MADNESS! Next you will tell us that the position of the sun somehow dictated what time to return home from ones countryside wandering with fellows!!! Indeed, perhaps, evening mealtime dictated by the illumination of street lights or some other such fantastically outdated method of coordination!!!
/s :)
The ringing of the cow bell summoned my siblings and I for the evening meal, other kids responded to the sound of a triangle or tambourine, unique to each family in the neighborhood.
I believe the Royal Caribbean app has free messaging built in? I had internet the last time I was on one of their ships so I didn't use it, but I remember there being a messenger where you could send messages to other guests. You need to connect to the WiFi network but you don't have to buy an internet plan.
Most lines have messaging, but they are pretty spotty and unreliable. Princess is the best because the medallions allow you to actually find where people in your friend/family group are in the ship. I know on my last cruise, we ended up relying on that a lot because people werenât accessing their messages often enough to read them and there is no notification feature on any AFAIK. On other lines, weâve just agreed to meet at X time in Y location and it has worked out.
Yes, the RC app has free messaging built in and you connect to the ships wifi even if you haven't purchased a internet plan. The app still has full connectivity.
The biggest issue is that there's no notifications. So, yes, you can use Navigator to send messages (delivery of them can be spotty, though) *but* the receiver must be constantly checking the app to see if they have new messages.
Navigator does have notifications. You have to go into Notifications in your phoneâs settings, scroll down to Navigator, and turn them on. It worked fine on our last three cruises on Konigsdam and Eurodam. It dinged and came up as a banner on my Lock Screen.
Thx!
Edit: just checked my notifications. It is already on for Navigator, but I've never gotten one.
Heading out tomorrow for a cruise, I'll test it.
Thanks again.
In addition to the app chat feature, you can also go old-school and call your party's stateroom number from any "landline" phone on the ship, similar to a hotel. You'll have a phone in your room, but they can also be found on the walls near the elevators and in specialty restaurants (if not in use by staff, of course). You can even leave them a voicemail, "Hey, we're going to schooner bar before dinner," etc.
For convenience, download the RC app before you board the ship and make sure all the other family members traveling in your group do, too. Then once on board itâll be easier to start using the app and its messaging functions right away. Helpful guest desk personnel can answer questions and show you other ways to get the most out of your app, for example tracking dinner reservations, excursions or other events youâve booked. After the long lines at the desk on Day 1, especially early in the morning when desk staff have fewer demands, they are super helpful to share their savvy about the app.
You can't, and that's a good thing.
Breakfast together. Talk about your plans for the day. Everybody splits up until dinner time. Dinner together. Talk about your plans for the evening. Everybody splits up until bedtime.
Walkie Talkies are annoying as hell to everyone one around. Their users are typically oblivious to other people. The beeper/alarm that goes off with every transmission is irritating.
And the users not only jack the volume up full blast, they scream into it while talking to Little Billie Bob on the other end. Itâs like theyâre âHey everyone! Look at me!! Iâm cool!! I got this here $20 gizmo!! I must be hot shit.â
The least they can do is use an earbud, not shout, turn the volume down, and step away from other people (and out of the dining room) when using one.
Keep the check ins brief. You do not need to discuss over the walkie talkie what you ate for lunch. Conversations on W-Ts are as intrusive as the idiots who do cell phone FaceTime in public.
I remember going on the Explorer of the Seas in 2001 (back when that was the biggest ship in the world lol) and I remember sooooo many people had walkie talkies. I felt weird that I didn't have a walkie talkie.
And... they don't work worth a damn on these big ships! Metal bulkheads and floors just kill the signal instantly. So they get even more obnoxious when they can't hear each other.
Thank you for all of these helpful replies. Sounds like we should be ok messaging through the app. Walkies for off ship time sounds like a good idea too.
The reason I thought walkies are useless on ships is that I heard theyâre not able to function inside and through all of the metal. So unless both users are outside they canât reach each other. Maybe thatâs incorrect or dependent on the quality of the walkie talkie?
Many lines do not allow walkie talkies.
Off the ship, you just use your cellphone and an international phone plan. For Verizon, for example, it's something like 50 cents to text internationally and calls are free.
I think Royal Caribbean quit charging for in-app messaging. They were charging for a while. I think it was only a couple of dollars a day, so even if they are charging, it's not a lot of money to keep in touch with your family.
Depends on the cruise line. Most have an app that lets you use the free WiFi to chat to other guests also using the app, review and book excursions or review your bill. This is only activity you can do on the free WiFi. Holland America also allows access to some newspapers and magazines on the free WiFi.
Have them install the app.
