Subscribe
    Friday, February 28

    iPhone Tips For River Cruising

    By 4 Mins Read
    Hand Holding an iPhone

    When traveling internationally, cellular data is important for many of us, whether we’re using our smart phones keeping in touch with friends and family back home or taking care of others matters such as banking or travel reservations. For example, when I land in Amsterdam tomorrow morning, I’ll want to book a train ticket to the city center, which I can do using the NS app. Why pay 40 euros or more to for a taxi to take me from Schiphol to Amsterdam Centraal when I can do it for less than 6 euros, particularly when my hotel, Doubletree Centraal, is next door to the train station?

    Of course, I could book my ticket in advance and not rely on international data, or I could purchase my ticket at a kiosk at Schiphol airport, but travelers who have grown accustomed to using their smart phones typically will go through a fair amount of data abroad.

     

    AI illustration of tools fro traveling

     

    International data packages are available from almost all carriers, but prices vary widely, with some charging as much as $12 a day. T-Mobile includes 5gb of high-speed international data for use throughout much of Europe, but for power users, 30 days of additional high-speed data goes for another $50 and is capped at 15gb, after which speeds are reduced.

    To save a few dollars, you could add an international data e-sim offered by companies such as Airalo, where 20gb of data goes for $36. See Using An eSIM For Blazingly Fast Internet On The Rivers Of Europe.

    If you travel quite a bit internationally, you could add a second line to your phone for $32.50 a month that would give you 20gb of international data as well as international calling and texting. See US Mobile’s Plans (referral link). I use US Mobile, installed as an e-sim for its generous international data service. I also use T-Mobile, which gives me 5gb of high-speed international data per month. Both plans cost me $72.50 a month, and both lines work together on my iPhone 15 Pro Max.

    Another strategy to reduce costs is to reduce the amount of data you use by adjusting settings on your phones. As I am an iPhone user, here’s how I limit data usage on my device.

    1. Turn Off Cellular Data When Not Needed

    • Go to Settings > Cellular > Cellular Data and toggle it off when you don’t need it.

    2. Use Wi-Fi Whenever Possible

    • Connect to trusted Wi-Fi networks in hotels, cafes, and public places. Consider using a VPN (Virtual Private Network) to protect sensitive data.  VPNs encrypt your internet connection and routes it through a remote server, hiding your online activity and making it appear as if you’re browsing from a different location. Both NordVPN and Proton VPN are good IOS services.

    • Enable Wi-Fi Assist (Settings > Cellular > scroll down to Wi-Fi Assist) to use Wi-Fi over cellular when the connection is weak.

    3. Enable Low Data Mode

    • Go to Settings > Cellular > Cellular Data Options > Low Data Mode (this reduces background data usage).

    4. Disable Background App Refresh

    • Go to Settings > General > Background App Refresh and set it to Wi-Fi Only or Off for apps that don’t need constant updates.

    5. Restrict Specific Apps from Using Cellular Data

    • Go to Settings > Cellular, scroll down, and turn off cellular access for apps that don’t need data while traveling.

    6. Download Maps, Music, and Videos for Offline Use

    • Use Google Maps or Apple Maps offline by downloading maps before your trip.

    • Download music, podcasts, and Netflix shows over Wi-Fi before leaving.

    7. Turn Off Automatic Updates & iCloud Syncing

    • Go to Settings > App Store, and turn off Automatic Downloads for apps and updates.

    • Go to Settings > Apple ID (your name) > iCloud, then disable iCloud Drive on cellular.

    8. Use Airplane Mode When Not Using Cellular Data

    • When you don’t need to make calls or use cellular data, enable Airplane Mode and turn Wi-Fi back on manually.

    9. Get a Local SIM or eSIM

    • Consider buying a local SIM card or eSIM, such as Airalo, for cheaper data in the country you’re visiting.

    10. Monitor Data Usage

    • Go to Settings > Cellular > Cellular Data Usage to track how much data you’re using.

    What about you? How do you use international data in Europe?

     

    This article was originally published at River Cruise Advisor.

    Editor of Avid Cruiser, Ralph Grizzle began his journalistic career at the age of 32, following the conclusion of his “sabbatical decade.” From 1980 through 1990, Ralph bicycled across America, pedaled through Europe and island-hopped the South Pacific. After backpacking through Bali, bussing through Java, hopping a boat to Singapore and crossing Malaysia to Thailand, he flew into Burma, tramped to Dhaka and endured a 32-hour train ride from calamitous Calcutta to bustling Bombay. From there, he hopped a plane for Greece and traveled to Switzerland before returning home, where he settled, quite naturally, into a career of travel writing. Ralph is the author of four books, including “Remembering Charles Kuralt,” a biography that Publisher’s Weekly called “a sweet and lovely homage, a welcome commemoration.”