DCL Fantasy Navigator s Finally Goes Hi-Tech

[EeyoreJMH]

I'm on the 9/21 sailing now and the app is live for this cruise When we checked in, we received a sheet about it and they had a help desk set up in the terminal. The CM checking us in said she thought the app will stay live at least for the next month.

 

[erionm]

Wonderful review! Thanks for taking the time to share! I loved your list of suggestions too! Really hoping this will be available for our 11/9/13 Fantasy sailing!

I'm on the 9/21 sailing now and the app is live for this cruise When we checked in, we received a sheet about it and they had a help desk set up in the terminal. The CM checking us in said she thought the app will stay live at least for the next month.

The app description has been updated to imply that it's live full-time for the Fantasy. There is no longer any mention of just those initial two cruises in the description:

The Disney Fantasy on board Personal Navigator just went digital!

Starting with Disney Fantasy, we’ve got a brand new way to cruise. The Disney Fantasy Navigator app brings valuable Disney cruise information right to your mobile device.

...

Disney Fantasy Navigator is only the first leg of our journey with the new Disney Cruise Line on board app. Soon the app will be available for Disney Dream, Disney Magic and Disney Wonder and we will be adding new features along the way.

 

[patches4me]

Put your phone on airplane mode and turn wi-fi on. Then you won't incur any data charges.

Airplane mode on, Wifi on, calls go directly to VM. Would I then be charged for the calls going to VM? AT&T seems to think that unless I forward my number to a US number, it may? Any help? We leave on Sat.

 

[mhconley]

Airplane mode on, Wifi on, calls go directly to VM. Would I then be charged for the calls going to VM? AT&T seems to think that unless I forward my number to a US number, it may? Any help? We leave on Sat.

No. They would have no idea your phone is even on. Do they charge you for voicemails left when your phone is turned off?

Martin

Sent from my iPhone using DISBoards

 

[Coldflame]

What are the little icons by each menu item? (Logo, chef mickey, etc?)

They define the activity type: dinning, character appearance, theater play, etc.

 

[AquaDame]

I really doubt they are going to abandon this... they've been working on it since late last year (we were approached to do a beta testing for it and had a blast sitting down with them daily giving feedback). Glad to see they have made so much further progress!

 

[patches4me]

No. They would have no idea your phone is even on. Do they charge you for voicemails left when your phone is turned off?

Martin

Sent from my iPhone using DISBoards

Thanks for the help, that's what I thought, but the lady at AT&T kept insisting I would have to turn voice mail off or forward my voice mails to another US land line. I happen to use an app called YouMail anyway. And that is really forwarding my voice mail calls to their US number and I can look or hear messages on the internet over wifi. I'm not even going to worry about trying to listen to vm anyway. But I think I should be OK in Airplane mode.

 

[perfectmatch300]

We sail on Sat, I think I may need to find a teenager to bring with me to help me figure out how to get this app up and running. So much for being able to disconnect from all the electronics while on the cruise! The app does sound really good, so I am going to give it a try.

Am I understanding correctly that I can get the app installed from home before we board the Fantasy? Once we board, I put the phone on airplane mode, then turn on wi-fi, and go to Disney Guest so I will not incur extra charges. I'm sure once I get the app up and running I'll be good with it, but I would rather not have to fusswith it too much on embarkation day.

I guess I'd better make sure I bring my charger. Usually on a cruise my phone stay OFF. I would love to be able to use my android tablet for this instead of my phone because the bigger screen on the tablet is SO MUCH easier for me to read.


UPDATE! I just went onto my iphone, got the app installed NO PROBLEM! I didn't even need a teenager! After reading all the great info on this thread it was very easy to get installed. As the OP said, it's just the shell right now, but I know I will get a lot of use out of it on our cruise. Thank you very much to the OP on this thread, and to everyone else who contributed here for providing such great info about this app.

 

[DIScover]

I appreciate everyone’s kind responses. I have been a recipient of DIS information and found the forum so helpful when we first started Disney cruising.

It was my turn to pay it forward.

Another observation I recently made (couple of nights ago) was the seamless look and feel to the Disney World mobile app. Well duh, it would stand to reason that the apps (Disney Cruise and Disney World) would look and feel the same. I sometimes get desensitized to “All Things Disney” because we live so close, and we visit on a regular basis. If you have used the WDW mobile app then you should know what to expect from the DCL app.

Secret Disney Wish…

“I wish I may I wish I might…I wish I could be a guest Imagineer and provide some useful insight…. at least on their DCL mobile app.”

I envy AquaDame and her post about being approach to comment on the app’s development. I hope they have the app available in time for my March back-to-back on the Dream and September on the Magic.

Speaking of which, I will most likely write a detailed trip report on my Sept. Magic cruise.

It’s a brand new (but limited) ship itinerary out of San Juan PR. It’s a 7-day which leaves port at 9:30 PM and has 6 ports-of-call (including San Juan); St. John's, Antigua, Castries, St. Lucia, St. George's, Grenada, Bridgetown, Barbados, Basseterre, St. Kitts and back to San Juan, PR. Whew, I will be “excursioned” out by the end of this one.

DIScover

 

[ranidayz]

I think this is cool, but unfortunately won't use it. Our family has a little ceremony when we get to our stateroom where we all turn off our electronics and vault them for the week. It's one of our favorite parts of cruising.

