New one sheet Personal Navigators - Update: Mixed reports currently, what is your recent experience?

[MUN]

Can no one have a different approach to there vacation that may be negatively impacted by this and perhaps not just looking for something to complain about ? I personally don't own a smart phone and don't care to, use one for work but do not take it on personal trips. I respect others comments and am following along to see if there are going to be other options available on-board.

No one is going to be negatively impacted by this. The grid with all of the activities will be available every day on paper. They are simply streamlining the Navigator.

 

[m3owbox]

The app is very convenient for me as I use my phone for a camera. Honestly if I didn't use the app I would probably just leave my phone in the room and forget to take pictures the whole time. They fixed the texting feature on it as well, it works quite nicely now.

 

[TestingH2O]

Hmmm. I have mixed emotions about this.

Honestly, I really only used the center page after our first cruise. However, seeing the full thing each night was always fun.

Looking at these samples, I see the things I used most frequently are included on the back (hours, characters, etc.) Is the weather there too?

ETA: The thing that's really missing from the abbreviated version is any description of club/lab activities. I've said before I'd like to see a catalogue of these, and this shorter version makes me want that even more. Even if you could click on the name of the activity in the app to get a description would help.

 

[RedSox68]

Can no one have a different approach to there vacation that may be negatively impacted by this and perhaps not just looking for something to complain about ? I personally don't own a smart phone and don't care to, use one for work but do not take it on personal trips. I respect others comments and am following along to see if there are going to be other options available on-board.

Thank you!

 

[RedSox68]

Just the internal wifi that the ships have.

Don't they charge for WiFi?

I know, how am I going to scrapbook the app?!?

I do use the app, but often miss things on it as it's not as easy to read, or I think things are somethings different to what they are. The highlights in the full navigator have led me to try things I wouldn't have based on just reading the app.

Exactly

 

[Geomom]

Don't they charge for WiFi?

The wifi is free for the app only. While in airplane mode, you log into the app as DCLguest.

 

[Geomom]

ETA: The thing that's really missing from the abbreviated version is any description of club/lab activities. I've said before I'd like to see a catalogue of these, and this shorter version makes me want that even more. Even if you could click on the name of the activity in the app to get a description would help.

We used the app in August for our Alaskan cruise, when you click on the activity, it gives you a description, as well as telling you ALL the days/times it is offered during the cruise. That part was especially helpful for the movies and characters we wanted to meet.

 

[Neptune's Fork]

We don't use phones either. Paper navigators and highlighters is how we roll. However, I am okay with going one sheet for the calendar to cut down on paper. I was on Dream this past weekend and thought that they had done away with Navigators for 3 night cruises only. As long as they don't take away the schedule part of the Navigator, I am good with the change.

Is the bottom of your signature accurate? i.e. this Saturday you'll be sailing out on the Fantasy? If so, you must be getting pretty jazzed at this point.

 

[gismo1554]

The only thing I will miss is the descriptions. Sometimes the one page just doesn't have any info on that tells me about the activity and due to eye condition, looking at the app on a phone is difficult and I wont be bringing an iPad just for that! I know it saves paper and most of these get thrown away but I really do find it easier than trying to zoom in on an app to read things. oh and yes I carry a magnifying glass to read the navigator but not one to read my phone as I don't use it that much. I guess I will need to on the next cruise and no it wont ruin my vacation but will make things a little more awkward. I wonder if guest services might be able to suggest something.

 

[gismo1554]

I don't see everyone onboard having the app and I do wonder about that fine print for elderly and people with sight issues. I wonder if they have an enlarged version for those people?

In the past they have given me a large print of the grid page only when I've requested them and not of the Navigator itself. They also do large print menus in the restaurants. I'm not 100% sure whether they did large print for the main navigator and didn't give me one as I said they weren't too bad text wise or not but I always take my magnifier as the text is way too small and writing on top of pictures is really hard with my eye condition. They have always been really good though at sorting things so maybe they have a solution to the app problem - maybe there's an accessible version??

They could have a request process where if you want it you ask for it the first day maybe?

 

[Sytrace]

Is the bottom of your signature accurate? i.e. this Saturday you'll be sailing out on the Fantasy? If so, you must be getting pretty jazzed at this point.

Yes, it is accurate. And yes, I am jazzed.

 

[RedSox68]

Yes, it is accurate. And yes, I am jazzed.

And then you will be Platinum. Congrats -- and have a great trip.

 

[Sytrace]

Thank you! So excited.

 

[saxmangeoff]

I know, how am I going to scrapbook the app?!?

Screenshots.

 

[bumbershoot]

Also, turndown chocolates are now DCL branded Ghirardelli milk chocolate instead of the generic milk in the Sleepy wrap.

Oh thank goodness. Those sleepy chocolates were horrid. They could still do better than G, but it's a bit of an improvement!

I said it on the other thread that DCL often likes to be seen as premium product above other mainstream cruise lines

They dumped that at the time that they changed the booze rules. Told us flat out that they were changing to be in line with the other mainstream lines. We can give up the idea that they think they are above the rest, since they told us they aren't.

Wouldn't the app require wifi? I really am just wondering.

When using the app you are using only the free wifi.

I like to highlight what we want to do and carrying it around to check it all day. I am also of the gang who turns off her phone and doesn't look back. Isn't that what cruises are for? LOL

The page you likely carry around is the page they are still giving out.

Having a device with the app isn't any more connection than carrying the paper and talking with your traveling companions. It doesn't plunk you into Facebook. It's the same info as is on the paper (but all at once so you know if jack sparrow will meet today AND tomorrow) and the only people you can communicate with are the people onboard with you.

The thing that's really missing from the abbreviated version is any description of club/lab activities.

When was that ever on the navigators? We had four DCL cruises between early 2013 and late 2014 and we had to find out what "get the hook" was by DS going to the lab and finding out. Etc.

The wifi is free for the app only. While in airplane mode, you log into the app as DCLguest.

Yep.

 

[bcwife76]

I liked the app, don't think we used it to its full potential on our last cruise so I guess we will be using it more on our upcoming cruises. Having said that, I kind of liked the whole paper navigator as well, it was fun to sit down at night and look it over to see what was coming up the next day. Darn it, I'm no help with my opinions, on the fence again

 

[RedSox68]

I sent Disney an email about our disappointment and how we will miss the original navigators and resent that they require people to use the App when many of us don't want to or don't have the equipment to, or simply don't want to bring our phones. It probably won't make a difference, but it made me feel better

 

[canyoncam]

Haven't read all posts here. I was dissapointed too, not that I really thought you needed all that other info. Even though we had navigator apps some had trouble using them, both learning issues and tech issues. Also no where on that one sheet page was a drink of the day listed. I am only noticing thus now as I didn't even do the DotD on the ship as this was not a drinking cruise for me, but just now noticed as I was unpacking.

Was pleased with the Ghiradelli chocolates though !

 

[jeepnjudy]

Also, turndown chocolates are now DCL branded Ghirardelli milk chocolate instead of the generic milk in the Sleepy wrap.

Not to get off topic but YUMMMMMMMMM!!!

 

[PrincessShmoo]

Haven't read all posts here. I was dissapointed too, not that I really thought you needed all that other info. Even though we had navigator apps some had trouble using them, both learning issues and tech issues. Also no where on that one sheet page was a drink of the day listed. I am only noticing thus now as I didn't even do the DotD on the ship as this was not a drinking cruise for me, but just now noticed as I was unpacking.

Was pleased with the Ghiradelli chocolates though !

On the back of the grid page in the upper right it has the dinner menu/drink of the day/weather