Boston Babe Posted December 14, 2017 Report Share Posted December 14, 2017 HI all, I am extremely stupid trying to comprehend the Voom package. If you get it, can you just get internet, can you get texts and emails? Are the additional charges like uploading pictures and sending them. can you get a regular phone call? (I assume not as Verizon doesn't quite reach Bermuda! LOL). Is it worth it? My cost right now is $14.39 per day. We don't have kids, but we do have 2 Golden's who are our kids and I would like our dog sitter to be able to get in touch with us in case of an emergency. Thank you in advance from this techno dummy!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest toodle68 Posted December 14, 2017 Report Share Posted December 14, 2017 Yes, you can use it for texts, emails, facebook etc.. We always have 1 package because of things like dogs, kids back home etc.. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bazza Posted December 14, 2017 Report Share Posted December 14, 2017 Not having been yet I am relying on the Voom to give me Whatsapp/Messenger/email etc but not my phone calls and SMS texts.... Boston Babe 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
coneyraven Posted December 14, 2017 Report Share Posted December 14, 2017 You can even make phone calls .... IF --- And that's a big IF you're phone can do Wi-Fi Calling ...... When we were on Grandeur in September, my wife was able make phone calls all the time ... The key is making sure your phone is in Airplane Mode and being hooked up to the Wi-Fi (Voom) love2cruiseonwheels and Hoski 1 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JLMoran Posted December 14, 2017 Report Share Posted December 14, 2017 The Voom package allows full internet usage -- email, Snapchat, Facebook, Netflix, YouTube, etc. You can download and also upload without extra charge (although upload speed will be a lot slower than download), so you can live blog from the ship and send images and such, post to Facebook or Instagram, or connect to your office over their VPN. You can send messages through apps like Messages (iPhone only), Snapchat, Facebook Messenger, etc. -- all of these use internet data for sending and receiving. To my knowledge, you can not get SMS or MMS messages with VOOM, those only work over cellular networks. For phone calls, you actually can get those as well, but only if your phone is a smartphone on a network provider that allows WiFi calling. Easiest way to determine that is to go your phone's Settings app and (at least on an iPhone, not sure about Android) tap "Cellular". From there, you should have an option labeled "WiFi Calling" in the section for your carrier, assuming your carrier allows it. If you tap on that, you can set up WiFi calling so that you'll get cellular calls over the internet. Do note you need to do that setup step at home before you board the ship. I believe the reasoning is to make sure the phone is the same approximate geographic area the carrier has on record for your billing address, and also possibly for things like 911 calling so they know where to route that call. monorailmedic and whitsmom 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
monorailmedic Posted December 14, 2017 Report Share Posted December 14, 2017 @JLMoran Summed things up nicely. It's, generally speaking, a regular internet connection. If your phone supports WiFi calling that should work - but it's just one of the many ways of keeping in touch. The below articles should provide some additional guidance. Reach out with any questions! https://www.royalcaribbeanblog.com/2016/07/27/how-stay-touch-someone-your-royal-caribbean-cruisehttp://cruisehabit.com/wifi love2cruiseonwheels and 4ensic 1 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Boston Babe Posted December 14, 2017 Author Report Share Posted December 14, 2017 8 minutes ago, coneyraven said: You can even make phone calls .... IF --- And that's a big IF you're phone can do Wi-Fi Calling ...... When we were on Grandeur in September, my wife was able make phone calls all the time ... The key is making sure your phone is in Airplane Mode and being hooked up to the Wi-Fi (Voom) Wow, @coneyraven that would be great. Mind you, I want to "disconnect" from everything, but still need to keep in touch. On Grandeur in May. Is the $14 a good price per day? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
coneyraven Posted December 14, 2017 Report Share Posted December 14, 2017 Just now, Boston Babe said: Wow, @coneyraven that would be great. Mind you, I want to "disconnect" from everything, but still need to keep in touch. On Grandeur in May. Is the $14 a good price per day? Keep an eye on the sales ..... it's possible you can get it at a lower rate ..... when we were on in September, we purchased internet and the beverage package as a bundle at an even lower rate ...... Keep an eye on your Cruise Planner Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Boston Babe Posted December 14, 2017 Author Report Share Posted December 14, 2017 1 minute ago, coneyraven said: Keep an eye on the sales .. Will do!! Thanks so much! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Boston Babe Posted December 14, 2017 Author Report Share Posted December 14, 2017 6 minutes ago, monorailmedic said: Summed things up nicely. Thanks so much, it does!! I need to send this to a friend too, she was asking! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
