disney cruise wifi cost 2022

Disney Cruise WiFi: Packages and Prices

Internet access and cruising don’t always mix, but if you set sail on a Disney cruise , you have several options to post the occasional picture on Instagram or check your email. Disney Cruise Line offers several internet packages aboard its fleet. All Disney cruise ships have WiFi .

Until recently, all internet packages aboard Disney cruises were priced with a “pay for what you use” model, with data plans based on megabyte usage. With the arrival of the Disney Wish in 2022, Disney announced changes to the Disney Cruise Line internet packages, which are now priced based on the type of internet access you want in a 24-hour period. These changes have now been rolled out on all ships, with the Disney Wonder being the final ship to upgrade to the new system during a September 2023 Dry Dock.

Below, we discuss everything you need to know about how Disney Cruise WiFi works in 2023.

Prices shown below are accurate as of August 2023.

Prefer To Speak With Someone? Get Free Help From Our Favorite Disney Travel Agency!

Disney Cruise Line Internet Packages

WiFi is available in three packages, each with a different level of internet access:  Stay Connected , Basic Surf , and Premium Surf :

These packages are based on usage for a 24-hour period, not a calendar day. If the time of day you use the internet matters to you, you’ll want to purchase a plan at a time that will renew when it’s convenient — and not in the middle of a work meeting.

You can share the plan on multiple devices (as long as you log out of one device before using the other) or pay to connect multiple devices simultaneously. And you can save a little money by purchasing for the entire length of your cruise.

Packages previously varied by ship, but these are now the standard packages across the entire fleet: the Disney Dream , Disney Fantasy , Disney Magic , Disney Wish , and Disney Wonder .

Here’s more information about each package, including their prices:

Stay Connected

The most basic internet package on a Disney cruise allows you to access, post, and engage on social media platforms, specifically Facebook, Facebook Messenger, Twitter/X, Instagram, Snapchat, Pinterest, LinkedIn, and Tumblr.

• $18 for 24 hours of access
• $16 per day if purchased for the entire cruise

This mid-tier internet package allows access to the social media platforms listed above, plus basic browser surfing and email capabilities. Audio WiFi calls are also available with this package.

• $28 for 24 hours of access
• $24 per day if purchased for the entire cruise

Premium Surf

The highest internet Disney cruise WiFi plan gives you all the access included in the Stay Connected and Basic Surf plans (with faster connection speeds). Plus, you can stream music and short-form video on apps like Pandora, Apple Music, Spotify, and YouTube. Video calling through FaceTime and Zoom is also available with this package.

• $42 for 24 hours of access
• $34 per day if purchased for the entire cruise

It’s important to know that none of the packages (not even Premium Surf) supports long-form video streaming such as using Disney+, Hulu, or Netflix.

Free Help Planning Your Disney Cruise

From the small questions such as details on WiFi onboard to the bigger questions about the best time to go on a Disney Cruise or how much it costs , you can get free help planning your cruise by contacting the Disney Cruise Experts at The Vacationeer .

Here are just a few reasons to use this Earmarked Diamond level Authorized Disney Vacation Planner to book your cruise.

• Free Onboard Credit: Get up to $1,000 to spend while onboard the ship
• No Planning Fees: There’s no cost to use their services
• One Dedicated Agent: No giant call centers or waiting on hold
• The Best Prices: Your cruise won’t cost any more than if you’d booked it yourself
• The Best Discounts: They know all the ways to save and will even watch for new discounts after you’ve booked
• No Pressure: Vacationeers provide free, no-obligation quotes so there’s no risk in contacting them

Does Disney Cruise Line Offer Free WiFi?

There are several ways you can get free WiFi on a Disney cruise:

Use the Disney Cruise Line Navigator App

Disney Cruise Line allows guests to access the Disney Cruise Line Navigator App for free.

The app is powered by a free WiFi network (DCL-GUEST) that’s only available onboard the ship.

The app is similar to the My Disney Experience app and includes a host of information about your cruise. You can view your planned activities, excursions, rotational dining assignments, deck plans, entertainment schedules, dinner menus, and much more.

One of the app’s most handy features is the ability to message friends and family who are also on board.

If you want to truly unplug during your cruise vacation, the WiFi access you get through the Navigator app may be all the internet you need during your Disney cruise.

Stay in a Concierge-Level Stateroom

One benefit of staying in a concierge-level stateroom is free WiFi. How much internet you’ll get depends on the type of stateroom you booked. Those staying in Royal Suites get Premium Surf internet for the entire cruise. Concierge Suites get Basic Surf for the whole cruise, too. Other Concierge-Level staterooms get one day of Basic Surf for free.

Use Your Onboard Credit

Many Disney travel agencies offer a free onboard credit that can be used toward purchases you make while you’re onboard the ship. You can spend this on specialty dining, gratuities/tips , spa treatments, souvenirs… and virtually anything else that’s charged back to your shipboard account.

Luckily for you, onboard internet packages are charged to the folio, so onboard credit can be used to pay towards your onboard WiFi package.

The size of your onboard credit depends on the travel agency you pick and the cost of your cruise, but it could easily be enough to cover the cost of your shipboard internet.

Book With The Vacationeer To Earn Credit Toward Onboard Internet and Other Purchases

How to Use the Internet on Disney Cruise Line

Internet packages can be purchased through the Disney Cruise Navigator app once onboard and connected to the ship’s WiFi. To buy a plan, click the “more” tab in the app and scroll down to “connect to the Internet.” From there, you can select a package, the number of devices you want to use, and the number of days you wish to purchase. You’ll then be prompted to review the plan and check out. The package will be charged to your stateroom folio. If you have trouble connecting to the internet, the onboard internet help desk can troubleshoot internet and cell phone access onboard.

Can You Share Internet on a Disney Cruise?

You can share one internet plan on multiple devices if you only use one at a time and log out of each device when you’re done using it.

Multiple-device plans are also offered; choosing one of these will save you a bit of money versus the cost of purchasing two separate plans.

How Much is WiFi on a Disney Cruise?

WiFi plans have starting rates between $16 to $42 a day. The price can vary drastically based on the number of days you purchase and the amount of connected devices. You’ll get a slight discount if you purchase a plan for your entire cruise. You also save for each device you add.

Does Disney Cruise Line Have Cell Service?

Whether your cell phone will work on a Disney cruise depends on your carrier and plan. Cell carriers like AT&T, Sprint, and T-Mobile provide Cellular at Sea aboard Disney cruises, which allows you to use your plan like you normally would in your stateroom. However, you may need to pay roaming charges (which can get very expensive, very quickly) or purchase a special cruise add-on from your carrier. Your data allotment (cellular internet) also may be much more limited than on land. It’s best to check with your individual cell phone carrier before your cruise to determine how cell phone data usage will work while onboard.

How Good is the WiFi on Disney Cruise Ships?

While the internet speed on cruise ships has improved drastically over the years, it’s slower than the web surfing you’re used to at home.

Disney warns cruise guests that onboard internet may sometimes be slow, interrupted, or completely unavailable. This is especially true on at-sea days; the final sea day of a Disney Alaska cruise is notoriously bad for internet due to the ship’s position and direction of travel.

However, most cruisers will typically find onboard internet sufficient to occasionally check email, post on social media , or make a video call.

Get Free Help Planning Your Disney Cruise

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Disney Cruise Line Wifi Prices and Internet Options 2024

By: Author tanialamb

Posted on Published: June 6, 2024

Disney Cruise Line has wifi on board all of their ships, and they all now have the upgraded wifi. If you’re sailing on a Disney Cruise in 2024, the wifi increased in price in August 2023. Here’s everything you need to know about Disney Cruise Line internet like how much it costs, how to connect to the internet while sailing, and which data plan is best for you.

How Much Does WiFi Cost on Disney Cruise Line Per Day?

Disney Cruise WiFi prices start at $18 per day for the entire cruise on the Disney Wish, Disney Dream, Disney Fantasy, Disney Magic, and Disney Wonder. 

The 2024 Disney Cruise Line Wifi Package Prices Start at:

• Stay Connected – $18 per day for a 24 hour period
• Basic Surf – $28 per day for a 24 hour period
• Premium Surf – $42 per day for a 24 hour period

If you book a wifi package for your entire voyage on Disney Cruise Line, then you’ll receive a discount on the wifi.

The price for Disney Cruise WiFi is per device in the room , not per room. So the price is cheaper per day if you choose wifi for the whole voyage. If not, you can choose 24 hour increments. 

For example, if you purchase internet on Disney Cruise Line on a Saturday at 5:00 p.m., you’d have until 5:00 p.m. on Sunday to use it before it shuts off. 

The graphic below shows how it works, but the prices are before the increase.

Disney Cruise Wifi Internet Packages

All Disney Cruise Line ships have upgraded wifi packages for 2024. Knowing Disney Cruise WiFi prices ahead of time will help you factor it into your budget.

The new and improved Disney Cruise Wifi is currently on the Disney Wish, Disney Magic, Disney Fantasy and Disney Dream, and now the Disney Wonder. The Disney Wonder was the last hold out. They introduced the new Disney wifi packages in 2022 and basically coincide with the old wifi packages – small, medium, and large – based on what you can do with them. 

Stay Connected Package

The Stay Connected package says it will allow you to post pictures on popular websites and applications like Facebook Messenger, Twitter, Instagram, Snapchat, Pinterest, LinkedIn and Tumblr. However, some guests have reported to not be able to send photos.

You can also try one package and if it isn’t working the way you’d like, then you can upgrade. One of the benefits of the Stay Connected plan is that it’s the cheapest.  The Stay Connected package starts at $18 a day. 

Basic Surf Package

The Basic Surf package seems to work for guests who want to post on social media, check some emails, and use basic internet activity, plus send or receive photos. “Surf the web, read the news, check the weather and visit your other favorite websites, send and receive emails, and make audio calls.” The Basic Surf Package starts at $28 a day. 

Premium Surf Package

The Premium Surf package is said to have faster connection speeds on a Disney cruise ship. “Make video calls, listen to your favorite music streaming platforms, surf the web, view short-form videos like TikTok.” This plan still does not support video streaming like Netflix. 

If you ever used the old Disney Cruise wifi, you know it was a struggle and it was slow. This new Disney Cruise wifi is definitely improved, though you still have to be patient, because you’re at sea. 

Pay-As-You-Use Disney Cruise Internet Prices

The old Disney Cruise Line WiFi  was a pay-as-you-use plan that started at $.25 per megabyte used. The Disney Wonder used to have the old wifi packages, but as of October 2023, the wifi has been upgraded and matches the rest of Disney Cruise Line.

How Do You Connect to the Internet on Disney Cruise Line?

When you board your Disney Cruise, you should be able to use your regular data plan for internet until about 10 minutes or so after you leave your port.

However, to actually use the Disney Cruise Line app, you need to connect to guest wifi on board and be in airplane mode. The DCL app is where you find information about activities, schedule, stateroom, dining rotation, etc.

You don’t need to purchase internet services to connect to the ship’s Wi-Fi network when used only for the Disney Cruise Line Navigator app.

If you want to connect to the wifi on a Disney Cruise ship, there is an additional cost. Once you’re on the Disney Cruise Line app, you’ll see the options to Connect@Sea. Then you’ll need to set up an account if you don’t already have one.

Once on board the ship, open the Disney Cruise Line Navigator app and go to  “Connect to Internet,” which will open a separate browser for you to view internet plans and purchase internet access.

Again, the Disney Cruise Line wifi packages are per device, and not per stateroom. 

Then you’ll select your package, how many devices, and connect.

Free Disney Cruise Wifi Hack : If you have an iPhone and use iMessages and are logged in before you board, my party was still able to text people on land that had iPhones. It didn’t work 100% of the time, but as long as I had logged into iMessages before I boarded the ship, I could text while at sea for free.

This is a nice perk to be still be in contact with friends and family back home.