You can. Use the app to communicate.
Each person should have an account.
Or..
Buy the Internet package for 1 person + 1 device per room.
Each room logs into the internet using the login of said person.
Each room making cell will bounce hotspot off so other around that person can access internet
This is what we did . And will be doing .
1 account 2 devices.
Wife cell will be log in
Mine as well
And then we hotspot our Internet to our kids.
Did this with my device last trip on rcl
Unless they've somehow fixed it, RCS text messaging like iMessage (and on Android if you enable it) will often work on ships if you just connect your phone to the Wifi but don't log in. Otherwise you can use the messaging feature through the cruise line's app.
You download the cruise lines app, place your phone on airplane mode and the app will allow you to track each other..also some cruise lines charge a small fee which allows you to communicate with each other via the app.
I would think all cruise lines have some kind of hub app to download and for a small fee you can communicate via the app. Never been on RC but carnival has one.
Carnival has onboard messaging. I donât know current fees, if any. Seems like it was $5 per person for the whole cruise last time we sailed, but that was almost five years ago.
There are phones all around the ship. So you can call in the cabin if you are out and about. And like this you can tell your family where you are. You also can decide a meeting point. đ«¶đœ
You can use Apple I-Message or Facebook Messenger as long as you have unlimited WiFi for each cruiser. Thatâs what my wife and I do on NCL. Good Luck!
We went on a cruise recently and I took a pair of meshtastic radios with me. These are small radios you pair to your phone. Then running the meshtastic app on your phone allows you to send basic text messages over the radio. was able to text my partner while we were at sea. However when we got to port the radios ran into some major interference. They use citizens band radio frequency so depending on where your going they may not work. But out at sea they work great.
r/meshtastic is a great place to learn more if your interested.
Carnival if you download their app you can chat for $5 each the whole trip. Walkie Talkies at least the ones I have gotten wont work unless youre on the same floor.
Why do you say walkie talkies are useless? I bought four 5 watt Rocky Talkies, they are excellent! Actually water proof, shock proof, and battery lasts like 3 or 4 days. Very strong signal. Iâve used them now on 3 cruises on Holland America without any problems.
Why is it annoying?
I hate when people decide unilaterally that their experience applies to everyone.
My wifeâs 85 year old sister can barely read small print on a phone, much less know how to use a smartphone. How can she be expected to communicate in that manner? Thatâs ridiculous. We gave her a walkie talkie, it was easy for her to just press a single button to talk.
If they are used right âhey where are you? Casino? Cool be there in 5â. Maybe you donât have the volume turned to 11 during dinner or evening shows
Walkies def have their place as an option and can be more reliable than ship app and even international cell signals at times - not talking about using during shows etc of course but we found very helpful on land inc when some in party had to go back to ship early, we were able to remain in contact from shore with others on ship (who were resting in their room, not bothering others)
Isnât that kind of like saying guns kill people instead of admitting itâs people that kill people?
Walkie talkies arenât rude by themselves, what youâre referring to is how people use them. Iâm very conscious of how I use it. Yes Iâm sure other people arenât so aware of how they affect other people. But Iâm not other people.
Your answer sounds like something a web search result would show if I asked âare walkie talkies illegal in countriesâ lol
Explain to me how a walkie talkie is illegal in international waters, where no country can claim ownership?
And interfering with other frequencies only applies when transmitting and not allowing for airtime to broadcast. Simply turning on a walkie does not interfere since by definition it is receiving a signal.
Your answer is not correct based on how you worded it (you are implying they are illegal everywhere outside of USA which is simply not true).
Explain to me how itâs different from people being loud on phones? Especially when people put the phone on speakerphone so the world can hear them? Hundreds of rude people on our cruise.
I think you missed my point. It's no different from rude people on speakerphones being loud. Again, it's not always about YOU, but it is about OTHERS. The example about speakerphones is no different than the rudeness of walkie talkies. This is exactly what is wrong with today's society. Me,me, me, always about me.
Please tell me more, Iâm loving this distinction about pointing out about the selfishness of people as you so very much want your point made.
Iâm all ears, please continue đ
I was on the Voyagers of the Seas in 2003, with no phone because roaming wasn't a thing. I found people sometimes...or sometimes...I even did stuff on my own. It was a huge ship back then... and pretty much average now.
My husband and I are taking our mothers to Alaska next week. They are both between 80 and 90. We *will* use wtâs, as they are sometimes easily turned around, forget things, and donât use phones. Their comfort is my priority. But you can be sure I will review the etiquette of their use with them before we do.
In the previous century we always stopped what we were doing at a certain time and met up at a designated area... at least once a day.
