1st time cruiser's question regarding stay in contact during cruise trip

[huyen323]

Thanks to this forum, I now know the trick to turn on plane mode and wifi on my phone to use the cruise's wifi for limited internet usage.

 

However, I am not clear on how to stay in contact with my family members during the time we are on the cruise. Could you please help?

 

For example, if I want to let my sons know that their dad and I are going to the casino and they can meet up with us in the bar near the casino around 8pm - what should I do to pass this message on to my sons? Can I call or text my sons?

 

Thank you.

[pete14]

If they are in their cabin, you can use your cabin phone to ring them using the internal system. 

[Cpt Pugwash]

8 minutes ago, huyen323 said:

Thanks to this forum, I now know the trick to turn on plane mode and wifi on my phone to use the cruise's wifi for limited internet usage.

 

However, I am not clear on how to stay in contact with my family members during the time we are on the cruise. Could you please help?

 

For example, if I want to let my sons know that their dad and I are going to the casino and they can meet up with us in the bar near the casino around 8pm - what should I do to pass this message on to my sons? Can I call or text my sons?

 

Thank you.

Use your mobile phone on any setting as little as possible or it will cost you a Fortune. It's not like on dry land where you just use a Local transmitter on Board any ship it uses a Satellite  to connect you to your phone. Even buying the Internet packages on board are expensive. Would be better buying a  Carrier Pigeon to take messages to them and smuggle it onboard. 🙂

[galeforce9]

As well as calling cabin to cabin you could also take a note pad and push notes under the cabin door for when they’re back.  You’ll get used to it.  We’ve been travelling for 25 years in  various size family groups.  You just can’t use your mobile the way you do ashore

[SarahHben]

I cruised with my parents and sister in May. We all bought the internet package and used WhatsApp to arrange meet up times

[terrierjohn]

You can text them, it does cost, but its not exorbitant. 

[Cpt Pugwash]

On the subject of using the Internet on board  it always amazed me how so many people bought internet packages or were desperate to land somewhere so they could us the Local connections to find out what was happening at there Work. Work Ruled everything in there lives couldn't even ignore it for a week when they were on Holiday and the best laugh if you said to them there Work didn't control everything they did, that's why when they were away on Holiday supposedly enjoying themselves they can't ignore it for that little time. Even met a couple who owned what you would call a semi big business did they ever mention phoning home for Anything No just there to enjoy themselves  do much that the husband had never fancied Cruising but being there Anniversary his wife made him take her on one and by the end of it like lot;s of people he was hooked.

[davecttr]

long may the restrictions on mobile usage on cruises remain. It seems everyone is spending all their time yakking into their mobiles. What do they find to talk about ALL DAY. Imagine dinner where most of the table just sit there prodding their mobiles. It appears society is going insane.

[david63]

8 hours ago, Cpt Pugwash said:

On the subject of using the Internet on board  it always amazed me how so many people bought internet packages or were desperate to land somewhere so they could us the Local connections to find out what was happening at there Work

Not necessarily work.

 

There are some (possibly many) who need to keep in touch with others for many reasons - one being having elderly parents who may not always be in the best of health.

[Josy1953]

36 minutes ago, davecttr said:

long may the restrictions on mobile usage on cruises remain. It seems everyone is spending all their time yakking into their mobiles. What do they find to talk about ALL DAY. Imagine dinner where most of the table just sit there prodding their mobiles. It appears society is going insane.

Some people have good reasons to have their phone with them at all times.

I kept my mobile on 24/7 on one cruise because I wanted my family to be able to reach me if necessary because at the time my sister was terminally ill.

[janny444]

I think davecttr comment was meaning the peeps who seem to be permanently attached to their phones conveying and receiving comments and thoughts on every conceivable level....most of it mindless chatter. Of course there are many people who need to be constantly in touch with home for genuine reasons and that is were mobile phones are indispensable 

[gsmt47471015]

15 minutes ago, Josy1953 said:

Some people have good reasons to have their phone with them at all times.

I kept my mobile on 24/7 on one cruise because I wanted my family to be able to reach me if necessary because at the time my sister was terminally ill.

Understandable in those circumstances, but as davecctr has mentioned why do people have to have them glued to their ears or hands, we have lost count of the times tables have all sat looking at mobiles and hardly speaking ( not as much on ships admittedly) they are, and have killed the art of conversation

[davecttr]

1 hour ago, Josy1953 said:

Some people have good reasons to have their phone with them at all times.

I kept my mobile on 24/7 on one cruise because I wanted my family to be able to reach me if necessary because at the time my sister was terminally ill.

Indeed like you some people do have reasons to keep their mobiles on and are prepared to shoulder the cost involved. What worries me is ships having the same 'free' access as ashore. They could have messaging as part of the onboard app but as I understand it this would result in the onboard LAN being overwhelmed by inane chatter.