Is Disney Cruise Line Wifi Worth It?

If you need to work or want to browse the internet, then wifi on Disney Cruise Line is worth it…if it’s necessary. However, it still can be glitchy at sea. 

If you don’t absolutely need to use it, then maybe wait until you’re in port to do what you need to do. Sometimes it’s also nice to disconnect from the world while on vacation.

You’re not always going to get the fastest wifi while on Disney Cruise Line or at sea, so I wouldn’t schedule an important meeting just in case there’s a glitch. However, the Basic Surf package should be enough to do what you need to do, provided you don’t need to make Zoom calls. 

With the price increase of Disney Cruise wifi, it’s not as cost effective and may not be in your budget. If you don’t have to use it, then save your money and buy Palo Brunch instead. 

I suggest trying it out for a day and then you can increases your package if necessary. If you find that the internet is not working, then you can also talk to Guest Services about their suggestions or request a refund if necessary.

Bon Voyage and have a great cruise!!

For more Disney Cruise Line tips, here is information on the Castaway Cay 5K and these are the Bibbibi Bobbidi Boutique Disney Cruise prices . 

If you’re doing a land and sea vacation, then these are the closest Disney Character Warehouse outlets to Disney World!

Wednesday 9th of August 2023

I think I remember years ago "one device" meant at a time, so I could log-in on one, log out and then my son could log-in on his. Is this the case on Disney Dream because $42/day is a lot.

I don't think you can change devices and have it still work. However if you're on your device and your son wanted to check his social media or something like that on your device, that would work. I haven't tried the workaround of logging in on another device. But the basic surf plan is usually sufficient for most guests.

Lukas Danny

Tuesday 13th of September 2022

Do you need to buy wifi per device or per room?

It is per device.

Friday 11th of March 2022

Does wifi on the cruise ships allpw vpn?

Thursday 28th of April 2022

@Dan, did you ever get an answer to your VPN question? I've been wondering the same and trying to search online first for the answer before calling.

Wednesday 7th of August 2019

Does anybody have current rates for Connect at Sea?

As far as I know, the packages are still the same price as in this post.

Friday 26th of July 2019

Is the free 50mb per guest or cabin? We are cruising for Christmas and will want to text/exchange photos Christmas Day at sea. Otherwise port WiFi should do.

Saturday 27th of July 2019

Both my husband and I were able to get the free mb. It goes very quickly though, especially if you're sending photos.

Disney Cruise Internet Packages – What You Need to Know 2024

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In 2023 Disney Cruise Line introduced new internet packages.

These new Disney Cruise Internet Packages were a welcome change for the ships, which have up to now only offered expensive data usage-based options.

However, not long after these new packages were introduced, there were significant price increases.

Here I will look at what the options are and how much the Disney Cruise Internet costs.

For historical reasons, I will keep the original prices as a comparison.

What Are The Disney Cruise Internet Packages?

Disney Cruise guests can purchase Internet for either:

• A 24-hour period

As you will see from the prices below, there is a 20% discount on per-voyage pricing compared with 24-hour pricing.

If you decide to upgrade to a Voyage plan mid-voyage you will only be charged for the remaining days. However, you do need to be aware that you will be charged for a complete day no matter what time on that day you choose the Per Voyage package.

So if you change your package at 11.59 pm to a Per Voyage package you are going to be charged a whole day, even though you only had a minute of that day left.

Adding additional devices to an Internet package will receive a 20% discount.

When Does This Increase Happen?

The new internet packages are now available on all five of the Disney Cruise Ships.

Disney Wonder was the last one to be upgraded, but this happened in the dry dock just before she sailed for the Transpacific, Australia and New Zealand Cruises in October 2023.

• Disney Magic  – 7/31/23 
• Disney Wish  – 7/31/23 
• Disney Dream  – 8/1/23 
• Disney Fantasy  – 8/5/23
• Disney Wonder -10/23

There are three choices of internet package:

Disney Cruise Stay Connected Plan Cost

The old price was $10 per person per day

New Pricing

• $16/day when purchased for the full voyage 
• $18/day when purchased for 24 hours 

Stay connected on social media with our most affordable internet plan. With this plan, you can:

• Post text and pictures on popular websites and applications like Facebook, Facebook Messenger, Twitter, Instagram, Snapchat, Pinterest, Linkedin and Tumblr

The  Stay Connected  plan  does not  support surfing the web, accessing email, or video streaming

Disney Cruise Basic Surf

The old price was $20 per person per day

• $24/day when purchased for the full voyage 
• $28/day when purchased for 24 hours 

Enjoy all the benefits of the Stay Connected plan – plus, full web access. With this plan, you can:

• Surf the web, read the news, check the weather, and visit your other favorite websites
• Send and receive emails

The  Basic Surf plan   does not  support long-form video streaming platforms such as Netflix and Hulu.

Disney Cruise Premium Surf

The old price was $30 per person per day

• $34/day when purchased for the full voyage 
• $42/day when purchased for 24 hours 

Experience faster connection speeds and access to music platforms such as Pandora, Spotify and Apple Music – plus, all the benefits of the Basic Surf plan. With this plan, you can:

• Enjoy faster connection speeds
• Make video phone calls on platforms FaceTime, Zoom, and more
• Listen to your favorite music streaming platforms like Pandora, Spotify, and Apple Music
• View short-form on platforms like YouTube, Snapchat, and TikTok

The  Premium Surf plan does not  support long-form video streaming platforms such as Netflix and Hulu.

Guests can select the number of devices that they wish to add to the package.

Avoid These Disney Cruise Money Mistakes

Disney Cruise Internet Packages for Concierge Guests

Disney Cruise Concierge Guests will enjoy an internet package as part of their concierge perks.

The package varies according to the category of concierge stateroom that the guests are staying in.

All concierge guests will have the opportunity to upgrade to a higher internet package category if they wish.

Family Concierge Stateroom Category 3 Stateroom Internet Package

Guest in Family Concierge Staterooms will have the Stay Connected internet package included for 2 guests in the stateroom.

These 2 guests can pay the upgrade price for a higher package.

If any other guests in the stateroom wish to purchase an internet package they will pay full price for whichever level they want.

One and Two Bedroom Suites Category 2 Stateroom Internet Package

Guests in One and Two Bedroom Concierge Staterooms will have the Basic Surf Package included for 2 guests in the Stateroom.

If those 2 guests want the Premium Surf package they will pay the upgrade price.

All other guests in the stateroom will pay the applicable pricing for their own internet package.

Royal Suites and the Disney Wish Tower Suite Category 1 Stateroom Internet Package

All guests in the Royal Suite on all ships and the Tower Suite on the Disney Wish will have the Premium Surf Disney Cruise Internet Package included for the length of their stay.

Is There Wi-Fi on Castaway Cay?

Wanting to connect to Wi-Fi on Disney’s private island Castaway Cay ?

Castaway Cay does not have a free internet connection. You will have to use your Disney Cruise Internet Package to use the Wi-Fi on Castaway Cay.

Really though who needs it on this beautiful island? It’s one of the only places where you really can escape from reality!

What do you think of the new Disney Cruise Internet Packages?

HOW MUCH DOES A DISNEY WISH CRUISE COST?

Alison Meacham is the founder of EverythingMouse Disney Blog. For over 15 years she has shared her love of Disney Parks, Disney Cruises and Universal Orlando.  In over 30 years of Disney Travel she has spent countless months in Disney Parks and has sailed on over 45 cruises. A British native and now a United States resident she splits her time between California, Florida and the UK. And spends a serious amount of time sailing the seven seas. She helps over 200,000 people per month follow their Disney travel dreams.

Thursday 1st of September 2022

In concierge family state rooms you get 24 hours free after that you pay.

Saturday 2nd of July 2022

Curious which bundle would be needed in order to use the Disney Collect, Marvel Collect, and Star Wars Card Trader apps by Topps?

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Disney Cruise Internet: Wi-Fi, Policies, and Tips

By Alisha Molen

It’s probably not high on your list when planning your Disney Cruise , but understanding the Disney Cruise Internet is definitely something you will think about when you can’t login to check your email aboard the ship.

Because you don’t want to be totally out-of-reach on your vacation, you need to know about the Disney Cruise internet packages, the Disney Cruise Wave Phones, and access to Wi-Fi on the ship if you want to be prepared.

I’ve pulled together the most comprehensive guide to internet access on Disney cruises, including all you need to know about the Disney cruise internet package and Disney Cruise Wi-Fi.

So, if you’re ready to learn how to get on the internet while on a Disney Cruise, let’s get started.

Table of Contents

Is there wi-fi on disney cruises, disney cruise wi-fi package costs, disney cruise wi-fi packages explained, are there other ways to access the internet on a disney cruise, how do i get free internet on a disney cruise.

• How to Minimize Data Usage on a Disney Cruise?
• My #1 Hack to Get Free Wi-Fi on a Disney Cruise

More Disney Cruise Wi-Fi Hacks

• What is a Disney Cruise “Wave Phone”?

Yes, there is Wi-Fi on Disney Cruises!

There are multiple plans for usage of the onboard internet through Connect@Sea, which can be accessed by as many devices as you want, that will be charged to your room. 

Using the Wi-Fi for anything other than the Disney Cruise Line Navigator App (an app which allows you to send messages to members of your travel party while onboard, access your schedule, and view the locations of things onboard the ship and other items of note) is subject to the fees described below.

• Pay As You Go which costs $0.25/MB
• Small Package which costs $0.19/MB for 100MB 
• Medium Package which costs $0.13/MB for 300MB
• Large Package which costs $0.09/MB for 1,000MB
• Concierge guests traveling in Category S, T, and V Staterooms receive 100 free MB
• Concierge guests traveling in Category R Staterooms receive free Wi-Fi access for the length of the cruise

Disney Cruise Wi-Fi is called Connect@Sea and all packages are purchased onboard when you sign-on for the first time. You cannot downgrade or get a refund for unused data, so plan accordingly.

I’ve grabbed as much information about which Connect@Sea package you should get depending on what your usage might be.

Pay-As-You-Go

Get this Disney Cruise WiFi package if you’re not sure you’ll be online very much, especially if everyone that you want to communicate is onboard with you. No streaming movies, though, just basic service, because the bill will be bigger than you think if you go all-out.

If you start with this, you can add one of the other packages later. However, it’s a good idea to really see how much you’re going to use the internet before making a choice, because you won’t be able to downgrade later and you will not be credited if you don’t use the MB purchased.

I’d recommend this package for the person that just wants to check in at work once or twice while cruising. Not to download a bunch of stuff, but to periodically make sure the ship back home is still sailing.

If you’re planning to post a few pics of your time on the ship on Instagram or Facebook, this is the package you want. Allows a little more flexibility for those times you want to show the world what fun times you’re having.

Supposedly, this is the plan you want if you plan to stream movies and really do some heavy surfing. But, those MB are chewed-up quick, so I wouldn’t recommend planning to watch the streaming service all that often. Besides, there are plenty of other things to do on your cruise 😉

There is no longer public computer terminal access on Disney Cruises.

Access to the internet is only allowed through your own personal devices via the above mentioned Wi-Fi plans.

There’s no way to get free internet all the time, unless you are concierge guests traveling in a Category R Stateroom .

However, all guests receive 50MB of data free on the first day of the Disney Cruise.

To get the free 50MB of data on the Disney Cruise, you simply sign-on to the Wi-Fi following the handy instructions left in your room. Simple as that.

Once that data is used up, though, you will be asked to select a plan.

How to Minimize Data Usage on a Disney Cruise

Listed below are a few tips on how you can minimize your data usage so you can maximize the time you have before you have to worry about spending extra money on the internet packages onboard your ship.

