firsttimer1971

3 hours ago, OHCruiser said:

If I buy a used Iphone + Airtags, do I need to add the phone to my provider account in order to use it?

No, you don't.

3 hours ago, OHCruiser said:

Do I need a separate SIM card?

No, you don't

3 hours ago, OHCruiser said:

Without actual cellphone service, can I still connect to wifi, like I would with a tablet or laptop?

Yes, you can. That is what I do. I have no Sim in my iPhone and just connect to Wifi and that works. Should I be in an area without WiFi I can always create a hotspot (*) on my android phone and connect the iPhone to that WiFi hotspot.

*=a WiFI hotspot is using your mobile phone to create a WiFi network. You are then able to connect devices to that hotspot and they will have internet using your cellphone service.

If you don't know how to create a WiFi hotspot on your android, just google "how to setup a wifi hotspot on android" or similar and you will get all the instruction (videos) you need.

8 minutes ago, SLC1954 said:

I am able to track my airtag at the same time on 2 separate devices. My iPhone and my iPad, both have different phone numbers.  It is all about having each device set up to locate the airtag in the registration process.

They both have separate phone numbers but do you use the same Apple ID on both? Because as far as I know you can only connect an Apple Airtag to one Apple ID, not multiple. So, I might have phrased it incorrectly.  

6 minutes ago, Mosaic said:

Airtags are Bluetooth, not GPS.  They will not track you bags.  Need to be within about 30 feet or less from your bags for them to work...

Correct, Airtags don't have GPS but that goes for most of the luggage tags that you can buy such as the Tile. The main difference is that for an Airtag to work you only need a person with an iPhone to be in the vicinity and for the others you need a person with a special app to be installed on their phone to be in the vicinity. 

For example:

-number of iPhones in use is around 1 billion

-number of Tiles sold is around 35 million. Since 1 person can have multiple tiles, the number of persons with a Tile and potentially having the Tile app is even less then 35 million.

So the chance that an airtag connects to an iPhone is at least thirty times bigger than that a Tile is tracked.

Most GPS-trackers will not only be more expensive, but it will be hard for a GPS tracker to get a GPS signal when it is in a suitcase potentially surrounded by other luggage and/or a concrete building. 

I am not an Apple fan (far from it) but I think the Apple Airtag is one of the best solutions around for tracking your luggage.

Just now, SLC1954 said:

You can use multiple airtags on one phone. You just give the tag a different name. Also I keep the airtag on the inside of my suitcase, less chance it could get pulled off or stolen.

I have used mine for numerous trips and it works well, especially if the baggage handlers have iPones in their pocket to pick up the signal.

 

But you can't use an airtag on multiple iPhones and I believe that is the issue for @ivanidea

1 hour ago, Cailey53 said:

@ivanidea, I don't think you need 2 iPhones--just 1. 

I think the issue was that he would like to be able to track the Airtags on two devices, both his and his wife's and that is not possible. You can only track an individual AirTag by a single Apple ID/device.

16 minutes ago, JennysUncle said:

Does that work if you just are using WiFi on the Apple, without a cell phone contract ?

Yes, I don't have a cell phone contract on my iPhone 7 that I bought especially for this. It works on WiFi and if necessary I can always create a WiFi hotspot with my android phone.

All that is needed is an iPhone that supports iOS 14.5, so even the older models (starting at the iPhone 6s) will work. The "Find My" app will show the approximate location on a map. The newer model iPhones (11 and up) will have an even more accurate location and show you the exact direction the tag is in and how far you must walk if you're near it. You can trigger a sound so that you can locate the airtag if you can't see it near you.  

I have always been an android user and will stay that but for the purpose of locating my luggage I found the airtags and an old iPhone to be the best solution for me. 

13 minutes ago, saltshell said:

I bought a tile, which is recommended for android. Cost $20.

I also looked at Tile because I am an android user, but the problem is that it will only be detected if a person who has installed the tile app comes near your tile which will only be a small part of the android population. While the airtag will be detected by every single iPhone in the world.

I am an android user as well and after carefully looking at the alternatives I finally decided on buying a secondhand iPhone 7 and Apple Airtags. Most of these tags either depend on bluetooth and/or a person walking by with a specific app installed. With Apple Airtags all you need is a person with an iPhone walking by and you can view the location of the airtag/luggage.

For a test i put the airtag in my wife's purse (with her knowing of course) and all through the day I could track the whereabouts of the airtag because she was in the vicinity of people with iPhones. 

I have a pair of compact Bushnell's myself. Not the most expensive but they do their job and are good enough for me. I would have left them at home if responses had been positive but I am glad I asked!

Thank you @Gsel and @VMax1700!

Your replies makes the decision quite easy: we will be going on the 31-day South America cruise next year, so we'll be flying but I'll take my own binoculars with me. 

Hi, does anybody know what type of binoculars are provided in the suites on the vista class ships of HAL? 

Just wondering if I should bring my own or if those provided are good enough. 

As i understand it is per stateroom, so if you and your wife are staying in the same stateroom you will only get 1 x OBC. 

You can find all relevant information here (including amount and how to apply):

https://www.carnivalcorp.com/static-files/50351a91-4dc0-4f6b-bfec-684647e6129f

Unfortunately, you must assume the worst when reading fine print and only in that type of mindset can you truly understand what it says. Such as the phrasing "next appropriate port" which most of us will assume means the next port on a journey but that might not be the case. 

