You’ve booked your once-in-a-lifetime cruise and are almost ready to begin your global journey. You'll see dozens of exotic destinations, experience new cultures and cuisines, and explore the world in unmatched luxury—and you'll certainly want to keep your friends, family and followers updated about your exciting adventures.
But how do you stay connected with the world while you're actually out exploring it? Follow our recommendations, then sit back and enjoy your cruise knowing you'll stay connected whether you're out in the middle of the ocean or docked at an out-of-the-way port.
Here's how to remain in touch with loved ones while traveling without all the long waits, latest technology, or loads of ridiculous fees.
Tell the most important people in your life when and where you'll be traveling—family members, doctors, neighbors, friends—and ensure they have your itinerary, a copy of crucial documents and all your contact info. Plan when you "check-in" with home in advance as some ports have better internet access and stronger connectivity than others. Share this communication plan with your loved ones at home so they know when to expect a call and which days they won't hear from you.
Make sure to let your bank, credit card company and mobile phone carrier know you'll be gone for weeks and see what options they may have for extended travel. There are many international plans and prepaid phone packages designed for traveling to different countries that won't charge you for every text, email or Facebook "like."
Most people nowadays travel with their laptop, tablet and smartphone making it possible to connect from any device whether using the ship's internet (which can be slow and spotty) or visiting a local internet cafe in port (which can be easy but expensive.) The best bet for smartphone users is finding Wi-Fi hotspots ashore where you can Facetime for free or download all your emails at no charge.
If you're looking to truly minimize mobile fees, here are a few cost-saving tips to remember:
For those new to cruising, one of the most discussed (and disappointing) aspects of modern-day cruise ships is the internet access, or lack thereof. Everyone expects it to be as quick and reliable as it is in their homes, and disappointment mounts as speeds slow to a crawl and connectivity becomes impossible. While some locations and cruise lines offer stronger connections than others, managing your expectations and making the most of the ship's services, is the best way to avoid frustration.
When deciding to buy the cruise's internet package, consider that some cruise lines charge by the minute, while others offer daily or voyage-long packages. Our experts know which plan is best and even how to get free internet, so let us help determine which plan is right for you.
While cruises offer the perfect escape from the real world—one that we highly recommend disconnecting from while cruising—if using the internet is a priority when planning your vacation, here are some insider tips and tricks for surfing the web at-sea:
Whether you need a dedicated connection or if you’re determined to spend some time off the grid during your journey, having the ability to get online or get your messages--even at a moment's notice--is important to most vacationers. Here are some additional solutions to help you stay connected on your cruise.
Signing up and getting a Google Voice phone number in the U.S. is free and is perfect for those that don’t want to pay for all those “unimportant” phone calls. Google Voice sends all your messages–cell, home, work and more–straight to a voice mailbox. A few minutes after receiving a call you’ll get an email with the voicemail transcribed along with a link to listen to the message if necessary. It's not perfect, but it's a smart way to control your phone costs and eliminate unwanted or unnecessary phone calls while traveling abroad.
Many cruise lines have their own on-ship communication apps, but here are others we recommend for staying connected while cruising:
While most travel blogs are written by professional writers looking to get noticed or get paid, the concept of a personal travel blog is perfect for private use as a way to keep your inner circle up to date on your journey.
Updating personal travel blogs are a popular way to stay connected while cruising.
Use a simple template from Wordpress.com, a simple to use, free blog with free hosting and tons of design ideas and themes included. Simply update the blog as often as you'd like with any content you want–photos, videos, recommendations, comments and articles–and every time your followers visit the page, they'll be updated on your ongoing adventures.
If you can afford it, it's easier than you think. Outsource your check-ins to a virtual assistant who can screen your emails, respond on your behalf, make calls on certain days, and can quickly inform your family that all is okay while keeping tabs of every task you ask them to (i.e. work is good, pets are fine, plants are watered, etc.)
Ideal for those who need to stay in contact with happenings back home but don't want to be attached to their phone or worry about constantly informing family and friends about your safety, whereabouts, or day-to-day happenings.
Some mobile phones allow you to buy a prepaid "disposable" SIM card - a small plastic card containing your account information that gives some U.S. phones access to a carrier’s network overseas - that installs directly in your phone. You may not have the same U.S. phone number, but you'll typically still have access to most of your phone's capabilities, including photos, games, and most apps. And when you return to America, simply swap SIM cards to return the phone to normal. Prepaid international SIM cards can be cheap, starting at about $5.
Perhaps think about a pre-paid calling card or even buying a disposable mobile phone. You can purchase a "temporary phone" online for as low as $20 in advance or on arrival, or possibly even find one for sale at an airport kiosk. These disposable cell phones operate on local wireless service providers' networks, but be aware of connection costs and service fees, which can vary wildly, from free to $5 per minute of talk time if you're calling from the cruise ship or rural destination.
Regardless of whether you want to stay connected or go completely off-the-grid, these technology tips are guaranteed to make it easier for you to stay in touch when you need to. But if you’d prefer not incurring any expenses or truly want to unplug and unwind on your vacation, consider using our best tip of all: the off button.
For more information about staying connected on your cruise or to find your perfect vacation, speak to a CruiseInsider expert at (877) 734-6858.