• Download the Disney Cruise Line Navigator App and use it for everything you can
• Log out of everything when you’re done surfing. Don’t let anything be running in the background
• iCloud Backup (look in Settings > iCloud > Storage & Backup) *this is a big one and you need to remember to turn this back on if you want backups of your awesome trip photos when you get home
• My Photo Stream (look in Settings > Photo & Camera) 
• Background App Refresh (look in Settings > General > Background App Refresh)
• Software Updates (look in Software Update > Edit > Preferences > Advanced > Uncheck Auto Update)
• Automatic Music/Apps/Updates Downloads (look in Settings > iTunes & App Store)
• Location Services (look in Settings > Privacy)
• Fetch New Data, change to Fetch Manually (look in Settings > Mail, Contacts, Calendars > Fetch New Data)
• Auto-Updates (look in Settings > Play Store)
• Wi-Fi Updates (look in Settings > Play Store)
• Background Refresh Apps (look in Settings > Application Manager > Select App > Force Quit)
• Auto-Sync 

My #1 Hack to Get Free Wi-Fi on Disney Cruise 

It’s not really free Wi-Fi, so let me clarify. What you can do is use iMessage on an Apple device to send and receive BLUE messages. Those are only the messages that go between two Apple products. This is reported to be because iMessage is a backdoor that Apple uses that acts as push notifications on both ends, keeping Disney from being able to charge for the Wi-Fi usage.

In order to use this method, simply put your iPhone in airplane mode and turn on the Wi-Fi. When you send messages to another iPhone, you should not (in theory) be charged for internet usage.

• Take a Walk: It’s easy to find free Wi-Fi when you’re in port. Usually just going a few blocks can get you to a store or restaurant that’s looking to attract customers (you) looking for Wi-Fi.
• Your Data Plan: When you’re in port or even near land, within a reasonable distance, you should switch over from Wi-Fi to your phone’s data plan. The only thing about this is that roaming rates will apply if you’re outside the range of your carrier’s limits.
• Maximize Speed: The internet on Disney Cruises is, like the internet on any cruise, notoriously slow. So, if you’re planning to check emails or do anything that you’d like to see load quickly, you should wait until off-peak times. That may be 1am or before 10am, but if it’s your priority, give it a try.
• Push Notifications: Like with iMessage, you can recieve free push notifications. So, if you have push notifications set up, you can receive them (not respond) without incurring charges.

What is a Disney Cruise “Wave Phone”?

Disney Cruise Wave Phones are phones that are left in your stateroom that you can use to call other rooms, text other Wave Phones onboard (and at Disney’s Castaway Cay ), and contact the Cast Members onboard for things like room service and other needs.

It is similar to a hotel room phone, but it also gives you the functionality of text and it’s mobile.

You are not tied to the room with the Wave Phone. Additionally, you are provided with two phones at no cost but, for an additional fee , you can request additional Wave Phones for your party. 

If you are ready to head to your Disney Cruise and want to surf the internet along with the waves, you have to have this guide to Disney Cruise Internet in your back pocket. Now go get out on the waves and enjoy your cruise!

What can I expect for Disney Cruise Wifi Speed?

I wouldn’t expect blazing wifi speed on your cruise. It will likely be fast enough to adequately check email while sipping a drink somewhere or do basic web browsing, but don’t expect to comfortably stream Disney+ movies . (PS – you don’t need to anyways, there are plenty of Disney shows to watch in your room!)

• Disney College Program / News

Guide to Using & Connecting to Disney Cruise Line Wi-Fi

by Kristin Sabol · May 27, 2024

Staying connected is more important than ever, and Disney Cruise Line offers plenty of options while on board their amazing ships.

Everything from Internet packages to cell phone services to ship-to-shore phone calls and more are available while on board all of the Disney Cruise Line ships.

Credit: Disney

If you are lucky enough to vacation on DCL in the near future, check out this guide to using and connecting to Disney Cruise Line Wi-Fi.

Navigator App

First step- download the Disney Cruise Line Navigator App. This app is FREE, and the best part? Guests do not have to pay or purchase any internet plan to utilize the app for dining, characters, staying connected, etc.

However, you will have to connect to the Disney Cruise Line Wi-Fi to utilize it while on board.

Internet Packages

Internet Plans

• Stay Connected
• Premium Surf

Connecting and More

Disney Cruise Line wi-fi

If you are connecting to the Wi-Fi alone and do not have an international/cruise plan with your cellular provider, we were advised to turn on AIRPLANE MODE (which automatically turns off your data) and ensure that BLUETOOTH is also off.

Next, we turned on our WI-FI and connected to the DCL-GUEST network. Once connected, you can access all of the itineraries, which will then populate in the DCL Navigator App.

Once you are connected to the DCL Wi-Fi, you can open the Navigator App and tap “Connect to Internet” from the menu to view and purchase your preferred Internet plan.

Set Up and Log In

If you do not have a username set up already, the app will prompt you to create one so you can log in and out as needed.

You can do this if you have an internet package for one device and, for example, are switching between a phone and a laptop.

Otherwise, it keeps you logged in on one device for the duration of your internet package

From here, it provides details on each of the internet packages including price points.

This particular pricing is for a 7-night Sailing on the Disney Fantasy in February 2024. Note that the pricing may vary for each sailing.

You have the option to select your package, followed by the duration. and the number of devices. If you purchase ONE device, you can log in and out of your phone or laptop—it is one device AT A TIME. If you select TWO, you can use it on a phone and laptop AT THE SAME TIME.

The final step is to purchase, and the charge is sent to your stateroom balance. 

Photo: Disney

Note that the cruise Wi-Fi is slightly slower than on land, and there is the potential for dead zones or dropped internet.

That’s it! This guide should help you utilize Disney Cruise Line’s wi-fi on your next adventure. 

Photo: MickeyBlog

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Tags: Cruise Line DCL Disney Internet Internet services Navigator App plans Wi-Fi

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How to Connect at Sea using Disney Cruise Wifi

Taking a cruise, but still need to connect to the real world? Take heart, Connect at Sea allows you to plug into your Disney cruise wifi. Here are some important details along with how to use it.

What is Connect at Sea?

Connect at Sea enables you to access the Disney Cruise internet service. From here, you can do whatever you need to whether that’s Facebook (or any other social media platform), Email or just surfing the web.

Enable all of your devices or just one. It’s up to you how much you need, or want, to remain connected. Be warned, though. Disney Cruise wifi is not cheap.

All Disney cruises have wifi. Plus, each Disney cruise ship has a Connect at Sea helpdesk. Stop by and pick up a brochure for current data rates or for any help you need connecting to the internet. Check your Navigator to see where they are located and the hours it is staffed.

Disney Connect at Sea prices

Either pay as you go or buy an internet package.

Disney Cruise Wifi Cost

As of November 2019, wifi on the pay-as-you-go package is 25 cents per megabyte. If you are not certain how much wifi you will use, this could be a good starter. You have the option of purchasing a package at any time.

A small data package of 100MB is available for $19. This would be the optimal choice for someone that still wants to stay connected by checking email every so often.

The medium package provides 300MB for $39. If you plan on posting your vacation photos to Facebook or Instagram, this plan may be for you.

If you need to do more data-intensive work, the 1000MB plan at $89 would be your best choice. Data can be shared, so if there are several of you that want to stay connected, this plan may be sufficient.

Do I need to buy a data package?

Absolutely not! In fact, neither my husband nor I purchased any data. We completely unplugged on this vacation.

It was great not having Little K ask if she could watch YouTube. She was told no internet from the start and just dealt with it.

Is there anything for free?

Yes! Actually, you can get 50MB of Disney Cruise Line wifi for free. There is a catch, you have to claim this data before midnight on embarkation day (your first day on the ship).

Here’s how to get it: – Turn Airplane mode on – Turn wifi on – Select DCL-Guest Wifi – Once in your browser, type dclguest.com – If it’s Day 1 on the cruise, you will see the option for 50MB free, plus the data packages

What is DCL-Guest?

DCL-Guest is the network name for the Disney Cruise Line internet. Besides connecting to this for data usage, there are a few onboard uses of it too.

Disney Navigator App 

The Disney Navigator app works with the ship’s Wifi. No data is needed. Download this while you are still at home to avoid any data charges. See Disney Cruise Embarkation tips for more information.

The Navigator app tells you everything about your cruise. From where you are having dinner that night to where you can find Disney character appearances. Use this app for anything pertaining to what’s happening on the ship.

In addition, there is a chat feature that lets you text anyone once you have their chat id. Truthfully, this is a little clunky, but once it’s set up, it does work.

iMessage usage

Speaking of texting, anyone with an iPhone can use iMessage to chat with anyone else that has an iPhone, whether onboard the ship or not. You must be connected to DCL-Guest. This is a completely free feature on a Disney cruise.

This enabled me to keep in touch with family and friends back home without using any data as most of them have iPhones. Pictures, however, would not send nor could they be received. Text only.

iMessage texts to non-iPhone users will not go through. Both users must be on iPhones for this feature to work.

Personally, I thought this was great. We didn’t have to purchase an internet package, yet I could still text my family and best friend.

Get free wifi in Disney ports of call

While I never paid for wifi on the Disney cruise ship, I did connect to the internet a couple of times in port for free.

Many of the town squares or shopping areas have free internet. Just look for a sign with internet information and connect. I was able to download all my emails and browse through them looking for anything important.

Take advantage of it where ever you can.

Some restaurants and bars also have free wifi. Think Starbucks.

Use this time to your advantage if you are just shopping around in the port and have a few moments to use their internet.

Does Castaway Cay have wifi?

Unlike other ports of call that have free wifi, Castaway Cay does not. You need to use the internet package you purchased or the wave phones provided (see below). 

The Navigator app still works on this island, though, so you can stay up to date on what’s happening throughout the day.

Helpful Disney Cruise wifi tips

If you have purchased a Connect at Sea package or are using the free 50MB, turn off all background downloads or updates. This prevents your data from being used up faster.

iPhones on iOS 13 and higher have a low data mode that automatically restricts any background work such as transferring to iCloud.

Simply tap the ‘i’ next to DCL-GUEST in your wifi settings and click the slider for the low-data mode. Everything else is taken care of in the background.

Another good rule of thumb is to log off the wifi once you are done using it. This will also help prevent any accidental background data from using your megabytes.

DCL Wifi Wave Phones

Disney provides each stateroom with wave phones that can be used onboard or at Castaway Cay.

This is yet another option of how to stay in touch with members of your party, especially if you don’t have an iPhone that can utilize the free iMessaging.

Wave phones allow you to:

• Send and receive text messages
• Access the stopwatch and calculator

If you drop your child off at a kids club, you need to have a way to be contacted and the wave phone is a perfect choice. Plus, this saves on any Disney cruise wifi you may have purchased.

But, be careful to not lose or damage them! There is a $250 fee that will be charged to your stateroom if it’s not turned in on debarkation day.

Carrying your phone on a cruise

Ok, this just may be me, but I hate carrying around things. I gladly check bags on a plane just so I can feel lighter and not have to deal with carrying anything in the airport.

Since I didn’t want to lose my phone on the cruise, I purchased a small, cross-body bag to hold just my phone .

I didn’t need to carry anything else because my Disney Key to the World Card (which acts as your room key and a charge card) was in a lanyard around my neck .

Here’s a few you may consider:

Connect at Sea with Disney Cruise Wifi Summary

Although I didn’t purchase any data, I’m glad my iPhone let me ‘Connect @ Sea’ with people back home by using iMessage.

The free wifi on Disney Cruise was just enough for me, but I know this won’t work out for some people.

Everything else piled up, such as the 1,000 emails I had once I got home, along with all my Facebook notifications. But, in the end, it was worth it to disconnect completely. I was present for absolutely everything – even watching Descendants 1, 2 or 3 before bed with my daughter. Although I now know the words to most of the songs, I wouldn’t change a thing.

Have you ever completely disconnected for a week? Was it worth it? Let me know in the comments!

For other Disney Cruise information, check out the following: – How to organize your Disney Cruise Stateroom – Disney Cruise Embarkation Day Tips

Please PIN this! Thank you.

