Avoid cell roaming and use new internet package?

[MarriedAtDisney]

New internet packages are apparently available on most of the ships. We’re on the fantasy this Saturday. Normally I’m fairly fanatical about turning roaming off as well as putting our iPhones into airplane mode. With the new packages, how do we connect? I’m assuming thru Wi-Fi and a login. Can anyone confirm it works with Wi-Fi only?

 

[SweetSpot]

New internet packages are apparently available on most of the ships. We’re on the fantasy this Saturday. Normally I’m fairly fanatical about turning roaming off as well as putting our iPhones into airplane mode. With the new packages, how do we connect? I’m assuming thru Wi-Fi and a login. Can anyone confirm it works with Wi-Fi only?

You will access DCL internet when you are on airplane mode so no worries about roaming charges.

 

[Donna3271]

Hi We are on the Fantasy this Saturday as well. I contacted Verizon for my cell phones. They are charging us ten dollars a day for unlimited talk and text... Just an option as for you as well... but usually we keep our phones on airline mode like SweetSpot says... no worries about being charged then. Don't forget to sign up the first day for the free 50 mg! See you on the ship!

 

[RebelScum]

Hi We are on the Fantasy this Saturday as well. I contacted Verizon for my cell phones. They are charging us ten dollars a day for unlimited talk and text... Just an option as for you as well... but usually we keep our phones on airline mode like SweetSpot says... no worries about being charged then. Don't forget to sign up the first day for the free 50 mg! See you on the ship!

How does the $10 per day work from verizon? Do they charge you $10/day from the day you enable that feature? or is it just the days you actually make calls or send texts?

 

[dina444444]

How does the $10 per day work from verizon? Do they charge you $10/day from the day you enable that feature? or is it just the days you actually make calls or send texts?

It’s usually just the days you use it.

 

[dina444444]

Hi We are on the Fantasy this Saturday as well. I contacted Verizon for my cell phones. They are charging us ten dollars a day for unlimited talk and text... Just an option as for you as well... but usually we keep our phones on airline mode like SweetSpot says... no worries about being charged then. Don't forget to sign up the first day for the free 50 mg! See you on the ship!

This will likely only work in port. I believe the cell network on the ship is not one of the covered networks.

 

[sethschroeder]

This will likely only work in port. I believe the cell network on the ship is not one of the covered networks.

Exactly only in port not on the ships. On the ship the Verizon charges will be crazy high and not covered by the $10/24hr.

 

[MarriedAtDisney]

DCL apparently has new internet packages. We intend to buy one login and share it across devices. And we hope iMessage still works for free.

Cell phone makers need a ‘cruise mode’ that disables everything but Wi-Fi and warns/requires acceptance of absurd roaming pricing. Like airplane mode but tuned for cruises and environments where cell service IS available.

 

[DCLCruiseFan09]

DCL apparently has new internet packages. We intend to buy one login and share it across devices. And we hope iMessage still works for free.

Cell phone makers need a ‘cruise mode’ that disables everything but Wi-Fi and warns/requires acceptance of absurd roaming pricing. Like airplane mode but tuned for cruises and environments where cell service IS available.

Not all of the Ships have the new internet packages yet. I THINK its just the Magic and Wish at the moment that have the updated packages but this could be incorrect.

iMessage was spotty on the Dream in the beginning of June. Some days it would work, others it wouldn't.

 

[dina444444]

Not all of the Ships have the new internet packages yet. I THINK its just the Magic and Wish at the moment that have the updated packages but this could be incorrect.

iMessage was spotty on the Dream in the beginning of June. Some days it would work, others it wouldn't.

It's also on the Fantasy, it went live this past weekend. Just the Dream and Wonder need the upgrade now.

 

[RebelScum]

Anyone off the recent Fantasy cruise, post internet upgrade, that did not buy an internet package. . . . How did iMessage work? Were people in your party able to communicate on ship using iMessage, without charges?

 

[SweetSpot]

Anyone off the recent Fantasy cruise, post internet upgrade, that did not buy an internet package. . . . How did iMessage work? Were people in your party able to communicate on ship using iMessage, without charges?

You can iMessage on all the ships, totally free, and it works while you are in airplane mode which allows you to use the Disney app. iMessage people on the ship and people at home as well.

 

[RebelScum]

You can iMessage on all the ships, totally free, and it works while you are in airplane mode which allows you to use the Disney app. iMessage people on the ship and people at home as well.

Great news! Thx. Its our first cruise with teenagers and would like to be able to set them free, but still be able to communicate with them.

 

[Girl of the South]

FWIW I have read that iMessage is not always available.

Also, if you have an iPhone, one of the Disney tech guys showed me that if I not only use Airplane mode but ALSO use "Low Battery" mode it will stop all the downloads that occur in the background.

 

[insureman]

It’s usually just the days you use it.

This is correct. We have it enabled and you are only charged if you use your phone that day.
Here's the Verizon video link to explain it.

https://ss7.vzw.com/is/content/Veri...-not-enrolled-mexico-canada-video-nov2021.mp4

 

[insureman]

You can iMessage on all the ships, totally free, and it works while you are in airplane mode which allows you to use the Disney app. iMessage people on the ship and people at home as well.

Is this still true since most DCL ships have a new internet provider?

 

[SweetSpot]

Is this still true since most DCL ships have a new internet provider?

iMessage has been available on all the ships since precovid. I was so surprised when it became available and was free. Also, remember most cell phone providers have inexpensive Bahama, etc. plans for the days you are at the islands. If you don't need to have constant service and just one or two days (only when docked) you might be able to get away with just using those plans.

 

[insureman]

iMessage has been available on all the ships since precovid. I was so surprised when it became available and was free. Also, remember most cell phone providers have inexpensive Bahama, etc. plans for the days you are at the islands. If you don't need to have constant service and just one or two days (only when docked) you might be able to get away with just using those plans.

I understand that but with new service is imessaging free without buying a shipboard data plan?

 

[Girl of the South]

As I understand it, iMessage works by accident and is not a given. Many reports of it working for the first day or two and then NOT working. And I am just referring to it being a free option. Here is another recent thread that discusses it:

https://www.disboards.com/threads/new-internet.3890820/

I, personally, would not count on it being 100% reliable and have a Plan B if being in touch with people was important. And when it did work, it was for texts only. No photos or videos. Just words.

From another thread in January:

I can relate to above, I was just on the Fantasy. iMessage worked for people in our group for a while then quit working. When checking with guest services, i got the same response that if it had worked or working it is an error on their part and its not supported. What is also really annoying is that it was working for me for a while and I was in a middle of texting and it quit working.. When checking settings somehow my imessage setting got turned off. I know it was on before as I had checked this. This was consistent with others in my group. When it "quit" working the 'imessage" setting had been turned off.. Does Disney have malware to do that through the DCL-guest wi-fi? And then the only way to turn imessage back on and connect is with Full Wi-fi.






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[MarriedAtDisney]

Just back from the cruise on the fantasy. I purchased the highest speed option for the length of the cruise. It’s a massive game changing improvement over the prior system. It was $36/day or $30/day if bought for the length of cruise. Very easy to share across devices and family members. We had some personal and business reasons to stay connected while on the cruise and this worked well.