oyme Posted November 10, 2022 #1 Share Posted November 10, 2022 (edited) Best walkie talkies (brand / screenshot / full Amazon description please) to use on a cruise? I've read Carnival Hub app messaging at $5 p/p is unreliable so am considering walkie talkies to communicate with members of our party. Thanks! Edited November 10, 2022 by oyme 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare 1025cruise Posted November 10, 2022 #2 Share Posted November 10, 2022 None of them. 4 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CruiserBruce Posted November 10, 2022 #3 Share Posted November 10, 2022 Oh boy...a topic that always goes nuclear. None. You don't need them, there are far better communication methods. You are in a big metal box...signals don't travel well, resulting in a lot of irritating noise to your fellow pax...like "Can you hear me?"... 4 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Zach1213 Posted November 10, 2022 #4 Share Posted November 10, 2022 38 minutes ago, oyme said: I've read Carnival Hub app messaging at $5 p/p is unreliable No idea how it actually works, but it can't be any less reliable than a walkie talkie in a big metal ship. 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare ColeThornton Posted November 10, 2022 #5 Share Posted November 10, 2022 Ask about those annoying devices on the cruise technology forum. 😉 https://boards.cruisecritic.com/forum/677-cruising-technology/ Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Philob Posted November 10, 2022 #6 Share Posted November 10, 2022 Darn, ran out of popcorn 😎 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MBP&O2/O Posted November 10, 2022 #7 Share Posted November 10, 2022 (edited) Can't see much sympathy / positive feedback forthcoming on this one. 🤐 Edited November 10, 2022 by MBP&O2/O 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Shmoo here Posted November 10, 2022 #8 Share Posted November 10, 2022 4 hours ago, 1025cruise said: None of them. ^^^This^^^ Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare VMax1700 Posted November 10, 2022 #9 Share Posted November 10, 2022 (edited) You can make these quite cheaply and they will work as good as walkie talkies on a cruise ship 😉 Edited November 10, 2022 by VMax1700 2 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lenquixote66 Posted November 10, 2022 #10 Share Posted November 10, 2022 5 hours ago, oyme said: Best walkie talkies (brand / screenshot / full Amazon description please) to use on a cruise? I've read Carnival Hub app messaging at $5 p/p is unreliable so am considering walkie talkies to communicate with members of our party. Thanks! Why do you desire this ? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MBP&O2/O Posted November 10, 2022 #11 Share Posted November 10, 2022 Loads of info on this post .. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
crystalspin Posted November 11, 2022 #12 Share Posted November 11, 2022 10 hours ago, oyme said: I've read Carnival Hub app messaging at $5 p/p is unreliable so am considering walkie talkies to communicate with members of our party. Ask about using The Hub here: https://boards.cruisecritic.com/forum/133-carnival-cruise-lines/ I suspect the "unreliable" aspect is that it does not alert the recipient. That is the case for HAL's Navigator messaging. So your other members will have to be checking their cellphones! I suggest Sticky Notes to leave on your own and your party's doors. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare Hlitner Posted November 11, 2022 #13 Share Posted November 11, 2022 So the real answer is that they will not generally work if folks are at any distance inside the ship. Cruise lines use metal everywhere (floors, ceilings, walls) which effectively block most walkee talkee signals. Any walkee talkee will work if everyone is outside on the upper decks. Hank 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Heidi13 Posted November 12, 2022 #14 Share Posted November 12, 2022 On 11/10/2022 at 5:30 AM, oyme said: Best walkie talkies (brand / screenshot / full Amazon description please) to use on a cruise? I've read Carnival Hub app messaging at $5 p/p is unreliable so am considering walkie talkies to communicate with members of our party. Thanks! There are only 2 instances when portable VHF/UHF radios work reliably when aboard a ship: - When you can access the ship's repeater system, or - When you are in line of sight. Since you won't have a toned radio to access the repeater system, it only leaves the line of sight option. This is from many years of futile attempts to communicate with my officers prior to the development of ship wide repeater systems. Our radios were more powerful than consumer walkie talkies, but still only penetrated about 2 bulkheads or decks. 1 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare Turtles06 Posted November 12, 2022 #15 Share Posted November 12, 2022 On 11/10/2022 at 9:03 AM, 1025cruise said: None of them. Exactly. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Greg4502 Posted November 12, 2022 #16 Share Posted November 12, 2022 There is one way to assure a problem-free experience with walkie talkies on a cruise ship. It involves “orienting” them correctly once onboard. 1. Make sure the walkie talkies are fully powered. 2. Locate opposite outdoor locations with a clear view of both the horizon and each other’s walkie talkie. The most ideal spots are along opposite railings on higher decks. 3. Turn the walkie talkies on. Then hold them at arm’s length over the water beyond the rail so that there are no metal or other obstructions immediately adjacent to the walkie talkies (including over and under them). 4. Press the transmit button three times quickly while still holding the walkie talkies over the water. It is important that both walkie talkies’ button push happens at the same time. 5. Immediately following the third button push, drop the walkie talkies into the water. 6. You (and everyone around you) will now have a problem-free walkie talkie cruise ship experience. 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
