Wifi onboard

[DopeyRN1]

I have never used an electronic device on any cruise before. But this time there is someone who may need to contact me while at sea. My husbands work phone has international, but do you need to have wifi connection when at sea? Does the wifi work well onboard? If I decided to stay in touch with this person via email, which package to purchase? Normally I want to totally disconnect so this is new to me. Thanks!!!

[broberts]

WiFi is not needed. Cell service is available. Check with your service provider for costs. Also, cruise ships are not always included in an international plan and/or one may have to have the service provider enable use.

 

Carnival info on cell service at sea: https://help.carnival.com/app/answers/detail/a_id/1129/~/cellular-phone-service

 

If using email, an internet package can be purchased. https://help.carnival.com/app/answers/detail/a_id/1152/~/carnivals-wi-fi-service-and-hub-app

[mardukeme]

Better of with Wi-Fi you know what the cost will be. If you have Wi-Fi calling, than you can call, text, and email just using data.

 

Made calls before on a Cruise ship was very expensive, and horrible quality. There was such a delay, felt like 7 seconds or so, after I said something before the other person responded. Not sure if they have improved lately. Recently I just do everything over ships wifi, it just works fine for me.

 

Sent from my SM-N950U1 using Tapatalk

[originalgeek]

For email only you can get by just fine with the social package (5 dollars a day last I checked or discounted if you buy it for the whole cruise). You can use it on multiple devices but only one at a time unless you buy more than one package.

 

Your husband's international plan likely only works while in a port. Out at sea you would have to connect to the ship's Cellular At Sea which is pricey no matter what plan you have from your carrier. But you CAN use that social internet package to text and I believe SOME people have reported that WiFi calling worked for them even though it is not supported by Carnival.

 

What you would do is turn on Airplane mode when you first get on the ship. Then go into your settings and turn WiFi back on. This keeps cell service off but lets you connect to the ship's WiFi. To communicate off the ship (texting to people back home) you would buy an internet package - they have three levels and the above links explain them all but the lowest package is fine for email and texting.

[DopeyRN1]

Thank you for the help! I very much appreciate it. :)