Anyone got any hints?
I guess I could google but thought I'd gather any recommendations here.
I'm off on a short cruise to Sth Pacific in a few weeks and I'm interested in any cost saving ideas as far as phones and messages go. I know international roaming is expensive.
So what alternatives can people suggest? I'm sure I have heard of something that is cheaper but can't recall names.
Also travel insurance. Can any seniors here recommend any that are good for a person with pre existing conditions?
In fact, any suggestions at all would be appreciated. Been a while since I travelled, last time was China 2018. Not sure what things will be like post covid.
22 comments
papermoon.lady
·3 years agoMaybe you can use Skype - if it is allowed and if WiFi on the ship is not too expensive?
https://answers.microsoft.com/en-us/skype/forum/all/can-i-use-skype-calling-on-a-cruise-ship/cd051a58-86d6-4fe8-b820-aba0b5383d44
domino-710
·3 years agoYou are able to video - face call - through Messenger.
One less APP running in the background - no need for Skype.
papermoon.lady
·3 years agoI only use my laptop - no apps or phone, which I basically only have to receive codes or for emergencies, although the other day when I realized at Woolworths that I had not checked Everyday Rewards I went online from Woolworths and had to install apps just to check - there was indeed an offer that was interesting for me, but at the same time now I think it was not worth it.
I have never installed the eBay app either, and they have now stopped asking me to install it, offering a $5 voucher if I do.
domino-710
·3 years agoI mostly use a tablet - no Woolworths app - they send the boosters through email - I boost from there.
No eBay app either.
papermoon.lady
·3 years agoMy laptop can also be used as a tablet as it is 2-in-1, but when I go to Woolworths I go with the phone as it is much lighter. I do boost from my mailbox too, but it took me to the Woolworths app first because it was the first time.
springyzone
OP3 years agoI wouldn't mind just sending messages through messenger. Have no idea what the internet charges are on board. I'll only be away a few days so it isn't vital, except for emergencies.
My worry with my phone is often when I open something, it has a message that says I can only have 99 things open at one time so it is closing the oldest thing. As far as I know, I have nothing else open and it worries me there is something in the background that be running up bills if I try to use the phone overseas.
I'm not good with mobiles.😐
I will look into TID and insure & go and see what they charge but one new rule on a cruise is you have to have covid insurance so that will need to be included.
domino-710
·3 years agoPerhaps check your cruise provider's site - they'll have internet info - costs etc
Otherwise I'd just turn the phone off - or keep in airplane mode - until/if needed.
imastawka
·3 years agoMy worry with my phone is often when I open something, it has a message that says I can only have 99 things open at one time so it is closing the oldest thing. As far as I know, I have nothing else open and it worries me there is something in the background that be running up bills if I try to use the phone overseas.
Springy, when you open your browser, it will display a number in a square on the top right hand side. That is the number of tabs you have open.
Tap it and close what's not needed by tapping the X on each tab.
ambercat16
·3 years agoSorry, can't help with insurance as I have 't looked into it since Covid. In the past I have used Travel Insurance Direct (TID) and have been happy with them but since Covid, I don't know if they are still good. I have only travelled to NZ in the past few years and don't bother with insurance there.
It used to be that with 'ordinary' pre existing conditions (i.e. hypertension, type 2 diabetes etc) you were okay as long as you condition was stable and your medication had not been changed in the past 2 years.
With packing light though - a cruise is the one time when the amount of 'stuff' you take really doesn't matter - unless of course you need to fly to get to the cruise departure place.
Last time I went on a cruise (back in 2017) we turned the phones to airplane mode when on the boat just in case.
domino-710
·3 years agoLast time I went on a cruise - there were no phones. lol
springyzone
OP3 years agoYes, with cruises they don't worry about suitcase weight.
But the cruise leaves from Sydney and we have to fly there first.
I haven't been away for a while. Last time was China and on Chinese airlines, they don't worry about weighing your carry on luggage. So mine was packed with really heavy stuff. It probably weighed about 11kg.
Then the flight home was cancelled and we were transferred to a direct international flight instead of Chinese domestic/then international. It meant we had to run about 2km it felt like, with our carry on luggage and our suitcases.
I swore-never again, travel light.
springyzone
OP3 years agoThanks, Domino, that's a really interesting read.
I don't know about lucky! My daughter wanted to go on this cruise and we needed school holiday time (as she teaches). It's only a few weeks away and the cruise she was watching went down in price from about 1500 to 849 per adult (kids less). Time to book, so she did. Because it is only a few weeks away, the $1 deposit did not apply and she had to pay in full on the spot.
