Traveling with the Jones

When traveling to Europe for a land or cruise vacation, I want to be able to stay in touch with family, friends and clients without a huge phone bill “surprise” when I return home.

These are four strategies I employ to stay in touch — using my iPhone and AT & T plan — without incurring a huge phone bill.

1. I set my phone to airplane mode, and plan to leave it in that mode until I’m back in the United States.

Being in airplane mode disables the phone’s functions that require cellular transmission, while still allowing access to the device’s camera, games, downloaded podcasts and audiobooks, etc.

Plus, whenever a Wi-Fi connection is available, you can check your email, use messaging apps, and browse the Internet while your phone is in Airplane mode.

To implement on my iPhone, I go into SETTINGS and switch to AIRPLANE MODE by moving the slider bar so that it’s green.

I then check to see that the little plane shows in the upper left corner of my home screen before I turn my phone off. To ensure my phone stays in AIRPLANE MODE, I look for the airplane symbol every time I turn on my phone while traveling outside the US.

2. Before Departing the US, I enable Wi-Fi Calling on my iPhone (with AT&T Service.)

AT&T offers free Wi-Fi Calling on my iPhone. To use this, I go to SETTINGS, and scroll way down to PHONE. After clicking on PHONE, I scroll down to Wi-Fi Calling, and turn it on.

Once AT&T Wi-Fi Calling is enabled on an iPhone, it works automatically whenever you connect to a Wi-Fi network. You can make calls or receive calls to or from the US (whenever you are on Wi-Fi) at no additional charge. In other words, you can being on a cruise in the Mediterranean, and if you are logged into the ship’s Wi-Fi, your phone will ring when someone calls you from the US, just like if you were home when they called — and there’s no international calling charge.

Connecting to Wi-Fi on most cruise ships requires an extra cost, but generally I find that cost of a Wi-Fi plan is significantly cheaper than using an international cell plan. Since Wi-Fi is free in many European hotels, cafes, and on Viking Ocean or River cruises, this is an inexpensive way to stay in touch with the US.

Some important notes regarding AT & T Wi-Fi Calling:

• Depending on time zones, Europe is five to nine hours ahead of the U.S. You may not want to receive calls in Europe while you are sleeping – so set your phone to silence during sleeping hours or just turn it off.
• People who call you will not know they are talking to you over Wi-Fi; the clarity of the call depends on the strength of the internet connection — i.e. if there are too many people on the Wi-Fi network at the same time the call will be impacted.
• Text messages you send or receive with Wi-Fi Calling count the same as regular text messages according to your current AT& T rate plan; if you have unlimited texts normally you will have them through Wi-Fi calling also.
• Wi-Fi Calling works for making and receiving US calls only. International calls get charged at regular rate so you don’t want to use this to call someone in Spain, for example, while you are in Spain. Learn more details about Wi-Fi Calling on the AT & T website.

Wi-Fi Calling is also available on other cellular networks. Use these links to find out details about your network:

• Verizon Wi-Fi Calling Details here.
• T-Mobile Wi-Fi Calling Details here.
• Sprint Wi-Fi Calling Details here.

3. I also set up the International Day Pass option offered through AT&T.  

This AT&T International Day Pass Plan takes your takes your talk, text, and data plan to over 100 countries for a low daily fee. You pay the $10 per day fee only only on the days you use your phone (off of AIRPLANE MODE) when traveling abroad.

While I have this plan enabled, I generally don’t use it. But, having set up the plan gives me the ability to “turn on” my phone for cellular use if necessary –to make local calls, search Google maps, use data to order a Uber ride, etc. – and I only pay the $10 daily rate for the days I use it.

IMPORTANT NOTES for the AT&T International Day Pass:

• You will get charged the daily rate if you have apps running in the background that use international data. (I avoid this by turning most of my apps off from using Cellular Data.)  

• To turn off apps from using cellular data, go to SETTINGS, then CELLULAR. When in CELLULAR, scroll down until you start seeing apps, such as PODCASTS, INSTAGRAM, FACEBOOK, MAIL, ETC. For each app that you don’t need to useunless you are on Wi-FI, swipe the green slider bar off, so that it no longer shows Green. Do not turn off the cellular access for apps you might need in Europe when WI-FI isn’t available. For example, you might want to leave Google maps, Uber, Yelp and Find iPhone, etc, acessible by CELLULAR.

• When you are back in the US, don’t forget to reinstate the CELLULAR data usage on the apps you turned off for Europe.  

4. I use the Skype for iPhone app (download it here.)

The Skype for iPhone app works for sending and receiving instant messages, making voice or video calls – from most all devices such as Android phones, desktop computers, laptops, tablets. Skype is free when both party’s communicating have Skype accounts. However, if you load a small amout of funds to your account, you can call anyone on their regular phone number through the Skype app. I’ve found this particularly useful when you need to call customer service at your US based airline or credit card company, or reach family members that don’t embrace smartphones, email or social media.

