So if I plan on using this Navigator app...

[Princessmama 2]

I turn my phone to airplane mode, then connect wifi to DCL guest. How do I make sure other apps aren't running in the background? Also, does airplane mode prevent my phone from receiving any emails and texts (I don't want to receive any). I only use my phone for pictures and maybe the app. I'm not a techie expert.

 

[wilkeliza]

You can turn off cell service on your phone and back ground app usages. However if you don't sign up for the internet package there is no need to worry. The internet will only work in the background for free unless you authorize a package to be purchased so no need to worry as long as it is in airplane mode.

 

[Cackyschmackers]

Hi We haven't cruised since they charged you for wifi, what do you get (if anything ) for free?

 

[wilkeliza]

Hi We haven't cruised since they charged you for wifi, what do you get (if anything ) for free?

The app is 100% free to use and you can text each other through that. You get a small package free as long as you sign up the first night.

 

[PurplePencil]

Hi We haven't cruised since they charged you for wifi, what do you get (if anything ) for free?

Use of the Navigator app with "DCL-Guest" is free, and you will not be charged
Almost always (under extreme circumstances other things occur) wifi costs money for anything but the navigator app, sometimes they run deals on the first day involving free wifi.

 

[Cackyschmackers]

Can anyone sign up for free? Or do you mean it's only free for a day or so? How reliable is it? My teens rely heavily on wifi of course, they're older now and all have devices as opposed to our previous cruises some years ago!

 

[wilkeliza]

Can anyone sign up for free? Or do you mean it's only free for a day or so? How reliable is it? My teens rely heavily on wifi of course, they're older now and all have devices as opposed to our previous cruises some years ago!

I believe it is per a state room and it is only free if you sign up the first day and until it lasts. It will not last very long. Your teens will either have to unplug or you will have to budget a lot for internet.

 

[Cackyschmackers]

Thanks, do you mean there are only so many users allowed and when they reach maximum you aren't able to sign up?

 

[jlynch924]

The only thing you can access for free on that wifi is the Navigator app. No surfing.

 

[wilkeliza]

Thanks, do you mean there are only so many users allowed and when they reach maximum you aren't able to sign up?

No everyone on the first night can sign up for the free package but the amount to get is very small only 50mbs. Also there is no guarantee they will be offering that. The other issue is if your kids have background apps updating or their friend sends them a massive file or photo then all the internet will be gone very fast.

Depending on your ports of call it may be best to find restaurants that have wifi included and tell your kids they can not update social media or use their internet unless they are at one of those places.

One big part of cruising is being disconnected from internet and cell phones.

 

[Geomom]

Thanks, do you mean there are only so many users allowed and when they reach maximum you aren't able to sign up?

There are 2 different things being talked about in this thread.

1. WiFi: On embarkation day, each stateroom can sign up and get 50MB for FREE to use for the length of their cruise. If you sign up after day 1, or you use up the 50 free MB, you can pay for other packages.

2. Navigator's App: This is free and runs on the ships wifi (for free). You put the phone in airplane mode, login to the app as DCL guest. It has a 'chat' function where you can text with other people on the ship if you have their code. It also has all the info on the ship--menus, activities, etc. We LOVED using the app on the Alaskan cruise and had no issues with it--got the texts from our kids with no problem. We have an LG phone.

 

[PrincessShmoo]

There are 2 different things being talked about in this thread.

1. WiFi: On embarkation day, each stateroom can sign up and get 50MB for FREE to use for the length of their cruise. If you sign up after day 1, or you use up the 50 free MB, you can pay for other packages.

2. Navigator's App: This is free and runs on the ships wifi (for free). You put the phone in airplane mode, login to the app as DCL guest. It has a 'chat' function where you can text with other people on the ship if you have their code. It also has all the info on the ship--menus, activities, etc. We LOVED using the app on the Alaskan cruise and had no issues with it--got the texts from our kids with no problem. We have an LG phone.

Thank you. I couldn't figure out how to explain it. I'm not real tech-y, but I knew there was a difference.

 

[Cackyschmackers]

Chat function sounds perfect. Just what we'll need, thank you for this info. I was waiting for someone to tell me to disconnect, easier said than done for a 13 yr old addicted to snap chat. Lol

 

[ivanp91]

Have things changed recently with the free 50MB (eg per stateroom, not per guest)?. Both my partner and I successfully got the free 50MB allowance EACH (same stateroom) on both of our last two cruises.

 

[JJZMgailey]

I not only put my phone on airplane mode, but I went into the settings under cellular and turned it off for all apps. I was afraid that Verizon would just use roaming or something and I'd come home to a $600 cell phone bill or something crazy like that. It was kind of a pain to go through the list of apps one by one, but it was the only way. Just got my phone bill and it was fine so doing that worked!

 

[wilkeliza]

Chat function sounds perfect. Just what we'll need, thank you for this info. I was waiting for someone to tell me to disconnect, easier said than done for a 13 yr old addicted to snap chat. Lol

Tell your 13 year old absolutely no snap chat! That will use up all their free data plus cost you a ton if they are constantly on it. If you can't trust them not to sneak internet on their phone then give them digital cameras and the wave phones and lock their cells in the safe. We have had to do it before with nieces and nephews.

 

[Cackyschmackers]

Tell your 13 year old absolutely no snap chat! That will use up all their free data plus cost you a ton if they are constantly on it. If you can't trust them not to sneak internet on their phone then give them digital cameras and the wave phones and lock their cells in the safe. We have had to do it before with nieces and nephews.

Thanks, no, I was kind of tongue-in-cheek kidding. She only uses snapchat on wifi (her data plan is only 30 MB a month!) , so she and i have become pretty savvy on only using wifi. I was just curious how much data you can get for free. I think we'll really only be using the app to chat with each other. For our previous cruises, we were always on airplane mode and just physically turned off cell data and push notifications and also roaming just to be safe (and did store them in the safe anyhow! ).

 

[Geomom]

Have things changed recently with the free 50MB (eg per stateroom, not per guest)?. Both my partner and I successfully got the free 50MB allowance EACH (same stateroom) on both of our last two cruises.

It's stated as per stateroom, but some people have successfully gotten it per guest.

 

[michellekcm]

Our last four cruises on the Magic (since May 2015 through to April this year) it was 50Mb per person free on the first day. I think I recall though that other ships were only offering per room.

It's stated as per stateroom, but some people have successfully gotten it per guest.

 

[Anchors Away 2016]

It's stated as per stateroom, but some people have successfully gotten it per guest.

Good point, Geomom! It is stated as per room, but it's not as if they don't know more than one person per room is applying for it. When my wife and I did it, we had to put in our name and our e-mail address. So they knew quite clearly that we were in the same room. Now, if we didn't each have an e-mail address, it might not have worked. So I think most people will find they can get 50 MB for each person, but I know some people have had trouble with that.

As for the free App, it is great. Like you, we mostly only used our phones for that App and for pictures (Too afraid to use up the free 50 MB to really use them much. Hahaha.) We used it to chat with our family members on board, to meet up with each other. And to check out upcoming activities and get more details on them. If you have two things you want to do at the same time, you can see if either of them is offered again later in the cruise. Some of our family members also enjoyed checking out the menus ahead of time. Great Seafood tomorrow? OK, I'll do steak tonight then! No chocolate dessert tonight? How about tomorrow?

We had a little trouble connecting to the App on Castaway Cay, but after an initial scare we found that it did work on most of the island.