twangster Posted December 14, 2017 Report Share Posted December 14, 2017 Unless you need to stream movies the basic Voom Surf plan is cheaper. It also allows wifi phone calls. The speed is restricted so things like nanny cams and web pages take longer to load but for basic texting it's great. Surf is typically available only on board starting at $12.99 per day if purchased for the whole cruise. Depending on C&A status there are additional discounts off the on board plans. Surf and Stream is priced at $17.99 on board if purchased for the whole cruise. Voom experience varies somewhat by ship. The newest ship such as Oasis and all since use different satellites. A few older ships have been upgraded to that system like Freedom and Independence. Other ships use an older technology that is still better than other cruise lines but not as good as the newer ships. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Boston Babe Posted December 14, 2017 Author Report Share Posted December 14, 2017 13 minutes ago, JLMoran said: your phone's Settings app and ( Thanks Joe! I just checked and I do have it!! Yeah!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Boston Babe Posted December 14, 2017 Author Report Share Posted December 14, 2017 1 hour ago, twangster said: Surf and Stream is priced at $17.99 on board Thanks so much Twangster. The offer in my cruise planner is Surf and Stream together and it's $14.39 per day. The cruise is only 5 nights so I think it's a no brainer. Of course I'm on an older ship, the Grandeur but as long as someone can get in touch with me is all I care about. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
twangster Posted December 14, 2017 Report Share Posted December 14, 2017 I've sailed Grandeur in August. Voom S&S was pretty good but not as good as the new ships. Wifi calls were okay some times and a no go at other times. Texting and email worked fine. I couldn't stream movies but others had said they could. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ray Posted December 14, 2017 Report Share Posted December 14, 2017 2 hours ago, Boston Babe said: Wow, @coneyraven that would be great. Mind you, I want to "disconnect" from everything, but still need to keep in touch. On Grandeur in May. Is the $14 a good price per day? you don't need to put on airplane mode, just switch off "data roaming" this means that all email, text messages etc are blocked but phone will still ring in case of emergency back home Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
monorailmedic Posted December 14, 2017 Report Share Posted December 14, 2017 29 minutes ago, Ray said: you don't need to put on airplane mode, just switch off "data roaming" this means that all email, text messages etc are blocked but phone will still ring in case of emergency back home Texts will still come through - but in most cases they're not terrifically expensive to receive (depends on the carrier obviously). Random fact - texts/SMS messages actually ride on the packets of info that your phone and the tower use to check in on each other. That is to say, the idea that carriers ever got away charging for texts is nuts, as it requires no overhead on their part. The text info is smaller than the packets going back and forth - much like sticking a coin in an envelope - the stamp doesn't get more expensive as whatever you can fit in travels. Nerd-rambling complete. :-) Kelaine and 4ensic 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Boston Babe Posted December 14, 2017 Author Report Share Posted December 14, 2017 17 minutes ago, monorailmedic said: Nerd-rambling complete. :- I love nerve rambling!! LOL Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Boston Babe Posted December 14, 2017 Author Report Share Posted December 14, 2017 49 minutes ago, Ray said: you don't need to put on airplane mode Thanks so much Ray! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Floski Posted December 14, 2017 Report Share Posted December 14, 2017 Okay, I just purchased S&S for our 1/21 sailing. Y'all better keep this thread alive so I can re-read it. I'm kindasorta smart on this stuff, but totally stupid on others. So now I'll be able to Periscope, right? Boston Babe 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JLMoran Posted December 14, 2017 Report Share Posted December 14, 2017 3 minutes ago, Floski said: So now I'll be able to Periscope, right? On Oasis? Definitely! That ship and all of her sisters, plus the Quantum ships, have some of the best internet at-sea that I've heard of. Floski 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CCC Posted April 10, 2019 Report Share Posted April 10, 2019 On 12/14/2017 at 11:48 AM, JLMoran said: The Voom package allows full internet usage -- email, Snapchat, Facebook, Netflix, YouTube, etc. You can download and also upload without extra charge (although upload speed will be a lot slower than download), so you can live blog from the ship and send images and such, post to Facebook or Instagram, or connect to your office over their VPN. You can send messages through apps like Messages (iPhone only), Snapchat, Facebook Messenger, etc. -- all of these use internet data for sending and receiving. To my knowledge, you can not get SMS or MMS messages with VOOM, those only work over cellular networks. For phone calls, you actually can get those as well, but only if your phone is a smartphone on a network provider that allows WiFi calling. Easiest way to determine that is to go your phone's Settings app and (at least on an iPhone, not sure about Android) tap "Cellular". From there, you should have an option labeled "WiFi Calling" in the section for your carrier, assuming your carrier allows it. If you tap on that, you can set up WiFi calling so that you'll get cellular calls over the internet. Do note you need to do that setup step at home before you board the ship. I believe the reasoning is to make sure the phone is the same approximate geographic area the carrier has on record for your billing address, and also possibly for things like 911 calling so they know where to route that call. Can you still use snapchat, facebook and instagram, using the VOOM Surf, rather then VOOM Surf + Stream? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