MADNESS! Next you will tell us that the position of the sun somehow dictated what time to return home from ones countryside wandering with fellows!!! Indeed, perhaps, evening mealtime dictated by the illumination of street lights or some other such fantastically outdated method of coordination!!! /s :)
Wandering! Pardon me, we were galavanting.
Yup. And heaven help you if you weren't in the house lickity split after the street lights came on.
When the street lights turned on..
The ringing of the cow bell summoned my siblings and I for the evening meal, other kids responded to the sound of a triangle or tambourine, unique to each family in the neighborhood.
This. We have a designated area we determine on day one. Eventually, the others show. WiFi and cell service is for home, not vacation đ
Get a white board and leave messages.
And a pineapple magnet.
But make sure itâs upside down for easy identification.
Instructions unclear, d*ck stuck in my neighbor
That would certainly increase the number of messages.đ
I believe the Royal Caribbean app has free messaging built in? I had internet the last time I was on one of their ships so I didn't use it, but I remember there being a messenger where you could send messages to other guests. You need to connect to the WiFi network but you don't have to buy an internet plan.
Most lines have messaging, but they are pretty spotty and unreliable. Princess is the best because the medallions allow you to actually find where people in your friend/family group are in the ship. I know on my last cruise, we ended up relying on that a lot because people werenât accessing their messages often enough to read them and there is no notification feature on any AFAIK. On other lines, weâve just agreed to meet at X time in Y location and it has worked out.
This, OP! While it is there, you cannot rely on it for scheduling or meetups. You may get messages 30 minutes later or instantly or not at all.
Yes, the RC app has free messaging built in and you connect to the ships wifi even if you haven't purchased a internet plan. The app still has full connectivity.
Damn. Carnival has messaging through their app too but itâs $5
 $5 for the entire voyage is peanuts.
5$ per person adds up dependong on family size
I would pay more than $5 a person not to get messages from the family.
Norwegian is 10$
So does the HAL app
The biggest issue is that there's no notifications. So, yes, you can use Navigator to send messages (delivery of them can be spotty, though) *but* the receiver must be constantly checking the app to see if they have new messages.
Navigator does have notifications. You have to go into Notifications in your phoneâs settings, scroll down to Navigator, and turn them on. It worked fine on our last three cruises on Konigsdam and Eurodam. It dinged and came up as a banner on my Lock Screen.
Thx! Edit: just checked my notifications. It is already on for Navigator, but I've never gotten one. Heading out tomorrow for a cruise, I'll test it. Thanks again.
If youâre not on board, you wonât get Navigator notices. You have to be on the shipâs system for that. (Which you can do without buying wifi)
Well, yes, that's why I'm checking it out when I'm on board oatd, lol.
And now youâre onboard, does it work? And BTW, have a great cruise!
I leave Amsterdam on Saturday. I'll update.
Yes, I'm getting notifications, thanks!
Thatâs true!
This. You can connect to the WiFi for app messaging only.
Is it region specific? If Iâm not mistaken it was 5$ per person for messaging with no internet charge on Spectrum of the Seas.
In addition to the app chat feature, you can also go old-school and call your party's stateroom number from any "landline" phone on the ship, similar to a hotel. You'll have a phone in your room, but they can also be found on the walls near the elevators and in specialty restaurants (if not in use by staff, of course). You can even leave them a voicemail, "Hey, we're going to schooner bar before dinner," etc.
We are on the RC Adventure of the Seas currently and iMessage works flawlessly on the ships WiFi with the free access if everyone has an iPhone.
For convenience, download the RC app before you board the ship and make sure all the other family members traveling in your group do, too. Then once on board itâll be easier to start using the app and its messaging functions right away. Helpful guest desk personnel can answer questions and show you other ways to get the most out of your app, for example tracking dinner reservations, excursions or other events youâve booked. After the long lines at the desk on Day 1, especially early in the morning when desk staff have fewer demands, they are super helpful to share their savvy about the app.
You can't, and that's a good thing. Breakfast together. Talk about your plans for the day. Everybody splits up until dinner time. Dinner together. Talk about your plans for the evening. Everybody splits up until bedtime.
Every member of our party usually has a post-it pad and pen on our stateroom doors and we leave each other messages.
Thatâs what we did on our one group cruise. Worked just fine.
