Walkie Talkie

[Tony20]

Doing a big family cruise on FOS next month and we need to arm ourselves with walkie talkies. Otherwise we might not see each other for a week.

 

Hmmmm. Maybe that's a good idea...

 

Anyway, does anyone have recommendations on models? Any warnings or gotchas? Do I need a certain power level to have it work with all that steel?

 

Thanks!

[JanineM]

We have Cobra Walkie Talkies with a 7-mile range. They're not that helpful on ships. All of that metal structure really gets in the way!

 

They work well if we're about 5 decks apart, but otherwise you may just get a Squawk when the other person tries to call you. They're great onshore though!

 

We will take them out and about & try to check in. But they're not foolproof.

 

There is voicemail on the phones in the cabins, so that may be a more reliable way of checking in, or use the old standby - post it notes left in the cabin :)

[MICHLEV1974]

We have Motorollas and they worked everywhere on ship except for casino and next to the MDR. Just channel surf and practice at home before you use them. Some folks hate the fact that you are shouting into the walkie for some reason and hate it when you interrupt a show bcs your walking is beeping...don't know why??:rolleyes:

 

Walkie etiquette sheets should come with them, but they don't. If you do enough surfing thru these posts, I am sure you will come up with mixed emotions about them.

 

Pros: you can speak to your group without having to check your msgs at your room and are very convenient. we don't cruise without them

 

Cons: dirty looks when you yell into them...hahahahahaa

 

Tip: the first day you are on the ship, turn them on and pick an off-beat channel or you will pick up everyone else on Channel 1. Have one group head to the top of the ship and one to the bottom. Keep checking in every flight to see what your range is. oh, yes, and have a blast! they are great!

[shipshape sam]

My wife bought some and I refuse to use them. I would only suggest that you be considerate when using them as to the loudness around other people.

 

Just for reference, we have survived over 25 cruises without them including 5 with our kids.

[queenL]

We have the Motorolas too. I don't remember the model # but we got them from Target. They really came in handy for us, particularly when I was nursing. There are some dead spots where they won't work but for us that varies from ship to ship. The biggest thing is switch your channel when you get on board, we heard bits of other peoples conversations until we did.

[jasmith52]

We have the Motorola's too. I don't remember the model # but we got them from Target. They really came in handy for us, particularly when I was nursing. There are some dead spots where they won't work but for us that varies from ship to ship. The biggest thing is switch your channel when you get on board, we heard bits of other peoples conversations until we did.

 

We also have some Motorola's that we bought from Target. They work fairly well. But as others have posted they don't reach everywhere on the ship.

 

We also found them handy in the ports when shopping so that we didn't get separated.

 

What is annoying though is finding a channel that isn't used by 20 kids running all over the ship. If you can't find a "quiet" channel then they become very annoying.

[BOBfromNJ]

We have the Motorolas too. I don't remember the model # but we got them from Target. They really came in handy for us, particularly when I was nursing. There are some dead spots where they won't work but for us that varies from ship to ship. The biggest thing is switch your channel when you get on board, we heard bits of other peoples conversations until we did.

 

So let me get this straight...you not only want to bring your 2 year old to a specialty restaraunt but now you want to walk the halls and distrupt people with blasting walkie talkies. Life is not all about you. You REALLY need to have some concideration for your fellow passengers.

[cb at sea]

You will find it MUCH easier to "touch base" than you think. Even tho the ship LOOKS huge, most of it is comprised of areas that you will never be....all the decks with the other cabins, crew space, theatre and restaurant space....those are places you won't be searching for the rest of your "crew".

Notes in the cabin work quite well to notify others of a change of plans. And do make plans....ie: "We'll be at the pool til 2, then in the casino til 3...." and everyone will know where to look!

[Snowbuddy]

So let me get this straight...you not only want to bring your 2 year old to a specialty restaraunt but now you want to walk the halls and distrupt people with blasting walkie talkies. Life is not all about you. You REALLY need to have some concideration for your fellow passengers.