As long as the Wi-Fi connection is decent, calls made through Skype generally have great sound quality. Be aware that when you call family or friends, they won’t recognize the phone number you are calling from, so they may think you are a tele-marketer.

How do you stay in touch when you travel to Europe? Or do you try to avoid calls, emails and texts when you are on vacation?

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A number of Alaska cruises begin or end in Seward, a port city of less than 3,000 people located 127 miles south of Anchorage. Depending on traffic, the drive on the Seward Highway takes about two and a half hours.

In most cases there is no reason to rush. While cruise ships disembark passengers in Seward early in the morning, many flights out of Anchorage have late-evening departures. Planning ahead for this “bonus” day will help you get the most out of your Alaska vacation.

While transfers by bus or train are available, renting a car in Seward with a drop-off at the Anchorage Airport will give you the most flexibility. There is a Hertz location in Seward; do confirm your rental well in advance of your trip to ensure availability. The rental car company will pick you up at the cruise pier.

Once you have your vehicle, you will head to the start of the Seward Highway, a scenic road with rugged, untamed landscapes. You will drive through Chugach National Forest, taking in views of the Kenai Mountains and Turnagain Arm, home to the World’s second highest tides.

It’s helpful to have a copy of The MILEPOST 2019: Alaska Travel Planner.

1. If you are planning eating lunch while hiking, or just want to have “road trip” supplies, the Safeway at 1907 Seward Highway is a good place to stock up. In addition to a bakery and deli, there is a in-store Starbucks.

2. Before you leave Seward, you may want to stop by the Alaska Sealife Center at “Mile 0” of the Seward Highway on the shores of Resurrection Bay. The center — which includes an aquarium, a research center and a marine mammal rehabilitation facility– gives visitors close encounters with puffins, octopus, harbor seals, sea lions, and other marine life.

3. Or, you might want to look for whales, sea otters, and sea lions while cruising through Resurrection Bay on a Major Marine boat tour such at the Resurrection Bay and the Kenai Fjords Orca Cruise. If you’ve got more time, there’s 5-Hour Kenai Fjords Wildlife cruise.

4. If you want to get up close to a glacier, visit Exit Glacier in Kenai Fjords National Park. About 4 miles out of Seward, you will see the turn-off. Exit Glacier is located 8.4 miles up the spur road.

Exit Glacier is especially notable for its system of hiking trails that take you very close to terminus of the glacier and up to the Harding Icefield itself. You can also see how much this glacier has receded over the years.

5. While the famous Iditarod dog-sled race takes place in March, you can still experience the first-hand thrill of dog-sledding and cuddling husky puppies in the summer at the homestead of three-time Iditarod Champion Mitch Seavey.  Seavy’s Ididaride Sled Dog Tours is located at 12820 Old Exit Glacier Road (on the way to Exit Glacier.)

6. Back on the Seward Highway, about 30 miles north of Seward, you will come to the tiny town of Moose Pass, Alaska. The town of 200 residents got its name in 1903 when a moose got in the way of a mail carrier’s dog team. There’s still plenty of moose in the area, and the small town’s post office is a fun place to mail postcards with a Moose Pass, Alaska postmark. There’s also a funny sign to check out for those who have “an axe to grind.”

7. To learn more about glaciers, glacial activity, and America’s second largest national forest, turn off Seward Highway at Portage Glacier Road to reach the Begich, Boggs Visitor Center in Portage Valley. A number glaciers “hang” from the mountains in Portage Valley, a part of the Chugach National Forest. Run by the Forest Service, the Begich, Boggs Visitor Center is located on the shore of Portage Lake. The Forest Service offers guided hikes on Byron Glacier Trail.

8. If you want to see bears and other wildlife up close in a natural enviroment, visit the Alaska Wildlife Conversation Center off of the Seward Highway just north of Portage Glacier Road. The center houses animals that are being rehabilitated; visitors may walk or drive a 1.5-mile scenic loop that passes by various enclosures that house animals in their natural habitat.

To reach the town of Girdwood and the Alyeska Resort, turn off Seward Highway onto the Alyeska Highway. There are several attractions worthy of a stop here.

9. Interested in panning for gold? Crow Creek Mine — established in 1896 — allows visitors to relive the Historic Gold Rush of Alaska. The property still produces gold today, offering a Gold Prospecting experience.

10. If you are hungry, be sure to stop at The Bake Shop in Girdwood, a favorite of locals and visitors for more than 40 years. Breakfast is served until 1 pm; you might try the famous the SUMMER OF ’76 breakfast special that was developed in honor of the United States’ bicentennial, and includes three of the legendary sourdough pancakes. Or, just grab one of the restaurant’s famous, huge sweet rolls with a coffee to go.