Christine is a Disney World annual pass holder and overall Disney expert and fanatic. She often visits the Disneylands around the world naming Disneyland Paris her favorite. To continue reading, click more about me .

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What ship were you on? The Fantasy , in an outside cabin did not offer the wave phone that you speak of. We just got off the ship July 16. Was there something that you had to do to get the iPhone to work? I couldn’t do anything other than the DCL App..Castaway Cay, the app definitely DID NOT work. I have Verizon and the wife has AT&T, we both have iPhones (granted only 10’s), but we couldn’t get ours to work without me tapping into the International feature on my phone.

Yes, we were on the Fantasy. It was Christmas 2019, so just before everything shut down. I did some research on your questions. It looks like the wave phones are ‘paused’ because they are high-touch items. I will go ahead and mention that in my post. Now, the question of whether iPhones work or not is a little harder. I read several forums where people said iMessage worked fine, some people said it did not work for them, and others said it worked for a couple of days, then it stopped working. So, I am not sure what to think! At that time, I had an iPhone XR. I had no issues using iMessage with DCL_GUEST wifi to keep in touch with those back home – just couldn’t send pictures. There was a forum where people said last month (June 2022) that it worked perfectly fine for them, but they heard that Disney was upgrading its internet in July. I wonder if you happened to be in the time period some upgrade was happening. It’s frustrating that it works for some people, but others it does not and I can’t begin to think why that would happen. Sorry that it didn’t work for you! If anyone else has any comments related to this, please let me know!

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An unofficial disney cruise line news, information, weather, and photo blog..

Disney Cruise Line Transitioning to Usage Type Based Internet Plans

Your wish for better internet connectivity onboard a Disney Cruise may be coming true. Reports indicate a new internet service provider and internet access plans are now available on the Disney Magic.

Guests aboard the Disney Magic in Europe are currently offered a new set of Internet options starting at $10/day (a 24 hour period). The new Internet offering are based on type of usage versus a measured data plan such as a 1GB plan. The package tiers are Stay Connected, Basic Surf, and Premium Surf.

Special thanks to DLP Town Square for sharing the details and screenshots shown below. Go check their Twitter feed as they are already tweeting from the Disney Magic’s Mediterranean cruise that departed Barcelona today.

Stay Connected

Stay connected on social media with our most affordable internet plan. With this plan, you can:

• Post text and pictures on popular websites and applications
• like Facebook, Facebook Messenger, Twitter, Instagram,
• Snapchat, Pinterest, Linkedln and Tumblr

The Stay Connected plan does not support surfing the web, accessing email or video streaming

Enjoy all the benefits of the Stay Connected plan – plus, full web access. With this plan, you can:

• Surf the web, read the news, check the weather and visit your other favorite websites
• Send and receive emails
• Post text and pictures on popular websites and applications like Facebook, Facebook Messenger, Twitter, Instagram, Snapchat, Pinterest, Linkedln and Tumblr

The Basic Surf plan does not support long-form video streaming platforms such as Netfilx and Hulu.

Premium Surf

Experience faster connection speeds and access to music platforms such as Pandora, Spotify and Apple Music – plus, all the benefits of the Basic Surf plan. With this plan, you can:

• Enjoy faster connection speeds
• Make video phone calls on platforms FaceTime, Zoom and more
• Listen to your favorite music streaming platforms like Pandora, Spotify and Apple Music
• View short-form on platforms like YouTube, Snapchat and TikTok

The Premium Surf plan does not support long-form video streaming platforms such as Netfilx and Hulu.

When selecting an option you are presented with a per cruise or per 24 hour option along with the number of devices you wish to connect using the selected plan.

As of today, this is rolling out on the Disney Magic, but guests on the Disney Dream are still offered the previous MB data plans.

Based on the external IP address of a guest I spoke with onboard the Disney Magic, when logged into the Disney Cruise Line internet package, they are connecting through SES in Maryland in the United States. SES is a provider of satellite internet to various sectors including the cruise industry .

As the sun sets, passengers post snaps of the day’s excursion, others stream live news before dinner. Below deck, a crew member video calls his daughter a bedtime story, starting his shift happy that he’s said goodnight. Not one of their screens, and the thousands of others on board, suffer from delay, drop out or poor quality. It is the difference between a five star and a four-star review. O3b mPOWER , the industry’s most advanced satellite constellation, enables this new era of guest connectivity with unrivalled performance, flexibility, resilience and scalability.

At this time, Disney Cruise Line has not made any public announcements, or updated their website to reflect any of these changes – currently they are still referencing Connect@Sea on this page . However, this very will could be a slow roll out across the fleet and culminate with the launch of the Disney Wish this summer.

Have you tried the new Internet packages onboard a Disney Cruise? Let us know what you think about the revised offering in the comments.

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22 Replies to “Disney Cruise Line Transitioning to Usage Type Based Internet Plans”

I hope it rolled out this summer on the Fantasy and Wish

The Wish will launch with these types of plans.

Still seems expensive for what you get. I enjoy no service, you actually get to meet and talk to people. I guess soon enough I will long for the day that people didn’t have their face stuffed in their cell phone all the time.

I’m curious. Can I choose different options each day or do I have to use the same plan for the entire length of the cruise?

It appears you would sign up for the length of cruise with a specific plan which I believe is upgradable, but I don’t believe you can go up/down plans during the voyage. In this case, I’d recommend going with the a la carte option and picking a plan that fits your needs the best each day. This is still new so details are just surfacing.

You can pay for 24 hours or for the duration of the cruise.

Better Internet service wound be great but these new plans are another money grab from Disney. The old plans our family could share a package with but these new plans, one is paying per device. Yeah it is similar to other cruise lines, why does DCL want to be like the others?

This must have just started yesterday. We were on the Magic from may 21st – 28th and only had the standard packages. I would have loved to have had this!

Scott… would you mind if I put the link to this article in my FB group for our November Magic sailing? It looks like this might be the wave of the future. Thanks.

I wonder which plan would be needed to use imessaging.

If you have a 1-device plan, can you connect multiple devices 1 at a time like you could with the old plans an like you can with RCL’s plans?

This is my understanding that the device limit is simultaneous devices. Simply logout of one device and log in on another. I will have a full rundown shortly once I am able to test the new offering on the Disney Wish.

Were you able to test it out? Did you post an article? If so, I missed it.

I have tested it out over 2 sailings, but I have not written up my thoughts on it yet. I made a note on my list of outstanding topics.

Any more news about this, Scott? Specifically can you log out of one device and into another?

Working on an article now.

I’ll be on the Fantasy in January if you need me to test anything.

Curious which bundle would be needed in order to use the Disney Collect, Marvel Collect, and Star Wars Card Trader apps by Topps?

Has the new Wi-Fi rolled out beyond the Magic and the Wish yet, or is it currently limited to those two ships?

Wondering the same. I’ll be on the Fantasy in 4 days and will update if there’s no new info by then.

Just got off the Fantasy. We were the last cruise with the per MB packages. They will have the new per day packages moving forward.

The info supplied by DCL uses “voyage” not “cruise”. Are they using the words interchangeably?

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Disney Cruise Line Wi-Fi Review

Some cruise guests choose a cruise vacation specifically so they are forced to disconnect form the world and just enjoy a vacation with the family. Others like to post about their vacation for others to see. Maybe you need to be able to check video of a pet at home, be able to call parents or adult children if necessary, or you just really really have to get some work done while sailing the high seas. All of those things will require internet connectivity, which is not something that Disney Cruise Line has a stellar reputation for. During my recent (January 2023) cruise, I tested all of the various internet packages so that I could share what worked and didn’t, and how to make the internet package work for you.

Internet Purchasing Options

If it’s been a while since you last cruised with Disney, you are probably used to watching the dreaded data meter work its way toward zero, and frantically turning off the ability for any of your apps to burn through your allotment without your permission.

The good news is that  almost all ships (Wonder is still on the “old” style plans for now) have transitioned to plans that are based on speed and connectivity rather than measured data. Hooray! The bad news is, this generally means you’ll still be paying a lot for connectivity, with often not-great results. But more on that later. Let’s review each of the three new “tiers”, and what Disney claims you’ll be able to do with each.

Stay Connected

The Stay Connected package is the lowest tier available. Not to be confused with Basic, which is the next-highest tier. This is less than basic. You can expect to pay at least $12 per day, or less if you purchase for the entire length of the cruise, or more if you need more than one device to be connected at a time.

With this package, Disney says that you will be able to “Post text and pictures on popular websites and applications like Facebook Messenger, Twitter, Instagram, Snapchat, Pinterest, LinkedIn and Tumblr”. They also specifically call out “This plan does not support surfing the web, accessing email or video streaming.”

So the intent of this package appears to be posting photos and reels to make your friends jealous, or updating your skills so that you can find a new job that lets you take more cruises. But nothing else.

The Basic Surf package is the next-highest tier, and it doubles the cost of the Stay Connected plan. You can expect to pay at least $24 per day for this access, or less if you purchase for the entire length of the cruise, or more if you need more than one device to be connected at a time.

With this package, Disney says that you will be able to do everything that the Stay Connected package can do, plus: “Surf the web, read the news, check the weather and visit your other favorite websites, send and receive emails, and make audio calls.” The only activities called out as specifically not supported are “long-form video streaming platforms such as Netflix and Hulu.”

This is the package that  should allow you to do almost everything. You can call home if you have an app that will allow Wi-Fi calling. You can check your emails. You can read the news in the morning. Just no video streaming. Sounds reasonable. All for about $100 for a 4-night cruise. A little steep, but potentially worth it if it works, and if you need the safety of being able to check in at home with family or with your work.

Premium Surf

Here is where things supposedly get fancy. The Premium Surf package is the highest tier, and it triples the cost of the Stay Connected plan. You can expect to pay at least $36 per day for this access, or less if you purchase for the entire length of the cruise, or more if you need more than one device to be connected at a time.

With this package, Disney says that you will be able to do everything that the Basic Surf package can do, plus: “Make video phone calls on planforms FaceTime, Zoom, and more; listen to your favorite music streaming platforms like Pandora, Spotify, and Apple Music; View short-form content on platforms like YouTube, Snapchat and TikTok; and enjoy faster connectivity speeds.” Interestingly, Disney still calls out that you will not be able to engage with: “long-form video streaming platforms such as Netflix and Hulu.”

Odd that the top two tiers both have the same exclusion, so maybe the “Basic” tier isn’t as comprehensive as originally hoped. If you need a soundtrack to your day, or you want to be able to video chat with Grandma at home, you would theoretically need to purchase this package. And the cost is pretty steep.

Pricing Details

As discussed in the description of each tier, you can find a base price per day for a package. But then you are given options for duration and number of devices that can increase or decrease the actual final cost of your internet package.

On the first day of our cruise, I went through and grabbed pricing information for a variety of combinations. In every case, purchasing for the length of the cruise got me a 20% discount compared to the daily rate. So, I could get the Premium Surf package for $30/day instead of $36.

By the third day of the cruise, it was obvious that I needed to purchase Premium Surf for the remainder of the cruise. I assumed that this would knock down my savings, because two days had already passed. No! I was still given the 20% discount on the remaining days of the cruise, instead of the full price. So for my 5-night cruise, I could have theoretically gone without internet the first 3 days, then purchased Premium Surf for two days to catch up on all of the things, and I would have paid “just” $60.

I expected that there would be a similar price break for connecting with multiple devices compared to having individual log-ins for each device. Something like $36/day for the first device and $30/day for the second, etc. But no – each device was a pure multiplication of the per-day or per-voyage cost selected in earlier steps. Two devices for a day on Premium Surf? $72.

Premium Surf Package Performance

I had a checklist of activities to attempt while using each different internet package. The first of which was running a speed test to see what I was getting for my money.

