Texting IOS

[momstreat]

Can I text from my iphone while on the ship  to someone with iphone still in US without buying a plan. 

[skywalkr2]

Lots of people have good results with the apple messaging since its not a regular SMS.

[dallasdan]

It doesn't always work, however on my last few cruises it worked fine.  Sometimes it will kick you off the carnival wifi and the messaging will stop working.  When you notice your text are in green you need to shut your phone off and restart.  Text will only work when it is blue.

[odis]

If you have WiFi access you should be able to do it.  

[klfrodo]

You have to have some type of plan. You have to have wifi or cellular connection.

[ElCrapyTan]

Yes - just connecting to the ship WiFi will do it. You don't need to purchase one of their internet plans. If you use the Hub app, you already are connecting to the WiFi.

[Colorado Beach Bum]

Most of the time it has worked for us without purchasing the WiFi plan but it hasn’t been 100%. 

[Itried4498]

This topic comes up frequently.  Here's the definitive answer: if you desire or require access to iMessage, you will need to purchase a WiFi plan.  

 

I've taken a lot of cruises and iMessage only occassionally allows me to send and receive iMessages (connecting to the free WiFi without a paid WiFi plan).  On some cruises I've never been able to use the feature.  Most other users' experiences mimic mine.  Only a small faction have reported being able to regularly use iMessage without a paid WiFi plan -- and if they have a secret, we don't know it, and it's best not to share it anyway since Carnival would close the loophole.

[Illbcruzn4life]

Been on 3 cruises this year all on different lines and have had no problems texting to other iPhone users with just the ships wifi for the spp

[thewynn]

We have had hit and miss results. Sometimes it will work for a few days and then just stop working and then a day or so later it might work again. I wouldn’t depend on it if needed.

[Sarcastic Mama]

Our last trip on the Dream, March 2023, my husband did not have a wifi plan and was texting I Phone to I Phone with no issues.  He was on air plane mode and we did not get a scary cell bill.