Communication on a cruise ship

[disney_princess_85]

We're going on our first cruise in September and I'm just wondering if it's going to be difficult to keep in touch with my parents.

Would it be too expensive to text? Obviously calling on my mobile is a no-no.

Also, is there any free WiFi available on the ships? I'll be on the Dream, if that makes a difference.

If I'm not able to text/email my parents, are there pay phones available? If so, I'll buy a phone card from Walmart beforehand.

I'm such a novice!

ETA: I found this page- so is it 80p per text?

 

[Laurafoster]

There is no Free WiFoi (well there wasnt when i went on the Magic) but they did a bundle where you could have a certain amount of time for a set price.

You wont get a signal at sea on your mobile ( i did occassionally but not a good one) nor on Castaway Cay.

I used pay phones around town when we docked in Nassau as they were far cheaper than calling from onboard - i dont recall any pay phones on board.

We just stuck to the odd text.

 

[wayneg]

http://disneycruise.disney.go.com/ships-activities/ships/services/internet-cellular-services/

Details here for the Magic and Wonder, Dream will probably be similar.

Ships are now equipped with Cellular at sea so you should get a signal no problem when out at sea, would expect Dream to have latest technology.

We use text and internet but both down to a minimum, no web browsing just emails, also pre-typed emails where possible to just connect and send rather than wasting time typing while connected.

 

[disney_princess_85]

Thanks Laura and Wayne.

I'll probably just send a few texts to the 'rents then.

 

[shaun&miranda]

We just cruised on the Magic this December and had mobile signal throughout the cruise. Check with your mobile operator's website for their text charges and think what country you will be in for the rate (EG I am with Orange and I sent texts from Florida, bahamas, cuba and grand cayman and mexico). On my talk plan they were about 75p each.

There is no free wifi on the Disney ship but there is an internet cafe (where you pay by the minute) and some wifi areas where again you pay for connection. It was 75 cents per minute or you can buy longer bundles for slightly less. Some people were connecting on their i-phones and blackberries etc when we were in ports and they got 3G signal, but be aware that assuming you are on a UK provider this will cost you a HUGE amount and I would not recommend it.

Hope you enjoy your cruise!

Miranda
PS If you do have an i-phone, remember to turn off data roaming to avoid massive bills!

 

[darthtatty]

lucky you. I was looking on pictures of the ship yesterday looks fab

 

[disney_princess_85]

We just cruised on the Magic this December and had mobile signal throughout the cruise. Check with your mobile operator's website for their text charges and think what country you will be in for the rate (EG I am with Orange and I sent texts from Florida, bahamas, cuba and grand cayman and mexico). On my talk plan they were about 75p each.

Thanks for the info. I looked on the o2 site and I wasn't sure if a text would cost 40p or 80p- now you have said you were charged 75p, 80p seems right! I will call them too, just to be sure.

There is no free wifi on the Disney ship but there is an internet cafe (where you pay by the minute) and some wifi areas where again you pay for connection. It was 75 cents per minute or you can buy longer bundles for slightly less. Some people were connecting on their i-phones and blackberries etc when we were in ports and they got 3G signal, but be aware that assuming you are on a UK provider this will cost you a HUGE amount and I would not recommend it.

Hope you enjoy your cruise!

Miranda
PS If you do have an i-phone, remember to turn off data roaming to avoid massive bills!

If I'm able to get a signal on my phone, I won't need to use the Internet- I was only going to use it to send emails back home if I couldn't send texts.

I do have an iPhone and I definitely won't be using it to browse the Internet!

lucky you. I was looking on pictures of the ship yesterday looks fab

Thanks. The ship looks amazing!