Tips for Using Your Smartphone on a Cruise Ship

Table Of Content

• Important things to remember when using your phone on a cruise
• How to prepare friends, family, and coworkers for your cruise when there’s limited texting
• Can I Use the Ship's Phone to Call Home?
• How can I stay in touch with other members of my traveling party on the cruise ship?
• Can I Use Wi-Fi on My Cell Phone?
• Put Your Phone in Airplane Mode

The texting and calling functionality piggybacks on the ship's Wi-Fi system to avoid the cell service provider. Each passenger must download the app (free), then pay a small fee to unlock the texting and calling capabilities of the app, but they do not need to purchase an internet package. There are, however, a few complimentary features such as the ability to make restaurant, show and shore excursion reservations. The app is available on Norwegian Breakaway, Norwegian Epic, Norwegian Jade, Norwegian Jewel, Norwegian Spirit and Pride of America.

Important things to remember when using your phone on a cruise

Additionally, shouldbecruising.com participates in various other affiliate programs, and we sometimes receive a commission from purchases made through our links. As I write this, I am on a 10-night Canada/New England sailing aboard Holland America’s ms Eurodam. The cruise started in New York City and will eventually end in Quebec City, Canada. Make the most of your smartphone at sea without returning home to a huge bill with these Tips for Using Your Smartphone on a Cruise Ship. Strictly Necessary Cookie should be enabled at all times so that we can save your preferences for cookie settings.

How to prepare friends, family, and coworkers for your cruise when there’s limited texting

However, some carriers do offer specific cruise ship plans, so be sure to inquire. Additionally, the cost of using the ship’s Wi-Fi network can be quite high. Cruise lines often charge for internet usage, and these costs can quickly add up, especially if you plan to send frequent texts or use other data-intensive applications.

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Can I Use the Ship's Phone to Call Home?

IMessage also offers end-to-end encryption, ensuring that your conversations are secure and private. As you can see, the easiest way to use your phone on a cruise is to use it to connect to the ship’s wi-fi. While we’ve spelled out more details for Carnival, Royal Caribbean, and Norwegian Cruise Line, this method will work on any ship you sail. Many ports have wi-fi service at shops or restaurants that can get you access while you’re there. It’s an easy way to check in back home if you don’t need constant access.

Just keep in mind that the speed of the wifi may vary, so you may experience some delays in sending and receiving messages. As an example, the Royal Caribbean Voom Surf package is ideal, while the Voom Surf + Stream package is overkill – providing you stick to written messages only. Today, several of the larger cruise lines offer text messaging as part of their onboard apps.

How can I stay in touch with other members of my traveling party on the cruise ship?

This can result in a poor connection or even a complete loss of signal, making it difficult to use WhatsApp. You can purchase a plan at a discount before your cruise starts or you can simply purchase when you are on the ship. Value ($20 per day) — Offers everything in the Social package, with the addition of popular news, weather, banking, finance, and entertainment sites. However, it still doesn’t allow streaming or Skype/FaceTime calling. This blog helps over a million people to plan their cruises each month. Bear in mind that you normally have to pay for WiFi for the whole cruise – you can’t always buy a single-day pass.

Can I Use Wi-Fi on My Cell Phone?

Of note, some apps have limited functionality on the ship’s network without purchasing a Wi-Fi package. The AirDrop feature on iPhones and MacBooks is super helpful to share images, which can be difficult to text using a limited Wi-Fi signal. Using BlueTooth, your Apple phone or laptop can send images back and forth between devices. You can also use AirDrop from your iPhone to another nearby iPhone or device, which makes it easy to keep up with sharing all the selfies. Cruise Radio prioritizes well-balanced cruise news coverage and accurate reporting, paired with ship reviews and tips. This free text app is perfect for texting when you’re cruising or in a foreign port.

Your phone service will charge you roaming charges for using this signal, but these exact rates will be different depending on your carrier. Many beach resorts and hotels that offer day passes now include access to WiFi as part of the package price. So, you could score some time to check your email, post some vacation photos on social media, or get caught up on the news while on a shore excursion. Since many of these networks are public, you should be cautious about which sites you visit while connected (see below).

