Using iPhone while running on cruise

[sweetpee_1993]

Hubby is taking me on a 3-day Dream cruise at the end of September for our anniversary. He's recently started a running app & will still be working his schedule when we sail. I know from this past May that I can't just put my iPhone on Airport mode & have the app function along with my Bluetooth earbuds. Is there some other setting I can change so we can utilize our Bluetooth earbuds without the phones being able to connect and incurr bazillions of dollars in charges?

TIA!

 

[LindsayLoves]

If his running app uses GPS to track his speed, distance, etc you will get those crazy charges as you can't be in airplane mode to have it function properly. Most apps will allow you to manually add in runs without using the GPS, for example you are on a treadmill where the GPS can't really track you.

You should have no issue using Bluetooth headphones while the phone is in airplane mode. Using the iPhone as a music player is a bit different than using it to track runs unfortunately

 

[lukacseven]

My understanding was that if the app uses internet, then you will get charged. If it is just running the app and using a GPS signal, then it should work. I was recently out of the country and was told to turn off notificatons, 3G or 4G cellualr data and roaming - Leave airplane mode on and was able to use apps w/ GPS provided no internet connection was needed. Don't know if cruise ships have wifi.

 

[dreamfinder]

Two things you can do. Go into Settings->General->Network, and slide Cellular Data to off. Also make sure that the data roaming is set to off. Just having that set to off should prompt you to enable data when you leave the US, but turning cellular data off completely will leave no doubt. You may also need to to turn of WiFi unless that is free on board. Turning it off if you aren't using it will definitely help your battery life as well.

Depending on where the cruise is, GPS may not work. Does consumer GPS work in the ocean? Or just marine GPS? (Not sure if there is a difference) The GPS itself will function independently of having a data connection. However, depending on the app, it may be trying to grab maps, upload/download data with your account on their server, etc. If it does, then it may not function without the data charges. Your best bet will be to try turning off cellular data and WiFi at home beforehand and see if it works.

 

[flynnibus]

Simple... go in and turn airplane mode on
Then go into General -> Bluetooth and turn bluetooth on

When you turn airplane mode on, you can override individual radios by turning them on after turning airplane mode on

 

[sweetpee_1993]

Thanks, y'all. My biggest problem was that my bluetooth earbuds didn't work when I was in airplane mode. I'm not sure if that's part of what airplane mode does or not. If the GPS doesn't work I'm not all that bothered. It'll just show me on the map going in a circle a bunch of times anyway. Although, it will be cool if our run shows up on Castaway Cay. I don't pay enough attention to the run times for it to be a deal-breaker if I don't get my averages. Thanks for the help!

 

[sweetpee_1993]

Simple... go in and turn airplane mode on
Then go into General -> Bluetooth and turn bluetooth on

When you turn airplane mode on, you can override individual radios by turning them on after turning airplane mode on

I never turn bluetooth off mostly because when I get in my car I like for my phone to pick up on the phone functions in there. Is bluetooth something that airplane mode encompasses?

 

[wiigirl]

I never turn bluetooth off mostly because when I get in my car I like for my phone to pick up on the phone functions in there. Is bluetooth something that airplane mode encompasses?

Airplane mode usually turns off all wireless/radio functions including bluetooth.

 

[sweetpee_1993]

Airplane mode usually turns off all wireless/radio functions including bluetooth.

Gotcha. I'll play with my settings to see if I can enable Bluetooth after turning off all other wireless functions.

Thanks to everyone!

 

[flynnibus]

I never turn bluetooth off mostly because when I get in my car I like for my phone to pick up on the phone functions in there. Is bluetooth something that airplane mode encompasses?

Airplane mode turns all radios off - but does not FORCE them to stay off. it simply sets them all to off, after which you can go back and turn on individuals if you care to. This gives you a safe way of turning everything off but...

So turn airplane mode on, and then go in and enable bluetooth. Cellular and WiFi will be off, but bluetooth will be on.

For safety, I would just turn celluar data off in settings during the cruise.

 

[sweetpee_1993]

Airplane mode turns all radios off - but does not FORCE them to stay off. it simply sets them all to off, after which you can go back and turn on individuals if you care to. This gives you a safe way of turning everything off but...

So turn airplane mode on, and then go in and enable bluetooth. Cellular and WiFi will be off, but bluetooth will be on.

For safety, I would just turn celluar data off in settings during the cruise.

Absolutely. If I got home and hand a huge phone bill I'd be seriously miffed. Thanks so much for the info. That's exactly what I needed.