Walkie Talkies?

[atate75]

This is our first cruise. My wife and I are sailing with our 14 y/o daughter. I understand that we will not be able to keep in touch via cell phones so I bought a pair of Uniden walkie talkies.

 

 

They are rated for 16 mile unobstructed range. My question is for those of you who have used walkie talkies onboard. Are you able to get a clear sound even with all of the walls/ obstructions onboard?

 

We plan on being together most of the cruise but if someone is napping or if the wife and daughter decide to do something else while I am in the casino we would like to be able to keep in touch.

Edited March 20, 2014 by atate75

[lostdart1]

http://boards.cruisecritic.com/showthread.php?t=1978590&highlight=walkie+talkies

[Kamloops50]

This is our first cruise. My wife and I are sailing with our 14 y/o daughter. I understand that we will not be able to keep in touch via cell phones so I bought a pair of Uniden walkie talkies.

 

 

They are rated for 16 mile unobstructed range. My question is for those of you who have used walkie talkies onboard. Are you able to get a clear sound even with all of the walls/ obstructions onboard?

 

We plan on being together most of the cruise but if someone is napping or if the wife and daughter decide to do something else while I am in the casino we would like to be able to keep in touch.

 

Because the ship is made of steel you'll be lucky if they work 100 ft. I have found them very irritating on board.

[Tapi]

We bought some. Used them on one cruise and never again. They were very irritating and useless.

 

They somewhat worked vertically. If we were standing on the same exact area but on a different deck, we could hear each other. But if we walked to a different area longitudinally, we couldn't hear each other even if we were on the same exact deck.

 

In addition to that, there seemed to be other people using walkie talkies on the ship because there was always a lot of interference from other conversations or those annoying paging sounds.

 

 

 

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[BallFour4]

You are going to get a plethora of replies here, so let me answer your question based on experience and research and then give an opinion.

 

Yes. They will work. The range claims are based on flat, unobstructed land. We've used them on ships ranging from the Celebration to the Magic. Expect a range from an average of half the length of the ship and about two decks. My example is we always book lido deck cabins and they work great from the cabin to the pool.

 

Also, and here's where the gloves come off; some cite claims of them being illegal to use. Not true. Radios transmit in two bands and two power levels. The low power is FMRS range and the high is GMRS range. That stands for Family Mobile and General Mobile Radio Service. Here's the link to the FCC page for explanation.

http://www.fcc.gov/encyclopedia/general-mobile-radio-service-gmrs

 

Look close at the restrictions if you are cruising to Canada. We have, but didn't take them off the ship.

 

Central America and Caribbean countries observe the same radio set asides as do the United States. Mexico sells the same radios, same model numbers and same frequencies in their Walmarts.

 

Some claim they are annoying. Almost anything that goes on forever is annoying. I can think of a past cruise director on the Ecstasy that fit that description, even with his fiddle.

 

Use the vibrate mode. Carry it in your pocket.

 

Now the bad news: No other 14 year old girl on your ship will be made to carry a radio. Our daughter (now 25) is platinum on Carnival and carried the radio until 12 or 13. We used them at night when she went for pizza or ice cream, and waited in the hall once she stepped back in the cabin hallway.

 

Your call, but if she's trusted on land give her some space at sea.

 

 

.

Edited March 20, 2014 by BallFour4

[luvsviola]

We had a similar set and it barely ever worked. After the second day we gave up. There is too much metal in the ship and they were just flat out annoying. FIL and us were on the same floor, and it didn't even work between our rooms about 20 cabins apart. Ours were the dual band ones where you could use the high and low ranges. Neither were very successful.

Edited March 20, 2014 by luvsviola

[silverpenguin]

We used them on the Fascination. I can't remember which ones we have. We could not communicate with ours, but we sure were picking up everyone else's chatter. After switching channels a few times, we decided to turn them off after a few hours into our first sea day.

[lrr1998]

We had a group of 9 and we had 4 walkie talkies since at least 2 of us were always together. We never had a problem with them, reception worked fine for us. Not sure what the exact range of miles is on them I do know it is more than 16. We made sure we got some with a high range of miles on them because we use them for other purpose/camping trips. With a group of people we always have walkies it makes it so easier to find each other.

[MNFamilyof4]

We just used them on the Conquest last week and they worked perfectly! Even with 2 decks between us! Doesn't hurt to bring them and try.

 

 

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[cookiejarvis]

worthless

[maldenmusic]

I think a note pad left in your room or hanging on your cabin door is a more effective way of communicating about where you are going.

[atog254]

I agree with Maldenmusic.

 

Every cruise we are on, I design and post a cabin door sign with an area for posting msgs with a dry marker.

 

Once, during the MLB World Series, the sign was a score board which was updated by calls from the Purser's Office. Unbelievable how many msgs were left by fellow passengers! :D

 

We gave up on the radios on board, but when with a group, we take them for visits on shore.

[atate75]

I only paid $24 for the pair, so if they don't work I'm not out much. I'll give them a try. We are on the vista deck so maybe they will work from there to the lido. I also disabled the beep so they wouldn't be too annoying. Thanks for the replies.

 

 

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[BIG_Steve]

Found one on the seat in the theatre one afternoon. I used the "page" button, and someone answered. It was loud and clear. I explained I found the WT and told them where it was. They said "Oh." and 45 minutes later had not yet picked it up. LOL, a "gee thanks" would have been in order.

 

Your call, but my 14 yr old would have "lost" the WT over the side of the ship 5 minutes into their first walkabout the ship.

