How to communicate on the ship?

[ThreeLittleBirds]

We are sailing the Pearl to Alaska in a few days. We have only sailed Disney Cruise Lines before and on Disney, they offer "wave phones" for parties on the ship to communicate with each other.

How do parties communicate on NCL? Do they offer a phone that can be taken out of the room and used for on board communication with other passengers?

If not, do cell phones work (without huge fees)?

We also have a nice "walkie talkie" set. Should we bring that?

We have three kids and are often running in different directions (because of the difference in age and schedules) so contacting each other while on the ship is important.

[chengkp75]

We are sailing the Pearl to Alaska in a few days. We have only sailed Disney Cruise Lines before and on Disney, they offer "wave phones" for parties on the ship to communicate with each other.

How do parties communicate on NCL? Do they offer a phone that can be taken out of the room and used for on board communication with other passengers?

If not, do cell phones work (without huge fees)?

We also have a nice "walkie talkie" set. Should we bring that?

We have three kids and are often running in different directions (because of the difference in age and schedules) so contacting each other while on the ship is important.

 

NCL does not have wave phones.

 

The Pearl has the iconcierge service (one time fee) that allows messaging and texting others onboard.

 

Not sure that kids would want to be stuck carrying a walkie-talkie. But, while you will get many responses here from folks who have used radios "with good results", due to the nature of a ship (steel box), radio efficiency is going to be spotty at best. Perhaps one deck difference and half a ship length, depending on how many closed doors, would be possible, but anything more might or might not work, depending on the day. The crew use UHF radios in frequencies not available to GMRS/FRS radios sold in stores, and they have high wattage levels and repeater antenna around the ship.

[ThreeLittleBirds]

NCL does not have wave phones.

 

The Pearl has the iconcierge service (one time fee) that allows messaging and texting others onboard.

 

Not sure that kids would want to be stuck carrying a walkie-talkie. But, while you will get many responses here from folks who have used radios "with good results", due to the nature of a ship (steel box), radio efficiency is going to be spotty at best. Perhaps one deck difference and half a ship length, depending on how many closed doors, would be possible, but anything more might or might not work, depending on the day. The crew use UHF radios in frequencies not available to GMRS/FRS radios sold in stores, and they have high wattage levels and repeater antenna around the ship.

 

Do you know what the fee is for i concierge? Is it per stateroom or per device? Thanks!

[rvsullivan]

One time fee per cell phone, $7.95 and the app must be loaded on your cell phone before you sail.

[chengkp75]

Do you know what the fee is for i concierge? Is it per stateroom or per device? Thanks!

 

I believe it is $7.95 for each device. Search for iconcierge here on CC and you'll find a lot of posts about it.

[CruisinHarvey]

Do you know what the fee is for i concierge? Is it per stateroom or per device? Thanks!

 

it's per device. It works pretty well.

[cb at sea]

We've found telling each other our plans so everyone knows where the others will be, works fine. We also meet at certain times...meals and such. We've never found it too hard to be in contact on a ship.

 

There are so few places you're likely to be. Considering that about 90% of the ship is cabin space, those areas don't need to be searched...only the public areas that you tend to go to frequently......not so hard!

[luddite]

Talk to each other. It's easy.

[Studebaker59]

We leave sticky notes on the bathroom mirror to say where we will be.