I agreed to go but that evening was the first I had heard about it. Later on, I was checking my emails and noticed I had one from P&O, mentioning a sale for past passengers. Out of curiosity, I looked it up. I could have bought it for $350 per adult, $150 per child.😣
It is what it is, can't do anything about it now.
I hadn't realised those email prices were cheaper than the prices on their web pages. I'll pay more attention in future!
PS No, I don't want to be up for $14,000 in data charges either!
domino-710
·3 years agoGood grief - that's one heck of a difference.
springyzone
OP3 years agoYes, I know.😣
In future I will pay more attention to those email offers.
Not that I plan on sailing away too often & I am sort of bound up with looking after grandkids during term times, so I am limited in what I can consider anyway.
I have been mainly worried about the phone. I'm sure someone once told me years back of some way to get in touch cheaply. From what I can gather from your tip, it seems the phone can work fairly normally in airplane mode? That may be the way to go.
domino-710
·3 years agoSpringy - what the article is saying is - turn on airplane mode when not in use.
You would have to turn off airplane mode to contact.
Have you ' Messenger ' on your phone.??
springyzone
OP3 years agoI do have facebook messenger on my phone.
I worry about all this because I mainly use my phone for facebook, messenger, candy crush and occasionally using the internet. I rarely use it for actual phone calls although i do send phone messages.
But I am not an expert on my phone, I don't know how to do things with it the way I do on a computer. I am scared of running up a big bill by accident without using it.
Tonight I have been fretting over getting onto mygov, which I did no problem on my computer and I have saved an internation vaccination certificate which I can print off but no idea how to just show it on my phone. I'll have to get my daughter to help me.
papermoon.lady
·3 years agoNot the same, springy, but I am also annoyed when for example I go to Woolworths and realize that I forgot to check the Everyday Rewards offers - because I actually only check them if I have to buy something.
You know when you realize you missed out on 5000 points or so. Not huge, but still annoying.
springyzone
OP3 years agoVery annoying for you.
I have an everyday rewards card plus flybuys but it has been a while since we picked up anything from the latter and I don't think I've ever managed to get anything from the Woolies card.
My sister now, she's a wonder, she has had several international trips where the flight was paid for with frequent flyer points. I think she and her husband actually upgraded to business class on a trip to Europe and I have a hazy recollection she used points or something towards that. I do know she was able to fly to USA totally on points.
This was pre covid. It helps that her husband has his own business so all his supplies that he buys go towards accumulating more points.
Me-I sometimes manage a few cents back with cashrewards.😂
papermoon.lady
·3 years agoMe too... 🙂 I made almost $270 to date, but it is now unavailable for eBay, and on the other site starting with E it is available, but not if you apply a coupon that is not listed on the site, and many sellers send me coupons (without an expiry date, contrary to the eBay offers), so my balance has now been stagnant for quite a while. I used to buy more from iHerb, but since COVID many items are unavailable or out of stock, and prices have gone up too... 😞
springyzone
OP3 years agoMy rewards balance is currently a tad over $17, but only $7 of it is available now.
Lifetime rewards though, it tells me, have been $445.08.
Currently $30 if you refer it and the new person uses it. Pity I don't know anyone to refer! My kids and friends are already in it. Back when my sister told me about it a few years ago, we each got $10 when she referred me.
I have recommended it to a couple of others but they never took it up.
With the cruise, pity no one knows a good travel insurance company for those with pre existing conditions. Guess I'll just have to check around.
One tip I already know is to pack as little as possible. I remember back when we went to China, I had a friend who packed-get this-11 pairs of shoes. We were only away for about 12 days!
This time, I won't be bothering with things such as shampoo etc. Bare minimum. Normally on holidays I take a book or two but most ships have a small library so I'll make do.
domino-710
·3 years agoSpringy - check out the ship's WiFi - daily carges.
Have you - Zoom or Messenger.
Interesting read here.
Cruise internet tip: Use airplane mode to avoid unwanted charges
Whether or not you’re purchasing a Wi-Fi plan on a cruise ship, I have one very strong piece of advice: Put your phone in airplane mode the moment you step on board the vessel and leave it that way for the duration of the sailing.
This is the safest way to avoid unwanted data charges, which can be enormous. (Remember the story of a family that recently racked up $14,000 in data charges on a cruise?)
If you insist on leaving your cellular service on during a cruise, you should at least disable any apps running in the background (as they’ll be eating up data, and running up your bill) and disable email auto-check.
Personally, I find it easier to just hit the airplane mode button. Once in airplane mode, I reactivate the Wi-Fi feature on my phone to access the cruise Wi-Fi, and sign up for a shipboard plan that will let me stay in touch by email or a VoIP service like WhatsApp.
Lucky you.