If you know anything about internet connectivity, you know that those results are really sad. Really sad. And this was the best speed I got the entire length of the cruise. It was only downhill from here. I’m showing the best of the best. Immediately I knew that most of my checklist was going to be pointless, and I questioned how the other packages would function at all if this was the speed they were giving the premium users. Ouch.

But, science. I had to run my tests anyway. The first was uploading content to Instagram, so that my followers could do important things like goad me into trying the world’s worst non-alcoholic specialty beverage. To be fair, I was generally* able to post stories, even if they included short video content. Hooray. That’s something.

* Generally is the key word here. We’ll talk about overall reliability later, but there were lots of dead zones and many many dropped connections. Many.

I wanted to test out ability to stay up-to-date with games. The Disney community and video game community have some pretty significant overlap, and Marvel Snap is one example of an award-winning game that rewards those who log in and play consistently. Don’t want to miss those log-in rewards! Once again, on the Premium Surf package, I could almost always log in. But matching and completing an entire game was practically impossible. I would lose connection to my account or the game servers at least once, and that always led to losing (or forfeiting) the game. Boo.

In order to stay connected for work, (which, to be clear, was not  a goal of this cruise. I cruise to avoid work. But science!) I needed to access Outlook, Teams, and Slack. On the Premium Surf plan, Outlook loaded about 50% of the time, and timed out the other 50%. Teams connectivity had a slightly better success rate, because it refreshed appropriately about 75% of the time. And Slack almost always kept itself updated, but really struggled with marking things as “read”.

I was usually able to load web pages, if I was patient for long enough. I successfully read almost the entire Saturday Six that posted before our sailing. I could go seek out the “lite” version of CNN if I felt like news was important. I could use google to search for trivia answers (I kid, I kid) or whatever else I needed to know, if I could wait the 30 seconds it would take to load.

Video and loading/downloading is where things really started to falter. I could view reels on Instagram, but not anything on YouTube. There was absolutely no way I could stay connected long enough to download a podcast episode or even a PDF. And I could connect to Pandora, but was never able to listen to a full song. It kept losing connectivity or buffering too.

Basic Surf Package Performance

This section is going to be nice and quick, because as soon as I tried “downgrading” to the Basic Surf plan … almost nothing worked. I was miraculously able to run a speed test, though!

Okay, so … 30% worse. But I’ll be honest, I expected this difference to be negligible when determining if tasks were ultimately successful or not. Sure, things would take longer. I’d have to stare at my phone and wait more. But probably they would still work.

WRONG. Instagram posting didn’t work. Marvel Snap didn’t work. Web surfing (including the speed test above) worked 50% of my tries. No email, no Teams, no Slack. The conspiracy theory part of my personality assumed that Disney was prioritizing Premium traffic, and when I managed to get web pages to load, I was getting lucky with my timing.

I’m sorry, but paying $24/day to maybe be able to load web pages 50% of the time, but have everything else fail … is not worth it. And the constant griping overheard any time we walked past the Guest Services desk seems to corroborate my feelings.

Stay Connected Package Performance

The Stay Connected Package … did nothing. Couldn’t run a speed test (it is a web page, after all). Could even get Instagram or Twitter (or LinkedIn for that matter) to load at all. I was paying $12/day to frustrate myself with just trying all of the things and failing. Maybe that’s a form of therapy. I don’t know. But it certainly wasn’t keeping me connected.

That’s about all I can say about this package. I ran through my checklist once in the morning, once in the afternoon, and once in the evening. And I tried it in different locations on the ship because that definitely had an impact on connectivity while using the other plans. But none of the magic trickery worked. This package was worthless.

Reliability and Troubleshooting

If you’ve made it this far in the post, you already know that connectivity and speeds are not impressive. Reliability was even worse. About 8 hours into the first full day of the cruise, while using and testing the Premium Surf package, everything just died. No posting. No surfing. Malarkey. I went to the Guest Services desk during the second dining service (an excellent time with no lines, if you need to visit that desk), and they walked me through the stereotypical IT troubleshooting steps. Turn Wi-Fi off. Turn Wi-Fi on. Turn airplane mode on, turn airplane mode off. Visit iCafe (the service that manages connectivity) and toggle the purchased package off. Toggle it back on. Restart phone. Toss it against the wall (kidding, again). They couldn’t fix it either.

Then, they had me go into iCafe (the service that manages connectivity), and totally log out of the service. Log back in. Disney magic happened, and I was back in business. That only took up 15 minutes of my cruise to figure out. They also admitted that they were having lots of Wi-Fi issues, and had been for several cruises. So there’s that.

From then on, that was the first step I tried when things stopped working. I kid you not – I had to log out of and into iCafe at least once every 2 hours for the rest of the cruise. I collected the data, because of course, and once I figured out the whole log out/log in fix, I averaged doing that “magic trick” every 90 minutes while awake. It usually kicked my Premium Surf package back into working, but didn’t make anything easier on Basic Surf or Stay Connected.

I know that many people feel like that they absolutely must be able to stay connected to the outside world during a cruise. Whether for home/pet safety, or work, or checking in with family, sometimes internet is just a must. But being forced to pay for the most expensive package, with such low speeds, and such frequent dropping, is totally frustrating in what is supposed to be an escape from frustration.

I recognize that connectivity at sea is tough. It’s a technical nightmare. Especially with that many people trying to utilize it at all times. But you should know what to expect – you’re not going to be video-calling friends or coworkers. You may not even be able to check email reliably or audio call at all. If the safety net of potentially being able to connect is worth the $30-$36/day for you, then go for it. Otherwise, you may be better off skipping the hassle completely.

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Becky Gandillon

Becky Gandillon was trained in biomedical engineering, but is now a full-time data and analytics nerd. She loves problem solving and travelling. She and her husband, Jeff, live in St. Louis with their two daughters and they have Disney family movie night every Saturday. You can follow her on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/becky-gandillon/ or instagram @raisingminniemes

5 thoughts on “ Disney Cruise Line Wi-Fi Review ”

What ship were you on and what itinerary?

I am going to be on a couple of 14-15 night cruises in a few months on the Magic and Wonder. I will NEED work connectivity. I am curious if the ship capacity, route, this specific ship technical problems, etc. are factors in performance and connectivity.

This was on the Wonder, and on a San Diego – Cabo itinerary, but I’ve heard that the Wonder had regular issues. Perhaps they’re addressed by now.

That’s good news that the Wonder has converted to the new plans!

Great review.

Maybe sometimes it also depends on route and weather. Rough seas make the satellite connection more difficult to maintain than while docked at Castaway.

Seems like ‘try if you want’ don’t be surprised if it is less than mediocre.

We had the premium package on our cruise over winter break. My kids were able to watch YouTube, but they could not play Roblox. It was slow, but workable.

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Internet Package Pricing Update

Disney Cruise Line has increased the pricing on its Internet Packages. The pricing will take effect on the following dates

• July 31, 2023, Disney Magic
• July 31, 2023, Disney Wish
• August 1, 2023, Disney Dream
• August 5, 2023 Disney Fantasy

The Disney Wonder currently does not have the time-based internet packages, it expected to transition to the internet packages after the dry dock this fall.

The new pricing is as follows:

Stay Connected Package

• $16 per day when purchased for the full voyage
• $18 per day when purchased for 24 hours

Basic Surf Package

• $24 per day when purchased for the full voyage
• $28 per day when purchased for 24 hours

Premium Surf Package

• $34 per day when purchased for the full voyage
• $42 per day when purchased for 24 hours

As a reminder, Guests can purchase Internet for 24 hour periods, or per voyage. Guests receive a 20% discount on voyage pricing vs 24-hour pricing, and adding additional devices to an Internet package will receive a 20% discount . If Guests purchase a voyage plan mid-voyage, they will only be charged for the remaining days . Please note: “ Days remaining” change at midnight, so purchasing at 11:55 pm will still charge Guests for the full day .

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The Hidden Costs Of Sailing With The Disney Cruise Line

I understand the frustration you feel when you book a cruise, just to later be hit with a list of hidden costs you didn’t budget for. It’s not a good feeling, right?

In some cases, these hidden costs come in the surprise of how much they actually cost. Other times, they’re things that you didn’t even know had a price tag attached to them.

Either way, you should always do your homework before going on a cruise. Because you may be surprised at how much these extras can cost.

It’s so surprise that you’ll likely need a passport to cruise. But, you may not know how much it costs to get one.

Passport Photos

One thing that is always a surprise is that you may need to pay to get you photo taken. And getting your Passport photos taken can vary in price, depending on where you go.

While it’s perfectly acceptable to take your own photo, there are many guidelines for how they (and you) should look. And, unfortunately, if your photo is not accepted, you will have to get it redone. Not only will this cost frustration, it also costs you precious time that you may not have. I

That’s why companies, like Passport Photo Online , give you tips on how to look, photo size, lighting restrictions, and more. For those of us with a baby, there’s additional suggestions for how to take their photo, so it’s acceptable to be used for passports.

Once you upload your photo, they transform it into a professional passport photo that is guaranteed to be accepted.

How much is their service?

If you choose the $13.95 service, you can either print your passport photo at home or have any store with a photo lab (CVS, Walgreens, Walmart, etc) print it for you.

Stores will want you to pay $16.99 to print a Passport photo. However, you can generate a passport photo template on the Passport Photo Online app.

Once you have the right format, you can simply print your photo (there will be 2 per page) on a 4×6 photo. Prices do vary per store, but they generally cost less than $1 per print.

Passport Book

To get a United States Passport book for the first time, the cost is:

Not only is this cost shocking to some, it may not even be all of the hidden costs you’ll be paying. If you need to expedite your passport, the costs will only go up from here.

To expedite your passport (meaning it’s processed within 5-7 weeks) there is a $60 charge. Once it’s ready to be mailed out, there’s an additional $18.32 for 1-2 day delivery added on top of that.

Whether you’re a solo traveler or you’re traveling with a family, these costs add up FAST! While you can’t do anything about the cost of passports, you start the process as early as possible so you’re not forced to pay for all the extras.

Transportation

Whether you take a shuttle, car share, or drive yourself to the Port, make sure you know the hidden costs associated with each of these options.

Parking at the Ports Within The USA

You may have anticipated you’d have to pay to park at the terminal. But, prices vary. So, make sure you’re budgeting enough to cover these costs.

Unless you’re local, I always recommend trying to arrive a day early. And while this doesn’t exactly fall under the category of “hidden costs”, it certainly adds to your overall travel costs.

Why travel a day early? You never know when flights will be delayed or cancelled. If you’re driving a long distance, you run the risk of traffic or car problems putting you behind schedule.

And while Lyft/Uber is often the cheaper option, some prefer the idea of riding with a company instead of a complete stranger. Fortunately, there are shuttles that can take you where you need to go.

Interested on saving money on Lyft? Use this link to save on your next trip.

Disney Cruise Line Shuttles

There are benefits to booking a shuttle with the Disney Cruise Line. While it’s often the more expensive option, you’re working with the same company. This means that if your flight is running behind, it’s much more likely that they’ll wait for you to make it to Port.

Space is limited, so I do recommend booking early. Contact your favorite Travel Agent to have Ground Transportation added to your Reservation.

Port Canaveral

Need a hotel pre and/or post cruise? Go Port has an option called Fly Snooze Cruise . Prices include shuttles to and from MCO, your hotel, and the cruise terminal.

If you’re driving to Port Canaveral, you can choose Snooze Park Cruise . This option not only includes your hotel stay, it also includes parking and the shuttle from the parking lot to your cruise terminal.

Port of Galveston

If you’re flying into Houston to take a cruise out of Galveston, try to fly into Hobby (HOU) airport. It’s much closer to Galveston than Bush (IAH).

I currently live in Tomball, in North Houston (much closer to IAH than HOU). It easily takes us 2 hours to get to Galveston. An if you get caught in traffic, especially on I45 as you’re passing through downtown, your trip can easily take longer than what is ideal.

