Walkie talkies

[izodlacoste]

Traveling with 13 and 11 year olds on oasis of seas. Want to let them roam a bit on ship. Last cruise we had walkie talkies. They were loud and we could hear other kids I know ship rents out phones but can't risk them running out before we get one. Anyone have experience using anything to keep track of kids. Texting on cell phones is expensive. Are there walkie talkies that text? Nextel phones. If you have advice I'd love it!!!

[cb at sea]

Set up rules, have them follow them. Make and share your tentative plans for the day, so everyone will know where to fine everyone else!

Plan to meet at a given time 2-3 times per day (have them find YOU, if you don't want to get off your lounge chair!!) and check in.

Leave a note in the cabin....have THEM leave a note in the cabin.....

 

It's really not that difficult to keep up with your party...there are only so many places on the ship that kids will be....the kid's club, sports deck, pool, arcade, buffet...... And only so many places YOU'RE likely to be...Casino, pool, inside public area.....

[andy11]

First time coming up on cruise but we will do exactly as we have always done on resorts.

Let them know where you will be most of the day (and better to actually show them) and then let them go off to the kids clubs. I never sit around all day on loungers or at the bar, so will check frequently to see what they are doing in the club. If we do decide to roam we will go the the club and let them know where we are going. My kids are 13 and 9 and have been through this routine for years and only once thought we had lost one.

Our eldest had a fetish for cleaning things and searched for ages once in a resort in Antigua, found him eventually in the restaurant helping polish the tables:confused:

Always check out the kids clubs never know I might be missing,like the look of the bungee trampolines;) I'm just a big kid.

[akcruz]

I agree, talking about where everyone will be for the day is part of our morning routine if a day at sea. Each night at dinner we share our evening plans so we all know where the others will be. If a change of plans happens, post it notes inside the cabin work great.

 

Check up on your kids once in a while to make sure they are where they said they would be. Communication and setting expectations are the key. You will find that each of you gravitates to the same places after a day or so making it fairly easy to find each other.

[highbridge5]

I would not rely on phones that PTT (push-to-talk) since they almost certainly use the cell signal to do it - not "through the air" radio like walkie talkies.

 

I googled "walkie talkies that text" and found a small set for kids. They must make something like this for adults... or whether it is worth the $50 for these....

 

( I saw a different set but it uses infrared to communicate so would be useless if you were not in direct visual range of the other unit. Why one would need something that can text but only works when you can physically be close enough to see the other person? I must be getting old... )

 

Text & Talk Walkie-Talkies

A walkie-talkie and a text messenger—all in one! Our kid-friendly walkie-talkies let children choose from 12 pre-programmed text messages, like “Where are you?” and “Can you play?”…or type in their own messages up to 36 characters long. Kids can even use them like regular walkie-talkies—to talk from up to 800 feet away! Set of 2; with volume control and belt clips. 8 “AA” batteries not included. (5 years & up)