Just off the Dream...a few interesting points

[lilsonicfan]

I would guess it will take some time to re-fit all of the bathrooms to have the dispensers.

From pictures posted elsewhere, no retrofitting is necessary - they are simply using glass pump bottles placed on the same shelves that the small toiletries were on.

I'm calling it: I wouldn't be surprised to see table cloths and all-you-can-use towels disappear within the next two years.

This I doubt, mostly because the ships have and need massive laundromat systems anyway for bedding and napkins and all of that.


The loss of the paper Navigator is really odd if other adverts are still being delivered. If that is the case, it’s so obviously a cutback (and not one most people would favour) that just makes them look cheap. It’s certainly not about saving paper. I for one am weary of hearing about all of these little changes while prices continue to climb. Gratuities are up. Amenities are down. Palo and Remy cost more. Liquor tastings cost more. No more paper navigators. Death by a thousand cuts.

 

[Spotthecat]

If the navigators are not delivered to my room, my room attendant will be hearing some whining from my kids who scour it each night. Like we need different colours of highlighters level of scouring, lol. The chocolates on the bed I can do without, cut back on that, but not my navigator!!!

 

[Stratus22]

I cruised on the Wonder out of Port Canaveral on February 21st and the CM at the counter checking us in said that would be the last time they pass out the Personal Navigator and if We wanted a copy, we would need to go to Guest Services on future cruises. Surprised...NO. Every questionnaire over the past 4 months that I've filled out online has been mostly about their App. We enjoyed the paper Navigators as well and have saved everyone of them and still sometimes go back through them. Its sad to not see them on our beds anymore.

 

[Minnie368]

I’ve only been on one cruise- second one coming up in May- but I think I remember always taking the paper navigator with us when we left the ship because it had the ship contact information on it? Is that information on the app and is it accessible when you’re not on the ship?

 

[jstewartgt]

Did anyone else experience not having lotion supplied on their cruise?

Yes, it was not provided on the Fantasy last week. We called Guest Services and they confirmed it's no longer being supplied to guests. My wife was annoyed about it as she did not bring any other lotion. I know these things change, but it's just not something we wanted to deal with. Luckily the next morning we happened to see our stateroom attendant have a few bottles and he was able to provide us with a couple to get us by.

I was also a bit annoyed with the Navigator change for a couple of reasons. As others have mentioned, we still received several pages of advertisements each evening. If you want to reduce paper, then get rid of it all, not just what I actually use. I also think if there was an iPad version of the app that better laid out the activities in the grid format, it would be easier to use. We made the app work for our needs, it just took some getting used to.

 

[Dug720]

During our first cruise, my son and I ate gluten-free, and our dining server told me to preorder a special-made lunch for Castaway Cay. We're Texans, so I ordered ribs and beans.

The ribs were like big chunks of rubber, and the beans were unseasoned kidney beans. I almost cried.

I never pre-order for Castaway. Minus the bread, pretty much everything is safe (not sure about ribs due to sauce as I refuse to eat meat on bones - ick!) and beans don’t go with picnics in my opinion. If you can escape your son for food, go to Serenity Bay and you can get a steak!

 

[iamporch]

Are you still able to get the paper copy of the navigator the night before or do you need to wait until morning to get it from guest services?

 

[gismo1554]

So I was wondering how this works with disabilities? I'm registered blind and although I can use the app slightly better than the regular paper version the "enlarged" paper version I found great. I would assume they may still need to supply this but if not I may need to reconsider bringing my larger ipad. Does anyone know if this is effecting the disability requests at all?

Also how do you find out about the specials that are on offer that day without a navigator? From what I remember on the app it was just the grid of options but on the back of this on the printed version was special offers from the shop and spa. I like to look at these to decide if its worth factoring in some extra shopping time before the show.

 

[Quellman]

Are you still able to get the paper copy of the navigator the night before or do you need to wait until morning to get it from guest services?

You should still be able to get it the night before. They have them printed up and usually available in a stack at guest services, such that you don't have to wait in line even.

 

[Jess_S]

On the Fantasy, you could get the paper navigator from guest services beginning at midnight the day of. Since I was in bed by midnight, I would get my paper navigator first thing in the morning.

