Please help me refine some step-by-step instructions for onboard tasks

[brentm77]

All, my wife is taking her first cruise without me and is nervous about signing up for the internet on board. I asked AI to make easy-to-follow instructions for that, and a couple of items I normally do for us, since she has never done them. She will be sailing the Fantasy. Please let me know if you see anything wrong in the instructions or where it can be more clear. I am particularly concerned about if it is accurate about where things are in the app, since finding the room service menu last time seemed like it was intentionally buried.

- For the internet, I do think I set up a PIN when I bought internet for her in the past, so I will add it to the instructions. For laundry - the Fantasy uses the kiosks on the wall now, like the Magic and Wonder, right? Or is it still on each machine?

- For the laundry, I know the instructions sound like they are for someone who hasn't done laundry, but I thought having the order of doing things can't hurt, so I left it that way. Any other instructions that would be helpful for someone who has cruised a lot, but not taken care of some of the technical stuff? She knows how to tip/increase the tip.

Signing up for Internet

• Install the app: Download the Disney Cruise Line Navigator app from the App Store and install it on your iPhone before your cruise.
• Prepare your phone: Before you board the ship, put your phone in airplane mode. Then, turn Wi-Fi back on. This will prevent your phone from using cellular data and incurring roaming charges.
• Connect to Wi-Fi: On your iPhone, open the Settings app (gray gear icon). Tap on Wi-Fi and select the DCL-GUEST Wi-Fi network.
• Open the Navigator app: Once connected to the Wi-Fi, open the Disney Cruise Line Navigator app.
• Find the "Connect to Internet" card: Look for this card on the app's main menu and tap it. This will open a separate browser within the app.
• Choose your internet package:
  • Select the internet package that best suits your needs.
  • If you've purchased internet on a previous Disney cruise, you may be prompted to enter your existing PIN.
  • If this is your first time, you'll be asked to create a new PIN.
  • Follow the remaining instructions to complete your purchase.

***************
Laundry
Finding a Laundry Room:

• Laundry rooms are located on Decks 2, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, and 10 of the Disney Fantasy. Check the Disney Cruise Line Navigator app for the closest one to your stateroom. It might be easier to go up or down a floor to a nearby laundry room instead of walking to the far end of your own floor.

Purchasing Wash/Dry Cycles:

1. Locate the Kiosk: Find the laundry payment kiosk on the wall of the laundry room.
2. Use Your Key to the World Card: Tap your Key to the World card on the kiosk reader.
3. Select and Purchase: Follow the on-screen instructions to purchase the desired number of wash and dry cycles. These are added to your Key to the World card as credits.

Washing:

1. Check Machine Availability.
2. Activate Machine: Swipe your Key to the World card at the reader on the washer to activate it.
3. Add Detergent: You can bring your own detergent or purchase single-use packets from a vending machine in the laundry room.
4. Load Clothes and Close Door: Load your clothes into the washer and close the door securely.
5. Select Cycle: Press the "Start" button on the washer and choose your desired wash cycle. There are options for whites, colors, delicates, etc.
6. Start the Washer: Once you've selected your cycle, press the "Start" button again to begin the wash.

Drying:

1. Check Dryer Availability.
2. Activate Machine: Swipe your Key to the World card at the reader on the dryer to activate it.
3. Transfer Clothes: Once the washer is finished, promptly move your clothes to the dryer.
4. Close Door and Select Cycle: Close the dryer door securely and select your desired drying cycle (low, medium, high).
5. Start the Dryer: Press the "Start" button to begin the drying cycle.

Important Notes:

• Ironing: Irons and ironing boards are available in the laundry rooms.
• Supplies: Vending machines in the laundry rooms sell detergent, dryer sheets, and fabric softener.
• Notifications: The Disney Cruise Line Navigator app should send you a notification when your wash and dry cycles are complete. However, this feature isn't always reliable, so it's a good idea to check on your laundry based on the estimated time on the machine.

Of course! Here are the full instructions with the corrected information about the Room Service menu:

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Onboard the Ship:

• Muster Drill: Attend the mandatory muster drill (safety briefing) shortly after boarding. The app will tell you when and where. There are signs for each location, but ask cast members and they will point you in the right direction.
• Dining Rotation: Find your dining rotation (assigned restaurants and times) on the main page of the Navigator app, or by tapping the "Dining" icon and then selecting "My Dining Rotation." This shows you which restaurant you'll be dining in each night and at what time.
• Activities: Explore the Navigator app to see the daily schedule of activities, shows, character meet-and-greets, and more. You can star the ones you want to go to and the phone should notify you before they start.
• Deck Plans: Use the deck plans in the Navigator app to navigate the ship and find your way around.
• Room Service: You can find the Room Service menu by tapping the "Dining" icon in the Navigator app, then selecting "Room Service." Use the phone in your stateroom to place an order.