 

Someone said if you can trust your 14 yr old at home, she'll be okay on the ship. I agree, and would add that if she can't be trusted at home, the WT isn't going to help at all. But I digress, you didn't ask for life advice. Have a fun trip!

[honeybunches]

We've used them on every cruise - wouldn't be without them. I think ours are Motorola Talkabouts (they are packed along with all other "cruise necessities"). My son, also a teenager, could let me know at any time whether he would join us for dinner, the theater, the ice show (RCC), we always knew whether to expect him or not. Being a teenager and meeting lots of friends onboard, activites were always planned on the spur of the moment.

Ours also worked in St. Thomas - ship to shore. I could let my husband know that I was done shopping and on my way back, I'll meet you in the Windjammer for a snack. (Shopping in St. Thomas is hard work!) :D :D

[atate75]

It's not an issue of not trusting our daughter. We trust her 100%. She is very mature and is literally the best kid you could ask for. I just want to be able to let her do whatever she wants on the ship but still have a way for her to contact me if needed. It is more for her than me. I trust her decisions and am a very laid back parent. I see my wife and I using it more than our daughter anyway. (if it works)

[Kel040]

We used post-it-notes in the room, and also just calling the room from the house phones throughout the ship came in very handy. We found that was all we needed.

 

 

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[Thebosn1]

Some claim they are annoying. Almost anything that goes on forever is annoying. I can think of a past cruise director on the Ecstasy that fit that description, even with his fiddle.

 

Use the vibrate mode. Carry it in your pocket.

 

 

They are annoying when people park themselves near you at the pool and yap on them all day. If just for a quick check in or change on plans, and if on vibrate, I don't think it would be annoying.

[lostdart1]

They are annoying when people park themselves near you at the pool and yap on them all day. If just for a quick check in or change on plans, and if on vibrate, I don't think it would be annoying.

 

Yes, don't park yourself next to me..........we will easily find out if they are salt water proof. :rolleyes:

[lablover61]

I personally find walkie talkies very annoying on a cruise ship !

[WindsorFred]

Have never noticed them on any of our cruises. On a side note my BIL bought us a set for our first cruise, we always have cruised with our best friends. They sat in the cabin, unused, for the first 3 cruises. Starting on the fourth we quit packing them, they still come in handy at home etc.

[mousey]

You are going to get a plethora of replies here, so let me answer your question based on experience and research and then give an opinion.

 

Yes. They will work. The range claims are based on flat, unobstructed land. We've used them on ships ranging from the Celebration to the Magic. Expect a range from an average of half the length of the ship and about two decks. My example is we always book lido deck cabins and they work great from the cabin to the pool.

 

Also, and here's where the gloves come off; some cite claims of them being illegal to use. Not true. Radios transmit in two bands and two power levels. The low power is FMRS range and the high is GMRS range. That stands for Family Mobile and General Mobile Radio Service. Here's the link to the FCC page for explanation.

http://www.fcc.gov/encyclopedia/general-mobile-radio-service-gmrs

 

Look close at the restrictions if you are cruising to Canada. We have, but didn't take them off the ship.

 

Central America and Caribbean countries observe the same radio set asides as do the United States. Mexico sells the same radios, same model numbers and same frequencies in their Walmarts.

 

Some claim they are annoying. Almost anything that goes on forever is annoying. I can think of a past cruise director on the Ecstasy that fit that description, even with his fiddle.

 

Use the vibrate mode. Carry it in your pocket.

 

Now the bad news: No other 14 year old girl on your ship will be made to carry a radio. Our daughter (now 25) is platinum on Carnival and carried the radio until 12 or 13. We used them at night when she went for pizza or ice cream, and waited in the hall once she stepped back in the cabin hallway.

 

Your call, but if she's trusted on land give her some space at sea.

 

 

.

 

I totally agree with this post.:D WE used walkie talkies when the DS was 9 & 10 but by age 11 he no longer would be caught dead with one (LOL!). So we worked things out by setting up a time and place to meet just before lunch on sea days (we are always together off ship on port days) so that we could catch-up on what everyone was doing next. Sometimes we left notes inside the cabin for each other (never outside). Also, if the DS knew we were in the cabin he'd call us in there and check up with us. The DS always had a curfew (a generous and reasonable one).

 

A 15 yr. old girl having to walk around with a bulky walkie talkie I think would be quite embarrassed...but hey, whatever works for you!:D

 

While the walkie talkies worked fine, they were a pain because you'd get like a gazillion people trying to use them at the same time. We kept having to spend time finding a clear channel. We were glad to not have to use them on our cruises anymore. With older kids, there are better ways to work things out than having them be embarrassed by having them have to lug those things around. But again, "Hey, to each their own!"

 

Hope your family has an awesome cruse.;)

Edited March 21, 2014 by mousey

[BIG_Steve]

They are annoying when people park themselves near you at the pool and yap on them all day. If just for a quick check in or change on plans, and if on vibrate, I don't think it would be annoying.

 

HUH? The pool area is such a loud looney tune area, I don't think I would even hear someone next to me talking.

[Whenisdinner]

The exact model the op posted worked fine on ships for about 1\3 radius of the boat (both Legend and Freedom). Could always reach the Lido pool from Riviera mid ship, but not bow and stern.

 

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[asalligo]

I use them every cruise, keeping up with my kids is so much easier with them, but you will find 16 mile useless as others have said. Due to distance and crowding on the channels. I use 36 mile with the privacy codes and they work well.