bonandmick Posted June 14, 2015 #1 Share Posted June 14, 2015 I am trying to find out if Princess Messenger service will be working on the Golden on June 21st. When I called Princess I received two different answers, one yes and one no. One of the nice folks who was doing a live report said she wasn't sure because she was personally unable to make it work, but wasn't sure if it was up and running. If its not working, I wondered what the best way would be to stay in touch with my family while on the ship. Do people recommend walkie talkies? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Times Prince Posted June 14, 2015 #2 Share Posted June 14, 2015 (edited) Had a cruise in May this year where I asked the same question. The answer was "No" as the messenger feature has only been installed on the new megaships - Royal and Regal Princess. There may, however, be a shipwide intranet which enables you to see ship activities (ala Princess Patter) and your cabin's account on a wifi enabled device. It is not used for person to person communication. Edited June 14, 2015 by Times Prince Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bonandmick Posted June 14, 2015 Author #3 Share Posted June 14, 2015 Had a cruise in May this year where I asked the same question. The answer was "No" as the messenger feature has only been installed on the new megaships - Royal and Regal Princess. There may, however, be a shipwide intranet which enables you to see ship activities (ala Princess Patter) and your cabin's account on a wifi enabled device. It is not used for person to person communication. Thanks, that would make sense that Princess at Sea might be working, but messenger is not ready yet. That would explain the different responses that I got from Princess when I called. What is the best way to communicate with your family while on board when you are doing different activities? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
towhee Posted June 14, 2015 #4 Share Posted June 14, 2015 We carry FRS (family radio service) handhelds with us. You don't need a license for them and can pick them up at most stores that carry electronics. Practice at home, so you know how to use them. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cruisin' Chick Posted June 14, 2015 #5 Share Posted June 14, 2015 Definitely don't use walkie talkies. We used the simple method of having a paper on the door that each of us will update. Even our teen. There's also a desk in each cabin -- you can have a notepad and pen there. Also, there are courtesy phones from which you can call any cabin and leave a message. You can also look over the Patter for each day and tell each other what you might do. Then arrange for a time to meet (maybe dinner?). Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Putterdude Posted June 14, 2015 #6 Share Posted June 14, 2015 Post 'm Notes, voice mail and white boards work great....walkie talkies are very annoying to your fellow passengers. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
satxdiver Posted June 14, 2015 #7 Share Posted June 14, 2015 Ships are made of metal. The walls in your cabin are metal etc. Radio waves do not do well going through metal which acts as a radio wave shield. They have 22 separate channels and no more. Everyone who has a FRS/GMRS radio can hear every word you say. They are limited to 500 MW or 1/2 watt. In most countries such as Central America and the Caribbean islands they are illegal to use. Pax tend to shout into them which makes reception on the other end garbled. They are just plain a pain in the posterior to your fellow pax. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Colo Cruiser Posted June 14, 2015 #8 Share Posted June 14, 2015 Do people recommend walkie talkies? We carry FRS (family radio service) handhelds with us. You don't need a license for them and can pick them up at most stores that carry electronics. Practice at home, so you know how to use them. We have seen many use these. Certainly an option. :) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
paul929207 Posted June 14, 2015 #9 Share Posted June 14, 2015 We plan time and place to meet. Leave notes on cabin door or on a bed in the cabin Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
thinfool Posted June 14, 2015 #10 Share Posted June 14, 2015 An Alaskan cruise with a large number of young people onboard? Good luck with walkie-talkies. :o Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Potstech Posted June 14, 2015 #11 Share Posted June 14, 2015 If you insist on using walkie talkie please get the earphones that go eith them snd put them to use. No one near you needs to hear your conversation. Also talking loudly does NOT increase the range or help at all. Best to leave them home. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RocketMan275 Posted June 14, 2015 #12 Share Posted June 14, 2015 We carry FRS (family radio service) handhelds with us. You don't need a license for them and can pick them up at most stores that carry electronics. Practice at home, so you know how to use them. You may or may not need a license to use them while in port in a foreign country. You certainly need to check otherwise you might be in for a nasty surprise. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