I would imagine that they will accommodate you with a paper large print Navigator, gismo. No matter how much DCL may decide to penny pinch, I can't see them penny pinching where it causes an accessibility issue for a person with a disability.

 

[gismo1554]

I would imagine that they will accommodate you with a paper large print Navigator, gismo. No matter how much DCL may decide to penny pinch, I can't see them penny pinching where it causes an accessibility issue for a person with a disability.

That's true and a very good point! I hope not.

 

[lindsay0526]

I want the Navigator for my kids to look through. Yes, I can use my cell phone to look at the app, but my kids won't have devices to carry around and they want to read/see what is going on. I guess, we will be swinging by Guest Services each night to pick one up...

 

[Pens Fan]

On the Fantasy, you could get the paper navigator from guest services beginning at midnight the day of. Since I was in bed by midnight, I would get my paper navigator first thing in the morning.

Not being available until midnight is a real pain. We have always enjoyed coming back to the cabin after dinner and checking out the Navigator to plan the next day. Waiting until midnight to make it available seems designed to force even more people to use the app instead. I mean, it was always ready by the time for turn down service before, so why make it so late now? We do use the app, but really prefer the paper version.

I hope this doesn't lessen the number of folks that make it home with a complete set of Navigators. We might not see as many sets being uploaded to the Disney Cruise Blog which would be a shame. That's a great planning tool.

 

[Jess_S]

Not being available until midnight is a real pain. We have always enjoyed coming back to the cabin after dinner and checking out the Navigator to plan the next day. Waiting until midnight to make it available seems designed to force even more people to use the app instead. I mean, it was always ready by the time for turn down service before, so why make it so late now? We do use the app, but really prefer the paper version.

I hope this doesn't lessen the number of folks that make it home with a complete set of Navigators. We might not see as many sets being uploaded to the Disney Cruise Blog which would be a shame. That's a great planning tool.

I feel the same way. I was really excited when our cabin steward starting delivering paper Navigators to me on the 3rd night. I don't know if he did it of his own initiative because he saw my pile of navigators that I was saving, or if guest services put me on a list of disgruntled passengers who should get paper. (I mentioned every morning how unhappy I was that they wanted me to look at my phone on vacation).

 

[emilymad]

If they are going to push their app they really should offer reasonably priced internet access like RCCL does. I am not carrying my phone around just to access the DCL app. I personally like being disconnected from technology but if I am forced to use my phone I want internet access.

 

[braysmommy]

If they want to save paper in my cabin they can stop leaving daily DVC and other advertisements and just leave the navigator. I can even do without the chocolate but my DS might say otherwise.

 

[KayKayJS]

I hate this change. If I can't get the next day's navigator from Guest Services after dinner then I will ask our room attendant to please deliver one each night - and just tip him/her more. We'll see if they can accommodate that.

 

[DCLDVC1]

Why is the pirate menu so unpopular? Is it because it is Caribbean inspired? We love Caribbean food, and I thought it looked good...

FWIW, we love the food on the old Pirate Menu.

 

[mevelandry]

(...)


This I doubt, mostly because the ships have and need massive laundromat systems anyway for bedding and napkins and all of that.


(...)

I'm saying this because there's been a trend of little cut backs on different cruise lines lately (disappearing of newspapers, paper schedules, table cloths, turn down service chocolate, printed pictures, shampoo bottles replaced by dispensers) and fees added here and there (room service). It's easy to anticipate that those changes will happen on DCL from one moment to another...

I'm sure other ships on other cruise lines also have those laundromat systems but they made the cuts regardless.

 

[DCLDVC1]

The loss of the paper Navigator is really odd if other adverts are still being delivered. If that is the case, it’s so obviously a cutback (and not one most people would favour) that just makes them look cheap. It’s certainly not about saving paper. I for one am weary of hearing about all of these little changes while prices continue to climb. Gratuities are up. Amenities are down. Palo and Remy cost more. Liquor tastings cost more. No more paper navigators. Death by a thousand cuts.

As long as DCL continues to offer "free" soda, all is well!