Younger Americans seem surprised when they can't get a signal for their smartphone. They're not used to the dead spots, dropped calls and slow internet that many older folks got used to in the earlier days of mobile-phone service.
If you remember having to get off the highway to find a pay phone to make an expensive call, then you are likely more tolerant about a stretch of highway with a sketchy connection. Now, smartphones work pretty much everywhere, perhaps aside from some planes.
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This certainty can, however, lead cruise-ship passengers to make a huge mistake. If they don't turn their phones to airplane mode, they run the risk of running up huge phone bills.
They don't even need to use their phones; the charges will accrue based on the background updates and data pulls that occur while people aren't using their phones.
Carnival Brand Ambassador John Heald asked his Facebook followers a simple question.
"Do you make sure you put your phone straight into airplane mode when you get on the ship?"
More than 2,000 people shared how they handle their phones and when they put them on airplane mode on their cruises.
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Image source: Carnival Cruise Line
Carnival Cruise Line passengers share phone tips
Every passenger seems to have a slightly different routine when it comes to putting their phone into airplane mode.
"I make a few calls to family so they know I made it onboard, then I put the phone on airplane mode. That’s the cue that vacation begins," posted Melissa Hughes.
Many people wait a little longer.
"Not right away, since I'll still have service up on deck until we sail away. Shortly after Sail Away is when I'll turn on airplane mode," posted Jason R. Benedick.
That's the strategy Pamela Rosen Gerthoffer uses.
"No, while still in port, my service works better. Airplane mode a little after Sail Away," she added.
Some have a ritual so they don't forget.
"I do it the first time I want to get on the HUB app. That’s usually as I eat lunch. I’ll then turn it off and on as I want to post something or do whatever on my phone’s internet. It goes back to airplane mode to stay as we pull out," wrote DebraLynn Mims.
Beth Whetstone has her own routine for moving to airplane mode.
"I typically wait 'till after I have explored the ship, gotten settled into my room, and such," she wrote.
"Typically Sail Away time is when I switch it on. I like to send photos and messages to family before we depart, but the ship's WiFi doesn’t always seem to work well before we sail away."
These cruisers are strict about airplane mode
"When I get on the ship I immediately turn my phone off and put it in the safe until we disembark," posted Brenda Skelton.
"I know that is old school, and I know this may not be possible. My plan is to use the Carnival Hub app when I first get on Carnival Spirit to register for Soul Play - then turn it off and put it in the safe. I want the Fun Times to be in my hand and not on the phone. As far as pictures I already have a camera packed."
While Carnival encourages passengers to use their phones for the daily Fun Times and to scan QR codes for menus, it does offer printed versions. Some passengers think that staying plugged in is the opposite of being on vacation.
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"Once we leave. It gets turned off, put in the safe, and not touched until we get back," Becky Cowles Phillips added.
Many passengers see that as old school and a waste of their phone's features.
"No way could I lock my phone in the safe for the whole cruise," wrote Mike Maine. "I bought it for the good camera and I’m going to preserve some of those memories.
"Not many people lug around those Nikon or Ricoh cameras anymore. We usually travel with family and use the Hub to keep in contact. I’ll put it in airplane mode when we leave port."
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Kathy Pauls Rizzo shared some practical advice for parents:
"Yes. I ask my kids and husband numerous times if they have done it too. Before we needed phones to use the app and take pictures, it was turned off and put in the safe."
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