Staying in touch with extended family on Oasis

[2910car]

I am looking for suggestions for our family cruise (grandparents, three children and their spouses and 6 grandchildren ages 8-13 on our July cruise in celebration of my husband's 70th birthday.

 

We are paying for everything on this cruise and want to enjoy seeing our children and grandchildren participate in some of the activities, We don't want to move in lock step and want everyone to enjoy in their own way, however if our kids and grands are doing flowrider or ziplining, etc. we want to be there. That is our main reason for this cruise.

 

We did this once before and used walkie talkies which did not always work but better than nothing. The idea of sticky notes or whiteboard on cabin doors doesn't make much sense to me because I don't expect everyone to go back to their cabin to leave a note every time they want to do something. Also we would have to constantly be checking on cabin doors (7 cabins).

 

We of course will have dinner together (one table for the 8 adults and a table for the 6 grands next to it) and have made all the show reservations together, but wondering how to keep in touch during the day.

 

Would appreciate anyone's suggestions.

[adjjb12]

Probably the easiest is that if everyone or one person in every group had a cell phone. Get the WiFi package and communicate with each other through a WiFi messaging app.

[2910car]

Does everyone have to get internet package? How much would that cost?

[Clarea]

Does everyone have to get internet package? How much would that cost?

Every device would need access. Packages are going for $15 per day for two devices. So if you have 8 devices, you would need 4 packages at $60 per day.

Edited April 28, 2015 by clarea

[Barnaby100]

With so many you wont be able to see them all do everything. Just agree a schedule in advance and meet them at the specific activity.

[Grandma Dazzles]

Post it notes on cabin doors. Stateroom phone - leave a message. Agree to meet at specific times/places.

[griffy116]

We've tried the same thing in the past and it's sometimes impossible. We had a designated "area" near the pool. We could usually find a few family members there and a spot in the pub/Promenade Cafe area. If there was something really good that we wanted to do, we discussed it the night before at dinner or the show. We've used house phones to call a cabin, left a sticky note. It's really not as hard as you think. If you miss watching someone on the FlowRider have someone get all the action on their camera and you get to watch it after dinner. It was nice finding out that everyone was able to do things they enjoyed, especially since everyone had their own favorite things to do.

[cb at sea]

Make plans...the night prior should do just fine! At dinner, everyone will tell their plans for the next day...and you can be there! The kids aren't going to text their every move....they'll be too busy!

You'll know about where they'll be...walk on over and make contact!

Edited April 29, 2015 by cb at sea