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

[professorandmom]

I have all my Paper Navigators as well (except my very first cruise were I let my friend keep them and didn't know about asking for a second set), like many of you have mentioned. They are free souvenirs. I keep my papers from other cruise lines as well, and know I am not the only one to do so for them. Carnival has a huge following who keep thier "Compass" papers, which are not nearly as pretty and neat as Navigators were. If Carnival was to go this route I know lots of people would be upset.

BUT it is the way things are moving. You have the information you need still provided on the one sheet. What I pointed out as not listed is still available by asking crew the night before hand or reading the posted signs. I have kept all the different binders and papers from all my cruises and these have changed and we got used to it though we bemoan the change at first. Some things I really miss even to this day but we must accept it is unlikely DCL will respond to going back to a full Navigator.

Just gonna post my first kept Navigator here to show how it had improved until now. Notice no one page convenient pull out time sheet. But still a fun reminder of what was going on.

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The "old" navigators were separated by age: kids got different ones based on which space they were in... Yup, just reflecting back through my old scrap books

 

[Flossbolna]

The "old" navigators were separated by age: kids got different ones based on which space they were in... Yup, just reflecting back through my old scrap books

Wow, how complicated!! But what a lovely service.

 

[canyoncam]

I honestly don't think they will ever get rid of paper navigators altogether. At least not anytime in the near future. Too many people do not want to use devices on vacation plus too many times the tech fails.

 

[Sleepyluke]

Great, more people tied a stupid phone!!!!

Yes I know you can put a ton of information on there, but don't turn our "Wonderful Magical Fantasy Dream World" into the reality we are paying way too much to get away from.

This is what I love about cruising, until recently nothing on them worked so they did not need to get out of anyone's safe.

 

[darkpixie08]

This seems pretty reasonable to me. People who like having a paper navigator will still have a schedule they can look at over in the evenings and plan around, or people can use their phones if that's their preference. It seems like all they did was cut out the filler info on the dailies, so the trees get a break too.

It doesn't seem like there's too terribly much to get worked up about.

 

[Dug720]

I'm not trying to be contrary, but I do want to point out that a smart phone is not the only way to get the App. Any wifi enabled device (on ios or android, apparently) will give you free access to the App. So most tablets, and even an old, second-hand iPod touch (like my 12 YO niece used on our recent trip) would be sufficient. This gives you access to the whole week's schedule, all the descriptions of all the events, and all of the menus for each day. And there is also the free messaging that the App provides.

I still enjoyed the full paper Navigator and agree that I would like to see them kept, but I think the App is also helpful.

Not everyone has tablets or old iPod touches either. You couldn't pay me to get a stupid tablet to carry around, and my old iPod nano works just fine thank you very much.

I do have a smartphone - but I don't choose to have it on while cruising. Cruising is a BREAK from the world. (Of course the last time I came back and found out that the world had gone crazy (I like another term, but the censors on the boards don't) for a stupid video game on smartphones - and I wanted to get back in my little bubble. Yuck!!)

 

[mevelandry]

This makes me pretty sad. The pretty Navigators were always my favorite "free" souvenir. The ones given to me definitely didn't end up as "paper waste," lol. In fact the only navigator I don't have from all my cruises is the grid insert from the first day of my very first cruise. All the others are neatly tucked away in plastic sleeves in a binder. I will definitely let DCL know that this disappoints me. I feel so old, but I'm only 21 and I still prefer looking at printed books as opposed to ebooks or stuff on my phone. So the app will be less convenient for me, and I promise I'm not looking for something to whine about.

Side note, it's not even that only people with smartphones can download the app, which does suck because (gasp!) there are still LOTS of people who don't use smartphones. But my parents have smartphones that run a Windows OS (hey, they were cheap and they work fine for email and Google searches/maps, they just can't download all the apps). The cruise app is only available for android and ios (I know the frustration first hand because I used to have a Windows phone as well).

Oh shoot. My in-laws don't have a smart phone either. I'm starting to wonder if I should not just get a sim card for my old phone so they can have a phone on the cruise...

 

[anricat]

Oh shoot. My in-laws don't have a smart phone either. I'm starting to wonder if I should not just get a sim card for my old phone so my step parents can have a phone on the cruise...

You don't need a SIM to use the internal wi-fi on the cruise. You just need an Apple or Android device that has an OS current enough to run the Navigator app.

 

[MerrittFamily]

I actually just finished (a few days ago) a post-cruise survey that DCL emailed me. One of the questions mentioned possibly charging a "small fee" for those without smartphones/tablets to rent a device for the purpose of accessing their app.

 

[adSimba]

I actually just finished (a few days ago) a post-cruise survey that DCL emailed me. One of the questions mentioned possibly charging a "small fee" for those without smartphones/tablets to rent a device for the purpose of accessing their app.

no, just no

 

[MerrittFamily]

no, just no

I believe that was similar to my response! I feel that if they do away with the printed navigators, they shouldn't require people to pay for devices to use the app. If nothing else, have the ability for guest to go to guest services and request printed copies for their room.

 

[gismo1554]

I believe that was similar to my response! I feel that if they do away with the printed navigators, they shouldn't require people to pay for devices to use the app. If nothing else, have the ability for guest to go to guest services and request printed copies for their room.

As someone disabled I would rather have this option because quite frankly it would make things easier. I have emailed DCL to ask what the arrangements are for visual disabilities as I find the app isn't large enough and can't seem to work out how to get it bigger. Don't really want to have to carry my phone and a magnifier around with me just to check whats going on.

