Text Messaging Onboard

[Trobrah]

We plan to bring our cell phones to check with our pet sitter. We plan to use Verizon's pay as you go plan for cruises but only for sending and receiving SMS text messages. I know you need to turn off data roaming and leave voice roaming on to do so. Should iMessage be turned off also since it uses data? What about wi-fi?

Thanks,

Jay

[BirdTravels]

We plan to bring our cell phones to check with our pet sitter. We plan to use Verizon's pay as you go plan for cruises but only for sending and receiving SMS text messages. I know you need to turn off data roaming and leave voice roaming on to do so. Should iMessage be turned off also since it uses data? What about wi-fi?

Thanks,

Jay

 

Data Roaming Off will prevent any data usage.

 

IF you are on a iConcierge enabled ship, you would need wifi to access ship information (free).

[triptolemus]

Turn off data roaming and iMessage will be cut off.

 

You can leave wi-fi on -- and you might want to do so in order to use NCL's iConcierge app.

 

Just make sure that your plan allows for unlimited receive SMS text messages if you plan to leave your phone on and connected to the network. If people back home continue to send you a bunch of text messages, it could start to add up a bit.

[mking8288]

OP, sorry, I'm afraid it's bad news for you, unless you have a grandfathered or special plan, VZW's prepaid plan isn't likely going to work for you. As a general rule, most prepaid plan don't work well - definitely not on the cruise ship while at sea - and, selectively in some of the popular NCL ports (excluding Hawaii & Alaska with free, local roaming partners ... unless they added & took over the cellular towers)

 

Call 611 and speak to the prepaid CSR familiar with international services. Here's the link - http://www.verizonwireless.com/plans/prepaid/international-calling/ Coverage is only available for Puerto Rico and USVI as being "international"

 

In other words, you won't be able to send SMS at all - your device would likely indicate "no service" onboard the ship, and, in non-US ports. Sometimes, the incoming text or SMS message headers are displayed and shown, and you can possibly read the partial message (up to xx characters out of the 160 characters) if you are connected to ships with iConcierge functionality via the free WiFi inTRAnet system (not web browsing or inTERnet access, which is a paid feature)

 

Regardless of whether you are using an iPhone, Android or Windows smartphone, or, even non-smart candybar or flip phones, etc. - it is blocked and ship's satellite-based relay system won't recognize and get the digital "OK" to allow SMS or MMS, etc. inbound or outbound.

 

Most likely, if you must stay in touch with whoever, like the pet-sitter, need a Plan B ... depending on the ship & ports/itinerary, a WiFi and/or data plan that can handle your texting needs.

[triptolemus]

OP said pay-as-you-go... not pre-paid.

 

There is a difference.

 

http://www.verizonwireless.com/landingpages/international-travel/