First hours on ship

[Jenn M]

I know I have read here in different threads all the tips of things I should do when we first get on the ship. I always thought I would remember. We are 24 days out, and I am in a little panic! One of the things we should do is sign up for the free wifi. How do we go about doing this? I think I also read that we can set up texting through the DCL app. How does that work? What other important things do I need to remember to do the first few hours? Thank you! Super excited! I don't want to forget anything!

 

[Racer X]

Jenn... deep breath!! Whew no need to panic! Just a few ideas....

1) If i recall you can sign up for free wifi from your device as long as you are still in port.. so no rush.
2) If you want to sign up for any wine or drink tastings, sometimes they can sell out early so you may want to stop by guest services on the way in. (again they dont always sell out)
3) Tickets for any kids that may want to see characters are available in GS as well
4) Sign kids up for the clubs (dont know if you are bringing any)
5) Change dining reservations if you need
6) Check out the Spa and purchase a package if you want.

Then go get a nice tall cocktail at lunch and relax hope u have fun.

 

[JW9DVC]

Free wifi is first day. Period. In port or out.

Any special meet and greets you can book onboard.

JW

 

[KashasMom]

Do what you can online BEFORE you leave - signing up for kids' clubs (if you have any) and getting tickets for any meet and greets. My daughter always wears her bathing suit under her clothes so she can get a head start on swimming and sunning.

What free wifi? The only things there were in November were the Disney app (which I loved) and the texting (to someone else on the ship). Definitely no free wifi for email/surfing.

 

[5Texans]

You can sign up for free wifi anytime the first day on your phone- it's easy

Download the DCL app before you board so that you aren't using slow/expensive wifi, it will start working once you board, you can do this at your convenience, no rush

You can schedule character meets and breakfast online now so you don't have to go to guest services

If you get the dining time and ressies you want you're all set.

The only things you cant do online are mixology/tasting classes and certain spa things like the rainforest lengt of cruise package (I've heard these are limited too so you might want to do this early if you want it)

You can register your kids for the kids club online, then whenever you take them for the first time they can get their arm bands- no reason to stand in line as soon as you board unless they want to go to open house right away, then it might be worth it while you're there

Basically, Im trying to point out that you might not HAVE to do anything when you board but start having fun- no lines etc

Things that Im glad I did:

If you have kids, try to leave muster drill immediately to get a good spot at sail away. Otherwise I'd grab a drink in the adult only area.

I made sure I met our stateroom host so that I could explain our napping/sleeping situation so that he could leave down certain beds and do turn down early for us.

Put out formal night clothes + anything that needs ironing for laundry services

 

[Marc D]

What free wifi? The only things there were in November were the Disney app (which I loved) and the texting (to someone else on the ship). Definitely no free wifi for email/surfing.

Every stateroom gets a free 50MB package only available on embarkation day. For a 7-nights, I usually end up using that and a 100MB pack that I pay for.

 

[clten]

How do you get the free WiFi? When you are onboard (any time that first day), connect to the DCL Guests WiFi. It will pop up so you can buy a package. On the first day it lists the 50mb package with the cost being free. Even if you are planning on buying a bigger package, you can sign up for the free package and then add another package. Before you sign up for the package, make sure you have shut off any auto updates or anything that may drain your wifi (some people have updates blocked to not use cellular data but that won't protect you since this is wifi). Then once you sign up for a package -- make sure you sign out of it when you are done with whatever you were doing online. (Don't panic if you don't remember any of this, there is a flyer in your cabin about how to sign up for WiFi.)

Texting through the DCL App - once you are able to connect to the onboard wifi (you need to have WiFi turned on but don't need to and shouldn't sign in, aka enter your password for the DCL Guest WiFi to use the DCL app), you will be able to see activities, dining menus, etc. One of the choices is texting. You go in there and sign in and it gives you your code. I believe it will find the other people in your cabin or those you are linked to (can't remember if it did it automatically once everyone logged into their texting or if we did it while we were all sitting around having lunch together). But if it doesn't do it automatically or you have other people that you want to be able to text, you put in their code/give them your code and they will be added and you can text with them.

Most important thing in those first few hours is that you remember that you are on vacation. There is very little that you "need" to get done that can't be done ahead of time or later on.

 

[Anchors Away 2016]

One thing I would say is that pretty much ALL of the things we are mentioning here (dining changes, kids club, wifi, mixology, etc.) are listed on the Daily Navigator you get when you first get on board. It will tell you all of those things, how to do them, and importantly, where they are. It varies from cruise to cruise, which MDR the dining changes are made in, for example. Plus, this Navigator will help you remember things you want to do when you do get on board.

I would suggest you (and everyone in your group that has a wi-fi capable device) download the Navigator APP before you get on the ship, so you don't have any issues downloading it on board, if you aren't in range of your cell service. We downloaded it at home days in advance over our home wi-fi.

