Cell phone on the cruise?

[DMLAINI]

We're going on our first Disney Cruise? What do you need to do to your cell phone to be able to use it to text on the Disney Cruise App but not incur additional charges. We're not purchasing wifi.

 

[Trera]

put it into airplane mode once the ship starts to sail away (or before). You can sign up and get 50mb of free wifi if you do it on the first day.

 

[DynamicDisneyDuo]

Install DCL app before cruise.

As mentioned above, put the phone in Airplane Mode.

Make sure auto update is turned off for ALL apps.

Turn on Wi-Fi and connect to the DCL Wi-Fi network.

Open DCL app and use for messaging. If you have iOS devices, it has been reported on most if not all of the ships that iMessage works free as well now.

 

[DMLAINI]

Install DCL app before cruise.

As mentioned above, put the phone in Airplane Mode.

Make sure auto update is turned off for ALL apps.

Turn on Wi-Fi and connect to the DCL Wi-Fi network.

Open DCL app and use for messaging. If you have iOS devices, it has been reported on most if not all of the ships that iMessage works free as well now.

How do you turn off auto updates for all apps? Sorry, I'm not good with this type of thing.

 

[Cruising Engineer]

Here is a couple of sites that have a checklist of what to do. A little different between Apple and Android.

https://www.disboards.com/threads/wifi-s.3745073/page-2#post-60577590https://disneycruiselineblog.com/20...-cruise-lines-connectsea-internet-data-plans/

 

[lilsonicfan]

If you leave your phone in airplane mode and don't purchase any internet and don't care about the free 50mb internet, you really don't have to turn off auto-update for your apps. That is really only necessary when you have internet to use so that your internet isn't drained by background apps refreshing and such. If you are only going to use the DCL app, just putting the phone in airplane mode, then connecting to the DCL wifi on board, will work for the DCL app.

 

[celebrationej]

Stop by the Connect@Sea desk on the first day of your cruise; they have a pamphlet there that walks you through how to make sure everything is turned off for your cruise. It goes step-by-step, which makes it really simple! As of my most recent cruise on the Fantasy in May 2019, iMessages (iPhone to iPhone texts) are included and you do not need to use WiFi on the ship for these messages. You just can't send pictures for free. And of course using the DCL app on board is free too. So it should be very easy to stay in touch with the rest of your party on the ship, and if you have an iPhone, anyone back on land who also uses an iPhone. Have a great trip!

Editing to add: I believe they also have CMs who work at the Connect@Sea desk (during certain hours, not around-the-clock); they should also be able to help you with any technology needs during your vacation!

 

[sethschroeder]

iMessages (iPhone to iPhone texts) are included and you do not need to use WiFi on the ship for these messages.

Is there cell service on the ship? How are you able to send messages if you are not connected to their WiFi? I think you mean even if you don't use the internet over WiFi.

 

[celebrationej]

Sorry, maybe I'm not being totally clear. You do have to connect to Wifi to send iMessages to other iPhones, but Disney does not charge you for the wifi used, unless you send photos.

 

[vegs1]

Sorry, maybe I'm not being totally clear. You do have to connect to Wifi to send iMessages to other iPhones, but Disney does not charge you for the wifi used, unless you send photos.

Is that applicable to using iMessage to text those back home?

 

[ScooterScott44]

Our cruise last week was the first one for us that had functional iMessage.

Upon boarding I did the typical, as previously stated (airplane mode, connect to DCL-GUEST network) and just use the app. I typically do not get any internet since I am on vacation. With this cruise I was able to text normally on iMessage. Only texted with family on the ship on sea days. My phone seemed to get iMessages pretty quickly. The DCL app messages worked better than in the past but still slower. DW used both to send messages and my incoming iMessages to her phone seemed slower. Maybe it was her phone since it is a little older than mine. In port our international plan and/or DCL connection worked to send messages but not sure which.

As for international, many plans have options and some are free. We hit a couple different countries and there is a roaming charge for calls but data and texts are free, just slower than you usually experience.

 

[Mainsail Minnie]

If you go to the Connect @ Sea desk upon boarding, they'll help you with your phone & get all of your questions answered. They know all the pitfalls to avoid (like forgetting to turn off updates, etc.).

 

[vegs1]

If you go to the Connect @ Sea desk upon boarding, they'll help you with your phone & get all of your questions answered. They know all the pitfalls to avoid (like forgetting to turn off updates, etc.).

Thank you!

 

[n2mm]

I used the free iMessages on the fantasy early September. It worked great. It is iPhone to iPhone messaging only. You turn on airplane mode and dcl WiFi. We could message each other and folks at home. We could not send pictures. My friend on the Magic used it too.

 

[n2mm]

Here’s the flyer from the ship.

 

[g_ppetto]

There is messaging within the DCL app. You get a code in the app, provide your code to another phone to set up communication between the two phones. We set it up but didn't really use it as we were together for most of the time.

Maybe others can comment on how well it works.

re: using the data plans on the ships, free 50 MB and others - Your phone can gobble up the data quickly. It's not just auto updating of the apps that needs to be disabled. A lot of apps can and will transfer data in the background. On my Android phone (Galaxy S8) > Settings > apps > app name > mobile data > Allow background data usage > slide switch for on or off. Do you really need to sync all of those photos you are taking with your cloud storage? Send huge video files in messages? After seeing the data evaporate quickly the first time, I checked every app to disable background data usage.

A couple of tips - Verizon has a feature - Travel Pass. For $10 per 24 hour period, it is supposed to give you the same plan you have at home, at a foreign location. We used it in Nassau and at Castaway Cay. Data and messaging were rather slow, to the point I wasn't sure if the messages I sent were going to get through. What did work was the phone calls. It has to be enabled (at home), and is activated at first use. It is not for use on board, only in port / close to port.

There are waterproof pouches on lanyards available from multiple sources. The come in handy when you want to take photos / video over the side of the ship. Slip it over your neck and you don't have to worry about dropping your phone over the edge. I recorded some rather nice video of the lights illuminating the water at night on the Fantasy.

 

[disnerella]

Is iMessage texting only available on the Fantasy? Or has it rolled out to all ships now?

 

[n2mm]

Is iMessage texting only available on the Fantasy? Or has it rolled out to all ships now?

I used it on the Fantasy a few weeks ago and my friend used it on the Magic last week. Much easier than using the dcl text feature which is unreliable.

 

[disnerella]

Has anyone used it on the Dream?

 

[n2mm]

Has anyone used it on the Dream?

I’m on the Dream nov 18th. But figured if they had it on the Fantasy and Magic, I’m thinking it should be on the Dream too