hotspot gives us peace of mind we’ll be able to connect for meetings, to stay in touch with clients, and touch base with family and friends. Generally speaking, the internet is slower when more people are trying to connect at any given time, including a Day at Sea. If you are signing up for an internet package, we advise paying for a package for a bundle of data rather than a per-minute or per-megabyte option. It's a good idea to download the app for the cruise line you’re sailing with before you go on vacation to avoid unnecessary steps and headaches after you board for your vacation. Proper phone settings are very important to know if you don’t want to be hit with accidental roaming fees or charges when you return home.
Wifi Options
Check for any software or app updates and install them before you embark on your cruise. Updates often include bug fixes and improvements to connectivity, which can enhance your texting experience while onboard. The common advice on how to avoid any unexpected call or data charges is to switch on your Airplane mode when on a cruise ship. That way you know you can’t accidentally incur any charges from the Cellular At Sea connection. However, this means that you can send and receive short text messages to your iPhone owning friends and family without having to pay for the Wi-Fi and without incurring any extra cost.
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 phone will automatically connect to the at-sea provider if you don’t put your phone in airplane mode. So, if you send a text or make a call, you can be charged for it. These providers are very expensive, and you will receive an additional data charge plus a per-text charge. After your cruise ship leaves port and travels 12 miles out to sea, the vessel switches to at-sea providers.
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The AirDrop feature on iPhones and MacBooks is super helpful to share images, which can be difficult to text using a limited Wi-Fi signal. Using BlueTooth, your Apple phone or laptop can send images back and forth between devices. You can also use AirDrop from your iPhone to another nearby iPhone or device, which makes it easy to keep up with sharing all the selfies.
Do cruise ships have Wi-Fi? A line-by-line guide to internet access at sea - The Points Guy
Do cruise ships have Wi-Fi? A line-by-line guide to internet access at sea.
Posted: Thu, 04 Apr 2024 07:00:00 GMT [source]
Sometimes, establishments won’t really advertise their WiFi, so it helps to ask the locals. Any part of your phone that does not require a network (downloads, photo apps, alarm clocks) will function as normal on board. Of course, for this option to work, everyone who you need to stay in contact with needs to purchase a Voom package and have their phone or tablet with them. Calls made from your Royal Caribbean ship to somewhere on land (ship to shore) can be made from your stateroom phone and also costs $7.95 per minute, billed to your SeaPass account. 40,000 people receive my best cruise tips, insights and guides every week. I recently took some friends of mine on their first cruise, we would often have an afternoon on the ship doing different things then meet for dinner at a set time.
The self-titled Celebrity Cruises app provides a complimentary in-app chat function for anyone who is also cruising with you. This makes it easier to organize meet-up times for activities and excursions. 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.
Royal Caribbean passengers on Quantum, Anthem, Harmony and Ovation of the Seas can use the Royal iQ app to call or text other passengers onboard the same ship. The app is free to download, but the Royal iQ Communications Package (which enables the texting and calling) incurs a per-device fee. To be sure, your wi-fi plan from the ship won’t work in port (unless you are at a private island; sometimes ships extend service to their islands.) But many ports of call offer wi-fi service. In addition, many companies — such as T-Mobile — include calling in Mexico and Canada (home to several popular cruise ports) automatically in their plans. You can use the phone exactly as you would at home for no extra charge. Similarly to what we mentioned above, you can call family and friends using many apps with voice only.
As a person who loves to stay in touch with my friends and family, I was worried about the high costs of texting on a cruise ship using mobile networks. However, I discovered that there are ways to stay connected and text for free, and I’m excited to share my tips with you. Lastly, keep in mind that roaming charges may apply if you try to use your mobile phone’s cellular network while at sea. Furthermore, it’s worth noting that certain messaging apps or features may not be supported on the ship’s Wi-Fi network.
They will sometimes offer free onboard credit for loyal customers, which you can use for internet access. But, these texting apps are a handy way to stay in touch with friends and family you’re cruising with, or to reach out to new friends you’ve met on board. SMS text messages are sent via mobile network, so you should be able to send and receive text-only messages in your phone’s native message app anywhere your phone has service.
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