West Coast Gal Posted June 14, 2015 #13 Share Posted June 14, 2015 There were 8 of us and we used walkie talkies on one cruise. We picked up well rated and battery operated. While they worked pretty well while we were out and about on the ship, they did not work very well in the cabins. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Colo Cruiser Posted June 14, 2015 #14 Share Posted June 14, 2015 There were 8 of us and we used walkie talkies on one cruise. We picked up well rated and battery operated. While they worked pretty well while we were out and about on the ship, they did not work very well in the cabins. Someone had posted they are sporadic in the theater as well. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sherryf Posted June 14, 2015 #15 Share Posted June 14, 2015 Someone had posted they are sporadic in the theater as well. Nobody should ever be using them in the theater anyway!! :eek: Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Putterdude Posted June 14, 2015 #16 Share Posted June 14, 2015 Nobody should ever be using them in the theater anyway!! :eek: You think! I mean people have to keep in touch with their friends and family...I mean 5 minutes is 5 minutes...the heck with people sitting around them.:D Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Opua Kiwi Posted June 14, 2015 #17 Share Posted June 14, 2015 (edited) You think! I mean people have to keep in touch with their friends and family...I mean 5 minutes is 5 minutes...the heck with people sitting around them.:D Precisely. Just another device to annoy your fellow passengers around you; those who may wish to enjoy their surroundings, not listen to the Brady Bunch inform everyone where they are and what they are doing. Edited June 14, 2015 by Opua Kiwi Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cruisin' Chick Posted June 14, 2015 #18 Share Posted June 14, 2015 Nobody should ever be using them in the theater anyway!! :eek: Reminds me of the people who seem to be constantly on the phone...and from overhearing their side of the conversation (and not by choice:eek::rolleyes:) and from their body language, many of their conversation doesn't seem to be of any urgent matter. Many of us wouldn't want to be lugging those walkie-talkies around the ship and it isn't necessary. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jagsfan Posted June 14, 2015 #19 Share Posted June 14, 2015 Bought expensive wallow-talkies 5 years ago, never used them because I figured it would bother other pax. They're going to GoodWill this week. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
satxdiver Posted June 14, 2015 #20 Share Posted June 14, 2015 You may or may not need a license to use them while in port in a foreign country. You certainly need to check otherwise you might be in for a nasty surprise. It is illegal to use the radios in most countries outside the US/Canada. In Europe several countries use those frequencies for emergency response. Do you want to interfere with life or death paramedics? There were 8 of us and we used walkie talkies on one cruise. We picked up well rated and battery operated. While they worked pretty well while we were out and about on the ship, they did not work very well in the cabins. The cabin walls are made of metal which is great for our magnets holding papers. However metal is an excellent shield to stop radio waves. Shouting into the radios causes the input circuitry to be overloaded and causes distortion on the output. The receiving radio cannot understand what you are trying to say. The radios are designed for normal speech only. Don't shout into them annoying those around you. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Holomoku Posted June 15, 2015 #21 Share Posted June 15, 2015 (edited) We have used them on every cruise. In a balcony cabin they only go through the sliding doors and out to sea or that side of the ship. In the hallway they cover the entire ship very well.:) We just say "where are you" & you come here or I'll go there or something to that effect. You are correct, you do not need to talk loudly into them, just like you cell phone. The microphone is very sensitive. Keep the volume down low and turn them off when you are seated with a group or show or something. All the same as a cell phone.;) On one cruise it kept me from almost missing the ship, a very, very close call that day!:eek: On a side note you can listen in on the docking manuvers as the ship goes into or out of a port. Very interesting. Super useful in any port and doesn't cost anything to use. I agree the Pricess App would be better but I do not own a smart phone, just an old flip phone. Edited June 15, 2015 by Holomoku Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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