Phones and ipads

[NurseDave]

Can I ask...if not by cell phone, how do most people communicate while at sea w/family?

You're in the middle of the ocean, you don't and relax! It's been mentioned that you couldn't do anything about an emergency anyway so what's the point in ruining a vacation.

 

[TXDCLfan]

You're in the middle of the ocean, you don't and relax! It's been mentioned that you couldn't do anything about an emergency anyway so what's the point in ruining a vacation.

Lets me chime in here ..... 1) if my daughter (teen age) was in a serious accident I would want to know and I would be finding a way to get back home ASAP. 2) if my home was damaged by fire or such I would want to know and would be in touch with family ASAP to secure my salvageable belongings. So if an emergency back home occurred I would want to know and yes I could still do things while at sea to solve the issues.

 

[DisneyDee27]

We used our phones in PR & St. Thomas. No roaming or international fees. I didn't look for wifi in either stop.
We just used our data plans for FB picture posting.

 

[mamamac]

Ok I am not the tech person at home...so major dumb question...

What about 4G service??
My iPad works when I don't have wireless over that.

 

[MichelleVW]

Can I ask...if not by cell phone, how do most people communicate while at sea w/family?

You don't! It's not as bad as it seems once you get over the initial panic! I'm a social media junkie so it's hard for me to unplug, but I did it. I did get internet so I could email my husband once or twice a day just to find out how he was doing, but that was it. wifi was painfully slow! One of the cast members on board shared his tip of how to save wireless minutes. Sign on, read your email and then copy it to a word doc and then sign off. Then compose your reply email in a word doc and then sign back on to cut and paste it into an email and then send. Saved me a ton of minutes!

 

[jahber]

Lets me chime in here ..... 1) if my daughter (teen age) was in a serious accident I would want to know and I would be finding a way to get back home ASAP. 2) if my home was damaged by fire or such I would want to know and would be in touch with family ASAP to secure my salvageable belongings. So if an emergency back home occurred I would want to know and yes I could still do things while at sea to solve the issues.

Fortunately, there is ship to shore communication available for situations like this. Just make sure you give your emergency contact the DCL number to call.

I would also add that the Wave phones work well enough on ship when you're trying to stay in contact with friends/family on board with you.

 

[MichelleVW]

Fortunately, there is ship to shore communication available for situations like this. Just make sure you give your emergency contact the DCL number to call.

I would also add that the Wave phones work well enough on ship when you're trying to stay in contact with friends/family on board with you.

That's what I counted on. My family all knew where I was so if there were an actual emergency where someone absolutely HAD to talk to me, they could call the cruise line. No way would I pay roaming fees "just in case"

 

[tvguy]

That's what I counted on. My family all knew where I was so if there were an actual emergency where someone absolutely HAD to talk to me, they could call the cruise line. No way would I pay roaming fees "just in case"

My mom is a frequent cruiser. Her rule has always been she doesn't care if the house burns down or who dies, nothing she can do about it at sea and don't ruin her vacation, so don't call. That has been our rule when we cruise too.
Mom did take a 21 day cruise that had her away for both mother's day and her birthday. We just gave her cards to pack and open on the ship on those days.

 

[Jestocost]

These rates are for using WiFi on your own device (ipad or iphone/smartphone), correct? What about the internet cafes/computers on board the ship? Is the pricing for those the same? Are all WiFi packages pre-paid?

The cost per minute is the same whether using WiFi and your own device or the computer terminals in the Internet lounges. I'm not sure if the new ships even have the lounges.

We used our phones in PR & St. Thomas. No roaming or international fees. I didn't look for wifi in either stop.
We just used our data plans for FB picture posting.

AT&T and maybe some other cell providers count PR and the USVI as home territory on many plans. Be careful, however, because some providers do not and international roaming is expensive. I have a Verizon phone, for example, and PR is a home territory but the USVI is international roaming territory. Most other ports in Mexico, Bahamas and the Caribbean will require international service through all US cell providers.

Ok I am not the tech person at home...so major dumb question...

What about 4G service??
My iPad works when I don't have wireless over that.

If you want to have any Internet access your iPad is going to have to connect to some kind of cell service or WiFi. On the ship charges will apply either way. If you happen to get hooked up to the Cellular at Sea service it can be very expensive.

 

[rbadger]

Just FYI...there are detachable cards in the back of the cruise booklet they send you that has the DCL phone number, and your cabin number in case of emergencies. I would just give one of these to anyone at home so they can reach you in case of emergency. The # is: 1-888-DC-AT-SEA