Fort Lauderdale (Port Everglades)

New orleans (port nola), new york port terminal (manhattan terminal), port of san diego.

This is quite possibly the most hidden of all the hidden costs!

While there is a lot included with the cost of your cruise, tipping is not. You can choose to prepay for your tips, or pay on board. But, this is where the hidden costs come in.

If you don’t prepay, your onboard account will automatically be charged the suggested amount.

The suggested amount for gratuities (tips) is $14.50 per night, per stateroom Guest (including infants and children) . If you’re staying in Concierge, the gratuities are $15.50 per night, per stateroom Guest . Tips are split between the Dining room server, Dining room assistant server, Dining room head server, and your Stateroom host.

For my family of 5 (including a baby), that’s an additional $72.50 per night that I need to budget for, even though it’s not initially calculated when I book my trip.

An 18% gratuity may also be charged to your onboard account, for alcohol, deck service tabs, and spa services. If you’re staying in Concierge, it’s also recommended to pay $8 per night, per stateroom Guest for the Concierge Lounge Team.

Dining at adult dining locations, such as Remy, Palo, Palo Steakhouse and Enchanté by Chef Arnaud Lallement? These meals are an upcharge, so additional gratuities will need to be paid separately from the suggested gratuities listed above.

Disney Cast Members absolutely go above and beyond. But, seeing a giant bill at the end of your trip can ruin any experience. Budget accordingly and be mindful about what you can and can’t afford before getting onboard.

Specialty Food and Dining

You can absolutely cruise with Disney and not pay extra for food.

However, sometimes you absolutely need that specialty drink or treat. And the adult only areas are perfect for date nights with a loved one.

The problem is, these specialty treats and meals are not included in the price of your cruise. And since some of these specialty items are located in restaurants where meals are included with the cost of your cruise, it can sometimes get confusing.

Not sure if it’s an upcharge? You can simply ask a Cast Member. If one is not available, check the menu. Specialty drinks and treats list the price. Anything included in the cost of your cruise does not.

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There are so many activities on the Disney Cruise Line. And many of them don’t require you to pay extra.

However, if you want to play Bingo, you’ll have to pay between $20 – $60 , depending on the package you want to play.

If you want to expand your horizons and learn something new, classes are available on board at a cost of around $40 – $100 per Guest. Special experiences, such as the “Be Our Chef” Experience can cost upwards of $247 per Guest .

If you’ve heard a lot about the Rainforest Room, it should come to no surprise that this comes with a price, as well. Like all Spas, there’s many different packages, and each has its own price tag.

Some packages can be very pricey. However, if you’re looking for a 1-Day Singles Rainforest Pass, it’s available for just $16 + tax .

Excursions at Ports of Call are extra, as well. And prices vary per activity. And some may be more affordable than you think. For example, activities on Castaway Cay , Disney’s private island, include activities such as: bicycle rentals ( $13 for one hour ), snorkeling with stingray ( $36 for ages 10+, $25 for ages 5-9 ), paddleboats ( $18 ), and parasailing ( $129 for ages 8+ ).

There are multiple areas for kids to go and hang out, without their parents. And most of them are free. However, the “It’s a Small World” Nursery , which is for kids ages 6 months through 3 years old, is the only childcare area that comes with hidden costs.

How much does it cost?

As a former Lead Infant/Toddler Teacher, I understand ratios very well. Ratios for these ages are very low, which is why availability is extremely limited. While reservations can be made at any time during your trip (as long as there’s room), it’s highly recommended that you pre-register online.

It’s expensive to stay connected on Cruise Ships, and the Disney Cruise Line is no different.

While the Disney Cruise Line has upgraded their plans from a “$0.25 per MB” cost (yikes!) to now include per day costs, it’s still pretty expensive for what you get.

If you only want to post pictures to social media, it’s still going to cost you at least $10 per day to do so. If you want to read emails, surf the web, etc…you’re looking at $20 – $30 per day .

In my opinion, skip WIFI. It’s pretty expensive for spotty service.

Unless you absolutely have to stay connected, you’ll still have access to the Disney Cruise Line Navigator App, so you know exactly what’s going on around the ship. And if you have an iPhone, you’ll likely still have the ability to text friends and family. Although, this can be spotty, as well.

Which of these hidden costs is the most surprising?

Got questions? Feeling a bit anxious? Not sure where to begin? We help families, just like yours.

Planning an entire vacation can be overwhelming. But, here’s the good news: we have the answers to the questions that have been stopping you from pulling the plug on your next vacation.

We understand the journey, the ups, and the downs. We’ve been through the training, made our fair share of mistakes, and learned valuable lessons from them. This is what makes us the perfect people to assist you.

From thoughtfully crafted itineraries to having direct access to your dedicated Travel Professional, our mission is to remove the stress from your vacation planning. With our simple 3-step process, we’re here to help you every step of the way, ensuring that your dream destination becomes an unforgettable reality.

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• Disney Cruise Line
• Disney Cruise Line Forum

New WIFI package, how does it compare in price to other cruise lines.

• Thread starter insureman
• Start date May 31, 2022

DIS Veteran

• May 31, 2022

Since they have a new wifi package on the Magic I was wondering how this cost was compared to other lines for all you people who have sailed on lines other than DCL . Prices from Scott's blog below. https://disneycruiselineblog.com/20...sitioning-to-usage-type-based-internet-plans/  

No one?  

Question anything the facts don't support.

Hard to say. Seems free WiFi is one of the current perks other cruise lines are using to lure back cruisers. That, and an open bar on NCL.  

happycamper47

Voom surf + stream internet package - 1 device ​.

Hi All I didn't read through, but is there an unlimited plan? One that doesn't go by the megabytes used, or that is timed?  

Donna3271 said: Hi All I didn't read through, but is there an unlimited plan? One that doesn't go by the megabytes used, or that is timed? Click to expand...

happycamper47 said: No limited mb's listed. You can buy it for the whole cruise or by the day. Click to expand...

Party at Mickey's

Virgin has free wifi. My next NCL has a limited wifi package that is included  

• Jun 1, 2022

There's been some discussion/comparison on the other thread, I believe: https://www.disboards.com/threads/c...-for-onboard-internet-being-reported.3884717/  

anricat said: There's been some discussion/comparison on the other thread, I believe: https://www.disboards.com/threads/c...-for-onboard-internet-being-reported.3884717/ Click to expand...

cedricandsophie

We were on celebrity cruise line at Christmas. Basic wifi was free. You could easily email or go on Facebook. I upgraded 2 of us to their better package. For 7 days it less than $250 for unlimited wifi that included streaming. My daughter could easily watch Disney plus when she needed sone down time. And I watched Hulu a couple times when I couldn’t sleep. There’s no reason why Disney couldn’t offer a package that allowed streaming. And ‘starting at $30’ a day for their highest level. And it’s kind of hard to understand the difference between second and third levels. Although we were just on the transatlantic for 13 days and I bought two $89 1000 MB packages. So for 13 days the $20 package would have cost well over $200 with no MB limit. And that’s just for one device. It’s no bargain.  

lilsonicfan

our next trip is with HAL and their premium plan that I can buy in advance is $110 USD for 7 days. Unlimited, able to stream (allegedly).  

• Jun 2, 2022

I think what stinks with DCL 's approach is that there is actually no benefit from buying the “duration-of-cruise” package, as it is the same price as buying a package a day. So you end up buying 24-hours pass to try to “game” the system, and everytime once is over, you actually think about “do I really need internet now or can I wait later”? To me it sounds much more doing groceries than vacation. How does the other lines compare?  

Something that I haven't seen mentioned is that devices after the first are at a discounted rate. You can see that from the screenshots on DCL Blog.  

Kwami said: Something that I haven't seen mentioned is that devices after the first are at a discounted rate. You can see that from the screenshots on DCL Blog. Click to expand...

Mouseketeer

Disneygirlxo91

I wonder with the new internet packages if iMessage won’t work for free anymore? When it actually works.  

• Jun 3, 2022

Disneygirlxo91 said: I wonder with the new internet packages if iMessage won’t work for free anymore? When it actually works. Click to expand...

cwis said: The DCL navigator app needs connectivity to Apple servers to receive push notifications. That also allows iMessages. I can confirm iMessages still work (and even better I would say, even if not 100% proof) using the “new internet”. Click to expand...

Disneygirlxo91 said: So it worked without the internet package? Or you tried it with and without the new packages? Click to expand...

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Disney Cruise Line Check-in Process Online: Everything to Know

W e recently went through the Disney Cruise Line Check-in process and wish we knew everything we're sharing below ahead of time. It would have avoided confusion and cut down on the time it took to complete it all. Alas, we're smarter and wiser now!

Luckily, we're sharing our valuable knowledge with you , including screenshots of the check-in process (which we did on a mobile phone) and what to expect.

Disclosure: There are affiliate links in this post, which means we may earn a small commission if you click the link and proceed with a purchase  at no cost to you . We truly only recommend cruises, experiences, products, and services we personally use. As Amazon Associates, we earn from qualifying purchases.

Creating a Smoother Check-in Process for You

In order to create the smoothest check-in process possible, we are also sharing what you need to have ready ahead of time . Additionally, we'll tell you the info we wish we knew in advance that will help you for your own Disney Cruise Line (DCL) check-in.

Get excited because you'll know what time you can arrive at the port to start boarding your Disney cruise after you complete the check-in process! Woohoo! (We'll also explain why that Port Arrival time is important.)

Towards the end of the post, we'll share what you can do after you check-in in the days leading up to your cruise.

Preparing for your Disney Cruise Line Check-in

Check-in opens to passengers a minimum of 30 days before embarkation. It must be completed by one day before your sail date. Only guests in good standing who have paid the balance of their cruise booking can proceed with checking in.

Castaway Club Perk: Earlier Check in

If you are a member of Castaway Club, which you are automatically enrolled in for free, after your first Disney cruise, you can check in according to the following:

• Silver: 33 days before the cruise
• Gold: 35 days before the cruise
• Platinum: 38 days before the cruise
• Pearl: 40 days before the cruise

Disney Cruise Line Concierge Guests Check In

It does not matter when concierge guests check in as long as they do so before the cut off date for online check in. This is because they get Group One boarding anyway.

➜ Download the Disney Cruise Line Navigator App

First, you want to ensure you have the Disney Cruise Line Navigator app downloaded on your phone for your online check-in. You will want the app for your cruise anyway since it allows you to text with fellow passengers while on board, free of charge or free of an internet plan.

You will find links to download the Disney Cruise Line Navigator app here via the Apple App Store or Google Play for Android users.

If you have never downloaded the app, you'll also need the following to log in :

• Disney Cruise reservation number
• Your Disney Cruise account login info (username and password)

You can do other things in the DCL app, including:

• Manage your reservation.
• Explore & book activities.
• View additional cruise options, like adding air or ground transportation and adding dining or special requests.
• Onboard chat (the free text messaging we mentioned above), which allows you to chat with fellow passengers or a crew member – the most fun part of this is the cool Disney emojis in the chat feature.
• Access your cruise calendar and things like menus for each restaurant during your cruise.
• View your cruise statement balance.
• See DCL's latest cruise specials and offerings for your next vacation.
• Explore the ship with the app's deck-to-deck plan, bow to stern .
• View the ports of call and daily itinerary, like what time you dock and what time you need to be back onboard before the cruise departs for the next destination.

︎ Download our free check-in printable!

Download our free Disney Cruise Line Check-in Cheat Sheet

We respect your privacy. Unsubscribe at anytime.

➜ What You Need to have on Hand, Ready to Upload for Check-In

• Photo of every traveler's passport .
• A clear photo of each passenger , solo.
• A credit card that you'll use for purchases while you're on the cruise.
• Flight information (if you're flying to the port) .
• Hotel information for before/after your Disney cruise (if applicable).

☆ It's important to have all of the info above handy when you arrive at your Port of Embarkation too. Do not put them in any luggage you'll pass off to the crew curbside.