Here’s everything you need to know about text messaging on a cruise ship, and how to text on your next cruise for free. Carnival cruisers can use the Carnival Hub app before and during their cruise to streamline their onboard experience. A chat function is available to be in communication with your travel party without having to pay for the ship’s internet. Additionally, you can complete online check-in, share your cruise countdown and make dining reservations before boarding. Once onboard, use this Hub app to manage your account, make spa reservations or even order food for delivery to your lounger by the pool.

Even if you do not want to spend the money required for using your smartphone on a cruise ship, it doesn’t mean that you have to disconnect for the entire vacation. You might be able to get internet access at restaurants, cafes, and even beaches while ashore at ports of call. Remember, cruise vacations are about unplugging, relaxing, and immersing yourself in the unique experience of being at sea. While it’s important to stay connected, don’t forget to take breaks from technology and truly enjoy the beauty and serenity of your surroundings. Furthermore, backing up your device’s data is crucial, especially if you plan to rely heavily on messaging while onboard.

This will prevent Whatsapp from automatically downloading photos and videos when you’re connected to a wifi network. If you have all of these things, you can use Whatsapp on a cruise without any problems. One of the main factors that can affect the reliability of WhatsApp on a cruise ship is the proximity to land-based towers. As cruise ships travel further away from the coast, the signal strength from these towers weakens. First is the Unlimited Wi-Fi Package ($30 per day) that includes access to things like Facebook, Twitter, and Snapchat, along with the rest of the web.

UK cruisers can use it on sailings around the UK, while some providers still don’t charge roaming fees in Europe. Cruise passengers from the US don’t tend to get free roaming but can pay a low flat fee per day with some providers. You can use WhatsApp on a cruise ship, but only when you are online – so either when you’re connected to a WiFi package, or when you’re close enough to land to have a mobile data signal. But, these texting apps are a handy way to stay in touch with friends and family you’re cruising with, or to reach out to new friends you’ve met on board.

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Most carriers, however, offer special plans or travel passes (for an additional fee) that allow you to use your domestic plan allowances while in port. Most T-Mobile plans include unlimited texting and data at up to 2G speeds in 210-plus countries. On the other hand, Verizon's TravelPass and AT&T's International Day Pass charge $5 to $10 per day for travelers to text, call and use data based on the plan they have at home.

Check for any software or app updates and install them before you embark on your cruise. Updates often include bug fixes and improvements to connectivity, which can enhance your texting experience while onboard. It's available fleetwide, and anyone with a Wi-Fi-enabled device can use it for free without paying for the ship's internet. If you do wish to access the internet while onboard, you can connect to the ship's Wi-Fi. As we mentioned, most ships charge for Wi-Fi usage, so you'll need to compare data roaming prices against the ship's internet charges to see which is a better deal. But you can send text messages only to the people onboard through the cruise line’s app.

Another factor to consider is the onboard Wi-Fi bandwidth sharing. Cruise ships usually have limited internet bandwidth that is shared among all passengers and crew members. This means that during peak times, when many people are trying to use the internet, the connection can become slow and unreliable. Norwegian offers two different levels of wi-fi access on their ships that allow you to connect with your phone. From there, you can use wi-fi to send messages, talk, and send email to keep in touch.

Additionally, consider installing any third-party messaging apps that the cruise line may recommend or provide. Understanding these limitations will help you adjust your expectations and find alternative methods or services to stay connected while texting on a cruise ship. In the next sections, we will explore different strategies to overcome these limitations and ensure seamless communication during your cruise vacation. Prices are high, but can be a little less than what your cellphone company will charge you. For instance, Royal Caribbean charges a hefty $7.95/minute, but Carnival only charges $1.99/minute. If you really need to make a phone call during your cruise, your best wallet-conscious bet is to wait until you're in port and use Wi-Fi calling or buy a phone card.