Using Carnival Hub App for texting

[Cinnamon2]

Can you still use the free Carnival Hub App for texting others who are on the ship with you if you are all using the App?  I know that now they offer the social media package for money but we really don't need that.  Myself and six other ladies are sailing on Carnival Magic next winter.  We each have our own cabin and they are spread over two decks.  It sure would be convenient if we could message each other on board for meeting times, places etc.

[EllaDuChien]

You do not have to purchase the social plan.  It is $5 / per person to use the "chat" feature only.

[Cinnamon2]

1 minute ago, EllaDuChien said:

You do not have to purchase the social plan.  It is $5 / per person to use the "chat" feature only.

Thank you!  That is what I was hoping for.

 

[LuckyStar]

6 minutes ago, EllaDuChien said:

You do not have to purchase the social plan.  It is $5 / per person to use the "chat" feature only.

Along this note, does this feature work well? 

[EllaDuChien]

9 minutes ago, LuckyStar said:

Along this note, does this feature work well? 

 

I would say pretty well.  Occasionally we had issues with people not getting messages, but if we restarted the app, it would be fine.  

[plettza]

31 minutes ago, LuckyStar said:

Along this note, does this feature work well? 

I experienced issues with message being delayed.  I've sent a friend messages who will sometimes get the message a few minutes later.  This can be nuisance if you're trying to hurry someone up for an event that's starting.

 

Also, there's no ability to send pictures which I would like to do.

 

I'm on an Android phone.

[ProgRockCruiser]

1 hour ago, plettza said:

Also, there's no ability to send pictures which I would like to do.

 

Sorry, I have to laugh at this.

 

It is a texting app.

 

When images became possible in so-called text messaging functions on phones I was aghast.  True texting uses the "blank spaces" in the phone ping comms - it is really no cost to the providers, so I've always been annoyed they charge for it or have limits etc.  Good thing is most plans are unlimited now for that function.  But because it uses that blank space, it is ideal for text-only - no formatting, no images. 

 

The "messaging apps" that allow/encourage images/photos are technically "Multi-media Messenging Services" now, not true texts.  And they use your data plan.

 

Anyway, I guess for photos, you'd need to use FB messenger or similar via one of the other wifi plans (at more $$$).  (I have no idea which plan is best for such uses.)

Edited February 4, 2019 by ProgRockCruiser

[plettza]

2 hours ago, ProgRockCruiser said:

 

Sorry, I have to laugh at this.

 

It is a texting app.

 

When images became possible in so-called text messaging functions on phones I was aghast.  True texting uses the "blank spaces" in the phone ping comms - it is really no cost to the providers, so I've always been annoyed they charge for it or have limits etc.  Good thing is most plans are unlimited now for that function.  But because it uses that blank space, it is ideal for text-only - no formatting, no images. 

 

The "messaging apps" that allow/encourage images/photos are technically "Multi-media Messenging Services" now, not true texts.  And they use your data plan.

 

Anyway, I guess for photos, you'd need to use FB messenger or similar via one of the other wifi plans (at more $$$).  (I have no idea which plan is best for such uses.)

True for SMS/MMS, but because you're connecting to the ship's WiFi, they'd be using a local network and proxy server to keep that Hub app network traffic aboard.  I could be wrong, but I really doubt the message traffic from the app makes it way from the ship to Miami via satellite and back again.  I'm sure they'd have a server aboard the ships that simply routes traffic between the phones' apps as it needs.  Adding a picture element would be trivial.

 

But that's probably the point as you suggest.  They'd rather you purchase a social media Internet plan than rely on the cheaper messaging app.

Edited February 5, 2019 by plettza

[d-train]

We used the $5 per person, per sailing, text feature on Horizon. Worked well for us when we used it. For $5 you can’t go wrong. Had to refresh the app a few times, but worked consistently like any other app... 

[EngineCo52]

9 hours ago, Cinnamon2 said:

Can you still use the free Carnival Hub App for texting others who are on the ship with you if you are all using the App?  I know that now they offer the social media package for money but we really don't need that.  Myself and six other ladies are sailing on Carnival Magic next winter.  We each have our own cabin and they are spread over two decks.  It sure would be convenient if we could message each other on board for meeting times, places etc.

 

it works good for texting, and I believe it has a group chat feature. you just have to make sure you don't close out the app (double tapping home button and swiping the app up for iPhone users) or you won't get any messages until you load it up again 

[JaniceB]

EngineCo52 thanks for the Iphone tip.  We will have some with Iphones and some with Androids.

[dmdiver]

We use the $5 texting feature with the hub app.  It didn't seem to be as quick as regular texting at home would be, but it worked ok.  As far as pictures, we used air drop on our iphones - I don't know anything about android phones, so I don't know if you can air drop to one or not.

[stellarose]

and if someone else you meet on the ship has the app and chat feature - you can chat with them too.

[serene56]

you can call cabin to cabin for free---  cabin phones are equipped with voice mail

[uscgrl93]

The Carnival app works great! I wouldn’t purchase the full social media package because it never works. But the app itself is worth it. 

[BENHANDEL]

It worked great for our family on Horizon.