The Navigator app is a nice start

I really like to be able to book excursions and restaurants. I do like to see what happened on my account. Yet I would like more things like these:

* Twitterlike messages. Important enough for people interested, not important enough to use the PA. "Dolphins on port side!", "Sel de mer now 50% off", "We'll be arriving one hour late", "An extra Poker tournament starts at 15pm", "No smoking anywhere because we're bunkering", "Paris train ride not available due to strike", "We're expecting rocky seas from 20:30 till 2:00 AM. All open decks are closed. Please be careful" "On starboard you can now see the biggest windfarm in the world", "Pilot will board in 5 minutes port side and stay with us till monday morning". "There are currently people from 57 nationalities on board".

* The things already available on TV. Where are we now, what's the weather forecast

* The live lecture when sailing through fjords: broadcast them on our phones. In most places you can't hear a thing, and you could add pictures etc. Same for what the Captain and CD are telling us.

* Shipchat. "Have fun everyone!" "Is there a CC gathering?" "Who's staying for the next week"

I agree. I thought what was available on my phone was a nice start... but there is SO much more that can be done in this day and age... The twitter like alerts/ notifications is a no brainer. Having the ability to iMessage/text other passengers is something I would pay for (within reason).

I was mentioning the Navigator app to a few couples on our last cruise (by the way it is now on all the fleet but it started with Koningsdam) and they were quick to answer : we are on vacation, no internet.

I guess some people are still not even aware that it exists and they are so afraid to go on the internet and have to pay. It is aso a bit hard to convince them and others that YES it is free.

Announcements on the PA will still continue for a while, lots of passengers do not connect to the Navigator. It could be a safety issue.

I don't want to spend my vacation logging into the internet either but it is nice to have it available if you really need it... and just because it's there doesn't mean you have to log on constantly, have some self control! Lol. That being said I like the Navigator idea, it's not the internet, it's the shipnet, lets you keep informed without having to go back to your cabin to check the TV a dozen times a day.

Sent from my iPad using Forums

If I recall correctly, you don't need to buy internet time to use the app. I thought it was a good start as well.

If I recall correctly, you don't need to buy internet time to use the app. I thought it was a good start as well.

That's right, internet is just one of the options.

Currently is has:

* My Itinerary

* Happening on board

* Excursions

* Dining

* Paid internet

* My Account

* Spa

* Featured Promotions

* Deck plans

You can also access some websites (holland america, New York Times) for free.

If you make a reservation in a restaurant it immediately shows in the app, and if you want to check how much the bottle of wine was you'll see it directly as well.

And another good thing is that is not really an "App", it's just a website located at https://navigator.hollandamerica.com so you don't need to install anything.

So, as I said, it's a good start but I would really like the things I mentioned in my first post.

It is a good start however when I was on a cruise in March with my daughter we found so many mistakes and wrong information. For example if we were in Curaçao it said Aruba and listed wrong events. One day it had the wrong "All aboard time" and we watched (from our balcony) a family running back to the ship-guess they didn't confirm and on the Nav app it had the wrong time. If they are going to provide this they need to be accurate and double check the info.

We loved having it but it has to be right.

Sent from my iPhone using Forums

The App I downloaded is Ship Text.. is that the same as the Navigator app you speak of?

I agree. Another thing that frustrated me when I used it in May was that when trying to "construct my own schedule" of activities on any given day, not all of them were listed (tea comes to mind offhand, but wasn't the only thing). So if I'm trying to make a nice schedule for my day, what's the use if I still have to remember half of it or cart around the when and where (which isn't as detailed as the former daily programs)? so i just gave up on that. I also noticed incorrect times listed for a couple activities. I too felt that Navigator was a good start but needed more work. It was nice to access the NYT from my tablet however as I almost always forgot to pick up the paper copy at breakfast.

The App I downloaded is Ship Text.. is that the same as the Navigator app you speak of?

No, Navigator is HAL specific and you don't need to dowload it.

To elaborate on the Twitter thing, I found an old message from myself asking for exactly that, except on the TV.

Instead of having crew handing out papers for almost free Faberge eggs, or bothering everyone at the gangway, they could target me precisely. From previous cruises they'll know I never set foot in the Spa, and wouldn't buy any jewelry, but announcements for poker tournaments and specialty restaurants are certainly met with interest.

