30scruiser Posted February 9, 2019 #1 Share Posted February 9, 2019 Good evening! Can someone please verify that iMessage works well with the social WiFi package? On the Carnival website it says it’s not included but I believe people said it does work? I need something to keep in touch with my mom who is watching my kids. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
coevan Posted February 9, 2019 #2 Share Posted February 9, 2019 the text part will, forget about any pictures. Depends which ship and what time of the day as to the speed. Which can be painfully slow 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
30scruiser Posted February 9, 2019 Author #3 Share Posted February 9, 2019 41 minutes ago, coevan said: the text part will, forget about any pictures. Depends which ship and what time of the day as to the speed. Which can be painfully slow Thanks. We’re on the Pride which is reportedly getting its WiFi upgraded in dry dock this week so fingers crossed 🤞 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pops72106 Posted February 10, 2019 #4 Share Posted February 10, 2019 (edited) Almost every cruise they cut off I-message and u cant turn it back on until u get to a port with wifi. U need to get whats app, it works on any wifi and yes it is supported by Carnival. My wife cruises alone sometimes and we have no issues texting or sending photos from the ship to the states or back to the ship, It also has a phone feature that u can call over the internet. Edited February 10, 2019 by pops72106 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pops72106 Posted February 10, 2019 #5 Share Posted February 10, 2019 https://www.whatsapp.com/ or u can go to the app store on ur phone Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
coevan Posted February 10, 2019 #6 Share Posted February 10, 2019 We have used iMessage on every Carnival cruise, never a problem. Not sure CCL has the ability to cut off iMessage 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
blarko Posted February 10, 2019 #7 Share Posted February 10, 2019 I have used iMessage with the social WiFi package with no problem whatsoever 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pops72106 Posted February 10, 2019 #8 Share Posted February 10, 2019 Don't know how many cruises u have been on, but I will say that on our last 15-20 cruises over the last 4 years at least 1/2 had I-Message shut off. Whatsapp never fails and it works without having to be on a i-phone. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Titan_Cruiser Posted February 10, 2019 #9 Share Posted February 10, 2019 We have communicated with our sons via iMessage with no problem the last 5-6 cruises. We have carried on long text conversations and it is almost as quick as being on land. It will not send pictures. I have also communicated with a few android users using WhatsApp. It will send pictures. We have even talked with one of our sons a couple of times over the WhatsApp Voice Call option. It has a slight lag but it works. We talked for over 20 minutes each time. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mjrcruiser Posted February 10, 2019 #10 Share Posted February 10, 2019 I can never get iMessage to work. Are there any settings on your phone that need to be changed once on board?.....besides airplane mode, etc. I don’t fully understand the technical side...😣 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sayvan Posted February 10, 2019 #11 Share Posted February 10, 2019 Just off the Horizon last week and had the social plan and had no issues at all with the iMessage. Actually found the WiFi to be great and never had any connection issues. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
30scruiser Posted February 10, 2019 Author #12 Share Posted February 10, 2019 Thanks everyone! Very helpful. I just need it for communicating with my mom and prefer to use something that she is already comfortable with rather than trying to get her to use a new app. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
coevan Posted February 10, 2019 #13 Share Posted February 10, 2019 18 hours ago, mjrcruiser said: I can never get iMessage to work. Are there any settings on your phone that need to be changed once on board?.....besides airplane mode, etc. I don’t fully understand the technical side...😣 Did you have the wi-fi package? It's pretty much just texting through wi-fi. There is no way Carnival can turn off iMessage Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mjrcruiser Posted February 10, 2019 #14 Share Posted February 10, 2019 59 minutes ago, coevan said: Did you have the wi-fi package? It's pretty much just texting through wi-fi. There is no way Carnival can turn off iMessage I did.....I am sure it was just me not knowing what I was doing. I like to think I'm "tech savvy"....LOL NOT!! We sail again in May so I'll be sure to have the WhatsApp as a "fail safe" to stay in contact with the pet sitter/family, etc. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
coevan Posted February 11, 2019 #15 Share Posted February 11, 2019 do you have the blue and white IM icon on your phone, if so, you have it. Under settings go to messages and make sure IM is turned on. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JimP81 Posted February 11, 2019 #16 Share Posted February 11, 2019 5 hours ago, coevan said: Did you have the wi-fi package? It's pretty much just texting through wi-fi. There is no way Carnival can turn off iMessage They absolutely can block the ports iMessage uses. When you buy the social package it explicitly says iMessage does not work on that package. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lee Cruiser Posted February 11, 2019 #17 Share Posted February 11, 2019 (edited) On 2/9/2019 at 6:54 PM, pops72106 said: Almost every cruise they cut off I-message and u cant turn it back on until u get to a port with wifi. U need to get whats app, it works on any wifi and yes it is supported by Carnival. My wife cruises alone sometimes and we have no issues texting or sending photos from the ship to the states or back to the ship, It also has a phone feature that u can call over the internet. My wife uses i-message on the social wi-fi plan every cruise. She has never had a problem with it. Edited February 11, 2019 by Lee Cruiser Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lee Cruiser Posted February 11, 2019 #18 Share Posted February 11, 2019 30 minutes ago, JimP81 said: They absolutely can block the ports iMessage uses. When you buy the social package it explicitly says iMessage does not work on that package. My wife uses i-message on every cruise with the social wi-fi plan without a problem. The value plan information also says you can't use cellular dependent wi-fi calling. But I use AT&T wi-fi calling to text on every cruise. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lechon Posted February 11, 2019 #19 Share Posted February 11, 2019 (edited) 12 hours ago, JimP81 said: They absolutely can block the ports iMessage uses. When you buy the social package it explicitly says iMessage does not work on that package. But yet, iMessage does work on the social plan. Or it did on the Inspiration In October last year. I can confirm that I was able to send and recieve texts...pics, gifs, video didn’t work. carnival also explicitly states things in their rules, but do not enforce, so maybe iMessage on the social plan is one of them. or, maybe, officially, iMessage supported...and those of us just lucked out. Edited February 11, 2019 by Lechon additional Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
michiganredrose Posted February 11, 2019 #20 Share Posted February 11, 2019 I have found iMessage to be hit or miss on my last few cruises. Facebook messenger worked consistently for me. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mjrcruiser Posted February 11, 2019 #21 Share Posted February 11, 2019 20 hours ago, coevan said: do you have the blue and white IM icon on your phone, if so, you have it. Under settings go to messages and make sure IM is turned on. Thanks, I do!! I appreciate your help! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jakeT Posted February 12, 2019 #22 Share Posted February 12, 2019 I find, and maybe it’s my phone, that apple closed it down, and asked for your Apple ID. What since you don’t have real WiFi, this can not be done on the ship. Have to go into port get free WiFi and fix my phone Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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