Going on a cruise, I have a few question

By Siobhan, 29 January, 2017

Forum
iOS and iPadOS

Hi all. In a few short days, I'll be leaving on my first ever cruise to the bahamas. I have a few questions. I'll write them on different lines in case anyone wants to paste answers below them.

1. wifi availability is crazy expensive for my iPhone, so my plan is to just put the phone in "airplane mode," will that stop all roaming and everything? I think so, I just want to be sure since I didn't buy a cruise package from my cellular provider. Not worht it for a three night cruise.

2. If I take photos alone, does the Identifi app use a data connection to process the image? I think it does, owing to the fact it can take a bit of time to be recognized. I think that's it, so if anyone could get back to me soon, that would be great. I'm leaving Thursday morning around noon, I won't be checking this site via my phone. If you have any other related tips, feel free to contact me via the form to let me know. Thanks.

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Comments

By JeffB on Thursday, January 26, 2017 - 13:13

Yes turning on airplane mode will stop the use of any cell data. It is possible to turn on wifi with airplane mode on too. You can also just go into settings cellular and turn it off. If Cellular data is off you can still use wifi and not werry about roming. As for the Identify app try going into airplane mode and see if it works. If it doesn't then it does connect to a server.

By Dawn 👩🏻‍🦯 on Thursday, January 26, 2017 - 13:13

Hello.

Ive got an answer and a quick tip. But fihst, congrats & I hope you have fun on your cruise!!

You can go into your settings and turn off data roaming. I'd still buy a package from your provider & then if you get lost then you can turn on data roaming & then when you're done switch it off!

Also, there are other options for wi-fi. One works if you're got Sprint as your carrier or you could sign up with them for this one but I'd check with them on it first. It's called Karma Go. It's a pay as you go plan.

You can also rent little cards that are about the size of a credit card called Mi-Fi Cards. They last for a while on battery & then you can recharge them, but you can take them with you & use it as a acceii point!

Here's something I'd Google. There's a Wiki that's full of info for things like this. It's called Pre-Paid With Data. Just type that into Google & look for the Bahamas $ see what your options are.

I really do hope this helps you, & once again, I hope you have fun on your cruise, and I wish you safe travels!

By techluver on Thursday, January 26, 2017 - 13:13

KNFB reader works really well on those cruise brochures they put on your bed just sayin

By Siobhan on Thursday, January 26, 2017 - 13:13

The disapointing thing is that when I take photos with airplane on, they won't be geotagged. I think it's a penny a kb, and I don't want to spend anything as my relative also shares the bill. I'm a lot of things, but spending someone else's money isn't one of them. Dawn, thanks for your wishes. tech lover, i have orbs that work going with me, so no need to worry about that. i'm just one of those who enjoys posting to fb and checking in, at places. I might see how wifi expenses are, as I don't believe everything I read on the net. I'm not signing up with anything, thanks for the idea, because I leave Thursday, set sail Friday back home tuesday morning if I can get a room. see this is a Superbowl cruise. Our friends are already planning our second cruise, I haven't been on this one yet! ;) As for the wifi card, I might see how expensive ti is. Plus, amazon's my bitch, in other words I'll probably find them. i'll look at the prepaid without data thing, thanks again. If anyone has any other helpful suggestions let me know.

By Dirk on Thursday, January 26, 2017 - 13:13

When traveling and especially being on a cruise ship I turned off data roaming and cellular data at all.
That means you still have a GSM connection but no data can be transferred.
With this setting my photos have always been geo tagged with the GPS coordinates. After you return home and have usual access to the internet the corresponding location names will be added to your photos automatically.
You just have to be careful about the crazy satellite roaming charges of phone calls. So, turn off your mailbox and don't answer any calls.
In addition I can tell you that I have used GPS navigation apps with the iPhone being in airplane mode. That means GPS reception works in airplane mode. So, I would expect the geo tagging of photos should work as well - as long as you have a GPS signal.

Have fun on the cruise.

By Abs504 on Thursday, January 26, 2017 - 13:13

Congrats on the cruise! I would have to agree that your best bet would be to purchase a package from your provider, but I understand not wanting the expense. You can turn on airplane mode and that should make sure nothing is working, but you may want to go in and manually turn off the ability to use cellular data for things (such as email, social media, and anything else that may update using cellular data), just to be safe. If you do connect to wi-fi keep in mind that it is a public network and you need to take measures to keep yourself and your phone safe! Have fun!

By Siobhan on Thursday, January 26, 2017 - 13:13

Hi. I know that I need to be safe, I won't be doing things like online banking or anything. Thanks for the tip about the geotagging, i'll turn off cell data and roaming. I won't be checking FB, or twitter, or mail, so no need to do anything. I just want to be on, post, off. I won't read comments or anything. Thanks again. I never did find that wifi card thing. If anyone has a link, give. ;)

By david s on Thursday, January 26, 2017 - 13:13

Hello,

From past experience. If you’re 70 or so miles from shore, there might not be any cellular signal to connect to. So even if you got an international cellular plan or cellular wifi hotspot, it will not work. If you’re about 20 miles from shore at a tourist location, chances are cellular signal will be strong. I also recall the captain reminding folks to turn off cellular on their devices to prevent unwanted charges.

Anyway, you’re on vacation. Turn your device off and put it in the safe. You don’t need to take pictures. Have a pina colada on the sun deck.

Bon Voyage!!

By Siobhan on Sunday, February 26, 2017 - 13:13

I love taking pix of everything i can. Waves, maybe the sunset, sunrise, or the moon, me wearing especially bought clothes. Anyway I have turned off cell data roming, and when on board airplane will be enabled. A bit much, yeah but I don't care. ;) This should be the first of many cruises. And afterward will come home, buy an apple watch to get the excess pounds off me. ;)