[FangedRose]

6 hours ago, gsmt47471015 said:

Understandable in those circumstances, but as davecctr has mentioned why do people have to have them glued to their ears or hands, we have lost count of the times tables have all sat looking at mobiles and hardly speaking ( not as much on ships admittedly) they are, and have killed the art of conversation

Long before mobiles people used to hide behind newspapers, magazines and books. Phones fulfill the same purpose. Most are not on social media, they will be browsing newsites, reading novels or articles. Not everyone wants to spend their time chatting to strangers. Sometimes people want to eat, or drink coffee in peace.

[gsmt47471015]

12 minutes ago, FangedRose said:

Long before mobiles people used to hide behind newspapers, magazines and books. Phones fulfill the same purpose. Most are not on social media, they will be browsing newsites, reading novels or articles. Not everyone wants to spend their time chatting to strangers. Sometimes people want to eat, or drink coffee in peace.

Well I have to beg to differ , our observations of people is they sit down ,get out their phones ,ignore everything that's going on around them , including the waiting staff who wish to take their order, don't usually say two words to each other then eat using one hand, (knives are becoming redundant), these are not people sitting with strangers, but with partners or family, can't remember seeing anyone with a newspaper or magazine at a dining table before or after mobile phones  

[Dermotsgirl]

42 minutes ago, FangedRose said:

Long before mobiles people used to hide behind newspapers, magazines and books. Phones fulfill the same purpose. Most are not on social media, they will be browsing newsites, reading novels or articles. Not everyone wants to spend their time chatting to strangers. Sometimes people want to eat, or drink coffee in peace.

Another thing they might be doing is playing puzzles.

 

The daily sudoku and crossword seems to be a big thing on cruises - no need to bother to queue up for the sheet of paper, the phone or tablet has an endless supply of puzzles  

[FangedRose]

31 minutes ago, gsmt47471015 said:

Well I have to beg to differ , our observations of people is they sit down ,get out their phones ,ignore everything that's going on around them , including the waiting staff who wish to take their order, don't usually say two words to each other then eat using one hand, (knives are becoming redundant), these are not people sitting with strangers, but with partners or family, can't remember seeing anyone with a newspaper or magazine at a dining table before or after mobile phones  

You aren't very observant then. And, I've seen plenty couples sitting at a table for two ignoring each other, phones or no phones. People are not obliged to talk to each other.

[gsmt47471015]

1 hour ago, FangedRose said:

You aren't very observant then. And, I've seen plenty couples sitting at a table for two ignoring each other, phones or no phones. People are not obliged to talk to each other.

Quite correct they are not obliged to talk to each other , and yes we have seen lots of couples not speaking to each other throughout the whole meal and that's their choice for whatever reason. We see this because we ARE observant 😑 The whole point is that some  people are unable to exist without one strapped to their ear or hands

[terrierjohn]

2 hours ago, gsmt47471015 said:

Well I have to beg to differ , our observations of people is they sit down ,get out their phones ,ignore everything that's going on around them , including the waiting staff who wish to take their order, don't usually say two words to each other then eat using one hand, (knives are becoming redundant), these are not people sitting with strangers, but with partners or family, can't remember seeing anyone with a newspaper or magazine at a dining table before or after mobile phones  

You must dine in the buffet, because we have never ever seen anyone take out a phone in the MDR.

[FangedRose]

1 minute ago, gsmt47471015 said:

Quite correct they are not obliged to talk to each other , and yes we have seen lots of couples not speaking to each other throughout the whole meal and that's their choice for whatever reason. We see this because we ARE observant 😑 The whole point is that some  people are unable to exist without one strapped to their ear or hands

If people want to hideaway in their own little world, amuse themselves, put a barrier between themselves and the outside world they will. They may uses a newspaper, a book, a crossword or a phone. That is not the phone's fault, it is a tool being used by the person. Would you blame a book or a newspaper?

[FangedRose]

3 minutes ago, terrierjohn said:

You must dine in the buffet, because we have never ever seen anyone take out a phone in the MDR.

Me neither.

 

Well, only to show photos of today's trip ashore, or the grandkids. Or, more recently to show somebody else how to use the 'app'.

Edited August 11, 2022 by FangedRose

[gsmt47471015]

Just now, terrierjohn said:

You must dine in the buffet, because we have never ever seen anyone take out a phone in the MDR.

Cant remember ever dining in the buffet and in fairness the point was not aimed solely at cruises

[gsmt47471015]

4 minutes ago, terrierjohn said:

You must dine in the buffet, because we have never ever seen anyone take out a phone in the MDR.

And maybe because the internet is ,allegedly, so dire 😂

[terrierjohn]

2 minutes ago, gsmt47471015 said:

Cant remember ever dining in the buffet and in fairness the point was not aimed solely at cruises

Now that makes a bit more sense as most european hotels offer free wifi, ships wi fi is too expensive to dally with over dinner.

[gsmt47471015]

7 minutes ago, FangedRose said:

If people want to hideaway in their own little world, amuse themselves, put a barrier between themselves and the outside world they will. They may uses a newspaper, a book, a crossword or a phone. That is not the phone's fault, it is a tool being used by the person. Would you blame a book or a newspaper?

Not trying to apportion blame , just making an observation🤣🤣🤣🤣