When my grandson Logan and I went on a Disney cruise, we often left our cabin headed in different directions.

As a 22 year old, Logan was going to the pools, the clubs and all the young folks’ activities.

I was usually going off with my camera and notebook to interview someone or take photos of all the shipboard fun. In my free time, I went to the shipboard programs and the spa. In fact, I went to the spa every day. Aah, so relaxing!

So how did two people keep in touch on such a big ship?

After all, Logan and I always wanted to meet up for lunch, dinner, shows and at other times.  Sometimes we had to change our agreed-upon meeting time and place because something came up. How to stay in touch?

Our personal cell phones were turned off for the duration of the cruise so communication could have been difficult.

But Disney Cruise Line has a great answer for that – the complimentary use of Wave cellphones on all ships.

The phones can be used to text and call family, friends and follow travelers on the ship without using your cell phone. With the Wave phone, cruiser can call any shipboard phone, stateroom phone or other Wave phone. The phones also work on Disney’s private island Castaway Cay.

When we checked into our cabin for the cruise, two Wave phones were waiting for us. Other phones are available for a fee. The displayed language on the phone can be changed to Spanish, German, French, Italian, Dutch, Polish, Russian, Greek, Norwegian, Finnish and other languages. After all, Americans aren’t the only people who love Disney cruises.

In talking with parents cruising with their small children, I saw another important use for the Wave phones. If a child is taking part in some of the special programs on the ship, crew members can call the parent when the activity is done so parents can pick up their child. Or if a child in one of the programs wants to talk with a parent, that voice is just a free phone call away.

I hope other cruise lines adapt this same policy.

However, folks who have a tendency to lose things might not want to carry these phones. Guests are charged $250 per phone that is lost, damaged or not returned. So be careful out there.

By Jackie Sheckler Finch