Connect@Sea Please Help/Leaving Tomorrow

[zymurgy1999]

I have been on several Disney cruises, but never had to use the internet package. Unfortunately I either need to cancel my trip or do some work on board. I assume that I will need to purchase the internet package so that I can stay in touch with my office using email and WhatsApp.

Can someone please let me know what I am in store for? This is not going to be heavy duty document stuff, just need to be in touch with the office to run a few things. Maybe download a document or two. Also, WhatsApp will be critical. Please let me know ASAP if you don't mind. Thanks in advance.

 

[princessmommyx3]

This may help:

http://www.disneycruisemomblog.com/disney-cruise-line-internet-connectsea/

 

[TeaBee]

We purchased the large package (1,000MB for $89) on our 4 day cruise and shared it between the four of us. We used it to access FB messenger and reassure my nervous in-laws that we were all OK every day, upload some photos, look for port info, send emails, random web surfing, etc.

We did end up having to buy an additional package - medium, IIRC? - on the last day, but I think my teenager's social media habit was to blame for that one. It was easy to connect, easy to monitor your usage, and the connection worked well for us.

 

[zymurgy1999]

We purchased the large package (1,000MB for $89) on our 4 day cruise and shared it between the four of us. We used it to access FB messenger and reassure my nervous in-laws that we were all OK every day, upload some photos, look for port info, send emails, random web surfing, etc.

We did end up having to buy an additional package - medium, IIRC? - on the last day, but I think my teenager's social media habit was to blame for that one. It was easy to connect, easy to monitor your usage, and the connection worked well for us.

Thank you. That was very helpful. Does anyone have any experience with the use of WhatsApp on the ship?

 

[shelbell77]

I would definitely say buy the larger package versus think you won't use it - you probably will and its more cost effective that way then buying multiple of the smaller packages.

I haven't used whatsapp specifically but have used iMessage, Facebook, instagram, etc via the ships wifi. You will want to turn off as many notifications/autorefreshes as possible to avoid accidentally burning thru your data - my first time on the current system I accidentally didn't log off the wifi and had burned through the large plan in 45 minutes with my phone closed and in my pocket - just because of all the background refresh stuff that goes on normally. So I would say have all autoupdating/refreshing off. And then when you connect to the wifi opening up Whatsapp and refresh it manually to see if you have any new messages and respond.

 

[Tasmen]

I would definitely say buy the larger package versus think you won't use it - you probably will and its more cost effective that way then buying multiple of the smaller packages.

I haven't used whatsapp specifically but have used iMessage, Facebook, instagram, etc via the ships wifi. You will want to turn off as many notifications/autorefreshes as possible to avoid accidentally burning thru your data - my first time on the current system I accidentally didn't log off the wifi and had burned through the large plan in 45 minutes with my phone closed and in my pocket - just because of all the background refresh stuff that goes on normally. So I would say have all autoupdating/refreshing off. And then when you connect to the wifi opening up Whatsapp and refresh it manually to see if you have any new messages and respond.

Wow... that's a lot of background processes to run through 1gb in 45 minutes. Makes me wonder how much I use.

 

[SuperDry]

Good advice above about turning off anything automatic. It's also wise to disconnect from WiFi when you're not using it, as this will absolutely prevent anything in the background from burning through data. You mention WhatsApp. If your concern is being reachable at any time, my best advice would be to rely on SMS instead of WhatsApp for that. SMS is free to receive with many carriers (AT&T and T-Mobile) and of minimal cost with others ($0.05 for Verizon and Sprint), whether using the ship's system at sea or a land-based system when in or near a foreign port. The benefit of SMS is that it's free to just leave on 24/7 but still allows you to be instantly contactable and is reliable. Then, if you get an SMS, you can connect to the WiFi and read email, use WhatsApp, or whatever else you need to do.

 

[shelbell77]

Wow... that's a lot of background processes to run through 1gb in 45 minutes. Makes me wonder how much I use.

The first time it ever happened to me may have been the 100MB free package with concierge that I burned through - because I seem to recall the host hooked me up with another package after adjusting all the settings on my phone for me. I would have used up that free offering before buying the large package.

 

[Tasmen]

The first time it ever happened to me may have been the 100MB free package with concierge that I burned through - because I seem to recall the host hooked me up with another package after adjusting all the settings on my phone for me. I would have used up that free offering before buying the large package.

Oh ok. 100mb makes more sense.

 

[kiford]

DH bought internet minutes onboard when we were on the northern European cruise. If you sign up the first day, you get the first 50 MB free. We were still sitting in port in Dover waiting for our room to be ready and he said he was going up on deck to take some pictures and took his iPad with him. After about 45 minutes, I realized he hadn't returned. Finally, when he did he told me that he used up the 50 MB using Skype with some colleagues in California and that the quality of the call was pretty good. It's much better than it used to be both in quality and price because it's based on MB now and not time. So it's definitely possible to work on board if you have to.

 

[squirrel]

Sign up the first day and see how you go with the free 50 MB. I have taken two long trips 14 night Transatlantic and 10 night Hawaiian cruise and never needed any extra minutes. I had trouble on the Transatlantic logging in so after a few days I went to the desk and the CM reset my logging and then I was fine.

I just sent e-mails and checked e-mails while onboard. Last cruise was crazy as we were in Hawaii so almost everyone had service for their phones and they were on them all the time!

 

[TiggerBouncy]

I had the same problem with burning thorough data - even with everything off. However, logging in, doing what I needed to do and logging out of the wifi worked really well, and we were able to do a fair amount of stuff with just the 50 free. Of course, that was only a 3 day.

 

[MeeskaMooska13]

Good advice above about turning off anything automatic. It's also wise to disconnect from WiFi when you're not using it, as this will absolutely prevent anything in the background from burning through data. You mention WhatsApp. If your concern is being reachable at any time, my best advice would be to rely on SMS instead of WhatsApp for that. SMS is free to receive with many carriers (AT&T and T-Mobile) and of minimal cost with others ($0.05 for Verizon and Sprint), whether using the ship's system at sea or a land-based system when in or near a foreign port. The benefit of SMS is that it's free to just leave on 24/7 but still allows you to be instantly contactable and is reliable. Then, if you get an SMS, you can connect to the WiFi and read email, use WhatsApp, or whatever else you need to do.

Can you help this non-techie by explaining what a SMS is? Thanks!

 

[Tasmen]

Can you help this non-techie by explaining what a SMS is? Thanks!

SMS = text messages essentially

 

[Tasmen]

Duplicate post delete. Talk of the internet elsewhere made the internet at my house get jealous apparently.