Stop taking away things and begin adding things, for example...

[Magical_Suitcase]

We were on the Fantasy last week and could not EVER get the app to work (in spite of many, MANY, attempts over many different days). We sent our daughter down to the desk each morning at about 7 to collect a Navigator. I can deal with the multi-use toiletries, but I cannot, for the life of me, get over the lack of printed Navigator in the stateroom. It's a cost-cutter, not an environmental issue. If it were environmental, we wouldn't be receiving multiple DVC and shopping ads throughout the cruise.

You are correct, if it were environmental, then Disney would not be selling plastic/polyester/rayon items in their gift shops or balloons in their parks. I am another one who wants a paper Navigator in my room. They can keep the paper ad brochures, put those on the apps.

 

[MinnesotaMouseketeers]

I am more than fine with getting rid of things that just go into the landfills or recycled i.e. Navigators and small bottles. And I really hope that Disney, travel industry wide sanitizes and gives away the unused portions of soap to shelters etc. We just got off the Dream yesterday and left a fairly large piece of soap at the sink.

If you really need that paper Navigator just take a stroll to the Guest Service desk and pick one up. You don't have to wait in line; they are in a holder on each side of the desk.

 

[PrincessShmoo]

You don't have to wait in line; they are in a holder on each side of the desk.

Not always.

 

[Joe Brig]

So no printed Navigators in the room each day, to save the environment. I guess that also means they are not printing out the port advertisements and maps to diamond dealers and other shops either?

 

[EmilyS92003]

So no printed Navigators in the room each day, to save the environment. I guess that also means they are not printing out the port advertisements and maps to diamond dealers and other shops either?

They are printing out the ads just not the navigators.

 

[EmilyS92003]

Not always.

On the fantasy a few weeks ago they were in a holder on the side.

 

[Bonnie1222]

On the fantasy a few weeks ago they were in a holder on the side.

We have been on the Fantasy several times and those bins would be empty. You have to go early and if you go back to try and get one later in the day you could be out of luck. They used to never be empty, but we noticed the difference over the last year (3 cruises during that time)

 

[PurplePencil]

We have been on the Fantasy several times and those bins would be empty. You have to go early and if you go back to try and get one later in the day you could be out of luck. They used to never be empty, but we noticed the difference over the last year (3 cruises during that time)

Interesting. Never noticed them run out on the Magic. In fact, there were a few nights where I showed up just as the next days were ready and they took out the old ones before replacing with new ones.

 

[eMoneyBug]

Looking forward to seeing the new Disney Cruise Ships

 

[Bonnie1222]

Interesting. Never noticed them run out on the Magic. In fact, there were a few nights where I showed up just as the next days were ready and they took out the old ones before replacing with new ones.

There are a few more people on the Fantasy, not sure if that is the difference. It wasn't every day, but definitely several nights on each cruise.

 

[amberwc]

Going back to OP, what if they added a free excursion at every port?

 

[BadPinkTink]

Going back to OP, what if they added a free excursion at every port?

how would that work? The excursions are local contractors / companies hired by Disney. They are not Disney CM's.

So who would pay for the loss of earnings for that day that they are contracted to Disney? Would Disney absorb the cost and then subsequently increase the cruise price? But then say only 100 people on a 4,000 passenger cruise can go on this "free excursion" So I'm paying a higher cruise price to cover your excursion??

And then like the onboard tastings, the "free excursion" gets booked up by Platinum and Gold level cruisers and silver and new cruisers never get a chance to experience it.

 

[Marc D]

how would that work? The excursions are local contractors / companies hired by Disney. They are not Disney CM's.

A few cruiselines offer one free excursion each port. It is usually a walking tour of the city or something similar. Since it involves very little infrastructure- mainly busses to get guests to the meeting point and tour guides - they do not limit availability. Most guests booked paid excursions anyway on those cruises. However, I don’t think it exists on ships the size of Magic/Wonder but mainly on smaller, deluxe ships like Viking, Oceania or Regent.