 

Wow? Seriously?! are you like this in real life, or just from the comfort of a computer screen? b/c I am sure they intend to have their walkie talkies on the loudest, most obnoxious channel JUST to be inconsiderate to those around them...geesh. :rolleyes:

[maxamuus]

Nothing like trying to relax and catch a nap in the Solarium when the women next to you is running Newark Police Dispatch via her walkie talkie. Every 30 seconds she was yelling into the thing about some such thing.

 

I am sure they are nice for families, but just like with cell phones try to be courteous to your fellow passengers.

[kzVegas]

Anyone heard of a watch and meeting spot? They even have clocks onboard most ships.

 

Also, use of walkie talkies outside the United States even on ships in port have legal ramifications. Many countries still require operating licenses and station licenses for transmitting equipment even low-power walkie talkies. Leave them at home and use the phones and time to meet-up with family and friends.

:eek:

[jasmith52]

So let me get this straight...you not only want to bring your 2 year old to a specialty restaraunt but now you want to walk the halls and distrupt people with blasting walkie talkies. Life is not all about you. You REALLY need to have some concideration for your fellow passengers.

 

What I like to do is use my walkie-takie and my megaphone at the same time.

[Clarkk W Griswald]

Walkie talkies are annoying. Especially when held by children yelling into them.

[Cruise-Nut]

So let me get this straight...you not only want to bring your 2 year old to a specialty restaraunt but now you want to walk the halls and distrupt people with blasting walkie talkies. Life is not all about you. You REALLY need to have some concideration for your fellow passengers.

 

A bit rude isn't that! Let me take that back - VERY RUDE. What makes you think that they are going "Blast" the walkie talkies. Some people are more considerate which seems that maybe you don't fall into that category by the rudeness of your post.

[MrsPete]

You will find it MUCH easier to "touch base" than you think. Even tho the ship LOOKS huge, most of it is comprised of areas that you will never be....all the decks with the other cabins, crew space, theatre and restaurant space....those are places you won't be searching for the rest of your "crew".

Notes in the cabin work quite well to notify others of a change of plans. And do make plans....ie: "We'll be at the pool til 2, then in the casino til 3...." and everyone will know where to look!

I agree. It's not difficult to keep up with everyone. I'd guess it's more work to keep up with the walkie talkie -- keep it dry by the pool, find somewhere to carry it when you're wearing shorts without pockets.

What I like to do is use my walkie-takie and my megaphone at the same time.

Hey, were you in the balcony room next to me on my last cruise? Someone's kids were out there screaming into walkie talkies constantly.

[Florida Cruisin' Couple]

We were in a group of 4 and found the walkie talkies very convenient.

 

We only used them 3 or 4 times and the conversations were only 5-10 words - but it really was nice. We didn't yell, we didn't bother anyone and we were very considerate. For example, I was in a class and my husband was going to be somewhere on the ship but didn't know where - he was just going to roam around and find somthing to do. I just "beeped him" when my class ended and he said, "Meet me wherever he was." We didn't bother anyone. Otherwise I would have never found him, or at least it would have taken a long time and many trips back to our cabin to check for notes.

 

Mostly we used them in the ports when we had scattered in different direction.

[olemissreb]

I've been doing some research on walkie talkies myself. I've read on the family boards here at CC about Tri Square TSX300. They are available from WalMart online for about $80. They have a vibrate mode and you can text each other instead of talking into them. I figure with one teenager and one pre-teen - the texting is the best way to go for us.