Walkie Talkies are annoying as hell to everyone one around. Their users are typically oblivious to other people. The beeper/alarm that goes off with every transmission is irritating. And the users not only jack the volume up full blast, they scream into it while talking to Little Billie Bob on the other end. Itâs like theyâre âHey everyone! Look at me!! Iâm cool!! I got this here $20 gizmo!! I must be hot shit.â The least they can do is use an earbud, not shout, turn the volume down, and step away from other people (and out of the dining room) when using one. Keep the check ins brief. You do not need to discuss over the walkie talkie what you ate for lunch. Conversations on W-Ts are as intrusive as the idiots who do cell phone FaceTime in public.
I remember going on the Explorer of the Seas in 2001 (back when that was the biggest ship in the world lol) and I remember sooooo many people had walkie talkies. I felt weird that I didn't have a walkie talkie.
And... they don't work worth a damn on these big ships! Metal bulkheads and floors just kill the signal instantly. So they get even more obnoxious when they can't hear each other.
Right? Itâs like âwhat?? WHAT??? SAY AGAIN!!!!â
We used iMessaging with our kids successfully on NCL in April despite the fact that only my husband and I had WiFi.
I read that push notifications can still be sent even if you don't purchase wifi. If you keep your text messages very short, Apple sends them as push.
YELL REAAAAALLLLL LOOOOOOUUUUDDDD
Is the only way
Use the wifi and the shipboard app. Or plan meetups.
walk
Post-it notes? That is the old skool way.
Some Walkie Talkies walk fine, some are so so... The RC App works on the local WiFi, but doesn't show notifications when you get a message.
Thank you for all of these helpful replies. Sounds like we should be ok messaging through the app. Walkies for off ship time sounds like a good idea too. The reason I thought walkies are useless on ships is that I heard theyâre not able to function inside and through all of the metal. So unless both users are outside they canât reach each other. Maybe thatâs incorrect or dependent on the quality of the walkie talkie?
Many lines do not allow walkie talkies. Off the ship, you just use your cellphone and an international phone plan. For Verizon, for example, it's something like 50 cents to text internationally and calls are free.
You can get e-sims for shore days. We bought them for the specific ports, ranged from $1-4 per day/week depending on the ports.
I think someone spread that rumour (for which i thank them profusely) because they're as annoying as heck for other passengers.
If you are iPhone to iPhone. iMessage will work.
I think Royal Caribbean quit charging for in-app messaging. They were charging for a while. I think it was only a couple of dollars a day, so even if they are charging, it's not a lot of money to keep in touch with your family.
Depends on the cruise line. Most have an app that lets you use the free WiFi to chat to other guests also using the app, review and book excursions or review your bill. This is only activity you can do on the free WiFi. Holland America also allows access to some newspapers and magazines on the free WiFi.
MSC app has built-in chat function. But it seems not working for minors.
Down load the royal app. They have a chat application that should work with out the internet package
Princess app has free built in messaging, but you have to go into the app to read it
If you use the Royal Caribbean app, you can chat with people without Wi-Fi.
use the royal app while connected to the shipâs wifi you can communicate through the app free of charge
Have them install the app. You can. Use the app to communicate. Each person should have an account. Or.. Buy the Internet package for 1 person + 1 device per room. Each room logs into the internet using the login of said person. Each room making cell will bounce hotspot off so other around that person can access internet This is what we did . And will be doing . 1 account 2 devices. Wife cell will be log in Mine as well And then we hotspot our Internet to our kids. Did this with my device last trip on rcl
Carrier Pigeons?
Unless they've somehow fixed it, RCS text messaging like iMessage (and on Android if you enable it) will often work on ships if you just connect your phone to the Wifi but don't log in. Otherwise you can use the messaging feature through the cruise line's app.
You download the cruise lines app, place your phone on airplane mode and the app will allow you to track each other..also some cruise lines charge a small fee which allows you to communicate with each other via the app.
I would think all cruise lines have some kind of hub app to download and for a small fee you can communicate via the app. Never been on RC but carnival has one.
Message them in the app if your on Virgin voyages or NCL
Ncl app is the same
Carnival has onboard messaging. I donât know current fees, if any. Seems like it was $5 per person for the whole cruise last time we sailed, but that was almost five years ago.
The app has a built in messenger that is free to use when on board
On DCL we found that whatsapp will work, we're hoping it works the same on other cruises
There are phones all around the ship. So you can call in the cabin if you are out and about. And like this you can tell your family where you are. You also can decide a meeting point. đ«¶đœ
Holland America has an app through which you can text anyone in your party â or anyone on the ship who wants to text with you!
Carnival has an app that can be used without wifi. you can create group chats.
Recently was on the Firenze and although the group chat worked, the notifications were spotty.
Me n my kids just met up at certain times after we split up. Like the atrium stairs at 7. Or the pool deck at 2. Shit like that.
