Texting from ship (to mainland)

[Racer X]

We have an android and an apple iphone. What would be required to be able to keep in touch with the mainland? Would a wifi package work with the iphone? Don't plan on using much wifi on board but will purchase something so we can keep in touch. TIA

 

[Bad Pink Tink 2.0]

You don't need to buy Wi-Fi.

Download WhatsApp and get whoever you need to contact to download WhatsApp.
This is a free internet based messaging service for video calls, voice calls and text. On the free Wi-Fi on the ship, you can use the text messaging, but no sending of photos or videos.

I was on the 27 August 5 night Spain cruise and I used WhatsApp on the ship to stay in contact with friends and family on land. I have an Android phone.

 

[bakerworld]

Our experience: iPhone = just use iMessage - works fine and no fees on ship or wireless vendor. Our daughter would Facetime from London & Paris and it worked well. Facetime triggered the Travel Pass feature but the iMessage did not.
Android: We are with Verizon so we activated Travel Pass. For $11/24 hr you can text without incurring any additional ship fees or vendor fees. If you want to actually use your phone for calling (which we did once but it never worked except in a Port) most vendors have International Service. Verizon Wireless was $100 for a week.

 

[Racer X]

Thanks for the replies. I didn't realize that there was a "free wifi" option on the ship. Good to know that iMessage will work!
Also have Verizon but i believe my plan includes international calling by default. (did when i traveled to Mexico a couple years ago).

 

[erionm]

Thanks for the replies. I didn't realize that there was a "free wifi" option on the ship.

You need to connect to the ships WiFi (DCL-GUEST) to use the DCL Navigator app while on-board. You need to use the app to get your dining rotation & table number. You can also see all the daily activities and view your room charges in the app.

 

[Racer X]

Thanks - i was aware of the Navigator app and being connected but i didn't realize you could also use it for non-app purposes such as texting.

PS: I Double checked Verizon and it includes CA and Mexico but thats it so I did purchase the $10/day travel option thanks for the headsup @bakerworld

 

[starry_solo]

Thanks - i was aware of the Navigator app and being connected but i didn't realize you could also use it for non-app purposes such as texting.

PS: I Double checked Verizon and it includes CA and Mexico but thats it so I did purchase the $10/day travel option thanks for the headsup @bakerworld

It isn't available for texting except through the App to other DCL cruisers.

You can apparently use it for WhatsApp and the iPhone messaging

 

[Girl of the South]

The Verizon $10 option won’t work if you are in the middle of the ocean. Seems to kick in when you are close to a shore. And I have gotten “kicked off” of iMessage if someone sends a photo. Then I have to sign in again (with my Apple ID) when I have proper WiFi again.

Here is the Verizon Cruise Daily Pass info. Per 24 hours. $30.

You’ll only pay on days you use your phone at
sea. Text “CRUISE” to 4004 before or at the start
of your cruise to add a daily pass to your line.

Includes

• 0.5 GB of data per day
• 50 minutes of incoming/outgoing calls per
  day (Overage: $1.99/min)
• Unlimited texts

 

[WinterSolider]

Thanks for the replies. I didn't realize that there was a "free wifi" option on the ship. Good to know that iMessage will work!
Also have Verizon but i believe my plan includes international calling by default. (did when i traveled to Mexico a couple years ago).

Most Verizon plans are $5 per device per day in Canada and Mexico and $10 per device per day everywhere else.

Most T-Mobile plans are free for Text and Data, but Voice charges can be super high.

These will work when you're on land (or on the ship in port) but will not work when you're at sea.

 

[bakerworld]

Thanks - i was aware of the Navigator app and being connected but i didn't realize you could also use it for non-app purposes such as texting.

PS: I Double checked Verizon and it includes CA and Mexico but thats it so I did purchase the $10/day travel option thanks for the headsup @bakerworld

Do not pay for internet (unless you want it) - not needed for iMessage - just to clarify

 

[cvjw]

iMessage always works for us to keep in touch with others not on the cruise - we all have iPhones.

We have AT&T - Mexico and St Thomas are always free for us when the fantasy docks there. Our phones work just like normal there.

We never buy the ships pay extra WiFi.

 

[happycamper47]

WhatsApp is the only thing that works with both Android and Iphone. So you need to download that app on both phones.

 

[Girl of the South]

I deleted What's App when it was sold to Meta (Facebook). That's just a personal preference of course.

For MY Verizon plan, I get Canada and Mexico FREE. I think St. Thomas was $10.

*** Be sure to turn your phone to AIRPLANE MODE to avoid unwanted roaming charges. I turn it off for the $10 day and then turn it right back on as we sail back out to sea. ****

 

[auntlynne]

My sister and I texted each other from different cruiselines on our iPhones. If there was going to be poor service, this would have been it. It worked fine. No fees, no worries. We also texted to home.

Just be sure to stay in Airplane mode.

 

[Flcruising]

We have an android and an apple iphone. What would be required to be able to keep in touch with the mainland? Would a wifi package work with the iphone? Don't plan on using much wifi on board but will purchase something so we can keep in touch. TIA

Just confirming Whatsapp worked for us in june on the Dream in the Mediterranean and the Magic just recently. Text worked fine but couldn't send pics.
Whoever you communicate with also needs whatsapp.

 

[kiford]

We stopped using the DCL app on the Wish last year to text friends we were sailing with as iMessage worked significantly better. Also was watching a Whatsapp thread from work - I think this was on the Fantasy. I only used the free wifi and had my phone on airplane mode. Occasionally, I'd even get the odd access to Twitter, and some of my other work services would message me about status updates. Randomly, once or twice, my e-mail would download.

 

[goofystitch]

I deleted What's App when it was sold to Meta (Facebook). That's just a personal preference of course.

For MY Verizon plan, I get Canada and Mexico FREE. I think St. Thomas was $10.

*** Be sure to turn your phone to AIRPLANE MODE to avoid unwanted roaming charges. I turn it off for the $10 day and then turn it right back on as we sail back out to sea. ****

St Thomas is in the US Virgin Islands, so it should be free.

 

[Kit Jackson]

Thanks - i was aware of the Navigator app and being connected but i didn't realize you could also use it for non-app purposes such as texting.

To clarify, the Navigator app will allow you to text other people on the ship. If you need/want to text someone at home, the Android user should have WhatsApp and the people the Android user wants to contact should also have WhatsApp.

 

[meliscan]

Do not pay for internet (unless you want it) - not needed for iMessage - just to clarify

We have gotten iMessage to work most of the time without paying for the wifi. You can't send or receive photos that way but plain text messages have gone through. It can sometimes be a bit delayed so if you absolutely need to communicate you may consider paying for internet to guarantee.

 

[Snowwhyt]

I was on the Wish last week was able to handle some medical problems and text was not a problem or cost for my iPhone. We will see what the calls change will be though. Had ATT international plan so we will see.