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Has anyone used Cruise ship Messenger/Ship Text app?Best way to communnicate onboard

mickeyhereicome
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rukkian

rukkian

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This would not work ship wide, but I wonder if you could bring a small wifi router, have both connect to it, and then use some local wifi messenger to connect between phones that does not go out to internet.

 

There are blue tooth messengers as well, but the range on that would be even smaller.

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Clarea

Clarea

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This would not work ship wide, but I wonder if you could bring a small wifi router, have both connect to it, and then use some local wifi messenger to connect between phones that does not go out to internet. ...

I doubt this would work between decks or more than 50' away from the router.

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Biker19

Biker19

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The WiFi seemed to connect good in most areas of the Epic. Even in my studio room so they may have repeaters throughout the ship.

 

It probably takes hundreds of repeaters to provide coverage on a typical ship. All that metal is a WiFi signal killer.

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Rogueperson "Live from...." Rare

Rogueperson

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May I ask what ship? We are sailing on Grandeur of the Seas in July and RCCL doesn't offer low cost text only options on their older ships. I'm wondering if this will work. I just need to be able to text to others in the party.

 

 

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We're on the same cruise as you are.

 

I doubt this will work well. I highly suspect that you will need data for this to work.

 

RC's plan is 12.99/day for the surf and stream. No option for the lower surf plan. That's only for 1 device though.

 

Though, if you had access to data, you could use a much less complicated method to stay in touch. You would need to have multiple devices connected and if you did, you could text one another through that data plan. What might work for you is for you to have 2 or 3 devices and just not split up in more than 3 groups. You can than text one another (if you have an iphone, imessage will work through the wi-fi), or use google talk, or FB messenger to text. My friend and I kept in touch with one another on the Anthem using FB messenger because we both had a data package.

Edited by Rogueperson
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CruisingRavyn

CruisingRavyn

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We're on the same cruise as you are.

 

I doubt this will work well. I highly suspect that you will need data for this to work.

 

RC's plan is 12.99/day for the surf and stream. No option for the lower surf plan. That's only for 1 device though.

 

Though, if you had access to data, you could use a much less complicated method to stay in touch. You would need to have multiple devices connected and if you did, you could text one another through that data plan. What might work for you is for you to have 2 or 3 devices and just not split up in more than 3 groups. You can than text one another (if you have an iphone, imessage will work through the wi-fi), or use google talk, or FB messenger to text. My friend and I kept in touch with one another on the Anthem using FB messenger because we both had a data package.

 

 

Thank you for the info! I have a teen, a pre-teen, and an elderly in the beginning stages of cognitive memory/Alzheimers. The teen and Pre teen we can manage with message boards on doors etc. the Elderly tends to get turned around on the ships and while not a danger just gets very frustrated and scared when she gets turned around. We thought she was in the casino on a prior cruise and she was really wander up and down halls trying every door with her card for 2 hours. We typically cruise Carnival that has a $25 per cruise per device for social media access that works well. I'm just disappointed that RCL doesn't have something similar so we can stay in touch and not spend more in wifi charges than we did for the cruise! (Ok a bit of an over exaggeration but it feels like it). [emoji6]

 

 

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Biker19

Biker19

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We thought she was in the casino on a prior cruise and she was really wander up and down halls trying every door with her card for 2 hours.

 

She doesn't need a messaging app for that - she simply needs to be taught to ask for help.

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CruisingRavyn

CruisingRavyn

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She doesn't need a messaging app for that - she simply needs to be taught to ask for help.

 

 

Thanks for the snarkyness I needed some in my life today. You have apparently never dealt with Alzheimer's. She didn't realized she was doing it. That's why it's important that we have a line of communication to her.

 

 

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CruisingRavyn

CruisingRavyn

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She's not that bad off. Last cruise she did just fine. We just like to have the safety precautions in place because on rare occasions she can get disoriented. I hope your kids don't drop you like a hot rock as you're indicating if you ever experience memory issues.

 

 

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Clarea

Clarea

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If it's that important, I would not rely on RCI's WiFi for a line of communication. Heck, I would not subject her to a cruise.

Unless someone is designated to be with her all the time. Which is how we handled our mother who was in the same mental situation.

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packercruising

packercruising

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That is a good possible solution, Bob! There are 4 in the family plus the elderly person. My mom had dementia the last 5 years of her life and CruisinRayvin has a legitimate concern. Biker19 is also right, using RCI communications should not be relied upon.

 

Since there are 4, how about setting up a schedule where someone gets to always be there to spend time with her. Give up a little time, gain a lot of time with someone who might not have a lot left.

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Clarea

Clarea

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On Allure. Doesn't seem to work for me without VOOM. Works fine only if you know IP of all devices you wish to msg. So, from my view, a Wifi connection is required.

If you stay connected to the ship's WiFi all the time, and don't log in to any VOOM account, don't your IP addressess stay the same?

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troykahack

troykahack

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If you stay connected to the ship's WiFi all the time, and don't log in to any VOOM account, don't your IP addressess stay the same?

 

Ok, next project. I guess since my NEWS channel is not on Royal TV, I will see.

 

Royal should have never gave me VOOM for FREE.

Edited by troykahack
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CruisingRavyn

CruisingRavyn

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On Allure. Doesn't seem to work for me without VOOM. Works fine only if you know IP of all devices you wish to msg. So, from my view, a Wifi connection is required.

 

 

So just curious, you can communicate with other devices without the VOOM if you know their IP?

 

 

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Clarea

Clarea

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So just curious, you can communicate with other devices without the VOOM if you know their IP?

That is supposedly how the ShipMate app works, but it's totally dependent on how the IT folks on the ship configure the wireless. One box ticked on the wireless config, and there would be no direct communication between wireless devices.

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CruisingRavyn

CruisingRavyn

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That is supposedly how the ShipMate app works, but it's totally dependent on how the IT folks on the ship configure the wireless. One box ticked on the wireless config, and there would be no direct communication between wireless devices.

 

 

Thank you Clarea. That is the answer I've been looking for.

 

 

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