Random Questions Cruise for Repeat Cruiser

[TiszBear]

Hi All! I am sorry if these questions have already been asked (maybe 1000's of times) but trying to go through the multiple threads has given me a headache. I fly out Monday for my cruise on the DVC Charter Wish Cruise Tuesday and this is the first DCL vacation since 2018 and I have a few questions. Again, I apologize if these have been asked before.
1. Now that I have to use the App on the phone (which is another topic for discussion) what do I need to do to my iphone settings? I don't want to get data charges. Also, what about text/email notifications. How do I turn those off? Also, can I still use the camera on the phone?
2. Muster Drill - what is the new procedure for the muster drill? I remember the "old" days of getting your life jackets and heading to your station. What is the new protocol?
3. I have DCL transfers Monday from the Disney resort we are staying at (which is a first - always have stayed at Hyatt MCO). Will I be notified at check in what time we will be picked up? What about luggage? I received my luggage tags but again, I am used to staying at Hyatt MCO and the pre Disney resort stay is new for me (used to it at the end of the cruise).

I think those are my main questions that I have been worrying/obsessing over. Any help you can give me I would appreciate.

Jennifer

 

[Calantha]

1. Now that I have to use the App on the phone (which is another topic for discussion) what do I need to do to my iphone settings? I don't want to get data charges. Also, what about text/email notifications. How do I turn those off? Also, can I still use the camera on the phone?
2. Muster Drill - what is the new procedure for the muster drill? I remember the "old" days of getting your life jackets and heading to your station. What is the new protocol?

1. I just turn on airplane mode and then enable Wi-Fi to connect to the network. Camera will work fine. Don't know how to disable notifications, mine came through on the last cruise and I didn't have any associated charges. If iMessage isn't working, I don't think you'll get any push notifications.
2. You have the location in the App and you go there and scan the QR code to show you've been there. Later in the afternoon, you'll watch a video on the TV.

 

[Akck]

1. Just place your phone in airplane mode, turn on WiFi if it was turned off and connect to the ship’s WiFi. You can also turn off data roaming. Your camera can be used during your cruise.

2. Once you board the ship, they’ll direct you to your muster station. You go there and use the DCL app to take a picture of your muster station letter. You then watch the video in your room or at any other tv available.

3. At some point, they’ll drop a letter off letting you know where and when to meet. They’ll also schedule a time to pick up your luggage. They like you to arrive 30 minutes before your scheduled pick up time as the time they give you is supposedly the time the bus leaves.

 

[ShablamE]

Unfortunately it's not as easy as just putting your phone in airplane mode and turning on Wifi if you have an iPhone, can't speak for Android. It's been several years since I've dealt with it but I know if you have email retrieval on then you need to disable that or you will constantly be using data as your phone attempts to retrieve email. You also need to disable background app refresh if that's enabled or you'll be burning data that way as well. Apps that have location services enabled (not just while in use) will also cause issues.

 

[Akck]

Unfortunately it's not as easy as just putting your phone in airplane mode and turning on Wifi if you have an iPhone, can't speak for Android. It's been several years since I've dealt with it but I know if you have email retrieval on then you need to disable that or you will constantly be using data as your phone attempts to retrieve email. You also need to disable background app refresh if that's enabled or you'll be burning data that way as well. Apps that have location services enabled (not just while in use) will also cause issues.

These are important if you’re buying a data plan on the ship, as you’ll go through that data, quickly. If you’re not buying a data plan, nothing should be updating.

 

[ShablamE]

These are important if you’re buying a data plan on the ship, as you’ll go through that data, quickly. If you’re not buying a data plan, nothing should be updating.

But every stateroom get's a small amount of free data allocated, if you have any thought that you might need that data for something then you would want to make these changes. If not then sure I guess it doesn't matter.

 

[Calantha]

But every stateroom get's a small amount of free data allocated, if you have any thought that you might need that data for something then you would want to make these changes

That's true. When logged into the free data - all of the background apps etc should be turned off, as described earlier. If one isn't logging into use the free data, everything is blocked.

 

[Carohs]

That's true. When logged into the free data - all of the background apps etc should be turned off, as described earlier. If one isn't logging into use the free data, everything is blocked.

This. We had every background thing turned off that we could think of, but still managed to used up the free data very quickly. We learned we had to log off from the free data plan and that would actually block our usage.