Cell and wifi question

[kp3690]

We will be on the Fantasy in September and would like to avoid roaming charges, extra wifi charges etc. We won't need to check in w/ email or texts more than once during the time we will be gone. My plan was just to have everyone turn their phone to airplane mode to avoid the "accidental" use of wifi by the kids or any updates that could potentially happen in the background.

Now that it seems that we can use the cruise app for texting each other though (yay!), I am worried about having to have wifi on. I plan on still putting the phones on airplane and then enabling wifi so that we can use the app. Does anyone know what other settings we would need to turn off (on iPhones) to avoid extraneous charges?

Thanks!

 

[artnerds]

You can just leave your wifi on to use the app. If you want to use wifi internet, you have to open your browser and log in. Then log out when you're done and continue using wifi just for the app.

 

[artnerds]

The two other things you should turn off are background updates (Settings > General > Background App Refresh) and ALl iCloud photo uploading (Settings > Photos & Camera). When you do log in to wifi internet, these two things will chew up your megabytes like crazy.

 

[bumbershoot]

As far as we could tell, there's no way to connect to the paid wifi by accident. Someone would have to do it on purpose to get to it.

 

[kp3690]

Thank you all very much!

 

[flyersfan1129]

This is very helpful, we are on the Fantasy in September as well. We are very excited to try the app.

 

[over50visits]

As far as we could tell, there's no way to connect to the paid wifi by accident. Someone would have to do it on purpose to get to it.

That's right. You have to take specific steps to obtain access to wifi other than the free Disney app.

 

[tinkerbell1024]

Saving!!

 

[cruisnfamily]

I have an android. If you don't put your phone in airplane mode, won't you get text messages and Facebook alerts and things like that which cost money or use data?

 

[Maggie'sMom]

I have an android. If you don't put your phone in airplane mode, won't you get text messages and Facebook alerts and things like that which cost money or use data?

You should put your phone into airplane mode then switch on the wifi. You don't want to be receiving a cellular signal.

 

[phinz]

Depending on what service you're on and where you're traveling, you might not incur any kind of roaming or extraneous data charges in port, though, if you do want to turn on your cell service. I have regular service in St. Thomas and San Juan. My wife has regular service in San Juan. I've not researched the western ports because I haven't had a need to. There are also places with free wifi in other ports. We use the wifi in St. Maarten at Greenhouse when we stop for mojitos on the way back to the ship.

 

[cruisnfamily]

Depending on what service you're on and where you're traveling, you might not incur any kind of roaming or extraneous data charges in port, though, if you do want to turn on your cell service. I have regular service in St. Thomas and San Juan. My wife has regular service in San Juan. I've not researched the western ports because I haven't had a need to. There are also places with free wifi in other ports. We use the wifi in St. Maarten at Greenhouse when we stop for mojitos on the way back to the ship.

How would one go about "researching the western ports"? Is the info on the internet or do I need to call ATT?

 

[phinz]

How would one go about "researching the western ports"? Is the info on the internet or do I need to call ATT?

I would call AT&T.