iMessage on Icon of the Seas

[halfmonkey]

We don’t have an internet package but my
kids stumbled upon iMessage apparently working while at sea. For clarify, we were all on airplane mode, connected to the ship’s free guest WiFi, and cellular data turned to off with roaming off.

We were able to text each other and text people back home on land. I asked the internet desk and the lady told me it was basically a glitch that was allowing it. She asked for our room number and she checked my son’s acct and confirmed there were no charges for internet access so it seems there is a glitch in the matrix that allows iMessage texting.

Just wanted to share. Obviously YMMV.

 

[Tinknalli]

From what I understand, crew members sometimes open this connection because they like to use it for personal. It is open until someone figures out they opened it, then it will be closed again. You can never count on it. Sometimes it works, sometimes it doesn't.

 

[pjacobi]

The RCCL app is supposed to have messaging capability without an internet package. Has anyone tried it?


-Paul

 

[pjacobi]

My understanding is that Apple iMessage uses a very low-level internet routing capability. It is not blocked by normal means of blocking the internet. The blocking of iMessage must be done by a very specific setting in the internet router that can be easily overlooked. That's why it usually works for a while until someone notices the unusual internet activity and finds the right setting to block iMessage.


-Paul

 

[OKW Lover]

I've found that apple iMessages come through however any attachments, like pictures do not.

 

[di81]

The RCCL app is supposed to have messaging capability without an internet package. Has anyone tried it?


-Paul

It works to contact other passengers while on the ship. I found my phone would not always alert me when there was a new message. Had to open app regularly and check for messages.

 

[peacefrogdog]

The RCCL app is supposed to have messaging capability without an internet package. Has anyone tried it?


-Paul

FWIW we were able to send messages to each other within the app - we had the internet package but I’m guessing that given the app works without the package that the messaging would have still worked without it

 

[sam_gordon]

It works to contact other passengers while on the ship. I found my phone would not always alert me when there was a new message. Had to open app regularly and check for messages.

+1

 

[pjacobi]

See the link below for details. My understanding is that iMessage use the same network path as push messages to your phone. To differentiate between them would require packet inspection that's probably not work the effort. It's like a leaky faucet - the cost of losing a few drops of water is less than a call to a plumber to fix it.

https://figured-it-out.com/posts/2025/cruise-imessage/


-Paul

 

[CM Dad]

It works to contact other passengers while on the ship. I found my phone would not always alert me when there was a new message. Had to open app regularly and check for messages.

On my last RCL cruise I discovered that if you are using a VPN on your phone, the chat feature does not work.