 

[DisBNewB]

They are printing out the ads just not the navigators.

For what it's worth, on our 7 night on the Magic in October, we only got two printed ads (both for DVC - one for DVC itself, and the other encouraging people to come to their informational sessions). I do think it's a bit apples to oranges, as I'm assuming (though, yes, they're both under the Disney umbrella) that it's DVC and not DCL in charge of decisions about those ads (though DCL could say they won't distribute them). Same with anything for the jewelry stores etc like people have mentioned, though again - we didn't see those on our cruise.

The only printed items we got were the two DVC (glossy) print-outs, a map of castaway, our port information for Port Canaveral, and our return information for when we got back to NY.

(We got to the port and through security around 12:30 and got the cruise-specific and daily paper navigator, and were able to get one from guest services each day thereafter. Though I'd also prefer they still be delivered to staterooms.)

 

[Sue M]

DCL isn’t alone on this. You see it in the parks and hotels too. Taking away what was always free and charging for it now. Parking, EMH some still free but now charging $125 pp for select attractions. Shrinking portions but charging more. Do we think we don’t notice?

 

[MinnesotaMouseketeers]

So no printed Navigators in the room each day, to save the environment. I guess that also means they are not printing out the port advertisements and maps to diamond dealers and other shops either?

I would love to see the port advertisements and maps to the diamond dealers go away as well. But with four ships, 4,250 staterooms, seven days a week; I am very glad there are 29,750 less navigators being left in the staterooms. And three more ships on the horizon. Year after year they do add up. So yes it will help!

 

[cgolf]

I would love to see the port advertisements and maps to the diamond dealers go away as well. But with four ships, 4,250 staterooms, seven days a week; I am very glad there are 29,750 less navigators being left in the staterooms. And three more ships on the horizon. Year after year they do add up. So yes it will help!

So you are happy they are taking something away that many use, that ultimately gets recycled?? I say they should have gotten rid of the advertisements and port maps first, which many put in the garbage/recycle bin without even looking at them.

Sorry but it is going to take a lot for us to use the apps, which we have found to be less useful than a paper daily sheet.

But the biggest thing for me, is I don't want to have a cell phone or ipad sitting out on the pool deck, even in a bag, while I am swimming. I don't care what line you are on, I am guessing the number of stolen phones/tablets goes up now. We generally mark up our navigators each day with what we want to do, and having them helps with our post trip report. We also write notes on them to go on our survey card and post cruise email.

I mostly get the plastic stuff, but I don't understand the navigators, especially when giving the stuff out still that mostly goes straight to the trash. Paper is pretty easily recyclable vs plastic, so not sure why such a big deal.

Perhaps there should be a precruise option to select navigator yes/no and advertisements yes/no.

At home now for many years, we have more recyclables than garbage. So we try to do our part.

 

[mostlytraveling4food]

DCL isn’t alone on this. You see it in the parks and hotels too. Taking away what was always free and charging for it now. Parking, EMH some still free but now charging $125 pp for select attractions. Shrinking portions but charging more. Do we think we don’t notice?

It’s all because of how well the economy has been doing. Discretionary spending is up, and they’re aware of it.

For all intents and purposes, Disney is doing everything casinos are doing. MGM and Caesars properties charge for parking in Las Vegas. How crazy is that? But, people can’t help themselves, and still come to gamble.
It’s an additional revenue stream, and companies realize they need to capture it while they can.

 

[PrincessShmoo]

Perhaps there should be a precruise option to select navigator yes/no

I vote for this.

 

[MrsInsG]

So no printed Navigators in the room each day, to save the environment. I guess that also means they are not printing out the port advertisements and maps to diamond dealers and other shops either?

Strangely enough, those are still being delivered to the stateroom as are the DVC ads and the cruise survey... I just *can't* imagine a reason they would do such a thing...