Free WiFi - How Many Minutes

[BWV Dreamin]

On our last cruise on the Fantasy we got some free WiFi. Can anyone tell me how much time that is? It was complementary.

 

[Sehsun]

The time can vary depending on what kinds of web-surfing you do, but it was 50 MB.

 

[MomOTwins]

Yes, 50MB, but you had to sign up on the first day of the cruise--the offer was not available the second day. In terms of how much time that gets you, for me I probably was able to check and respond to work emails about 5-6 times before it ran out. Since it is based on mb rather than time, the time really depends on the nature of web use rather than the amount of time spent online.

 

[ACQUADUCK]

Switch off back up Apps like photo back ups.

What occurs is the App is set to, back up photos when connected to wifi.
You go sightseeing pre cruise take loads of photos on a cell.
You get on, connect to wifi, and.......it's gone.
Switch off Apps until your home or on free wifi in port.

 

[JME]

On our recent Fantasy cruise I used the free 50 MB exclusively for Facebook Messenger contacts with family at home. I logged on a few times a day and left it open for 30 min or so sometimes to see if I got a reply. I sent a few pictures during some messenger sessions. I was careful to close all background usage of data for other apps. The DCL app tracks your usage so you know how quickly it’s going through the data. At the end of our 7 day cruise it said I had spent about 400 minutes online and used virtually all of the 50MB. It was just enough to meet my need to keep in touch while at sea. We used the local wifi access spots in ports to catch up on emails, general internet surfing, etc.

 

[BWV Dreamin]

Get the MB at the connect at sea desk correct? Is that deck 4 on the Wonder?

 

[JME]

You can get the free 50 MB offer right on the DCL app as long as it is before midnight the first day. It’s listed as “Connect at Sea” on the main menu page if I recall correctly. You just follow the instructions to sign on and accept the free offer (they list a few other MB packages for a fee). Remember to sign out again each time you finish using it. If you need help there is an IT desk person on duty to answer questions, solve problems and give advice (eg: making sure you have the settings correct to minimize background usage). I’m not sure for the Wonder, but for the Fantasy he was at a desk beside the DVC / future cruise sales area near the Vista Cafe on the 4th level overlooking the atrium.

 

[DisneyCowgirl]

We went by the Connect At Sea desk and got the guy there to turn all our settings to where things would not run in the background. Having done that, 50MB was enough to check my work email a few times during the cruise.

DH had to be connected for work so bought a package. He was online whenever he wanted to be, checking his email and sending emails, checking his instagram feed, and reading NYTs, and in the 4-night cruise, I don't think he used more than a medium package.

 

[RllngRckBrw]

This sounds like a good thing for us as we would like to be able to check in while away but don’t want anything more than that. My question is, does it require a credit card and include an automatic charge for overages? And is it per stateroom or per device? I am wondering if it is worth putting on our teenage son’s phone but worry about his impulse control.

 

[Anchors Away 2016]

This sounds like a good thing for us as we would like to be able to check in while away but don’t want anything more than that. My question is, does it require a credit card and include an automatic charge for overages? And is it per stateroom or per device? I am wondering if it is worth putting on our teenage son’s phone but worry about his impulse control.

It can be used on multiple devices. Your choice. And it doesn't automatically incur additional charges. You buy a block of data and when it is used up, you decide if you want to buy another block.

The trick is deciding how big a block to buy. The biggest block (which is still pretty small by land standards) is 1 GB, which is like $89 (or did it go up recently?) Where as the small was 100 MB (on tenth the data) for $19 and the medium was 300 MB for $39. So if you by the small package and then use it up, you might end up spending more money for less data, but if you buy the large package and don't use it all....

As for your teen-aged son, my personal policy would be to charge him (in advance) for his data usage and refund money he doesn't end up spending. This will give him an incentive to keep his usage in check. The good news is the worst he can do is use up his package quickly. He can't accidentally use more, unless you give him charging privileges, in which case there are plenty of ways that he can spend your money on the ship. LOL

 

[BWV Dreamin]

Great tips. Need to remember to turn off all background apps.

 

[Sehsun]

This sounds like a good thing for us as we would like to be able to check in while away but don’t want anything more than that. My question is, does it require a credit card and include an automatic charge for overages? And is it per stateroom or per device? I am wondering if it is worth putting on our teenage son’s phone but worry about his impulse control.

Great advice from @Anchors Away 2016. I wanted to add some more things - it does not require a credit card, as it will just be charged to your stateroom account.

I have purchased the large package (1000 MB for $89) for the 2 DCL cruises I've been on so far. It has been more than enough for me personally, even shared with my husband. What I think I'm going to do next time is buy the medium package (300 MB for $39) and see how I do. If I end up using it all, I will buy an additional medium package. It will still be less total than buying the large package, and I think 600 MB total would be plenty.

Here is some paperwork I received on the cruise, I hope it is helpful.

 

[JME]

For the “how many can get the the free offer” question, it is only one offer per stateroom. Although it can be shared as noted above if you give out the sign in info to others.

 

[mareed]

For the “how many can get the the free offer” question, it is only one offer per stateroom. Although it can be shared as noted above if you give out the sign in info to others.

I've found differently on recent cruises in Feb and Apr 2018. Both adults in my cabin signed up with separate accounts and each got the first day free 50 meg.

 

[blabadie]

For the “how many can get the the free offer” question, it is only one offer per stateroom. Although it can be shared as noted above if you give out the sign in info to others.

For our December cruise, our family has two staterooms with DH (and 2 kids) listed in one cabin and me (and 1 kid) in the other cabin. Does this mean that both DH and I will be able to get the free offer?

Thank you!

 

[Bonnie1222]

With my old windows 7 computer I was able to email my dad every day, and search a few websites all on the free. Now that I have a windows 10 machine it eats up the mega byte fast. Last year I went through all 50 in less than 2 minutes even though I turned updates off, the rep at the desk checked my usage and gave it all back to me, and gave me some pointers, but the same thing happened. This year I did a lot of research and actually created a full page list if things to disable, turn off and procedures of things to check before I connected. the wifi each time. I checked my emails twice and went through most the 50. I was trying to meet a friend in Jamaica and my cell service won't work outside the US so I was relying on email. I had to pay for the 100 meg package just to check my email one last time because I didn't have enough left on the free. The last night I still had 60mb left and logged on really late at night to check emails again. I was able to stay online and do multiple things and ended up leaving 18mb unused. It seemed that when most people were not using the service it lasted a lot longer.

 

[JME]

I've found differently on recent cruises in Feb and Apr 2018. Both adults in my cabin signed up with separate accounts and each got the first day free 50 meg.

I checked my first day Navigator that explains the offer and it does state only one free offer per stateroom. I don’t remember what info they wanted for the sign in though, so maybe it is possible for more than one to actually sign up from the same room?

 

[JME]

For our December cruise, our family has two staterooms with DH (and 2 kids) listed in one cabin and me (and 1 kid) in the other cabin. Does this mean that both DH and I will be able to get the free offer?

Thank you!

Yes I believe both of you can sign up as you each have your own stateroom so two offers available. You must sign up before midnight on the first day though. The free offer is not available the next day.

 

[CyndiLouWho]

So if you sign up for a package do you still get the 50mb free first? Or better to just use the 50mb free then add a package?

 

[PrincessShmoo]

So if you sign up for a package do you still get the 50mb free first? Or better to just use the 50mb free then add a package?

I'd get the freebe first, then, when the time runs out, it prompts you to buy another package, if you wish. That's when I would buy it.