Cell phones are now a necessity, and cash is dead

On a recent cruise around New Zealand, ending in Sydney, Australia, I finally realized that a cell phone is a necessity. 

• Many times a day I receive login codes for Web sites.
• The Xfinity app is the only way to set up their XFi Gateway. As usual, Xfinity has made it harder for everyone by doing this.
• A cellphone app is the only way to get a visa for New Zealand and Australia. But it was very frustrating trying to scan my shiny passport page (that reflected) with my shaky hands.
• My Lumix app provided GPS locations to the photos I took with my Panasonic G9 II camera.
• Restaurant menus and ordering at some places were via a QR code.
• A cell phone is required to log into Sports Clips to reserve a haircut slot and to check in.
• When the satellite system is complete, T-Mobile and SpaceX will have satellite coverage anywhere in the world!
• Our local classical music organization has switched to digital program books due to rising printing costs. They can contain much more information without a page limit.

I also found out that the only way to use some ferries in Sydney was with an NFC-enabled credit card. You swipe on, and swipe off, and the system figures out your route. This is a really clever way to do this, but I discovered that my preferred (approaching renewal) card did not support NFC; luckily, my newer AMEX card did. Cash was not accepted since there were no personnel at the ferry station.

In fact, there was no place on this trip where cash was needed; credit cards were universally accepted. Be sure that your card has no foreign exchange fees added on. I recommend the CapitalOne Spark card, which also gives 2% back on purchases. This offsets the 1–2% fee that many places on my trip tacked on.

The lack of a need for real currency will affect many industries. No more need for foreign exchange booths at airports, for example.

While I am discussing changes, apparently clocks are also no longer used. On my trip, there were no bedside clocks in 2 hotels, and the ship's suite. Unfortunately, I decided not to bring my smart watch on the trip and needed to use my cell phone as my clock too.