Is ‘unplugging’ possible?

[DisneyDream2B]

Recent cruisers, is it possible to get by without your cell phone (at restaurants, shows, activities) once you’ve finished Safe Passage and boarding? No one will be in kids clubs during our cruise. We like to put the phones and devices away while cruising.
Thanks!

 

[cvjw]

You will need your phone to look at all the activities for the day, your dining rotation, to tip servers, etc. You can get a paper menu in the dining room, but it was just as easy for us to look at our phones.

You can minimize your phone time, but you will still need it.

 

[DisneyDream2B]

Thank you.

 

[insureman]

Recent cruisers, is it possible to get by without your cell phone (at restaurants, shows, activities) once you’ve finished Safe Passage and boarding? No one will be in kids clubs during our cruise. We like to put the phones and devices away while cruising.
Thanks!

I would love to see someone experiment with that to see if you really do need phones. I would love to shove my phone in the safe like the old days. I'll use this camera for photos.

 

[tvguy]

I hope they will resume paper Navigators as an option once things settle down. Unplugged is what a cruise is for. I don't want to worry about my phone being charged so I can see what time the show is.

 

[hrhdhd]

Isn't the activity grid also on the stateroom TV? And I don't have to use the app to tip; I am already charged standard tips and can tip additional in cash.

 

[HiStitch626]

Isn't the activity grid also on the stateroom TV?

It is, so you could just write down the activities you want to do.

 

[ghtx]

I hope they will resume paper Navigators as an option once things settle down. Unplugged is what a cruise is for. I don't want to worry about my phone being charged so I can see what time the show is.

I would gladly pay $5 extra per cruise (even $5 per day!) to get a paper Navigator printed for me

 

[DisneyDream2B]

Thanks for the replies. I think we will rely on memory and the stateroom tv for activities, tip in cash, and review the menus posted outside the restaurants to plan our meal choices. I plan to report here if we were able to unplug. We cruise this December.

 

[insureman]

Thanks for the replies. I think we will rely on memory and the stateroom tv for activities, tip in cash, and review the menus posted outside the restaurants to plan our meal choices. I plan to report here if we were able to unplug. We cruise this December.

Excellent! Love to hear a report on that and I'm still bringing that Polaroid camera.

 

[tvguy]

I would gladly pay $5 extra per cruise (even $5 per day!) to get a paper Navigator printed for me

LOL. Let's see, 7 day cruise, 7 Navigators, 2 cents for paper and ink, I think 25 cents would cover the cost for the entire cruise.

 

[Cheburashka]

Recent cruisers, is it possible to get by without your cell phone (at restaurants, shows, activities) once you’ve finished Safe Passage and boarding? No one will be in kids clubs during our cruise. We like to put the phones and devices away while cruising.
Thanks!

Yes, I cruised last week, and you do not really need your phone after noting your dining rotation and taking a picture of your safety drill location.

1. You can ask for a paper menu in the dining room.
2. You can prepay tips in advance of the cruise, and bring cash onboard to be able to tip extra as desired.
3. You can avoid trying to disembark at ports first thing (getting up at the crack of dawn on vacation is overrated, anyway). Once the first hour has passed, the virtual queue typically isn't needed. And if you've snagged a CC cabana, you can bypass the queue for CC even if you do disembark first thing.
4. You do not need a phone during activities or shows. At Bingo, they'll just ask for your stateroom number.
5. You do not need a phone to review & order your cruise photos- that occurs at a kiosk at Shutters. You don't need your phone when they take the photos- they just ask for your stateroom number.
6. Activities are listed on the stateroom TV.

There is nothing to stop you from unplugging for your cruise.

 

[LAX]

I would gladly pay $5 extra per cruise (even $5 per day!) to get a paper Navigator printed for me

I am sure DCL will gladly take your $5 per day and give you paper copies of the Navigator if you ask!

LAX

 

[Sconny]

Thanks for the replies. I think we will rely on memory and the stateroom tv for activities, tip in cash, and review the menus posted outside the restaurants to plan our meal choices. I plan to report here if we were able to unplug. We cruise this December.

I will be doing the same thing, or at least trying. My phone will be in the safe once we leave port as I have always done. Of course with these new changes I believe there will be a time when I will have to break it out to look something up, which I never did in the past. I am not good with change but who knows until you try something new...last cruise pre covid they were still giving paper navigators out by request, which I did do and never used my phone once.

 

[DisneYE]

Yes, I cruised last week, and you do not really need your phone after taking a picture of your safety drill location.

1. You can ask for a paper menu in the dining room.
2. You can prepay tips in advance of the cruise, and bring cash onboard to be able to tip extra as desired.
3. You can avoid trying to disembark at ports first thing. Once the first hour has passed, the virtual queue typically isn't needed. And if you've snagged a CC cabana, you can bypass the queue for CC.
4. You do not need a phone during activities or shows.
5. You do not need a phone to review & order your cruise photos- that occurs at a kiosk at Shutters.
6. Activities are listed on the stateroom TV.

There is nothing to stop you from unplugging for your cruise.

what about ordering drinks at bars?
Can you still order with your kttw? iirc I think I read on here that they don't issue paper tickets like before, where you add the tip amount with a pen and then sign... that you tip via the app.
I'm also one of those that plans on 'unplugging' as much as possible on my next cruise. So much so that I'll even take a separate camera and not take pics with my phone.

 

[Cheburashka]

what about ordering drinks at bars?
Can you still order with your kttw? iirc I think I read on here that they don't issue paper tickets like before, where you add the tip amount with a pen and then sign... that you tip via the app.
I'm also one of those that plans on 'unplugging' as much as possible on my next cruise. So much so that I'll even take a separate camera and not take pics with my phone.

I don't drink, so I can't answer that one.

 

[DisneYE]

I don't drink, so I can't answer that one.

How about cove cafe? did you order coffee there?

 

[Cheburashka]

How about cove cafe? did you order coffee there?

I don't drink coffee, either. I'm a soda drinker.

 

[hrhdhd]

what about ordering drinks at bars?
Can you still order with your kttw? iirc I think I read on here that they don't issue paper tickets like before, where you add the tip amount with a pen and then sign... that you tip via the app.

An automatic 18% gratuity is added to the cost of the drink. That's enough for me.

 

[rhinodadz]

Taking the contrarian view to most who have posted in this thread - to me "unplugging" is more a state of mind attained by not being able to check emails, receive texts or phone calls, scroll news headlines or social media.

Using my phone onboard for activity schedules, menus, tips, photos, music has nothing to do with being "unplugged" in that regard.

And no matter how many people complain here or elsewhere paper navigators aren't going to return.