 

[dad of 3 addicted to DCL]

Find the "Connect to Internet" card:

I too am the guy for all this. I've always found the "Connect to Internet" after tapping "More" from the main screen in the app. Also, when selecting the package, she'll select how many devices and for how long (daily or whole voyage).

 

[insureman]

Ha! If I gave this cheat sheet to my wife she'd crumple it up and tell me I'm mansplaining again.

 

[brentm77]

Ha! If I gave this cheat sheet to my wife she'd crumple it up and tell me I'm mansplaining again.

Ha. She has anxiety about going since she is used to me doing a lot of the technical stuff when we travel. Having step by step instructions will help her with the anxiety, even though she would figure it out without them. It's just for her peace of mind.

P.S. You should see my detailed itineraries! They are works of art to me, but would make some people laugh.

 

[Mommb]

For the Muster Drill, the location should also be on the inside of the stateroom door. It may be easier to find there than in the app.

Similarly, there are maps of the ship in each elevator lobby that can help with orientation. I find looking at these more useful than opening the app, since it is easier to see directions relative to where I am at the time.

 

[jdb in AZ]

For the laundry -- just pack extra undies and call it good. If she gets desperate she can send her clothes out to be laundered.

 

[brentm77]

Thanks everyone for the valuable corrections and tips. I updated the instructions and simplified the laundry instructions.

Does anyone remember the steps you take in the app to get to your billing ledger so you can keep an eye on it for accuracy?


Signing up for Internet

• Install the app: Download the Disney Cruise Line Navigator app from the App Store and install it on your iPhone before your cruise.
• Prepare your phone: Before you board the ship, put your phone in airplane mode. Then, turn Wi-Fi back on. This will prevent your phone from using cellular data and incurring roaming charges.
• Connect to Wi-Fi: On your iPhone, open the Settings app (gray gear icon). Tap on Wi-Fi and select the DCL-GUEST Wi-Fi network.
• Open the Navigator app: Once connected to the Wi-Fi, open the Disney Cruise Line Navigator app.
• Click "More" on the main screen of the app.
• Find the "Connect to Internet" card: Look for this card on the app's main menu and tap it. This will open a separate browser within the app.
  • Select the internet package that best suits your needs (selecting one person and that you want the package for the duration of the cruise. The lower-speed package is usually what we buy).
  • If you've purchased internet on a previous Disney cruise, you may be prompted to enter your existing PIN.
  • If this is your first time, you'll be asked to create a new PIN.
  • Follow the remaining instructions to complete your purchase.

***************
Laundry
For laundry, you can send it out to be done in the laundry bag. You can also send clothes for pressing or dry cleaning. There will be a paper form in the room to complete and put with the bag.

For self-laundry:
Finding a Laundry Room:

• Laundry rooms are located on Decks 2, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, and 10 of the Disney Fantasy. Check the Disney Cruise Line Navigator app for the closest one to your stateroom. It might be easier to go up or down a floor to a nearby laundry room instead of walking to the far end of your own floor.

Using the Machines:

1. Locate the Kiosk: Find the laundry payment kiosk on the wall of the laundry room.
2. Use Your Key to the World Card: Tap your Key to the World card on the kiosk reader.
3. Select and Purchase: Follow the on-screen instructions to purchase the desired number of wash and dry cycles. These are added to your Key to the World card as credits.
4. Find a Machine: Load an empty machine, swipe your Key to the World card on the little screen in front of the machine, press the "Start" button on the washer and choose your desired wash cycle. There are options for whites, colors, delicates, etc., the press start again.

Other Notes

• Ironing: Irons and ironing boards are available in the laundry rooms.
• Supplies: Vending machines in the laundry rooms sell detergent, dryer sheets, and fabric softener.
• Notifications: The Disney Cruise Line Navigator app should send you a notification when your wash and dry cycles are complete. However, this feature isn't always reliable, so it's a good idea to check on your laundry based on the estimated time on the machine.

*****************************
Onboard the Ship:

• Muster Drill: The muster drill location will be on the inside of your stateroom door. You can also find it in the app. There are signs for each location, but ask cast members and they will point you in the right direction.
• Dining Rotation: Find your dining rotation (assigned restaurants and times) on the main page of the Navigator app, or by tapping the "Dining" icon and then selecting "My Dining Rotation." This shows you which restaurant you'll be dining in each night and at what time.
• Activities: Explore the Navigator app to see the daily schedule of activities, shows, character meet-and-greets, and more. You can star the ones you want to go to and the phone should notify you before they start.
• Deck Plans: Use the deck plans in the Navigator app to navigate the ship and find your way around.
• Room Service: You can find the Room Service menu by tapping the "Dining" icon in the Navigator app, then selecting "Room Service." Use the phone in your stateroom to place an order.

