Truth 0 Report post Posted June 2, 2018 We will be going on the Allure of the Seas. What is the easiest way to communicate with other family members while at sea? Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Guest toodle68 Report post Posted June 2, 2018 The cheapest is to just arrange meeting times. There were 6 of us and 3 cabins on our dec cruise and we just planned ahead. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
JLMoran 4,874 Report post Posted June 2, 2018 If everyone has iOS or Android phones/devices, easiest is to purchase a WiFi plan for as many devices as you need and then communicate over any agreed-on messaging app. On a couple of the ships that use the Royal IQ app (Q class, Harmony), people have found they can use the Messages app on iOS devices without purchasing a WiFi plan, although it’s understood this is most likely a temporary thing and not something that will last forever. If everyone is on iOS and you’re sailing one of these ships, this would be both the easiest AND the cheapest. Other options are thing like putting magnetic white boards on your cabin doors and leaving each other messages, or using Post-Its, or as @toodle68 said just make arrangements in person ahead of time and meet up as needed. Just don’t do walkie-talkies, the metal on the ships makes them really iffy with range and signal strength. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Matt 8,183 Report post Posted June 2, 2018 Check out this post about your options for staying connected with friends and family onboard: https://www.royalcaribbeanblog.com/2016/07/27/how-stay-touch-someone-your-royal-caribbean-cruise Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
ADK 7 Report post Posted June 4, 2018 We just returned from our cruise. We were a group of 10 and found it impossible to stick to a schedule. There are not a lot of clocks onboard, people aren't wearing watches (due to water), kids are running around, you lose all sense of time really, lol. I was the only one who purchased VOOM so couldn't use internet texting with them. Those who thought their cell carrier would have a signal ended up with no signal. A few of us purchased Royal IQ. It's very basic but good enough to ask "where are you?" and get a reply. Biggest problem was no one was checking their phone! 1 WAAAYTOOO reacted to this Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Guest toodle68 Report post Posted June 5, 2018 13 hours ago, ADK said: Biggest problem was no one was checking their phone! I would mark that down as a great vacation then :) During our cruise, the 4 adult children had no access to internet/phones, and by the end of the week all said it was 'enlightening' to have been disconnected and away from their phones and found it a good thing. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
arebee 537 Report post Posted June 5, 2018 13 hours ago, ADK said: Biggest problem was no one was checking their phone! Once we pass the sea buoy, My phone gets locked in the safe until we return. I have no need to be connected 24/7. That is the problem with todays society always want to know if someone likes your post, have to check in or have to text someone. Unless there is an emergency reason for me to be connected, the reason for my vacation is to be un-connected. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
KLA 1,808 Report post Posted June 5, 2018 In our group of 12 where no one bought VOOM but me, we printed out a "directory" of rooms so we could quickly dial each other if needed. Unpopular option: My in-laws also brought walkie talkies with us - which did actually help a bit on sea days. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
twangster 18,693 Report post Posted June 5, 2018 @Truth - welcome to the message boards! I'm not sure when you are sailing Allure so keep in mind that over the next several months Royal Caribbean has hinted at a new "chat with others on your booking" feature in their Royal app for ships like Allure. We don't know when they might roll that out but if they do you can be sure it will be discussed here on this site. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
sandfact 0 Report post Posted June 5, 2018 Years ago I brought two walkie talkies with us and they worked fine. I don't know if they would work now. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
ADK 7 Report post Posted June 6, 2018 I had my 11 and 14 yr old sons with me and my brother had college aged boys with him. I could not imagine not having a way to keep in touch with them. They would all start out with a plan for the day but it would always change as they found new, more interesting things to do or people to run around with. Each day there would be at least a dinner, a show or some other activity that the whole family would do together but the kids had no concept of time. My son said the ship is like the Lotus Casino from Percy Jackson, lol. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Alex S. 2 Report post Posted June 8, 2018 Many ppl use walkie talkies. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
fonemanbob 370 Report post Posted June 8, 2018 Breaker one nine this here is rubber ducky. Over 2 JLMoran and Lovetocruise2002 reacted to this Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Lovetocruise2002 8,182 Report post Posted June 8, 2018 The walkie talkie discussion reminds me of similar threads from before. Some interesting food for thought if you are going to go that route. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
sandfact 0 Report post Posted August 2, 2018 Like I said before I used mine on the cruise but I only used it outside and sometimes I could hear the ships crew talking and I guess they could hear me. I hope someone that got off a cruise with walkie talkies can let us know how it worked. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