11. For breath-taking panoramic views, take a seven-minute Aerial Tram ride from the Hotel Alyeska ski resort in Girdwood to the top of Mt. Alyeska. The observation deck is the perfect place to enjoy lunch with an unbeatable view. Or, hike the North Face Trail starting from the Alyeska Hotel courtyard. If you are up for vigorous 2.5 mile hike with 2,000 vertical feet of elevation gain, you can score a complimentary scenic Tram ride back down.

Back onto the Seward Highway, there’s 37 miles of driving from the Girdwood junction to Anchorage. With the waters of Turnagain Arm on one side of the highway and the Chugach Mountains on the other, this is one of the most scenic drives in Alaska.

12. Watch for Dall Sheep on the rock cliffs on the right side of the road; this area is home to 1,200 Dall sheep. If you want to stop, turnouts at Beluga Point, Windy Corner or Bird Point are perfect spots to view the Kenai and Chugach mountains and spot Dall sheep.

13. The other side of Seward Highway is hugged by the waters of Turnagain Arm — a narrow waterway that boasts North America’s second highest tides — after the Bay of Fundy in the Canadian Maritimes.

The tides in Turnagain arm can reach up to 40 feet, and they come in so quickly that they produce a bore tide — a large wave of water up to six feet tall moving up to 20 mph.

When the dramatic tides recede from Turnagain Arm, the shores of the waterway become quicksand-like mudflats that are very dangerous to hikers.

Continuing on the Seward Highway will take you into the city of Anchorage, where the highway ends at an intersection with 5th Avenue. Highway AK-1 — as it is also known on maps, continues on for a short period as 5th Avenue in downtown Anchorage, before turning into the Glenn Highway.

14. Upon arriving into Anchorage, there are numerous places to eat, drink and explore if you have more time before your evening flight. Do allow plenty of time to get to the Ted Stevens Anchorage International Airport to return your rental car, and check in for your flight. Alaska Airlines suggests arriving two hours before your scheduled flight. You may be surprised at how busy this airport is at 12 midnight.

Have you made the drive from Seward to Anchorage, Alaska? What did you most enjoy on the trip?

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Learn more about Seward and Alaska with these resources:

Moon Anchorage, Denali & the Kenai Peninsula (Moon Handbooks)

The Man Who Bought Alaska: William H. Seward

Are you willing to save money on a cruise by booking an interior or “inside” cabin?

While having a verandah or even a suite on a cruise is a nice perk, we are willing to book an inside stateroom in some situations, such as:

• the cruise is nearly sold out except for interior staterooms
• the cruise is really expensive, and we care more about the itinerary than our cabin
• the interior cabins are more spacious than the oceanview staterooms

On a New Year’s holiday cruise on Holland America’s ms Koningsdam, all three factors were a part of our choosing stateroom #1111, a category “I” large interior stateroom that’s nearly 225 square feet in size.

A Look Insided Interior Stateroom #1111 on the Koningsdam

This is the first view when you first enter stateroom #1111 on the ms Koningsdam cruise ship. The cabin is located mid-ship on Deck 1, the Main Deck.

The desk — with its deep drawers, multiple electrical plugs, and well-lit mirror — made the perfect spot for drying and styling hair and applying make-up.

The red chair was only usefulfor holding things like our computer bags and backpacks.

The angled cabinet contained glasswear, an ice bucket that was refilled twice a day, our fruit bowl and extra storage.

Cabin #1111 offers plenty of storage, including two hanging closets, three large drawers and a section of shelves.

A refrigerator / mini-bar is hidden behind one of the square drawers. There was a little extra room that allowed us to chill our bottled water. And, if you ask your Holland America room steward, most will remove the contents of the mini-bar for the duration of the cruise.

This view shows cabin #1111 from the bed, looking back towards the entry door to the cabin. You can see the storage on the left and the entrance to the bathroom on the right.

The wide area shown above is where the extra square footage is located in this interior cabin. It is not really useful space. We used the area to store shoes. The strong hooks on the wall were very useful for hanging coats, laundry bags and other items.

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The bathroom is spacious for an interior cabin, and features a double-size glassed-in shower, and a large mirror.

Bottom Line on Interior Stateroom #1111 on the Koningsdam

Interior Stateroom #1111 is spacious for an inside cabin. The bathroom is the same size as it is in ocean-view and verandah staterooms on the Koningsdam.

Other positives on stateroom #1111

• the deck 1, midship location is good for anyone who is concerned with seasickness
• the location is only one deck below deck 2 — which gives easy access to the showroom at sea, the main dining room, and other entertainment venues
• there is adequate storage for two people for a 7-14 day cruise
• this cabin was easy to keep cool even when the ship was docked in hot Caribbean ports

Potential concerns for stateroom #1111

• the room is located near a busy, crew only stairway; we heard noise late in the evenings and early in the morning
• while the extra square footage is nice to have, it is not very useful in this cabin
• there’s no seating area in this cabin other than the lone red chair and a square stool at the desk

Have you sailed on Holland America Line? What is your favorite stateroom?

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