VOOM internet access questions

[warrenz1963]

Hello! I'm sailing on WOTS in March '25. The available internet for my sailing is called VOOM + streaming. I don't want streaming, just access to text family not going on the cruise, and maybe some browsing. Will there be a more basic internet package (without streaming capability, and thus less expensive) offered eventually?

Next question. When I sailed on DCL an internet package was not required if all you wanted to do was text folks at home, I was grateful to not have to buy the package at all. Is there a similar situation with RCL ships, that I would be able to just text without paying anything?

 

Thank you all for the great advice and community. 

 

[smokeybandit]

There is only one internet package available.  There's no "messaging only" type package.

[warrenz1963]

Just now, smokeybandit said:

There is only one internet package available.  There's no "messaging only" type package.

Thank you!

[Southern Waters]

A few years ago RCL offered 2 internet packages, one of which didn't include streaming.  But it went away a couple of years ago. What you can do is just text or call people when you're in port. I'm on Verizon and have Travel Pass. You might check into whoever your cell provider is and see what they offer for international calling and texting.

[warrenz1963]

19 minutes ago, Southern Waters said:

A few years ago RCL offered 2 internet packages, one of which didn't include streaming.  But it went away a couple of years ago. What you can do is just text or call people when you're in port. I'm on Verizon and have Travel Pass. You might check into whoever your cell provider is and see what they offer for international calling and texting.

Thank you for the info!

[ScottD]

5 hours ago, Southern Waters said:

A few years ago RCL offered 2 internet packages, one of which didn't include streaming.  But it went away a couple of years ago. What you can do is just text or call people when you're in port. I'm on Verizon and have Travel Pass. You might check into whoever your cell provider is and see what they offer for international calling and texting.

Yep- and if you have Tmobile, you're likely covered with your basic plan anywhere in the Caribbean, Mexico, Bahamas and Canada. 

[Southern Waters]

5 hours ago, ScottD said:

Yep- and if you have Tmobile, you're likely covered with your basic plan anywhere in the Caribbean, Mexico, Bahamas and Canada. 

The Verizon plan I have now includes 1 Travel Pass day per month. When I did my first cruise 6 years ago, I paid for 1 in each of the ports I visited. I think it cost $20-25 total.

[Gadget Hackwrench]

I have used the Royal Caribbean application on my phone to send messages to family on the ship without paying for an internet plan. You connect to the free ship Wifi.

Our resourceful and fearless leader Matt created this article about using the app. https://www.royalcaribbeanblog.com/2023/01/09/royal-caribbeans-onboard-messaging-system-now-free-heres-how-it-works

[warrenz1963]

21 minutes ago, Gadget Hackwrench said:

I have used the Royal Caribbean application on my phone to send messages to family on the ship without paying for an internet plan. You connect to the free ship Wifi.

Our resourceful and fearless leader Matt created this article about using the app. https://www.royalcaribbeanblog.com/2023/01/09/royal-caribbeans-onboard-messaging-system-now-free-heres-how-it-works

I'm actually looking to text to family back home that are not on the cruise. 

[Ryan79]

Never tried this before, but would the iMessage “hack” work for texting iPhone users who aren’t onboard? I’ve used it many many times to text my kids onboard using iMessage, but never thought to try it with someone back home. 

[LTR]

13 minutes ago, Ryan79 said:

Never tried this before, but would the iMessage “hack” work for texting iPhone users who aren’t onboard? I’ve used it many many times to text my kids onboard using iMessage, but never thought to try it with someone back home. 

What is this "hack"?

[NewfieCruiser]

22 minutes ago, Ryan79 said:

Never tried this before, but would the iMessage “hack” work for texting iPhone users who aren’t onboard? I’ve used it many many times to text my kids onboard using iMessage, but never thought to try it with someone back home. 

It's finicky, sometimes the iMessages go through instantly, sometimes a long while later and sometimes not at all. We've messaged folks back home before. We don't rely on it it nor buy the internet plan, so if the iMessages work while we're onboard we just roll with it, if not we just wait for port day as we have international roaming.

 

9 minutes ago, LTR said:

What is this "hack"?

No real hack to my knowledge, just connect to the ship wifi and sometimes iMessages will go through.

[twangster]

The hack is a side effect that is unreliable.

iMessage uses the same application ports that Apple notifications use.  In some cases certain Royal app actions inadvertently open notification channels to the internet, then iMessage rides on top of that open channel.  Eventually the firewall hole closes and iMessage stops working.  When and for how long is anyone’s guess. 

If you are okay with random periods of working and not working iMessage it can save the cost of a Voom plan.  If you want to be able to send and receive on a reliable basis then pay for Voom.  

By the time I post this or by the time someone reads it they may have fixed the app and the hack won’t work period.  Buying Voom on board will be very costly.  Are you willing to wager it might still work for your cruise?

[warrenz1963]

11 hours ago, twangster said:

The hack is a side effect that is unreliable.

iMessage uses the same application ports that Apple notifications use.  In some cases certain Royal app actions inadvertently open notification channels to the internet, then iMessage rides on top of that open channel.  Eventually the firewall hole closes and iMessage stops working.  When and for how long is anyone’s guess. 

If you are okay with random periods of working and not working iMessage it can save the cost of a Voom plan.  If you want to be able to send and receive on a reliable basis then pay for Voom.  

By the time I post this or by the time someone reads it they may have fixed the app and the hack won’t work period.  Buying Voom on board will be very costly.  Are you willing to wager it might still work for your cruise?

I appreciate the information! 

[Gilley]

Speaking of internet.  I’m Diamond and get 1 free day of internet.  Can I pick my 1 free day to use it or does it have to be on the first day of my cruise.  I’m on Visions next month going to New England/Canada. i won’t need the internet package because my cell phone gives me coverage in all the ports.  I want to save my free day of internet to check in for my Utopia cruise which I believe is on a sea day.  

[Mike.s]

You can use your free day whenever you wnt, from memory it's a 24 hour period rather than a day

[Traveling Mike]

6 hours ago, Gilley said:

Speaking of internet.  I’m Diamond and get 1 free day of internet.  Can I pick my 1 free day to use it or does it have to be on the first day of my cruise.  I’m on Visions next month going to New England/Canada. i won’t need the internet package because my cell phone gives me coverage in all the ports.  I want to save my free day of internet to check in for my Utopia cruise which I believe is on a sea day.  

I purchase the internet package and also add on the free days i get for Diamond status.  You get 24 hours and you can pick any day you would like.  I usually pick a sea day where I can do streaming and phone at the same time.