WI FI packages

[jerijkstr]

We are sailing on the FOTS in 28 days!!! Just a little excited! My daughter and I both have cell phones, my husband has one but it really needs to be returned to the Smithsonian ;) In order for us to stay in contact with out daughter (turning 12 during the cruise) while on the ship, do I have to have WI FI?

[Clarea]

We are sailing on the FOTS in 28 days!!! Just a little excited! My daughter and I both have cell phones, my husband has one but it really needs to be returned to the Smithsonian ;) In order for us to stay in contact with out daughter (turning 12 during the cruise) while on the ship, do I have to have WI FI?

You need a VOOM package if you intend to use the phones to stay in contact and you don't want to pay by the text.

[blackshirt]

You don’t need the WiFi package to stay in touch, you can use the ship’s cell tower to send regular texts. You need to check with your carrier for charges but most charge $0.50 to send a text. Some charge $0.05 to receive a text. If you only need to send a few texts per day, that would cost much less than paying $14 or so for each phone every day. If you do decide to use the ship’s cell tower, make sure cellular data is off on all phones. Cellular data charges can run up a big bill. Also tell your daughter not to text all her friends. At $0.50 per text, she could run up a big bill too. If you do decide to get the WiFi, you also need a messaging app that works over WiFi, such as Facebook messenger. Unless your phones have WiFi calling, you can’t text over WiFi.