Keeping Track with Walkie Talkies

[Spot]

My husband and I have different interests so with our upcoming cruise we thought about taking walkie talkies along to be able to contact one another.
Can anyone tell me about whether they work well onboard and what type we should purchase, range, etc.

Thanks!:)

[Smoky]

We tried motorola talkabout 200 units on the Statendam and the range was very limited when below deck. There is too much metal. You would not be able to talk from your stateroom to the front office, Main Dining room or Lido for instance. Outside of course is fine.

[superstein61]

I can't recall what we have - they are Motorola talkabouts but not sure of model #. In any case, they worked pretty well . The only time they didn't work was when my daughter was inside Club HAL on the 10th deck and I was in the Showroom on the 1st floor. I could not pick her signal up - but did so when she moved outside and down to deck 9

[Cruise Junky]

Please keep in mind that people take cruises to get away from things such as people yelling into cell phones... walkie talkies are no better. Maybe you could just leave each other a note and agree to meet at a specific time.

[dakrewser]

Please keep in mind that people take cruises to get away from things such as people yelling into cell phones... walkie talkies are no better. Maybe you could just leave each other a note and agree to meet at a specific time.
Hear, hear!

Walkie talkies are good when you're ashore, but on the ship? How far apart can you be!

:eek:

[98Charlie]

A) You might want to check on the old boards. There were several discussions re: Walkie Talkies. A couple went in to the specifications needed for best communications.

B) I agree with Dave and many others who wish to get away from communication noise pollution. I see too many people every day who are totally oblivious to their surroundings because of a cel phone. Walkies on a ship are no different. Someone gets a bad signal or is concentrating on a conversation (usually frivolous) and the world must stop for them.

C) Does anyone cruise to be WITH their spouse? (We do.)

[iluvcruzin]

I've had a few brands but found the Motorolla Walkabouts seem to work the best. Get ones with a long distance range and lots of channels that can be locked to avoid picking up other signals. I would recommend using them on Vibrate mode and putting them in a pocket as there will be others onboard with the same ringtones and I find it easier to notice if I'm being paged. Of course it's always good to use good judgement on conversations as to not to disturb others around you with lengthy conversations. I recommend using them as I find them convienent. I choose to ignore the posts of those who complain about them because there's already air pollution onboard a cruise ship. Also I found them handy in the past and will continue to use them in the future to keep in touch with my kids.

[Jewelfine]

Walkie Talkies are a great way to communicate as long as you use some common sense and manners when using them in public areas. We have used them both on cruise ships and on land. They are great for locating Children or having a direct link. If you are in a big group of people then please be considerate and go to a quieter area like you should do with a cell phone.

[bostonredsoxfan]

Two adults who need walkie talks to find and track each other on a cruise ship would have to be the laziest persons alive or possibly they are just not that bright. Yes, I have considered my remark and stand by it. I hope I find some walkie talks mislaid around on the upcoming cruise for my deadwater skip contest. Yes, I do deposit them overboard.

Although I don’t post to this board very often, I do check it regularly and this is one of the rudest responses I have read. The OP asked a simple question about using a walkie talkie to contact her husband and she ends up being called lazy and stupid. There was no mention of using it for extended conversations, frivolous discussions, etc. I find it very ironic that a thief would call someone else lazy and stupid. Yes, I have considered my remark as well and stand by it. Someone who intentionally destroys another's property is a thief plain and simple. You should be ashamed of yourself.

[cusyl]

Hear, hear!

Walkie talkies are good when you're ashore, but on the ship? How far apart can you be!

:eek:

With the size of ships today, you could be quite far apart, especially if you are handicaped. We use ours on vibrate when we need to locate each other and previously mentioned, we have different interests on the ship.

[Orcrone]

Bostonredsoxfan,

Seems the hosts found that post, because it no longer exists. Good for them. I also agree with Cusyl. Where do you go to look for someone on a cruise ship? Up on deck sunning, but which pool? Maybe the Lido, perhaps they're catching a movie or having coffee at the Java Cafe. Maybe checking e-mails in the internet cafe or getting a book from the library. How about back in the room? It is very easy to miss someone that you're looking for.

Also, why do people on these boards seem to think it is their right to tell someone else what they need or don't need. If I want to bring a cell phone to call home when I'm in port, what business is it of anyone else. And if I decided to bring walkie talkies then make an issue of it if I'm too loud. But if not, then kindly mind your own business.:)

For the record I will have my cell phone and call home from San Juan, but I won't have a walkie talkie.

[dakrewser]

With the size of ships today, you could be quite far apart,
My wife & I are farther apart in a shopping mall, yet don't see the need to add to the cacaphony of sound which permeates the air.

On board ship, we have a cabin where we can leave notes for each other (or, posted on the door, for others). We always pre-arrange to meet at a particular time and, of course, we inform each other about where we expect to be. Rarely (in our experience, never) does something arise which requires our immediate connection to each other. I'd guess that, given an emergency, the ship would page someone.

Still, as long as you don't add to the noise level in public areas, I won't object to a discreet vibration and conversation...:)

[lknick]

This is all very academic as most walkie-talkies just don't have the range. Because of that, people tend to stay on them longer as they walk around trying to find a 'hot' spot.

They use only a few channels which means you and others share the same channel. You just think you're talking to your wife.

