Internet Packages

[nunzia]

we got the 1000 mb package last year on the magic in the Greek islands. Wifi was excellent and very fast. Ended up buying a second medium package too. Only used it for facebook, email and Skype (but skype phone without video connection) in my iPad. And texts from my iphone. I uploaded pictures to facebook and that's what took up MBs. I did turn off automatic uploads. Just a caution...if you have more than one device, try to remember to sign out for one before going on the other. At a couple points, I had both devices on and running. It used to make more of a difference when they charged you for minutes. On the Dream last aug for the DVC cruise, I also got the large package but had time left over. It was shorter cruise, but the connection was also much worse and it became too frustrating to use it as much. And then again in October we were back on the Magic for a chartered Turner Classic Cruise in the Caribbean. The wifi was much better on the magic than the dream in the Caribbean. We used almost all of 1000 MB package in five days. I would think it would be the opposite since the Dream is much newer but the magic seems to have much better service regardless of location.

I've been tryiing to figure out how to do the just texts thing on my phone without using data..the per text charge thing I used before I had a smart phone? Or even texts that use the data package is fine. I had called Verizon before I went to Mexico to figure out settings and not one thing I was told to do worked, so it was a mess. So what do I do to just use texts and no wifi on the phone? Or would it be easier to just use the phone for facebook and texts and not have 2 devices? I only want those two things..text and facebook, but don't know how to set up the phone to not use data all the time, but still be able to send and receive texts.

 

[SillyInventor]

You are correct. Roaming charges only apply to cellular use (voice, tekst or data), not to WiFi. So as long as you turn of all cellular (or just leave the device in airplane mode) no roaming will be charged.

 

[mordecai]

A few things here: First, Roaming has to do with cellular data. If you put your phone in airplane mode you won't roam and it will turn off mobile data (3g, 4g, lte, 1x whatever you want to call it) but you can't make phone calls. Data sizes are confusing so here's a little perspective.

• A typical email is 75KB which is 0.075MB.
• A typical Image (JPG compression) is 3-4MB.
• Posting a photo to FB, for instance will use up 3-4MB.
• Loading a typical website is about 1MB.
• AngryBirds (the app) would use about 60MB to update.

One last note, turning off updates will be different in Apple vs Google (iOS vs Android) but isn't brand specific in android as everything except OS udpates is tied to the Play Store. Turn off auto updates in the play store and you should be good to go. Hopefully this is helpful.

 

[mordecai]

I've been tryiing to figure out how to do the just texts thing on my phone without using data..the per text charge thing I used before I had a smart phone? Or even texts that use the data package is fine. I had called Verizon before I went to Mexico to figure out settings and not one thing I was told to do worked, so it was a mess. So what do I do to just use texts and no wifi on the phone? Or would it be easier to just use the phone for facebook and texts and not have 2 devices? I only want those two things..text and facebook, but don't know how to set up the phone to not use data all the time, but still be able to send and receive texts.

I'm a little confused about your question but I'll answer what I think you're asking. The easiest way to send texts via wifi is to use something like google voice through google hangouts which is available on both Apple and Android. Once you sign up for Google voice, tie the account to your google hangouts account and you can send text messages over wifi through your google voice account using only data and not cellular service.

 

[su_A_ve]

Chiming in.. With the app and the ability to use messaging between devices for free, you cannot simply turn wifi off. However, you can log in and log out of the the paid wifi and this is something you should do. If you have a table and a phone, it's best to ONLY sign in for full wifi from the tablet and simply keep the phones in wifi to use the navigator app and messaging.

Remember that you should turn airplane mode ON first, then turn WIFI on. This will disable the cellular connection of your phone and you won't have to worry about roaming chargers.

As a side note, my work phone has unlimited international data roaming, and even cellular at sea is covered. However, I was not able to use this at all during our last cruise on the Fantasy as only 1x connection was available. I think this is done on purpose as the ship's Wifi connects via the same channel.

 

[squirrel]

I didn't even use the 50 free MB on a 14 night cruise. Now I had trouble getting it to work after signing up for it so for the first few days I didn't even use any MB. The CM at the computer area reset my login and got it working for me. All I did was check e-mails and send out e-mails. I won't pay for a package on my next cruise which is 10 nights. I followed a post that told me what setting my iPad should have to keep my usage to a minimum.

 

[bobbiwoz]

What exactly is "automatic updates" referring to?

 

[Dug720]

What exactly is "automatic updates" referring to?

I *think* it means that your phone or tablet will automatically download any updates that come out for apps you have.

If I have to go into the app store and click "update" when it tells me apps need to be updated, mine isn't automatic, right?

 

[mordecai]

I *think* it means that your phone or tablet will automatically download any updates that come out for apps you have.

If I have to go into the app store and click "update" when it tells me apps need to be updated, mine isn't automatic, right?

You are correct. By default a lot of apps are set to update without user intervention.