donaldsc Posted November 12, 2022 #17 Share Posted November 12, 2022 2 hours ago, Greg4502 said: There is one way to assure a problem-free experience with walkie talkies on a cruise ship. It involves “orienting” them correctly once onboard. 1. Make sure the walkie talkies are fully powered. 2. Locate opposite outdoor locations with a clear view of both the horizon and each other’s walkie talkie. The most ideal spots are along opposite railings on higher decks. 3. Turn the walkie talkies on. Then hold them at arm’s length over the water beyond the rail so that there are no metal or other obstructions immediately adjacent to the walkie talkies (including over and under them). 4. Press the transmit button three times quickly while still holding the walkie talkies over the water. It is important that both walkie talkies’ button push happens at the same time. 5. Immediately following the third button push, drop the walkie talkies into the water. 6. You (and everyone around you) will now have a problem-free walkie talkie cruise ship experience. Great idea except that there are rules on cruise ships about dropping useless garbage into the ocean. LOL!! DON Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Schoifmom Posted November 14, 2022 #18 Share Posted November 14, 2022 Walkie Talkies don't work and annoy everyone around you (as you can see by the responses above). The Carnival HUB app messaging is only as reliable as the person using it. Granted, it has some glitches, but has typically worked fine for us. You have to remember to LEAVE THE APP OPEN IN THE BACKGROUND AT ALL TIMES! I do confess to checking it periodically because the issue that I have is not with receiving messages, but that the notifications aren't always reliable. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
navybankerteacher Posted November 14, 2022 #19 Share Posted November 14, 2022 On 11/11/2022 at 7:36 PM, Heidi13 said: There are only 2 instances when portable VHF/UHF radios work reliably when aboard a ship: - When you can access the ship's repeater system, or - When you are in line of sight. … And of course, as long as you are in line of sight, why not just walk over and chat? 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare *Miss G* Posted November 15, 2022 #20 Share Posted November 15, 2022 On 11/10/2022 at 7:19 PM, crystalspin said: I suspect the "unreliable" aspect is that it does not alert the recipient. That is the case for HAL's Navigator messaging. The Navigator now alerts. 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ldubs Posted November 15, 2022 #21 Share Posted November 15, 2022 On 11/10/2022 at 5:30 AM, oyme said: Best walkie talkies (brand / screenshot / full Amazon description please) to use on a cruise? I've read Carnival Hub app messaging at $5 p/p is unreliable so am considering walkie talkies to communicate with members of our party. Thanks! I found the Carnival Hub to be very reliable and suggest it is not something to worry about. As already said your phone won't ring when a text comes in, but you will see a notice on your screen. If you want to be able to talk to others in your group, I would consider getting the wifi plan before I bought walkie talkies. Likely more expensive but it will work. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BruceMuzz Posted November 16, 2022 #22 Share Posted November 16, 2022 Don’t buy the radios. Waste of time. Waste of money. They rarely work. They upset everyone around you. 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DirtyDawg Posted November 16, 2022 #23 Share Posted November 16, 2022 (edited) 1 hour ago, BruceMuzz said: Don’t buy the radios. Waste of time. Waste of money. They rarely work. They upset everyone around you. Also, don't think smoke signals are an option either. 🔥 😁 Edited November 16, 2022 by DirtyDawg Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
oyme Posted November 20, 2022 Author #24 Share Posted November 20, 2022 On 11/15/2022 at 8:55 AM, ldubs said: I found the Carnival Hub to be very reliable and suggest it is not something to worry about. As already said your phone won't ring when a text comes in, but you will see a notice on your screen. If you want to be able to talk to others in your group, I would consider getting the wifi plan before I bought walkie talkies. Likely more expensive but it will work. It seems like some say the HUB app works good but others disagree. As of right now we're planning to just try using the HUB messaging. As for like the social wifi plan, that really is a bit spendy for us. We just can't justify that amount of money for it, the HUB messaging cost is fine, though. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
oyme Posted November 20, 2022 Author #25 Share Posted November 20, 2022 (edited) On 11/14/2022 at 1:29 PM, navybankerteacher said: And of course, as long as you are in line of sight, why not just walk over and chat? We won't be in sight, that's why I'm asking. But yes, I agree with you and then radios are a moot point, lol. Edited November 20, 2022 by oyme Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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