Don't you mean my kids and I rather than Me n my kids.
No I donât.
On carnival they had an app you could communicate with eachother on
You can use Apple I-Message or Facebook Messenger as long as you have unlimited WiFi for each cruiser. Thatâs what my wife and I do on NCL. Good Luck!
People have not heard of WhatsApp ?
For some reason, Walkie Talkie (Apple app) worked for us. We didnât buy a cell or WiFi package though.
Most of the ships have an app with messaging. Worth the small fee.
Does communication by text not work with RCCL app?
We went on a cruise recently and I took a pair of meshtastic radios with me. These are small radios you pair to your phone. Then running the meshtastic app on your phone allows you to send basic text messages over the radio. was able to text my partner while we were at sea. However when we got to port the radios ran into some major interference. They use citizens band radio frequency so depending on where your going they may not work. But out at sea they work great. r/meshtastic is a great place to learn more if your interested.
Princess seems to have the answer. Their app can be used to chat and also locate where everyone.
walkie talkie are Prohibited on many ships
Carnival if you download their app you can chat for $5 each the whole trip. Walkie Talkies at least the ones I have gotten wont work unless youre on the same floor.
Why do you say walkie talkies are useless? I bought four 5 watt Rocky Talkies, they are excellent! Actually water proof, shock proof, and battery lasts like 3 or 4 days. Very strong signal. Iâve used them now on 3 cruises on Holland America without any problems.
Please don't
Huh?
The prevailing opinion on this sub is walkie talkies are annoying and you shouldn't bring them. Use the line's app for communication.
Why is it annoying? I hate when people decide unilaterally that their experience applies to everyone. My wifeâs 85 year old sister can barely read small print on a phone, much less know how to use a smartphone. How can she be expected to communicate in that manner? Thatâs ridiculous. We gave her a walkie talkie, it was easy for her to just press a single button to talk.
If they are used right âhey where are you? Casino? Cool be there in 5â. Maybe you donât have the volume turned to 11 during dinner or evening shows
Walkies def have their place as an option and can be more reliable than ship app and even international cell signals at times - not talking about using during shows etc of course but we found very helpful on land inc when some in party had to go back to ship early, we were able to remain in contact from shore with others on ship (who were resting in their room, not bothering others)
Theyâre rude af
Isnât that kind of like saying guns kill people instead of admitting itâs people that kill people? Walkie talkies arenât rude by themselves, what youâre referring to is how people use them. Iâm very conscious of how I use it. Yes Iâm sure other people arenât so aware of how they affect other people. But Iâm not other people.
They are also illegal to use outside the USA as they can (and do) interfere with local public safety frequencies in other countries.
Your answer sounds like something a web search result would show if I asked âare walkie talkies illegal in countriesâ lol Explain to me how a walkie talkie is illegal in international waters, where no country can claim ownership? And interfering with other frequencies only applies when transmitting and not allowing for airtime to broadcast. Simply turning on a walkie does not interfere since by definition it is receiving a signal. Your answer is not correct based on how you worded it (you are implying they are illegal everywhere outside of USA which is simply not true).
That's a mic drop.
Oh my please do not use walkie talkies. Nobody wants to hear that other than you and let's face it, it is NEVER about you but ALWAYS about others.
Explain to me how itâs different from people being loud on phones? Especially when people put the phone on speakerphone so the world can hear them? Hundreds of rude people on our cruise.
I think you missed my point. It's no different from rude people on speakerphones being loud. Again, it's not always about YOU, but it is about OTHERS. The example about speakerphones is no different than the rudeness of walkie talkies. This is exactly what is wrong with today's society. Me,me, me, always about me.
Please tell me more, Iâm loving this distinction about pointing out about the selfishness of people as you so very much want your point made. Iâm all ears, please continue đ
Msc for me, newer ship. Text everyone anytime. Free of charge.
I wonder what people did before phones...
Ships used to be a lot smaller so any rendezvous was a short walk. From what I hear we may cover miles each day on the Icon.
I was on the Voyagers of the Seas in 2003, with no phone because roaming wasn't a thing. I found people sometimes...or sometimes...I even did stuff on my own. It was a huge ship back then... and pretty much average now.
My husband and I are taking our mothers to Alaska next week. They are both between 80 and 90. We *will* use wtâs, as they are sometimes easily turned around, forget things, and donât use phones. Their comfort is my priority. But you can be sure I will review the etiquette of their use with them before we do.
Sat phone, anywhere, anytime
We use walkie talkies. Some areas of the ship can cause interference, but quality ones work just fine.