 

[Mathmagicland]

All, my wife is taking her first cruise without me and is nervous about signing up for the internet on board

When is she sailing? I will be on the Fantasy next week and am happy to “test drive” this info for you. If your instructions need to be “literal”, then I’m seeing a couple of minor things I think might want to be updated under Dining rotation and Activities.

 

[brentm77]

When is she sailing? I will be on the Fantasy next week and am happy to “test drive” this info for you. If your instructions need to be “literal”, then I’m seeing a couple of minor things I think might want to be updated under Dining rotation and Activities.

Thank you for the offer, but she is actually on the same sailing! She needed some sunshine and a break, so we looked around for an easy option for her and found a last-minute GTY rate that seemed like a good deal, so she booked it with another family member. It was interesting because the GTY verandah room was less than the inside and porthole rooms (even compared to their GTY rates). She also assigned a family deluxe room two days after booking, so we are pretty happy with how it turned out.

Do you know how the Facebook group for this cruise is? I thought I might jump on last minute for her and keep an eye on it, since she doesn't usually participate.

 

[Mathmagicland]

Thank you for the offer, but she is actually on the same sailing! She needed some sunshine and a break, so we looked around for an easy option for her and found a last-minute GTY rate that seemed like a good deal, so she booked it with another family member. It was interesting because the GTY verandah room was less than the inside and porthole rooms (even compared to their GTY rates). She also assigned a family deluxe room two days after booking, so we are pretty happy with how it turned out.

Do you know how the Facebook group for this cruise is? I thought I might jump on last minute for her and keep an eye on it, since she doesn't usually participate.

Sorry I’m not on FB so can’t help you there.

A few things from my memory banks-

Internet -

The app usually works in the terminal, so she can try connecting to the guest wifi there if she wants after going to airplane mode.

She will need to set up a PIN the first time she logs in to the app, for shops, drinks, etc,

iMessage to other Apple devices anywhere not just on board will work while on the guest wifi without buying an internet package, if that will save her from having to sign up for internet. Think blue texts rather than green texts (how I explain it to my dad)

Be sure App notifications are enabled, so she will get reminders 15 minutes in advance for dining, shows, muster, and anything she has marked as a Favorite. This helps a lot with not having to remember her dining rotation.

Refresh the app two or three times a day - once first thing and again later, as things can be added, updates, or deleted.

She can always go to Guest Services for help with the app, I’ve seen them help many a guest


Laundry -

When I was last on the Dream in the spring, while the payment kiosks were still in the laundry rooms the Card scanners had been removed and cards had to be scanned at each machine to pay as it was used. There was a black velcro patch with no device attached. If the kiosks still have scanners and she ends up not using all of her laundry tokens, she will be refunded to her account for unused ones at the end of the cruise

Onboard -

On embarkation day, the muster station letter was on the app home page. It is also on her Key card.

Dining. - is not on the main page of the app. Have to tap the three lines in the lower right of the home page to get to More Info, the dining info will be in a box on the upper left, she will want to make note of her table number which is only found there, it will be same table each night.

Activities- tap the Heart, not the star, to mark favorites for the reminder.

She will get Notifications from guest services re things onboard, port days, etc. To read them tap the Speech box (like from a comic strip ) in upper right of the app and it will take her there, there will be a red dot when she has an unread notification.

You’d asked about shipboard account - it is found under those same three lines in the lower right corner of the app home page, then it will say something about account. There are two options with similar wording, if she doesn’t see her charges in the first one then pick the other one. Guest services will also send a notification on second to last day to check the account and how to send a copy of needed (I usually just screen shot it) to verify it before debarkation.

If she is platinum or higher, she will get guest services reminder to order her platinum perk.

Hope she has fun!

 

[Mathmagicland]

Thank you for the offer, but she is actually on the same sailing! She needed some sunshine and a break, so we looked around for an easy option for her and found a last-minute GTY rate that seemed like a good deal, so she booked it with another family member. It was interesting because the GTY verandah room was less than the inside and porthole rooms (even compared to their GTY rates). She also assigned a family deluxe room two days after booking, so we are pretty happy with how it turned out.

Do you know how the Facebook group for this cruise is? I thought I might jump on last minute for her and keep an eye on it, since she doesn't usually participate.

A couple more things -

From app home page, need to tap Explore (I think this is the second option from left of the four along the bottom of the screen). This will get her to the daily activity schedule. She can toggle to different days at the top of that next screen to see what is happening each day.

This Explore page is also where she will find the ship deck plans, toggle to each deck from the icon in upper left of the screen.