[wraithe]

There have been about a gazillion threads about FRS/GMRS hand helds, FRS radios do not require a license in the U. S., but are limited in power, and are pretty much worthless outside of a neighborhood. GMRS radios do require a license, $80 last time I checked, and are completely illegal for use outside of the U. S. Fact is, in Europe the channels that we use for GMRS are used by emergency services. So you could be interfering with someone getting the rescue services they need if you're keying up your "walkie talkie" in a foreign port. If that is cool with you, then so be it, however, if you get your equipment confiscated, get fined, or worst of all, spend a few days at your own expense trying to explain why you shouldn't be considered a terrorist for disrupting the local police, fire and rescue services, all because you just didn't know any better, that's okay, too. Use onboard the ship is allowed by the Master, according to RCL's FAQ, but use on shore outside the U. S. is not encouraged by anyone who knows anything about radios. Forewarned is forearmed. Here is a link to the FCC Consumer Info page, please note the part about unlicensed use of radios leading to fines, imprisonment and confiscation of equipment.

[akcruz]

I agree. It's not difficult to keep up with everyone. I'd guess it's more work to keep up with the walkie talkie -- keep it dry by the pool, find somewhere to carry it when you're wearing shorts without pockets.

 

This has been our findings as well. Our kids have been on a number of cruises and notes, voice mails work very well. We set times and places to meet and if for some reason you can't be there, a note let's everyone know. Having my kids carry around another thing that they need to keep account of doesn't work real well, and it definitely does not work when they are in the pool!

[Old-Town-Bob]

A friend of mine's wife is, for the most part, restricted to a wheelchair. He carries a walkie talkie so, if his wife is in the cabin, she can contact him. This allows him to enjoy the cruise.

[mjldvlks]

Anyone heard of a watch and meeting spot? They even have clocks onboard most ships. . . .:eek:

 

You may be right about some of the newer ships, but I think Monarch and Majesty still operate with sundials.

[katiel53]

I have to say I have been on ships where the users of walkie-talkies took no one else into consideration. One example, was a woman and I guess her husband, talking about what they were going to do in the cabin later in the day. Sorry, that's too much info for me and those sitting around us.

 

Having said that, I don't know if you are all aware that RCI rents dect phones. I think they are maybe $25 a phone, but they are great talking on the ship. My family used them last year to have everyone keep in touch. I know they are pricey, but talking on them is like talking on a cell phone and no one has to hear you yelling to have someone else hear you.

 

They are especially good for kids because it makes them feel like they have onboard cell phones. Just a thought.

[cruzincurt]

They really came in handy for us, particularly when I was nursing.

 

 

???????

[Tony20]

To the folks who answered my walkie talkie question: Thanks.

 

To the obnoxious moralizers who assume that I am rude and inconsiderate: look in a mirror.

 

For your information, I know how to be polite and we were already planning on using them in vibrate mode. I didn't know I had to include that info to keep you from assuming the worst of me.

 

If I asked about drink prices, would I get a lecture on public intoxication? How about mealtimes and obesity?

 

How can you stand being around so many people on a cruise that don't do everything exactly how you want them done? Sounds like a cabin in the mountains might be better for you.

[bigtoeswim'n]

Tony20: I sure like your attitude and also your gift to express it nicely in writing. I purchased TriSquare eXRS over the internet at a popular site that starts will the letter A. Yes, a bit pricey. We were only two folks in age 55+. DH hated using the gadget, but I like the idea of being able to separate and also not having the problem of communication. Our two-ways worked great but not when I stepped outside onto deck. Don't know if that was bc I was out of range or what. They also worked in the elevator, but the elevator would'nt open the door, and I had to use the emergency call button. Fortunately, someone answered right away, and the guy who come to pry open the door spoke very poor English. Once I finally got thru to him, I asked him if it was the walkie-talkie that caused the doors not to work, he said "no, sometimes happens." I was in there maybe 4 minutes until he came. Dh's unit lost it battery charge, so there is a learning curve. I like how you can text message. We also took our units to a big box just to practice. In a noisy setting, it helps to turn up the volume.

 

I never had a problem with inconsiderate folks on a ship. Just my experience. I do know lots of folks asked me if my unit worked and they sure wished they had some.

 

Anyway, I ended up not using my walkie-talkie much, but they seemed to work fine and great for the little bit that we did use them. Hope this helps.