Apple iMessaging to Land+Ship

[TheTides]

Hello there,

 

I have searched for this topic, but really haven’t found a satisfactory answer.  We are cruising on the Star, and are trying to figure out the best way to use iMessage to connect with others back home.  Is it best to contact our phone provider, or log onto the WiFi on the ship.  And if we are exclusively planning on iMessaging, how much WiFi would that consume on the ship for a nine night journey.  

 

Thanks guys!

[roger001]

If you have a limited minutes WiFi package, then you have to sign on and off after each use.  Just that process uses up a few minutes overall.  If you plan to use it frequently, unlimited is much better, no worry about the minutes continuing to click off.  If you want to just occasional text, most cell phone plans let you do that when out at sea for .50c each sent and .05c for each received.  That is text only, no pictures.  With that, you just turn your data off but leave voice on while roaming.  Text goes through the voice feature.  However, if you then get phone calls or voice mail, don't answer unless you want to spend about $2.50 a minute to do so.  And WiFi at sea isn't consistent.  It will vary depending on cloud cover and the ship's position reference satellites.  Verizon has a plan for when you are in port in most countries that lets you use your normal domestic cell plan.  It's $5 a day in Mexico and $10 a day other countries...I believe.  

Edited March 12, 2019 by roger001