Keep these things in your carry-on bag that you're going to have on you at all times.

➜ Checking in Large Groups of Travelers

If you're checking in a lot of travelers for your cruise – for example, eight, ten, or more – one person can check everyone in.

Link all the reservations into one account so you can change between them easily. Then make sure the one person checking everyone in has EVERYTHING needed to do it, which is referenced in this post. (Security photos, passports or birth certificate info, etc.)

Our check-in printable has a checklist to ensure you’re prepared for check-in! Be sure to download that through this post.

Be sure to download our free printable Disney Cruise Line Check-in Cheat Sheet, in the box above or here , so you're fully prepared, including a checklist of what you need for a smooth online check-in!

Below, we'll go into depth about each item you need to check-in, in the bulleted list above.

➜ Photo of Your Passport

You'll need a photo of every traveler's passport, taken one at a time (not a group photo of the passports). It has to be a clear, unobstructed, glare-free photo. Alternatively, a Passport Card may be acceptable if you travel between the United States, Mexico, Canada, Bermuda, and the Caribbean.

This is harder to get than you would think! We recommend taking the photo during daylight, near a window with natural light. Turn off any artificial light in your home. Then take your photo.

If you can't get the light coming in from your window to stop reflecting on your passport, try closing the blinds a little or closing a shade that still allows light to come through.

You'll upload citizenship documents for check-in if you don't have a passport.

Check-In Tip:

Passport Card

You can use a Passport Card to check in if you are traveling between the U.S. and Mexico, Canada, the Caribbean, and Bermuda, in lieu of a passport. They may be easier to photograph.

You cannot use this option if you're cruising elsewhere, including Europe.

If you're cruising between the United States and the Caribbean, including Castaway Cay, you can use your Passport or Passport Card.

➜ Solo Photo of Each Passenger

Disney wants a photo of each passenger for their onboard account. It should be taken from the shoulders up, looking straight at the camera.

It cannot be the same exact photo as your official ID. (In other words, you cannot simply take a photo of the image in a passport.) However, use that photo as guidance for what they want.

Think of your passport or driver's license photo. This is the type of photo DCL is looking for of each passenger to identify him/her upon check-in/out of the ship at ports.

We simply looked for a photo of us from vacation without a crazy background, where we were looking at the camera straight-on. This doesn't have to be a glamour shot – it simply has to show what you look like, without a face mask or sunglasses , looking directly at the camera.

There is a size limit to how large the photo can be (minimum and maximum size). Be sure that it meets these requirements before you upload it. The process will move along quicker if it's not huge (especially because cameras take huge-sized photos these days in terms of storage space).

The check-in website may crash if the photo is beyond the photo size limits it states. (Trust us – it crashed a few times for us because the image was too big. It stopped crashing when we reduced the file size.)

➜ Proof of Vaccination (No Longer Required)

Before November 2022, you needed to have a photo of vaccination cards for any vaccinated passenger. While this is no longer required, regulations/requirements can change anytime.

➜ Credit Card

You'll input the info of a credit card you want to use for purchases while onboard during online check-in. Have one handy.

Alternatively, you can choose to pay for cruise expenses in cash. If you do so, you'll have a credit limit depending on the length of your cruise. If you reach the limit, you'll have to go to guest services to pay off the bill (in cash) before you can charge more to your account.

➜ Flight Information

Have your flight info ready to input so you don't have to search for it. If you are driving to the port, then you do not have to enter this info. (You simply check “No” when they ask, “Are you flying in for your cruise vacation?”)

➜ Hotel Information

This includes any Orlando hotel (for example), Port Canaveral area hotel, Air BnB, VRBO, etc. that you may be staying at before or after your cruise.

If this does not apply to you, then you do not have to input this information.

Check in to Your Disney Cruise Line Sailing 30 Days Prior to Embarkation: Timezone Info

Online check-in is available for your sailing 30 days prior to the day you board the ship. We thought this was according to the time in the same time zone as your port of embarkation.

However, it's not. It is at midnight EST, regardless of where you are or what timezone you're sailing from.

Why does this matter? Because if you live in England but your cruise leaves from Port Canaveral , Florida, you can check in at midnight EST . You cannot check in at midnight BST time (England's local time).

We tried to check into our cruise while we were enjoying a barge cruise in France. Dan and I specifically stayed up late just in case the countdown showing in the app was correct.

Forcing myself to stay up until midnight in France, I realized that somehow the Disney counter switched to local time in France during the trip. The countdown was incorrect .

Imagine our disappointment (and exhaustion) when we realized that we could n ot check in at midnight. Instead, I set an alarm for 6:00am (six hours later) to check into our cruise at midnight EST . And voila, we could check-in.

➜ So, if you're wondering, “Is the 30 days local time for Disney Cruise Line, or is it my local time where I live?” The answer is that it's Disney Cruise Line's headquarters local time, midnight EST. Disney Cruise Line officially confirmed this for us via email correspondence with their PR team.

Check-in, and any modifications to your check-in, must be completed by the day before you sail.

Disney Cruise Line Online Check-In Process

➜ begin check-in.

When you open the DCL Navigator app at any time before your cruise, you'll see an awesome countdown to your sailing. We love that they use emojis in the counter. They sub out a lot of the zeros for fun Disney characters. (A lot of the characters are also available in the app chat feature while you are on your cruise.)

When you can check in, you'll see that a little button that says “Begin Check-In” appears in the app (screenshot below, right). This button will not appear until 30 days before your cruise, at midnight EST.

You can see that our Online Check-In screenshot says “6:00” on the upper lefthand corner because we were in France at the time of check-in; it was 12:00 midnight EST.

Complete Check-In Items on the Overview List

When you hit the “Begin Check-In” button, it will take you out of the app. It opens an internet browser window to begin checking in.

You will see a checklist for what you need to do to complete check-in. The icons, which are silhouettes of the faces of classic Disney characters (like Goofy, Donald, and Minnie) are not filled in if you haven't completed the task.

But as you fill in the information, you'll see the faces start to fill in with more graphic and colorful drawings. So cute, right?

In the screenshots below, you'll see the top two don't have the faces filled in yet. In the bottom two screenshots, the faces are filled in, which indicates we completed those tasks for check-in.

➜ Moving Through the Steps of DCL Check-In

You'll be glad you will have already gathered what we recommended to have on hand, ready to go, as you move through the Disney Cruise Line check-in steps. Things will move as efficiently as possible this way.

Each step is sequential. You cannot jump ahead to the Port Arrival Time, for example, then go back to filling in your contact information. You must fill in your contact information first before it lets you move to the next step.

As you can see from the screenshots below, we filled in the information for our Travel Plans, picked our Port Arrival Time (the BEST part of check-in), accepted the terms of the Cruise Contract, and we were done.

All DCL guests, including Platinum Castaway Club members , need to select a Port Arrival Time.

➜ Port Arrival Time

The Port Arrival Time is a timeslot you are given or select during the check in process. This is the time you are able to arrive at the cruise terminal to board the ship on embarkation day.

It's an important timeslot! If you're able to, given how you're arriving at the port (especially if you're driving yourself) you'll want to select the earliest available arrival time.

This is the time you can arrive at the port and drop your luggage off, curbside. (The luggage is delivered to your cabin later in the day.) Then you go inside the terminal to continue your check-in, in person, and you get your boarding group. The earlier the boarding group, the earlier you get on the ship. This means the longer your cruise is, even if that's just hours longer.

Disney has a lot of shorter cruise itineraries that are three or four days that head to Castaway Cay and Nassau, then head back to Florida. This Port Arrival Time particularly matters for shorter cruises. Why not maximize your time onboard a Disney ship if you can?

If you want one of the earliest arrival times, it's imperative you check in for your cruise at midnight. Being one of the first to check in means you will increase your chances of being able to select an early arrival time.

For Guests taking Disney Cruise Line Transportation

The caveat to the Port Arrival Time you get during check in is if you are taking DCL transportation from your Orlando-area hotel. This is especially true for resorts that are on-property at Walt Disney World. If this is the case, your Port Arrival Time doesn't really matter because you will arrive at the port when the bus drops you off.

➜ Disney Cruise Line Website Delays During Check-In

We're not going to sugarcoat this: Disney websites are notoriously slow and buggy.

It's not uncommon to get an error message that the website is experiencing complications during check-in. This is very frustrating when you feel like you're racing against the clock to get your earliest Port Arrival Time and have to do the steps sequentially as the app presents them.

Trust us, we know, and we can relate. We were on vacation overseas the last time we had to check-in for a Disney cruise…at 6:00am local time! It wasn't what we wanted to deal with. Alas, we are all at the mercy of Disney.

The good news is that Disney periodically saves your work. If you need to reload check-in, simply re-open the app. Log in again. Then click “Complete Check-In,” and it will take you back to the check-in website.

You may lose some check-in work (we did), but not all of it. It usually doesn't take much time to re-enter the info.

Confirmation You're Checked-In for Your Cruise

When you have successfully completed the online check-in process, you'll see the message in the screenshot below, that says, “You're All Set to Sail!”

An important note is that while it says you're set to sail, your online check-in may still show as “ Pending Review “. This is because a Disney Cruise Line cast member has to check the photos you submitted (a real human, from what we understand), and it's a long process.

It could potentially say “Pending Review” until you sail. If it does, don't worry. We have heard that this is common. In our case, our account said “Pending Review” up until the day we embarked on our cruise.

As long as you bring all the documents with you that you uploaded to the app, you should be golden when you arrive at the port to embark on your Disney Cruise. (Remember you must keep all of these documents in a carry-on bag with you at all times during embarkation.)

➜ Disney Cruise Line Port Arrival Cards for your Digital Apple Wallet

If you have an iPhone, one of the coolest things you can add to your Apple Wallet after check-in is your Port Arrival Form QR codes. This makes it extra easy to find those important QR codes you need when you get to the cruise terminal to embark on your Disney Cruise.

We're not 100% sure if the same cool feature is available to Android phone users with Google Pay. But if you know (because you use an Android and you've gone through the check-in process with Disney Cruise Line, firsthand) please let us know in the comments!

➜ Your Check-In Should be Good to Go!

Though there used to be another step to clear “Safe Passage by Inspire Diagnostics” (aka: “Safe Passage”) through the end of September 2022 for some of the Disney Cruise Line ships (Disney Dream, Wish, Wonder, and Fantasy) and through November 7 for Disney Magic, you no longer need to do this.

The official statement from Disney Cruise Line to its guests was the following:

Beginning November 14, 2022, for sailings departing from the United States, Disney Cruise Line will no longer require Guests (regardless of vaccination status) to provide proof of a negative COVID-19 test prior to sailing.

The Safe Passage portal is no longer available as of January 1, 2023.

Visit DCL's “ Know Before You Go ” page for the latest updates.

➜ How long did the Disney Cruise Line Online Check-In Process Take Us?

It took us 50 minutes to complete the DCL online check-in process. In an ideal world, it should have only taken 20 minutes. But it is what it is.

To reiterate a sentiment we mentioned earlier: we're all at the mercy of Disney Cruise Line's website speed and how well it works – or doesn't work – when you check in.

Our fingers and toes are crossed, and we're knocking on all the wood for you that the website is working and it's quick and painless when you go to check in! If it's not working, simply keep logging back in and refreshing things.

Important Information Regarding your DCL Port Arrival Time and Sail-Day Embarkation

There is nothing quite like the morning you board a Disney Cruise ship. The excitement is almost unbearable!

I always look forward to driving to Port Canaveral from Orlando and seeing that first glimpse of the iconic DCL cruise ship stack in the distance. It comes into view as you cross over the second bridge on A1A to get to the port.

The most important thing to know about arriving at the terminal is that you can only arrive within your Port Arrival Time window . This is the 15-minute time block that you chose when you checked in.