 

[squirk]

One of the questions mentioned possibly charging a "small fee" for those without smartphones/tablets to rent a device for the purpose of accessing their app.

That sounds pretty stupid. I am guessing that folks who don't already carry some form of iOS or Android smart device are not looking to start learning how to use one on a cruise.

Plus, I would bet there'd be some hefty fee if the device was lost/damaged, so you'd have to worry about that, too, while you are toting this device around. I mean, if they are charging $250 loss/damage fee for those antiquated Wave Phones, can you imagine what they'd charge even for a lower-end Android device?

Just do what @Dug720 said - continue to enhance the app for those of us who prefer that medium; leave the one-sheets in all the rooms; print a limited quantity of the more detailed Navigators that guests can pick up at GS or "opt-in" with via their stateroom attendant. Everybody gets what they want on some level; printing costs and waste are drastically reduced.

Maybe the more detailed Navigators that you pick up at GS can be re-branded as a mini daily newspaper, allowing DCL to print on thinner cheaper newspaper stock, perhaps reducing cost and paper use even more?

 

[mevelandry]

You don't need a SIM to use the internal wi-fi on the cruise. You just need an Apple or Android device that has an OS current enough to run the Navigator app.

Really? That is worth a try!

 

[squirk]

Really? That is worth a try!

Yep. SIMs are primarily to connect with a cellular carrier. Our kids use our old iPhones and iPad around the house - we took the SIMs out and the devices work just fine on our wi-fi.

 

[RedSox68]

I believe that was similar to my response! I feel that if they do away with the printed navigators, they shouldn't require people to pay for devices to use the app. If nothing else, have the ability for guest to go to guest services and request printed copies for their room.

I think a lot of people would resent being required to either bring or rent a device just to find out what the daily activities onboard are! With what they charge, I do not believe it is a lot to ask for a lousy sheet of paper once a day for those of us who are "technologically impaired" (so to speak) and are perfectly fine that way.

 

[2Bnºoºt2B]

An app just doesn't provide the visual landscape that one has when reading something on paper ... swipe to the next menu then to the next menu ... oops swipe back ... now where do I go to get info on what I need ... all on a little tiny screen ... whereas on a paper Navigator you're not limited to the tunnel vision of information that an app provides and you can quickly visually sweep from one area to another to get the info you need. And don't we spend enough time already hunched over our phones ...

On the other hand the amount of paper generated to produce the Navigators is mind-boggling. Recycle bins should be made available for passengers to drop off all the unnecessary inserts etc that bombard us ... not sure what the happy medium is ... maybe every stateroom can be provided with a tablet that can replace the paper Navigator ...

 

[squirk]

On the other hand the amount of paper generated to produce the Navigators is mind-boggling.

875 staterooms on both Wonder and Magic. 1250 staterooms on Dream and Fantasy. 4250 staterooms total.
For the sake of easy math, lets just say each ship spends 350 days at sea per year. 4250 x 350 = 1,487,500 Navigators per year.
The outer page of the Navigator is actually 11"x17" (the equivalent of two 8.5"x11" pieces of paper). 1,487,500 x 2 = 2,975,000

So by doing this, they are saving almost three million pieces of paper (almost six thousand 500-page reams) PLUS the associated operating expense to print on that paper (ink, electricity, assembly, etc.). It might be just a drop in the bucket, but I am happy to move to an app to help DCL inch toward being more "green".

 

[HappilyEverAfter80]

I just received feedback (email) from DCL advising the One page paper Navigator is a test only at this point. So if you are not happy (or happy) about this change, I encourage you to let them know.
As I said before I like the Navigator app, but I also like to disconnect from my phone/ipad on the cruise. I am usually glued to it at home 24/7, it's nice not to be at Sea. Love the full Navigator even though I also love technology. I kept them all as souvenirs and I like to read the highlights etc. I am really ok either way, the one page is OK but I prefer the full one. My opinion is they should have both options available. I am definitely not getting all worked up about it, just stating my preference like many others have.

 

[RobWreck]

With my cruise now 29 days away, I sent the following comment to DCL and got the following response...

"i just learned that DCL has changed from the full printed Navigator we
enjoys on past cruises to now a heavy reliance on an app and just a 1
page printed chart. I am VERY disappointed in this change. Neither I nor
my wife have a smartphone, so when we spend our two weeks on the Fantasy
(also reservation XXXXXXX), how are we supposed to get all the
information we would have previously gotten in the Navigator? Will full
printouts be available at the front desk or am I resigned to missing out
on opportunities and information during my $7000+ vacation simply
because I don't have a smartphone?

Please come up with a fix before my October 22 sailing..."

Their response was...

"Dear XXXXXXXX,

Thank you for contacting Disney Cruise Line.

I would be happy to assist you.

A test is taking place onboard the ships with the Personal Navigators.
On the day of embarkation, Guests will receive the four page Personal
Navigator that has always been provided. All the other days of the
cruise, Guests will receive a one page information list specific for
that day.

At this time, no definite decision has been made on whether the changes
will be implemented on a continuous basis.

We look forward to sailing again with you!

Have a Wonderful Day.

Wilma
Email Guest Services
Disney Cruise Line"

So, it is just currently a test. While I could understand DCL wanting to save money by minimizing the printing, I know that sitting at home looking at our old Navigators definitely influenced our decision to do our upcoming cruise instead of going to Hawaii. Having that tangible souvenir as a reminder of the fun times we had pays dividends for Disney by way of returning customers. Put that paper in my hand... or at least make it an option for people to pick up at guest services.