 

[Aquaman2005]

A couple of things to note. 1) Turn off automatic updates 2) Turn off background applications (i.e. weather and photo cloud services) 3) Turn off cellular services 4) Use only Wi-Fi 5) Make sure to get your free 50 on your first day 6) Do not purchase another package until the free package is used 7) Use a free messaging application to use for texting 8) On the Dream and Fantasy use the Navigator app for texting between people on ship (free and you don't have to carry the Wave phones) 9) Be wary of social media applications the updates will use considerable data (i.e. Facebook and embedded videos and photos) 10) Remember to put down the mobile device, you are on a cruise and rest of the world will be there back at port.

 

[SillyInventor]

You are correct. By default a lot of apps are set to update without user intervention.

Yes and the trick is that is only done when there is WiFi as WiFi is assumed to be free and unlimited, like at home, at work or free WiFi in a restaurant. The one situation that isn't covered by standard is the paid WiFi situation as it is on the Ship. As a lot of traffic is going on in the background on an iOS device you should turn off:

-Refresh apps in the background
-Automatic downloads for Music, Apps, Books and Updated
-Any iCloud or other syncing (Backup, Photo's, iCloud drive etc..)
-Switch all your mail, calendars, contacts, reminders etc... to "manual" instead of "fetch" and certainly instead of "push"
-Log out of the Ship's paid WiFi before charging as iOS updates can be downloaded in the background when plugged in and connected to WiFi, which can't be switched off.
-Log out of paid WiFi when only using the navigator app as this doesn't require a paid package
-Don't use video conferencing, like Skype or FaceTime as they use huge amounts of data quickly
-Don't stream video (Facebook, YouTube) for the same reason.

Best is to keep you phone switched off and in the safe the entire cruise for better relaxation

 

[Dug720]

Related question here... Can you use more than one device on the same account? I'll have my iPhone and my SurfacePro3 with me. I'm planning to pretty much keep the phone to just the Navigator and use the Surface for email and such once or twice a day (like morning and night - just so email doesn't get out of control), but if I want the option to use the iPhone periodically for something, can I sign that in on the same account? And then go back to just using it for the Navigator?

 

[SillyInventor]

Yes, you can. Just sign in with the same credentials and remember to log out when you finished. There is no limit to the number of devices used.

 

[xlxo]

Can you use more than one device on the same account? I'll have my iPhone and my SurfacePro3 with me. I'm planning to pretty much keep the phone to just the Navigator and use the Surface for email and such once or twice a day (like morning and night - just so email doesn't get out of control), but if I want the option to use the iPhone periodically for something, can I sign that in on the same account? And then go back to just using it for the Navigator?

It's based on the password you assign to your cabin number. So the answer is yes. They can both be signed in at the same time.

This was great as each family member could be connected and text each other to meet for lunch or some other activity.

 

[Dug720]

Thanks!!

 

[kgreenaz]

I just got off a 7 day and spent about $5 on pay as you go data for one email address. I created a special email to just keep in touch with family since my father was having heart surgery while we were at sea. I used the Mailbox app for iPhone to ensure that I didn't download all my other 10 email addresses. And, as techie as I am, I still needed help understanding how to use their data.

If you don't know how to close down your phone to minimize data usage, go to the internet cafe onboard while someone is there to help and s/he will go through your phone with you and shut everything down. Then that person will show you how access the internet for your data. There is a special web site that works onboard called DCL @ Sea and you login to your account there. Once you're logged in your data is ticking. So you can check email, surf the internet and the clock is on. When you are finished, go back to that web site and log out. Now you're off the Disney clock. I had Cellular off on my iPhone so that I wouldn't be charged. I also paid $25 for a 100mb plan through Verizon that I never even knew how to access. Going through Disney was cheaper and easier.

The directions to logging in to DCL @ Sea will be on your Navigator on your first day. Had my father not been having heart surgery, I would have been perfectly happy to be free from the rest of the world on my trip. It made our week away feel like a month away. It was glorious.

Warmly,

Kim

 

[perditax]

A couple of things to note. 1) Turn off automatic updates 2) Turn off background applications (i.e. weather and photo cloud services) 3) Turn off cellular services 4) Use only Wi-Fi 5) Make sure to get your free 50 on your first day 6) Do not purchase another package until the free package is used 7) Use a free messaging application to use for texting 8) On the Dream and Fantasy use the Navigator app for texting between people on ship (free and you don't have to carry the Wave phones) 9) Be wary of social media applications the updates will use considerable data (i.e. Facebook and embedded videos and photos) 10) Remember to put down the mobile device, you are on a cruise and rest of the world will be there back at port.

Can you give more detail on 5)? Thanks.

 

[SillyInventor]

Easy: just create an account on embarkation day for the Ship's internet and the first 50MB is free. How to do this is in your Navigator and the offer is only on embarkation day to collect, but the data can be used the entire cruise. If you just check some e-mails and switch off all other data usage you can pretty much live on this for a week.