Anyone used Carnival.com forum to communicate back home?

I'm reading that it's free to post to the carnival.com forum when you're on board. Has anyone used the forum (private message maybe) to send messages to family at home?

We've done it. But it can be a painful process.

Ship internet is very slow (slower than dialup) and carnival.com is heavy on the graphics, making it even slower.

It's also oddly lagging in the times comments are posted. For example, I might post a comment to my family at 5pm, but it shows up at 3am. We worked around it by simply including in the opening line of any post, "It is now 3pm here....etc".

This might not seem like a big deal, but...we had left our two children home with their grandparents, and I was upset to see my 8yo daughter posting a comment to me at 2am!

I do every trip. Great to check up on the furbabies & DS watching them:)

Ha! That would be a concern for me as well Terri_Eddie! I'll have my kids with me but not my husband, so really it would just be a quick "all is well" post now and then. He's not a big talker so to him, no news is good news. He's not expecting me to call or email much if any. Just wondered if it's worth having him sign up on the forum.

Saw a Facebook post from SEE, seems like internet connection is being worked on and there is a forum...

since my T-Mobile phone plan allows free texts and data, very low phone rates in 100 countries now, most if not all cruise ports included, I just do that. :)

I have just to check in. I wouldn't use it for emergencies, but it is nice to do a quick daily post and make sure all is okay back home. Like others have said, it is slow and can be delayed.

Keep in mind that all posts on that carnival on board forum are public. We just used initials when posting. No issues.

And how does your family check messages? Do they have to logon to Carnival.com?

And how does your family check messages? Do they have to logon to Carnival.com?

Yes, just like Cruise Critic.

We set our thread up ahead of time and email the link to our family.

Yes, just like Cruise Critic.

 

We set our thread up ahead of time and email the link to our family.

The process goes like this: After joining (as in Cruise Critics),

remember: You will have to join "Forums", and log in there as well with, e-mail and pass word, as well.

-Go to Carnival .com,

-click on "plan",

-choose "forums" on drop down menu,

-scroll down to "User Groups",

-choose "currently onboard"

FUNVILLE Home > Share > Forums > Currently Onboard

-select "new post". (It will remind you sign inif you haven't)

-make new post that all can access

Pretty simple....

We always use it on trips longer than 5 days. We did the 23 day Legend cruise and used it to keep in touch with friends and family.

It may be slow, but it's free and we would check in daily. It worked very well for us, especially getting online on 'off' times, after dinner or first thing in the morning.

Very easy, and very reassuring.

Have a great cruise!

The process goes like this: After joining (as in Cruise Critics),

remember: You will have to join "Forums", and log in there as well with, e-mail and pass word, as well.

-Go to Carnival .com,

-click on "plan",

-choose "forums" on drop down menu,

-scroll down to "User Groups",

-choose "currently onboard"

 

FUNVILLE Home > Share > Forums > Currently Onboard

 

-select "new post". (It will remind you sign inif you haven't)

-make new post that all can access

 

Pretty simple....

Thank you everyone for tips of getting online. I looked around a bit and, yes, it's fairly easy.

since my T-Mobile phone plan allows free texts and data, very low phone rates in 100 countries now, most if not all cruise ports included, I just do that. :)

I never could get my Tmobile phone to connect while doing our recent Bahamas cruise. Was hoping to receive texts.....but nothing. Where were you traveling?