 

[tinkerone]

We sail on Sat, I think I may need to find a teenager to bring with me to help me figure out how to get this app up and running. So much for being able to disconnect from all the electronics while on the cruise! The app does sound really good, so I am going to give it a try.

Am I understanding correctly that I can get the app installed from home before we board the Fantasy? Once we board, I put the phone on airplane mode, then turn on wi-fi, and go to Disney Guest so I will not incur extra charges. I'm sure once I get the app up and running I'll be good with it, but I would rather not have to fusswith it too much on embarkation day.

I guess I'd better make sure I bring my charger. Usually on a cruise my phone stay OFF. I would love to be able to use my android tablet for this instead of my phone because the bigger screen on the tablet is SO MUCH easier for me to read.


UPDATE! I just went onto my iphone, got the app installed NO PROBLEM! I didn't even need a teenager! After reading all the great info on this thread it was very easy to get installed. As the OP said, it's just the shell right now, but I know I will get a lot of use out of it on our cruise. Thank you very much to the OP on this thread, and to everyone else who contributed here for providing such great info about this app.

were you able to get it on your android tablet? i have it on my ipad and its full screen once i hit the 2x button.

 

[Coldflame]

were you able to get it on your android tablet? i have it on my ipad and its full screen once i hit the 2x button.

While on board last week I used it on both my iPhone and my Nexus 7. Works flawlessly on both.

 

[napleskid]

Great post! I used the app on our 9/7 cruise. At check-in they mentioned the app, but didn't stress the point to download while at port. I forgot about the app until I was going through all my cruise info on day 2 and downloaded it then. I found it useful, except one day all the activity times were off by one hour. I missed the captain's signing because of that. I agree with all the suggestions you listed for improvements and inclusions. I would have really like to have had the bridge report (with precipitation radar data) and the ship's announcements included. I especially found the dinner menus helpful. I found it awkward having to switch wifi accounts when switching between the app and internet usage. Overall, I liked the app, but several CMs said they feared a large loss of cell phones on board if guests started carrying them everywhere. I was using IOS6.

 

[allears]

I think this is cool, but unfortunately won't use it. Our family has a little ceremony when we get to our stateroom where we all turn off our electronics and vault them for the week. It's one of our favorite parts of cruising.

I am soooo with you!!!! As cools as this may be, I do not want to carry my phone around at all!!! It goes into the safe right around sail away and won't come out again until we arrive at the terminal the last morning!!!

 

[torontodisneyfan]

As an aside...and sorry if I missed this info...but does this mean wifi is now free on board or is this simply a local network that does not enable passengers to access "the outside world"?

 

[Coldflame]

I am soooo with you!!!! As cools as this may be, I do not want to carry my phone around at all!!! It goes into the safe right around sail away and won't come out again until we arrive at the terminal the last morning!!!

Me three. The only reason we tried it (and I wrote and posted pictures about about it) last week was simply as a novelty and information, but we too prefer to "unplug" while on the cruise -- that's the whole point, no? Although I hope they release it for wide adoption soon, we probably won't be using it very often at all. Sometimes we don't even use the paper Navigator We just go with the flow unless there's a specific event we really want to see or activity we want to partake in. I think it might be much more valuable for inexperienced DCL cruisers that for seasoned DCL veterans. Once you've sailed a few times, you kind of know when and where to be without needing to consult the Navigator.

 

[Coldflame]

As an aside...and sorry if I missed this info...but does this mean wifi is now free on board or is this simply a local network that does not enable passengers to access "the outside world"?

Shameless plug: http://www.disboards.com/showpost.php?p=49652011&postcount=1

 

[DIScover]

I am soooo with you!!!! As cools as this may be, I do not want to carry my phone around at all!!! It goes into the safe right around sail away and won't come out again until we arrive at the terminal the last morning!!!

I certainly understand everyone's point about how they choose to enjoy a cruise "unplugged." Some might be plugged-in more than you realize when you think about it. Phones now-a-days are not just phones.

Once on board, my iPhone goes into airplane mode and becomes my iPod, where I have access to my music for relaxation whether it be at the pool, adult area, making laps on Deck 4 and dare I say it... "the Gym" in Senses. When I am not listening to music, my iPhone becomes my camera and video recorder for all of those special pictures and videos I love to take. It's also my watch and personal data assistant (reminders and alarm clock for those early morning jogs), heck its also my pedometer, diary and plays videos; all in a package that conveniently slips in my pocket.

My iPad is my eReader and movie player (I love movies); I have access to hundreds of books, magazines, periodicals and my movie collection that is instantly available depending on my mood. I enjoy reading in my downtime. I love sitting in the Cove Café reading a good book enjoying a cup of their coffee. Speaking of which, Doesn't DCL have the best coffee? Not to forget, that I like puzzles, teasers, and time-wasting games; and the iPad is a great addition to provide me all of those without the need to carry all that stuff around in a "murse." or bag.

To each his or her own on how they spend their vacation. The most important point is that we are all fortunate to be able to spend it on a DCL cruise.

 

[IrishCowboy]

GREAT THREAD!!!

Thanks for shring, looking forward to using it in November....

 

[mstree7832]

How does the app "know" a guest's dining rotation schedule? By cell phone number, maybe?