Also, if you can avoid going to guest services for the first several hours on board, you'll be glad. Many things have their own locations so you don't need to go to GS, and some things do fill up, but anything that can wait, let it wait. The line moves pretty quickly, but for most of the cruise it has no line at all, only at the beginning and the end. We even stopped by a couple times late at night to ask questions. They were there, waiting for us.

 

[LSUfan4444]

Spa raffle...do not miss the spa raffle.

 

[KashasMom]

Every stateroom gets a free 50MB package only available on embarkation day. For a 7-nights, I usually end up using that and a 100MB pack that I pay for.

Ohhh right. 50MB - I don't even sign up. That wouldn't get me through the day!

 

[MeeskaMooskaMickey]

Hmm first day...
Eventually locate room.
Have a sneaky glass of wine from your carry on.
Go to Cabanas and eat too much.
Panic that your suitcase hasn't arrived (it eventually does!)
Have another sneaky wine whilst reading Navigator.
Check out the pool, eat more food.
Sail away party, have a cocktail of the day.
Go to mdr, yet more food.
Time for another wine in the room whilst admiring your first towel animal.
Totally forget to book classes/ attend spa raffle/unpack etc!

 

[Luvmypetz]

FWIW, earplugs! I thought the muster drill was extremely loud. Wish I grabbed mine before heading out

 

[Jenn M]

Thank you! This is exactly what I am looking for! Now this leads me to a few more questions. Sorry!

I already have the DCL app. When we are on the ship, will the options for wifi show up? It isn't there now that I can see. It is really just a count down to our cruise. I will check the Navigators for any help.

Is the 50MB per person or per stateroom?

I already signed the kids up for the kids club, but I didn't realize we didn't also have to go and check in that first day. We can just drop them off, and they will give us the band then?

What is the spa raffle?

Thanks for all of the advice. I cannot wait for our trip!

 

[5Texans]

The app will start to do more on board

To get the wifi just connect to the ships wifi in your settings and open your browser where you'll be directed to sign up for internet packages. I'm sure there's more technical detailed instructions, but it really is easy.

On our cruise it was 50 me per stateroom, but I've seen others say they got it per person. We were on the Fantasy

It'll take a couple extra minutes the first time you drop kids off, but yes, you can "check them in" at any time to get their bands. So if you wait until the initial rush is over it only takes a minute. They check your Card, confirm that your child has no allergies (if they do they get a different color tag on their band), and confirm your secret word. Then you're ready to go!

 

[MeeskaMooskaMickey]

When we were at the port, once we had checked in there was another check in desk for the kids club. It was only a short queue and my son was given his band there and then. We had already signed up online but I think that even if we hadn't they could do that also. Then when we got on the ship he could get in the oceaneers club straight away.

 

[Jenn M]

Thank you for the reponses!

 

[Trera]

Hmm first day...
Eventually locate room.
Have a sneaky glass of wine from your carry on.
Go to Cabanas and eat too much.
Panic that your suitcase hasn't arrived (it eventually does!)
Have another sneaky wine whilst reading Navigator.
Check out the pool, eat more food.
Sail away party, have a cocktail of the day.
Go to mdr, yet more food.
Time for another wine in the room whilst admiring your first towel animal.
Totally forget to book classes/ attend spa raffle/unpack etc!

you forgot the mandatory safety drill in there!!

 

[LSUfan4444]

What is the spa raffle?

Throughout the day people will visit the spa and fitness center. While there they can enter a "raffle" they give things away like personal training sessions, spa services, even jewelry. The kicker is the winners MUST be present to win.

Check the navigator once you board

 

[Bishoparc]

DCL-Guest is the wifi network you will join from your phone. I usually wait to join it until we are out of cell service range because it will screw with your other apps (and you will eat up your onboard wifi). The wireless network you have to join from your phone, not the app. Once you are joined, fully close the DCL app and reopen it. This will enable the onboard navigator and chat functions. You do not need to sign up for the internet package to use that. I have taken 6 cruises in a little over a year and the cruise I just got off of today was the first time I have used the internet onboard. My wife's mom had a stroke so once a day I would connect to check email. Otherwise I don't use the internet onboard, I have to stay connected 24/7 while onshore, my cruises are my break from that.

As others have said 50MB is free as long as, through the app, you sign up before midnight your first day. I used 22MB checking my email once a day for 4 days. You basically "sign in" to the internet so when you are done doing what you need to do, make sure to sign out so you don't waste it. You will want to turn off background app refreshing on your phone and any automatic app updates, cloud photo uploads, etc or again it will eat up everything you have.

 

[truck1]

This is what we normally do.

Read the Navigator front and back. Highlight what interests you.Decide what you want to do before you get on the ship. Things like BBB, wine tastings, dining changes things like that.
Once you get onboard, have lunch. Then go do what you need to do, like dining changes etc. Be there a little early so you can get a better chance at what you want.
Go roam the ship. Youll have a map of the ship. Go find the other MDRs, go find the kids clubs. Go find the theatres and the gift shops. Most wont be open, but it gives you the chance to get a feel for the layout. If walking isnt your thing, go lay by the pool.