Facetime/Skype on Board????

[goober9]

I wanted to know if anyone has used Facetime or Skype while on the boat? We are going to purchase the unlimited internet while on board, but I wanted to know if we would be able to call home using either of these? Thank you for your help. :)

[chocolate melting cake]

I'm not familiar with Facetime----but if it depends on a speedy connection like Skype does I'm afraid it wouldn't work at sea. All my connections have been about the speed of dial up, and would not support Skype.

[ohiogymrat]

It works awesome. I am able to stream video and make phone calls home using Skype (bought $10 worth of Skype minutes, you can call any phone in the US for 2 cents a minute). So well worth it.

 

Shouldnt have an issue, the above post is from a poster that bought the high speed unlimited package.

[izzydog]

We used Skype to land line on a 2010 cruise on the Carnival Dream. There was no video to stream so maybe that is why it worked. But we were able to talk to family back home, so it served it's purpose.

 

Although with calls from your cabin phone back home at $1.99 per minute, it may be worth it to just pay that rate instead of paying for an internet package and whatever skype charges.

[Whoop98]

We used Facetime on the Magic in Sept. We had the unlimited high speed internet. It did cut out a couple of times, but well worth it if you are patient knowing you are at sea using a satellite. :)

[QTPieRye]

We brought laptop last cruise on the Splendor and used Skype. It would intermittently lose connection, but overall did the job. We also communicated via our kids, friends and familly through CCL's website and Funville. I set up a public board where I posted and received posts from the kids. It was fun! I am happy to say that my entire family is going with us this year so no need for Skype, or Funville, etc. :)

[mbardsley]

Do to the latency(Network term for delay) of a satellite signal, it is to much of so for anything reliable for "Real Time" video (facetyme), you can get audio calls, they might be broken up or echo, but usually for a couple minutes you be ok.

 

Texting is the cheapest way, $.50 each text. Turn the phones off till your at a port of call, could find yourself with a nice data bill from your carrier

[QTPieRye]

We brought laptop last cruise on the Splendor and used Skype. It would intermittently lose connection, but overall did the job. We also communicated via our kids, friends and familly through CCL's website and Funville. I set up a public board where I posted and received posts from the kids. It was fun! I am happy to say that my entire family is going with us this year so no need for Skype, or Funville, etc. :)