[cruzincurt]

I've found that if the metal structure of the ship blocks the signals, talk louder or yell into the unit.

My wife keeps me on a very short leash.

[xpcdoojk]

They work fine, even on a Voyager class ship. The GMRS units are pretty much able to work on all ships from all decks. FRS units work on all but the largest ships. Most units come with sub channels, and it is easy to find a free sub channel. Others maybe able to hear you even if you don't hear them, but so what. Don't share your credit card information with them. :D I can't imagine why you would share important information like that on a radio, though. Turn off all of the whistles and beeps. Keep the conversation short and on topic. Don't allow your children to use them to play cops and robbers or Star Trek. Don't scream into the unit it won't work any better. Never use them in the dining room, show lounge or other place that makes them inappropriate. Some cruise lines rent them and sell them.

jc:D

[iluvcruzin]

This is all very academic as most walkie-talkies just don't have the range. Because of that, people tend to stay on them longer as they walk around trying to find a 'hot' spot.

They use only a few channels which means you and others share the same channel. You just think you're talking to your wife.I tend to disagree. The majority of the ones today have a wider range and enough channels & sub channel combinations to satisfy most onboard. I don't have to hit a "hot" spot to use them.

However.. your comments are valid for ones that are about 7 years or older when there used to be limitations in distance, interferance with the ships and limited channels. For someone purchasing them today they will not have these problems.

For Dave.. has anyone ever told you that you look like Big Tom from Survivor? (just noticed the resemblance)

[dakrewser]

For Dave.. has anyone ever told you that you look like Big Tom from Survivor? (just noticed the resemblance)
Nope, no one has ever mentioned it. <checking the CBS web site> well, he could be my less handsome (where DID that "beard" come from?) younger brother :)

[InterestedBystander]

...there used to be limitations in distance, interferance with the ships and limited channels. For someone purchasing them today they will not have these problems.As an observer near a large family group last summer with newly purchased walkie-talkies, I can testify they spent a lot of time trying to reach their intended party and listening to others on the same channel also calling over and over for their party. And everyone in the vicinity got to hear it all.

Personally, I figure if party members aren't competent to check in at a certain place at a certain time, they should be outfitted with a chest harness attached to a leash that is tightly wrapped around the wrist of whoever is worried about them.

These devices are available in a variety of sizes, from Chihuaua to a St. Bernard. The last would accomodate anyone up to about 160 pounds.

[Spot]

Sorry I have caused a rukus. We are not cell phone people and the idea of a walkie talkie isn't my idea of relaxation but it is "his" idea of us missing one another all day/night long. We are not watch wearers while on vacation, especially while cruising - we do as we want when we want regardless of the time of day. While this is enjoyable for both of us after 30+ years of togetherness, there are times when we find someone or something that we believe the other might find enjoyment with - hence a notification device.

We promise, if we decide to do this, to take your advice and comments into consideration and keep from interfering with other's relaxation.

Thank You Everyone!!

[gliles]

We got some to use a couple years ago when we took DD on a cruise for her graduation. All I ever heard on it was "Mom? Mom? Mom? can I get a soda?" and it wasn't my kid, I was picking up someone else. I was half tempted to reply "Sure, go ahead and get one for all your friends too!" ;) . Whenever we tried to use them, they were essentially useless.

DH and I have dissimilar interests as well but we always manage to meet up eventually but that could be because I know his interest is the casino and mine is the pool :rolleyes:

Post its work well too but if you want to try the walkie-talkies, just be prepared that they may not work that well, you may be better off just letting each other know where you are going or arrange a meeting time and place.

[superstein61]

Although I don’t post to this board very often, I do check it regularly and this is one of the rudest responses I have read. The OP asked a simple question about using a walkie talkie to contact her husband and she ends up being called lazy and stupid. There was no mention of using it for extended conversations, frivolous discussions, etc. I find it very ironic that a thief would call someone else lazy and stupid. Yes, I have considered my remark as well and stand by it. Someone who intentionally destroys another's property is a thief plain and simple. You should be ashamed of yourself.
Agreed !!!

I used the walkie talkies for my 10 year old daughter - because I am not one to just let her run loose. I felt she was at the age where she deserved some freedom - but within limits. So those times I let her go off to Club Hal or the pool on her own / with her new friends, and my wife nor I weren't at the pool, I asked her to check in with me via walkie talkie at certain times so I knew where she was / what she was doing.

There are good reasons why some folks would use these

[xpcdoojk]

Everyone considering using radios, needs to learn how to use them properly before you go on a cruise. If you don't use subchannels you will hear everyone on the main channel. FRS have 14 channels and GMRS have 21 of which 14 overlap FRS. So, with FRS channels if there are 50 families on your cruise by definition, you are going to be hearing other peoples conversations. They may even be on a sub channel and you can tell them to shut up, and they can't even hear you. So you pick a channel and then you go to a sub channel of which each channel has about 30, now 14 x 30 is 420 individual combinations. So pick say channel 2 sub channel 10, if you have someone else on your frequency tell your friends lets go up, you preplan, a let's go up as increase your sub channel by 3 so now you are on 2 13. Odds are in no time you will be all alone.

Handing someone a radio for the first time on a cruise ship is bond to cause problems.

jc