Don't arrive an hour earlier, hoping they let you embark early. Though we have heard if they are running ahead of schedule they might let you arrive early, it would be a bummer if they say no and then you have to find something to do to kill thirty minutes or an hour of time. Especially because it's not quite enough time to explore Cape Canaveral .

If you forget your Port Arrival Time, you can easily view it on your Port Arrival Form. It's also in your iPhone Wallet if you added the cards to the iPhone Wallet app.

If you arrive early, they will tell you to come back later during your scheduled time. They might tell you to come back later after several other time blocks clear if you arrive late.

Disney Cruise Line Check In FAQs

✦ if one reservation in our traveling party has concierge but the rest of us don't, can we get in with the concierge guests.

No, there is no formal way to do that. But we have heard that once you're at the port, you can simply ask someone who works there if they'll allow you to board as a group at the earlier boarding time. Sometimes they say yes.

✦ I accidentally only registered half of our party for check in, then realized later and now my group has two different Port Arrival Times. Can I change the later ones to be earlier?

The answer is no, you cannot change the later time to be earlier. But you can arrive later than your Port Arrival Time and board as a whole group with later group.

✦ We're doing a closed-loop cruise and don't have a passport. What do we need to upload for documentation proof?

You must have a photo or scan of a birth certificate and photo ID ready to upload upon check in if you don't have a passport. Note that this is only true of a cruise that starts and ends in a US port and goes to certain areas.

If you have a passport, then — without a doubt — upload that as your photo documentation.

✦ We will be checking in ten people for our Disney Cruise. Would it be best for three people to do 3 or 4 check ins so that we can get the same boarding time?

One person can do all the check-ins for your cruise. You can link all the reservations into one account and change between them easily. Just make sure the one person who is checking everyone in has everything we mention that you need to do it. (Security photos, passports or birth certificate info, etc.)

Our check-in printable has a checklist on it to ensure you’re prepared for check-in! Be sure to download that.

✦ When in the process of doing the check-in steps. Do you need to go through them in order or can you jump ahead to selecting the Port Arrival Time first and then go back and fill the rest?

The system will not allow you to select a Port Arrival Time until you’ve completed the previous steps.

✦ Can you take photos of your passports and upload those photos when checking in? Or do you actually need to create a file (pdf)?

You can take photos of the passports on your phone to upload. Just make sure that the photos you create are glare-free and all the information is legible.

✦ We’re staying at Walt Disney World before and after our cruise. Should I mark “no” when it asks if we’re flying in?

Our Disney Travel Agent, Becca Plans Vacations , helped us with the official answer to this question. If you won’t have a car at the port, say you’re flying in even if it’s at the start of your WDW trip.

✦ Is it best to check in on the app through your phone or on a computer?

It's best to do it in the app on your phone. However, we know some people check in through their computers, especially if they need bigger fonts for eyesight reasons or they have trouble pressing small links and buttons on their phone.

Some people even have their phone and computer in front of them to see what's faster. Do what's best for you, but we personally stick to the app.

✦ What happens if you arrive 30 or 40 minutes prior to port arrival time?

If you arrive before your Port Arrival Time, ask the staff if they'll let you arrive early. If they're running early that day they might, but they may also tell you that you have to come back later.

✦ How long does the security check usually take at Port Canaveral?

We have embarked at Port Canaveral many times. It usually takes about an hour or less from parking our car to getting inside the terminal. Twenty to thirty minutes is a good approximation for the security line itself. However, that's just getting through security.

The time you board the ship is dependent upon the boarding time you receive once you arrive at the port and go through security.

What to Do After You Check-in for Your Disney Cruise

➜ mark your calendar with important dates.

You'll want to mark your calendars with the date below. (Don't forget to get our Free Check-in Cheat Sheet Printable if you haven't already, which makes counting the days super easy.)

• After check-in, before you sail: Enjoy booking things like special dinner reservations at Enchanté , Palo, or Remy's, depending on the Disney Cruise Line ship you'll be on. You can also book spa treatments in the app and schedule gifts, like flowers or chocolate-covered strawberries, for delivery to your stateroom. (Read our “Start to Pack for Your Disney Cruise” info below for great things to purchase and bring onboard to decorate your room.)
• 3 days before your cruise is when online bookings for cruise activities close, like spa treatments and dining reservations.
• The day before you sail : mark your calendar to buy wine or beer if you want to bring some onboard. But seriously…mark your calendar to go to a local wine/beer store if you want to bring some on board. This way, you won't have to worry about it the day you embark! Disney's policy is as follows:

Disney Cruise Line Guests 21 years and older may bring a maximum of 2 bottles of unopened wine or champagne (no larger than 750 ml) or 6 beers (no larger than 12 ounces) on board at the beginning of the voyage and at each port of call. These beverages must be packed in carry-on (not checked) bags or luggage. Guests wishing to consume wine or champagne that they have brought on board in one of the dining rooms will be charged a corking fee of $25.00 per bottle. Disney's Policy stated on their website

• Date for the day you sail . (Just in case you haven't already marked it in your calendar!) You'll also want to set a reminder to complete the Pre-Trip Embarkation Health Questionnaire , which is available in the Disney Cruise Line Navigator app on your embarkation day.

If you need to figure out any dates above, simply Google, “What day is __ days before [enter your sailing date]” and Google will show you the date in its results. It's a beautiful thing.

➜Start to Pack for Your Disney Cruise

When we come back from one trip, we're always excited for the next. Whether you're cruising as adults only on Disney Cruise Line or looking forward to a DCL sailing with the entire family, we know it's never too soon to think about packing.

If you're going to the theme parks before or after your trip, be sure to check out our Ultimate Year-Round Walt Disney World and Universal Packing List , which includes a helpful printable.

➜ Order Cruise Essential Items in Advance

This is because you may need to order some cruise items ahead of time, which might take time to ship. Such things as Blissets (which are awesome and fashionable anti-nausea bands ), or perhaps custom Disney Cruise Line attire on Etsy , take time to arrive at your doorstep.

Other things may be available on Amazon, where you can use Prime to ship within days. If you don't already have a Prime account, now is the perfect time to sign up for a free 30-day trial so you'll get free shipping.

We also have a list of Cruise Essentials for you to browse in our Amazon shop , from handheld fans to beat the heat to Apple AirTags if you're checking luggage, to reef-safe sunscreen, and more.

➜ Get Trip Insurance

If you didn't opt for Disney's trip insurance but still want to explore covering your trip, it may not be too late! We never get trip insurance through the cruise line because it's more cost affective to get it elsewhere and we like what third-parties include.

Disney Cruise Activities: Make any Desired Reservations from Dining to the Spa and Port Excursions

As your cruise countdown continues, you can do some additional things in the app. For example, you can make reservations or appointments for dining and the spa ahead of time. You can access this online app feature up to three days before your cruise.

If dining (like Enchante on the Disney Wish , for example) is showing as unavailable, that usually means there are no more advance reservations available. (In that case, you'll want to ask about how to make a reservation while on board the day you embark.)

Port excursions and spa reservations can also be made in advance from within the app.

If a spa treatment, or appointment for Hook's Barbery on Disney Wish , is showing as “Sold Out,” you may want to check about availability once you board the ship on embarkation day.

Cruise Essential FOR YOUR TROPICAL VACATION:

The only thing we have tried that gets rid of bug bites from your skin is The Bug Bite Thing . This item is a MUST pack when we travel. We always pack one in our backpack/day bag and another in our luggage. Don't travel without it!

Things to Do Nearby in Port Canaveral

If you are sailing from Disney Cruise Line's Port Canaveral Terminal and are looking for things to do nearby, we've got you covered!

There are many great activities, whether you have a few hours, half a day, a full day, or multiple days.

Check out our recommendations for things to do near Port Canaveral and make the most of your trip to the Florida coast! (Or “Space Coast,” as it's called!)

Going on a Disney Cruise? Read this next:

• Best Disney Cruise Ship, According to DCL Experts
• Experiencing a Disney Cruise without Kids
• Anti-Nausea Medication and Other Cruise Sea Sickness Solutions 

The post Disney Cruise Line Check-in Process Online: Everything to Know appeared first on Sometimes Sailing .

How my family of 4 spent $10,000 on a Caribbean cruise — and what we'll cut next time even though we had a blast

• My family of four splurged on a seven-night Caribbean cruise aboard the Disney Fantasy .
• We stayed in an inexpensive class of stateroom, but paid $7,000+ to cruise during spring break.
• We didn't watch our onboard spending and money spent on excursions, which quickly added up. 

My family of four – my husband, two teens, and myself – sailed on the Disney Fantasy this spring. Our cruise was seven nights and left from Port Canaveral , Florida, near Orlando.

Our ship stopped in Grand Cayman, Falmouth, Jamaica, Cozumel, Mexico, and Disney's island, Castaway Cay . This was our first time sailing on the Fantasy and our ninth Disney cruise.

Our trip cost just over $10,000. Perhaps surprisingly, this is on par with the higher end of what a family can expect to spend on a seven-night Caribbean cruise: about $270 to $2,600 a person .

Here's a rough look at what we spent:

Cruise: $7,300 (includes interior room, meals, and entertainment)

Excursions: $1,160

Alcohol: $334

Bingo: $152

Here's the value we felt we got and what we might do differently next time.

We got the cheapest room type but would've saved by sailing at a different time of year

Even though we stayed in the cheapest stateroom category — interior cabins — our cruise was still pricey because we sailed during spring break.

We could've saved $3,000 on the cruise if we'd went in September, which is during hurricane season and while school is in session for our kids. In the end, we couldn't justify our sons missing that week of school.

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Sadly, there's not much getting around this cost in the next few years. It's hard for us to travel during cheaper times since cruises almost always cost more during spring break, summertime, and over the winter holidays when most kids are out of school.

I don't regret our WiFi or bingo budgets

We bought an intermediate WiFi package for $490 and spent $152 on bingo.

We don't usually spend money on WiFi while cruising, but decided to get a package since this was a longer sailing . This allowed my kids to play their online games at night and me to keep an eye on my inbox.

No one was glued to their device, and even though this was quite a chunk of change, I'd consider it again for a longer cruise like this one.

The bingo turned out to be an OK investment since we won $145 and almost broke even. We usually play at least one round of bingo and usually don't win much, but my kids enjoy it, and it's something we do as a family.

Still, excursions, spa treatments, and drinks added up

We booked excursions in Grand Cayman, Jamaica, and Cozumel, and my husband and I had a couple's massage on the beach at Castaway Cay.

We didn't book super elaborate excursions, but costs added up for four people. Even so, I don't regret any of the experiences or the time spent with my family.

We could've cut back on our excursions budget by not booking directly with Disney Cruise Line or finding a spot to snorkel on our own, but I liked the ease and security of booking directly with the cruise line.

We've heard a lot of horror stories lately about cruise-ship passengers getting left behind in ports , and we always figure our odds are better if we're on an excursion arranged by the ship.

Next time, we might cut back on drinks and spa treatments

Since we're limited by when we can travel, we're honing in on alcohol and spa treatments as areas we can spend less money on.

We're not huge drinkers, but my husband and I enjoy having a glass of wine with our dinner and a couple of cocktails on deck or while lounging on the beach at Castaway Cay.

On future trips, we may cut back. When we looked at our bill, we saw that some of the wine we ordered was as much as $18.50 per glass!

And, as much as we loved the massages on the beach, they cost $289 a person (including automatic gratuity). Getting a massage in a beachside cabana while on vacation was super relaxing, but we can get massages at home for a fraction of that price.

Overall, we loved our cruise and have no regrets

The longer cruise with four ports of call was pricier than we realized, and we got a bit of sticker shock when we saw the final bill with our onboard extras.

I don't have any regrets since my family has always been more focused on experiences than stuff : We don't drive fancy cars or wear expensive clothes, but we prioritize nice vacations.

Although we know we need to curb the spending in a few areas and be a little more aware of what things cost when charging things to our room, we came away with fond memories that were worth every penny.

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