most useful way to communicate to children

[Dadof2kids]

Our 12 year old is looking forward to being able to roam around on his own on our upcoming Freedom cruise. We normally have him with us but it's time to let him spread his wings a bit. So parents, what's the best device you have found to communicate with your children while onboard ? Do walkie talkies have enough range? I would use our phones and talk through a messenger app but only one device can be connected. What does everyone else do/use? TIA

 

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[Clarea]

We have had bad luck with walkie-talkies. Once we are separated by a few decks, communication is poor to impossible.

[vacationlover_mn]

Our 12 year old is looking forward to being able to roam around on his own on our upcoming Freedom cruise. We normally have him with us but it's time to let him spread his wings a bit. So parents, what's the best device you have found to communicate with your children while onboard ? Do walkie talkies have enough range? I would use our phones and talk through a messenger app but only one device can be connected. What does everyone else do/use? TIA

 

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So... I went on a girls cruise, and I swear, some of them were worse at wandering around and getting lost than a tween :) It was VERY helpful that a couple of us got the wireless plan, and we could message each other our locations when needed. We used our phones for pictures anyways, so we didn't find carrying our phones around a nuisance.

[Dadof2kids]

So... I went on a girls cruise, and I swear, some of them were worse at wandering around and getting lost than a tween :) It was VERY helpful that a couple of us got the wireless plan, and we could message each other our locations when needed. We used our phones for pictures anyways, so we didn't find carrying our phones around a nuisance.

Are you able to use what's app or hangouts?

 

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[Clarea]

... I would use our phones and talk through a messenger app but only one device can be connected. ...

Why not get a 2-device package.

[Dadof2kids]

Oh didn't know there was one

 

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[vacationlover_mn]

Are you able to use what's app or hangouts?

 

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Hmmm. It was a couple of years ago and I don't remember exactly, but I think we just used FB messenger...

[Clarea]

Oh didn't know there was one

Yes, they sell 1, 2, and 4 device packages onboard, and you would only need the Surf package for messaging. A 2-device package for Surf is $30 per day onboard.

[fred30]

Your safest choice may be to get an internet plan for both phones. Activate WiFi calling and put both phones in Airplane mode and you should be able to call or text between anyone on the ship or at home without any charges. This way you won't have to worry about any unexpected charges.

[Dadof2kids]

Your safest choice may be to get an internet plan for both phones. Activate WiFi calling and put both phones in Airplane mode and you should be able to call or text between anyone on the ship or at home without any charges. This way you won't have to worry about any unexpected charges.

Thanks this might be the best option.

 

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[Hogbay]

We always make sure they were signed up asap to the kid.s /teen club as this is when they form there group.s /click.s :)

[1025cruise]

Hmm, I think the following should work:

Mom/Dad/whatever: Son, where are you going to be.

Son: Pool

M/D/W: OK, we'll see you there in a couple of hours.

 

Check pool, kid there. Repeat conversation. kid not there, (and no good excuse like was in the bathroom) they find themselves attached to your hip.

[fred30]

Thanks this might be the best option.

 

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I never did this on a ship but I tried it at home. You put your phone in airplane mode and then enable WiFi making sure the GPS is not on. There are threads on these boards about it for you to check out. I won't have time until much later on tonight to find some but by then I'm sure someone will post the links.

[Spunky946]

Hmm, I think the following should work:

Mom/Dad/whatever: Son, where are you going to be.

Son: Pool

M/D/W: OK, we'll see you there in a couple of hours.

 

Check pool, kid there. Repeat conversation. kid not there, (and no good excuse like was in the bathroom) they find themselves attached to your hip.

 

 

 

This. We also made sure to get him a watch so we could say be here at this time. It worked well.

 

 

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[davekathy]

Hmm, I think the following should work:

Mom/Dad/whatever: Son, where are you going to be.

Son: Pool

M/D/W: OK, we'll see you there in a couple of hours.

 

Check pool, kid there. Repeat conversation. kid not there, (and no good excuse like was in the bathroom) they find themselves attached to your hip.

Don't have a dog in this hunt but I was thinking along the same lines.

