Whats App

[tinkerone]

I have read conflicting information on if the What's App works on board the ships. We will be on a B2B and I don't want to purchase WiFi if I don't need to. I may or may not need to get messages from home due to medical reasons so my question is, would it work to send and receive messages without the need to purchase?
It's all a bit confusing for me so thanks for any help.

 

[cruisehopeful]

Whatsapp worked great for me for messaging between my petsitter and myself. Pictures didn't always go through, but messages always did.

Edit to say that it worked without the ship WiFi.

 

[katiec786]

Everything I have seen confirms that WhatsApp will work on the standard DCL network without purchasing a WiFi package - messages only, not pictures. Our cruise FB group has set up a WhatsApp group so we can shout out things like pin trading and whale sightings while onboard

 

[Disneyworldlocal]

WhatsApp has always worked for us on just the ship WiFi.

 

[OKW Lover]

I've never tried WhatsApp but have had no difficulty using the standard Apple Messenger ap without a DCL WiFi plan. Can't sent pictures but plain old text messages work just fine.

 

[Bad Pink Tink 2.0]

I have used WhatsApp on The Magic, The Dream and The Fantasy. Text works perfectly, video and pictures don't. I haven't tried voice or video calling. I turn my phone to Flight Mode and turn on WIFI to use the free Disney internet for the Disney App.

 

[tinkerone]

I've never tried WhatsApp but have had no difficulty using the standard Apple Messenger ap without a DCL WiFi plan. Can't sent pictures but plain old text messages work just fine.

That is good to know. I never thought about Messenger possibly working. I'm taking my IPad but not an Apple phone but Messenger is the same on both so if one works the other should.
Thanks!

 

[DisneyBelle_x]

Used WhatsApp with no issues (free Wi-Fi) on Magic, Wonder, Dream, Fantasy & Wish, we were even able to send & receive photos and videos during our 2 Fantasy sailings last year but not found that works on other ships for some odd reason. Also used iMessage multiple times but find if I’m at sea for a good few days I have issues with it signing me out at times and won’t work again until I have full internet access

 

[NAB]

That is good to know. I never thought about Messenger possibly working. I'm taking my IPad but not an Apple phone but Messenger is the same on both so if one works the other should.
Thanks!

Apple messenger isn’t a given . I could not get it to work for a while now.

WhatsApp works great no wifi needed. The person at home will have to have the app . You can select anyone that’s on the app with you. Like some one said the fb groups can talk to each other using a link for the group.

 

[NAB]

Used WhatsApp with no issues (free Wi-Fi) on Magic, Wonder, Dream, Fantasy & Wish, we were even able to send & receive photos and videos during our 2 Fantasy sailings last year but not found that works on other ships for some odd reason. Also used iMessage multiple times but find if I’m at sea for a good few days I have issues with it signing me out at times and won’t work again until I have full internet access

I think people who buy the wifi can do pictures or maybe it’s their data plan .

I could never do pictures . My phone did the same thing it kicked me out and could sign in without wifi to use Apple messager.

 

[OKW Lover]

Apple messenger isn’t a given . I could not get it to work for a while now.

Interesting. I've used it as recently as February.

 

[NAB]

Interesting. I've used it as recently as February.

Maybe it’s because I have to stay on airplane mode. I’m Canadian.

It used to work for a long time but it would kick me off like someone said and you have to sign in again. I went to guest services to do this but they told me it won’t last and it didn’t.

I would say this is in the last 2 years and have been cruising since 2003.

 

[OKW Lover]

Maybe it’s because I have to stay on airplane mode. I’m Canadian.

I keep my iPhone on airplane mode during the cruise as well. As long as I was connected to the ship's wifi (not the paid wifi) it worked for basic texting.

 

[AquaDame]

We disembarked Monday after the PC cruise - WhatsApp worked without buying internet the whole trip. I was also able to click and view pictures sometimes but it was hit or miss. Messenger worked for text only as well until or unless it needed to call back home to Apple. Mine never asked me to sign back in, but other folks had that issue and then they needed to use the free 100mb to sign back in, or free WiFi in a port, before it would work again for them. iPad works the same as iPhone for messaging apps.

My husband bought Gigsky on a Christmas sale to try it out, and it worked like a charm as long as we were at sea, which somehow also included when we went through the canal. Once we got to Ensenada it stopped working… he had tried to top up as we were running low, and that seemed to break it. Or maybe we were always too close to shore from there? Not sure… that was our last stop anyway, the next morning we were docked in San Diego.