Digital Ocean doesn't provide a service like the one you're looking for -- but there is a way to use NameCheap's services and still have your name point to your droplet.
The consequence of using NameCheap's name servers instead of your own is that things like PTR records will be handled at NameCheap, not here on Digital Ocean. But ths is probably what you want. Also, f your IP address for your droplet changes for any reason, you'll need to go to NameCheap to update it. The same is true for adding subdomains, etc.
You should now be able to forward mail using NameCheap, and access to your host name should point to the droplet.
EDIT: Any idea how to do second-level indentation?
EDIT 2: Oh, the markdown's not working properly. ..anyways, the last two list items above should be indented.
EDIT 3: Also, note that the service provided by NameCheap is only a forwarding service, you won't be able to set it up in gmail as a proper email address.
If you used GoDaddy to buy your domain name
Once setting DigitalOcean DNS configuration, and leaving in effect the auto forward to gmail on GoDaddy
you can set the following MX settings on your DigitalOcean Droplet and the forwarding to gmail will go back working:
MX @ mailstore1.secureserver.net (Priority: 10)
MX @ smtp.secureserver.net (Priority: 0)
ehudziegelman: Thank you! This was exactly what I was missing.
I used this to setup "free" domain email addresses at gmail.
To recap the process: I registered with GoDaddy, they offer 100 free forwarding addresses for each domain. From the ForwardingEmailAddress screen, after you setup the forwarding address, go to tools -> server settings, select your domain from the drop-down list, and GoDaddy will tell you that these two records are missing. Coming back here to DigitalOcean, go to Networking -> select your domain that you've setup, and add the two records mentioned by ehudziegelman / GoDaddy. Now go back to GoDaddy's server settings page, REFRESH IT, and choose your domain again from the dropdown list, and instantly GoDaddy recognizes the MX records properly installed with DO's nameservers. HOWEVER, it took 1 to 2 HOURS for the MX records to propagate to the nameservers, meaning all emails that I sent to the forwarding address went into limbo during this time. After several hours, the emails were properly forwarded (in my case I set it to forward to gmail).
For anyone else setting up through gmail, google "tjkelly email forwarding" to setup an alias for your return address that matches your forwarding address.
MX record.I don't know your starting setup, but you'll certainly need a mail server (MTA) with an alias entry in your domain pointing to your Gmail address. If you use postfix have a look at "man virtual" and this tutorial.
+1 for postfix. Here are a couple more excellent tutorials on the subject:
http://www.andreagrandi.it/2014/08/31/getting-started-with-digital-ocean-vps-configuring-dns-and-postfix-for-email-forwarding/
http://www.cyberciti.biz/faq/linux-unix-bsd-postfix-forward-email-to-another-account/
I just tried the NameCheap experiment on one of my domains. Handed control of DNS back to them, set up a forwarder, gave it a while, and sent a test that successfully forwarded to GMail. There's one downside though: GMail displays the incoming message as coming from:
John Doe via registrar-servers.com
That "via" part is not a very professional appearance - kind of weird and off-putting for recipients. I think I'll go for the postfix setup after all.