twangster Posted April 10, 2019 Report Share Posted April 10, 2019 Yes, but trying to broadcast live on any of those platforms won't work as well on Surf. I can make wifi phone calls on Surf. Pandora doesn't work very well, that really needs Surf and Stream to function. Unlike Carnival that limits apps that work on their "Social" plan, Royal doesn't, it's just slower so some apps that need bandwidth don't work as well. Surf is much slower, think back to dial up days. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Matt Posted April 10, 2019 Report Share Posted April 10, 2019 13 hours ago, CCC said: Can you still use snapchat, facebook and instagram, using the VOOM Surf, rather then VOOM Surf + Stream? Piggybacking on what @twangster wrote, the Surf & Stream option is an overall better experience. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
deep1 Posted April 11, 2019 Report Share Posted April 11, 2019 I work in the Bahamas and was for the longest time getting hammered on text and calls. My daughter looked at me one day "Duh Dad! Get WhatsApp." Problem solved. Now I use it any place I have wifi. We used it onboard to communicate with each other. I use it at work. Have even used in South Africa... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
waldo2772 Posted July 21, 2019 Report Share Posted July 21, 2019 Can anyone tell me whether you need the Voom STREAM to use Whatsapp? Or can you use it with just the Voom Surf activation? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Koki Posted July 21, 2019 Report Share Posted July 21, 2019 15 minutes ago, waldo2772 said: Can anyone tell me whether you need the Voom STREAM to use Whatsapp? Or can you use it with just the Voom Surf activation? I believe you can use Whatsapp regardless. We had Voom STREAM and Whatsapp worked fine, I think Voom Surf is pretty much the same thing just less bandwidth. So any bandwidth hungry features/apps may just be problematic. HTH Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
waldo2772 Posted July 21, 2019 Report Share Posted July 21, 2019 15 minutes ago, Koki said: I believe you can use Whatsapp regardless. We had Voom STREAM and Whatsapp worked fine, I think Voom Surf is pretty much the same thing just less bandwidth. So any bandwidth hungry features/apps may just be problematic. HTH Thanks so much! Still trying to decide whether it's worth the extra $ for stream. We really just need to access internet, read/write emails and work on discussion posts for a class homework Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
twangster Posted July 21, 2019 Report Share Posted July 21, 2019 46 minutes ago, waldo2772 said: Can anyone tell me whether you need the Voom STREAM to use Whatsapp? Or can you use it with just the Voom Surf activation? WhatsApp works over Voom. Basic chat and calling works over basic Surf. Surf & Stream is faster for sending pictures/videos or any other bandwidth intensive function. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hoski Posted July 21, 2019 Report Share Posted July 21, 2019 Keep in mind if you have Verizon their international package is $10 a day that you can use in Bermuda and will only be charged for the days you use it. Our family doesn't always cruise together so we use this in port to call home. You just need to take your phone out of airplane mode when you hit land to enable it. Canada and Mexico are free. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jdown077 Posted July 23, 2019 Report Share Posted July 23, 2019 On 12/14/2017 at 11:57 AM, Boston Babe said: Is the $14 a good price per day? Right now for my Symphony Sailing in Dec. it's ~$11/day for VOOM and ~$14/day for VOOM+SURF. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Skid Posted July 23, 2019 Report Share Posted July 23, 2019 9 minutes ago, jdown077 said: Right now for my Symphony Sailing in Dec. it's ~$11/day for VOOM and ~$14/day for VOOM+SURF. As usual, they have no consistency whatsoever. Usually they charge more for everything Symphony. But now I think they may be going by the number of days and really sticking it to us. My 4 night on Navigator is $14 and $12 but my 12 night on Adventure is $16 and $13. It will be interesting to see what they come out with for the Key on Adventure when the time comes. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
love2cruiseonwheels Posted August 13, 2019 Report Share Posted August 13, 2019 On 12/14/2017 at 11:54 AM, monorailmedic said: @JLMoran Summed things up nicely. It's, generally speaking, a regular internet connection. If your phone supports WiFi calling that should work - but it's just one of the many ways of keeping in touch. The below articles should provide some additional guidance. Reach out with any questions! https://www.royalcaribbeanblog.com/2016/07/27/how-stay-touch-someone-your-royal-caribbean-cruisehttp://cruisehabit.com/wifi I dont know any phone today that can not use Airplane mode or in this case "cruise mode" Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mesh Posted June 30, 2023 Report Share Posted June 30, 2023 Can I use 2 devices at the same time with Voom on the cruise? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mesh Posted June 30, 2023 Report Share Posted June 30, 2023 On 7/21/2019 at 5:33 PM, Hoski said: Keep in mind if you have Verizon their international package is $10 a day that you can use in Bermuda and will only be charged for the days you use it. Our family doesn't always cruise together so we use this in port to call home. You just need to take your phone out of airplane mode when you hit land to enable it. Canada and Mexico are free. Hi do you know if I can use 2 devices at the same time with Voom on the cruise? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AshleyDillo Posted June 30, 2023 Report Share Posted June 30, 2023 1 hour ago, Mesh said: Can I use 2 devices at the same time with Voom on the cruise? You can if you purchase a 2 device package. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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