5:34 AM. Captain: "Hong Kong is a difficult port for a cruiseship. We'll have to go in backwards so we're starting to turn now"

5:45 AM. Captain: "We're in position. Now we wait for ropes and more important: the authorities."

6:36 AM. Captain: "We're still waiting for an official to give authorisation for disembarkation. This will take another 20 minutes probably."

6:45 AM. Captain: "Gangway is out. Don't forget your passport!"

8:03 AM. Cruise Director: "Hong Kong is expecting heavy rain today. You may want to pick up a free umbrella at the gangway."

9:34 AM. Pinnacle Grill: "Hong Kong Special! Pinnacle Grill reservations for just $25, 50% off! Reservations can be made by calling 99"

9:50 AM. Cruise Director: "Dolphins on port side!"

10:46 AM. Captain: "Today is the 10th anniversary for this ship. 5 PM there will be a modest party in Crows Nest. Free champagne! Well not really, but the Beverage Manager assured me it does contain alcohol and bubbles "

4:20 PM. Hotel Manager: "We're welcoming a lot of new guests today. This also means that we'll be in "Code Orange" for 2 days so our crew will handle the food at the Lido Deck. Please remember to wash your hands often, and try not to touch your mouth or eyes. We really don't want your vacation to be spoiled by a tiny virus."

5:50 PM. Captain: "A record number of 184 passengers haven't returned to the ship on time. Traffic must be mad today. Luckily port authorities have allowed us to stay for another 2 hours. Flying 184 guests to our next port would not have been easy!"

7:45 PM. Captain: "Everyone is on board now. It wasn't the traffic but 3 (THREE!) tires that exploded during a trip. We'll sail in about 20 minutes. Off to lovely Taipei!"

10:31 PM. Casino: "Jackpot! One of our guests just won a free cruise & 10.000 dollars!"

11:08 PM. Cruise Director: "Today's superstar Marsha apparently just can't stop singing. For an intimate encore of tonight's show, hurry to the Ocean Bar at deck 5!"

11:47 PM. Captain: "We're not lucky with the weather. Rather big storm coming up. Stabilizers are out of course but if you need meds they're free at Guest Relations desk"

12:30 AM. Captain: "Tomorrow the pool at deck 8 aft will be emptied and cleaned till about 3 PM. The pool at deck 8 forward will remain open."

I'm not a Twitter user and don't really want "that" many notices/updates/announcements on my phone.

But I do use the app, and I like the one Carnival has.

Agree, though, that they don't contain ALL the info so you still need to refer to the paper.

Carnival has a chat add-on that's only $5/cruise. I haven't used it, since I often sail solo. I'm old enough that I'm able to make plans ahead of time. You know, like "let's meet for breakfast tomorrow at 7:45." But for those who don't/won't plan ahead, that chat function works well.

It is the way of the future..

We used the Carnival Hub - $5.00 per phone for entire cruise. We texted with traveling friends and made it so easy. And all the info about activities, deck plans, etc.

I Just read on HAL website that once onboard you simply click on your web browser and Navigation automatically comes up. Looks like a lot of Carnival Hub features are the same as this, but no option for Chat(text).

I'm not a Twitter user and don't really want "that" many notices/updates/announcements on my phone.

I'm not proposing your phone would sound an alarm for each trivial message :)

However, there's one common theme I noticed in talks between passengers on every cruise I've been on. "Why?". Was that a helivac last night? Why aren't we sailing yet? Why is the pool closed? Why can't we smoke? Followed by gossip "One tablemate heard that her sister was told by a crew member that the ship forgot to bring enough chlorine for the pools". If the Bridge, CD, HD would constantly tell us, in a non-obtrusive way, what's going on and what to expect, I would like that.

Of course, you don't have to read it, or connect your phone, or even bring a phone. My phone stopped charging halfway my last cruise and I'm not sure which part of the cruise I liked better..

I Just read on HAL website that once onboard you simply click on your web browser and Navigation automatically comes up. Looks like a lot of Carnival Hub features are the same as this, but no option for Chat(text).

Darn! The $5 chat option looks like the perfect accessory for those of us with friends on different parts of the ship.. 'e.g. what time shall we meet for dinner?'

Darn! The $5 chat option looks like the perfect accessory for those of us with friends on different parts of the ship.. 'e.g. what time shall we meet for dinner?'

YOU are exactly right, dinner, dancing, time getting off ship, all those little questions! One of our friends sleeps in, but want to talk to her, and concerned we will wake him up......the chat would be perfect for these kinds of things.