Yes, you can text on a cruise ship, but how you do it and whether it’s free depends on a few factors. Using Wi-Fi lets you text through apps like iMessage, WhatsApp, Facebook Messenger or Signal. You’ll need to purchase a Wi-Fi package for this to work. You may also want to use the Royal Caribbean app, which has a chat feature that lets you communicate with your group.
Here’s what you need to know about connecting with your family on your next Royal Caribbean cruise.
1. Download The Royal App Before You Set Sail
Wondering how to communicate on a Royal Caribbean cruise? Not only does the Royal App help you plan your trip, but it's also very useful while you're sailing and is largely considered one of the best family travel apps. Start by uploading your passport, make reservations for dining and onshore excursions and use the chat feature to stay in touch with your fellow travelers — even if they're by the pool and you're in the spa.
If you're relying on the Royal Caribbean texting app, be sure you pack your charger, an extension cord and a power strip for your cabin, too. That's especially important for families where each traveler has both a phone and a tablet to juice at night.
2. Choose An Internet Package In Advance
Few travelers want to totally disconnect these days, though that is still an option, of course. While Wi-Fi access has improved on most cruise ships, Royal Caribbean VOOM service remains the fastest internet at sea. You can access it across the fleet, so you won't have to worry about how to communicate on a cruise ship. Choose from internet packages that let you stream videos while you sun by the pool, and stay connected to your regular messaging and email apps. Best of all, you can "bundle" your access on up to four devices so that the whole family is set.
3. Look For Other Apps That Keep Your Crew Connected
For extended families or friend groups planning a trip together, some of the tools on your phone may be a good option as well. Many phones offer location-sharing tools that connect you to friends and family, and even if you don't usually use them, you can turn them on for the duration of your vacation. For trips that include sightseeing in destinations without shore excursions, you can also create shared Google maps that allow you to mark stops on a route and plan your sightseeing together.
4. Beware of Roaming Charges
From the moment you get on board a ship or plane leaving the country, you should put your phone on airplane mode and leave it on throughout your trip to avoid roaming charges for cellular data, which can add up incredibly fast. While some cell service providers offer low daily rates to use your phone abroad, on a cruise with a major cruise line, you'll likely have access to such speedy internet that you won't really need this option.
While Wi-Fi at sea has revolutionized, your land options depend entirely on where you're traveling in the world. If you think you'll want to use your phone while in port and not just at cafés with complimentary Wi-Fi, be sure to reach out to your cell service provider in advance to understand the related fees and options. Cell service on Royal Caribbean is strong, but if you're not going to use your phone, then keep it on airplane mode and use it as a camera to capture onshore excursions in ports during your trip. Just be sure to tell any travel companions who aren’t on your shore excursion what you have decided in advance, so they know when you will or won't be reachable.
5. Utilize Your Stateroom Phone
Improvements in both the speed and cost of Wi-Fi onboard mean you likely won't have much use for your stateroom landline phone. That said, the phone can be useful to request dining and spa reservations or to call your buddy's room to link up.
6. Go Old School
Before ships provided Wi-Fi and apps, cruisers connected the old-school way — with walkie-talkies, whiteboards and sticky notes. These techniques are the best ways to communicate on a cruise ship in case the Wi-Fi is spotty or you leave your phone in your stateroom. Plus, older kids will have a blast using a walkie-talkie to keep you aware of their whereabouts when they're at the arcade and you're by the pool.
Explore Cruise Options Now
Whether you’re using the Royal Caribbean, sharing your location through mobile rolls or keeping things simple with sticky notes and nightly meet-ups, planning ahead makes every moment smoother and more enjoyable. With your communication plan in place, you’re clear to plan the perfect trip without worrying about how you’ll connect with your group while at sea or during excursions.