[4everAfamily]

On our Anthem October 2017 sailing, it was the first time our 12yr old DS was in the teen club. We had the Voom package for the family and communicated through iMessage. He had to text if he was changing his location. For example, LV meant he was going to the Living Room (Teen Club), SP was for the SeaPlex, etc. He did a fantastic job. We are heading back on the Anthem in March and will have the Voom package. IMO, it's worth every penny when you have a tween or teen.

[slvrbllt]

We left a whiteboard/notepad/post-its in the room.

 

If they were going somewhere other than where they told us verbally last check in, they had to leave a note in the room with the time/where they were going/how long they'd be there.

 

We did inside the room so that there was no excuse that someone wiped off the message/took the note/etc.

[slvrbllt]

Oh, and we couldn't (didn't) do internet packages because it's hard enough to get the oldest out of the room to read in the sunshine :)

[Rapunsel]

Post its in the room and a general Meet at: 12 noon for lunch on Lido

 

Dinner at 6 shower before, jeans ok.

 

I have good kids and they were always where they needed to be. Even let the 12 year old go back to the ship and room to shower when we were in port. Watched him get on the ship wave from the deck so we know he made it and he was ready before us for dinner.

 

Also cruised on Holland America so everyone knows who your kids is as there usually are not a lot of them!! Going again this summer on Royal Caribbean they are now 16 and 13.

[soccerdad72]

Hmm, I think the following should work:

Mom/Dad/whatever: Son, where are you going to be.

Son: Pool

M/D/W: OK, we'll see you there in a couple of hours.

 

Check pool, kid there. Repeat conversation. kid not there, (and no good excuse like was in the bathroom) they find themselves attached to your hip.

 

That's what we've done for previous cruises. Overall, it worked. Only once did we lose a child (but we had two, so we had a spare ;p )

 

Actually, we did lose track of our youngest the last cruise we were on - turned out, him and a buddy he found on the cruise decided (without telling us) that they were going to find somewhere to watch the Ohio St - Michigan game. We finally found him an hour or so after he was supposed to check in with us - they were sitting on the floor of On Air. Had a brief chat about his freedom on the ship after that. :confused:

[mixplix]

my 12 year old wanted a curfew - blew my mind, never considered that she would be on her own. Told her 11 pm. First night, i was gambling, wife was in room, came to the casino frantic (1110), daughter had not returned. By the time i did a sweep of the ship and returned, she was back. Since it was her first time with a curfew, I explained that the time was the time, no exceptions. she was always back thereafter on or before curfew time.

 

fast forward to last year - she was 14 - had midnight curfew. We met some younger friends and someone had the bright idea to go to the hottubs at 1145 pm. We went back to room to change, younger son was sleeping (in connecting room), daughter not home yet. Told wife I was waiting to make sure she was back timely. 1157 pm, i was in hall, she was flying down the hall - pulls up, looks at me, looks at watch, says good night. Respect...

[elainemasey61]

Not sure if it was our carrier or luck or different cruise line but I I was able to Text my DS20 for free last year. Both have iPhones.

 

 

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[rlong405]

she was 14 - had midnight curfew. We met some younger friends and someone had the bright idea to go to the hottubs at 1145 pm. We went back to room to change, younger son was sleeping (in connecting room), daughter not home yet. Told wife I was waiting to make sure she was back timely. 1157 pm, i was in hall, she was flying down the hall - pulls up, looks at me, looks at watch, says good night. Respect...

 

 

 

Ah to be young again when you stayed in the park etc as long as humanly possible whereby you could still make curfew but only if you ran like Forest Gump on fire.

 

 

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[trivia addict]

12 years old, and wandering alone on a ship? Wow! My two now 30 something’s, would have thought Mom lost her mind had I agreed to that!

I agree with those who set a time and place.

But if the technology works for you, then absolutely it is your call! And I will use those suggestions to find my wandering husband next time!

[johnnyb78]

Not sure if it was our carrier or luck or different cruise line but I I was able to Text my DS20 for free last year. Both have iPhones.

 

 

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From what I have read on here, on ships that offer the royal on board ap (royal iq maybe?) iphones will iMessage without a wifi package, my guess is that the ap uses the same routing as iMessages and they want you to be able to use the app without having to connect to the paid wifi. Now there's no telling when they will shut this loophole...