4 hours ago, urbanhawk said:

If  I booked my flights thru the cruise line, and missed getting to the cruise port on time, just WHO  would assist  me in getting to the next (1st) port of call, which would be Hawaii,  in 4-5days , after leaving Seattle, for a 23 day TP  cruise? (rhetorical question!)

I can't see for every cruise line but I have been checking out the "small print" for HAL's Flight Ease and it says:

"Late Arrival Protection

Should guests who have booked their air travel through Holland America Line experience delays en route due to a flight delay or an airline service disruption, such as flight cancellation or flight re-routes, that will cause them to miss their original port of embarkation, Holland America Line will work with the airline to find reasonable alternate flights to the next appropriate port at no additional air cost to the guest.

Factors taken into account in determining the appropriateness of a port of call include, but are not limited to:

-where in the original itinerary the port is located
-airport / port infrastructure
-visas and other legal documentation that may be required
-application of the Passenger Services Act to the new itinerary
-comparability of cost, flight connections, and travel time required (any unused value on the original air ticket will be used to offset the cost of the new air ticket)" 

So, they will "work with the airline" but in my eyes that is different from a guarantee. And if it is cheaper for the cruise line to fly you not to Hawai but the port of call after that, they can.

Also:
"If, due to any cause beyond our control, we are unable to arrange for air travel or the air travel we arrange is unavailable or otherwise fails to materialize, our sole liability will be limited to refunding the air price paid to us. We assume no liability for any acts or omissions of any airline, including, without limitation, those involving cancellation of flights, schedule changes, re-routings, damage to or delay or loss of baggage, flight delays, equipment failures, accidents, pilot or other staff shortages, overbooking or computer errors." 

3 hours ago, navybankerteacher said:

Valid question - but did it occur to you to also wonder who (if anyone) would take care of housing and feeding you for those 4-5 days (and at what quality level - if someone did pick up the tab)?

In case of HAL's Flight Ease:

"Overnight Hotel Accommodations

It may be necessary for guests to overnight en route to or from their cruise due to airline schedules and/or availability. If necessary, the cost of hotel accommodations is not included in the air price. Guests are always responsible for meals and items of a personal nature." 

A lot of people seem to think that the cruise line assumes all responsibility (and costs) for a delay, but the small print just seems to suggest that they will do their best but guarantee nothing.

1 hour ago, VMax1700 said:

Just doing the check in for our August Rotterdam cruise and noticed that the pre authorisation has changed.  It was $60 per day per person but now it appears to be $1.

Anyone hear anything about this?   Probably because of the widespread use of Have It All.

 

 

 

I just checked for our cruise (november next year) and I see the same text as you at the top but at the bottom it says that my credit card will be pre-authorized for $930 (31-day cruise so $30 per day per person). And I think that is because the text says: "There will be initial authorization holds of $1.00 or the actual balance. " 

3 hours ago, little britain said:

At least they can’t blame Brexit!!!

Are you sure? The plans for ETIAS were started in 2016, the same year as the Brexit vote. Maybe just a little attempt to get back at the British? 😉 

(P.s. off topic but I read in a previous thread that you had some plans to embark on Aruba. Did you ever do that and if so, do you have any tips or things that I should be aware of as I plan to embark on Aruba next year on a HAL cruise (already got permission). 

17 hours ago, BarelyACruiser said:

You mentioned your suite was not renovated.  Curious which Signature Suite stateroom were you in?  We got upgraded to 6060 and board tomorrow. 

@BarelyACruiser, very interested if you like room 6060, my DW and I will be in that room on the Oosterdam next year. Please let me know!

As a European I also must get a visa waiver for my cruise starting in Fort Lauderdale and as @GeorgeCharlie said that costs me almost three times as much. 

Compared to the price of the flight and cruise, it's peanuts.

1 hour ago, drowelf said:

 The passengers get the smallest percentage of the total available bandwidth. 

Really? I have read a number of articles in the past of crew complaining about the WiFi they get, slow connections and only available for free late at night till early morning. So I would think it is the crew who gets the smallest percentage of total available bandwidth.

True but the person who started this topic hasn't booked yet if I read his post correctly. 

15 hours ago, NukeTim said:

On return, we have the HAL transfer to the airport and Flight Ease recommends flights after 11:30am.  Schipol is saying arrive at the airport 4 hours early.  Really in a quandary whether or not to book a return flight on disembarkation day.  Thoughts?

Don't book a return flight on disembarkation day. As others have said: Schiphol is a mess at the moment (I live in the Netherlands and hardly a day goes by without News about Schiphol) and nobody will be able to tell you what the situation will be on the day of your departure.

Personally, I would be unable to fully enjoy my cruise if I were in a situation where I had to fly back to the US on the same day as disembarking in Amsterdam. Get yourself peace of mind and book a flight for the next day and stay in the Hilton or the Sheraton. Both are attached to Schiphol and the Sheraton is at only 2 or 3 minutes walking distance from the departure hall, the Hilton perhaps 5 or 6.

1 hour ago, Mary229 said:

If it is important to you book ASAP.   Read the fine print carefully but most excursions can be cancelled prior to the cruise with no penalty if you choose another option.

Yes, I intend to book ASAP. Don't want to miss out on some excursions: I have checked the Excursions on https://www.hollandamerica.com/en_US/shore-excursions.html and made a list of excursions I want to book once available.

Thank you, @iceman93. As I said, my (first) cruise is well over a year away so I will just check on a regular basis.

My cruise is well over a year away so I understand that the excursions are not yet available, but I was wondering how many months in advance you normally would be able to book any excursions?