Fodor's Travel Talk Forums - 2-way radios on cruise

Fodor's Travel Talk Forums (https://www.fodors.com/community/)

- Cruises (https://www.fodors.com/community/cruises/)

- - 2-way radios on cruise (https://www.fodors.com/community/cruises/2-way-radios-on-cruise-138305/)

2-way radios on cruise

Going on RCCL's Explorer next month. Has anyone used a 2-way radio to keep in touch with their kids on this huge ship? If so, which one did you use. How was the clarity, etc. Would appreciate any input on the pros and cons of 2-way radios for this purpose.

Those two way radios may be great for you but the ruin other peoples cruises. Leave them at home!

Hi Jan, The two-way radios are fine if the ship is not kid-intensive. There is much too much traffic. Even the parents play with them. It's mostly "can you hear me?" messages. The 22 channel radios are the best. This is what we use. Only negative is that you must pay the FCC license fee of $75 for 5 years. Paul

Jan: I think I can help you. Paul is well meaning but you could get in trouble if you do this wrong. ONLY purchase radios that are clearly labeled "FRS" or "Family Radio Service". They work very well and you can hear people all over the ship on them. We take a pair with us and it even help us "grown-ups" find each other. You will get a LOT of "can you hear me?" chatter like Paul says because parents don't limit kids who like to play with them. Now, here is the problem. The radios that Paul says he uses that require the FCC license are not FRS radios(the FRS need NO license) They are sold right next to the FRS radios I mentioned and they share a few of the same frequencies that the FRS radios use. The difference is that the FRS radio transmit with a tiny fraction of the power that the radios Paul is using (its not Paul fault, the manufactures do a terrible job of marketing these two similar radios). Pauls radio at 5 watts is broadcasting at about 10 times the power of the FRS radios and that is why when he opened his box up it had an application for an FCC license in it. If Paul got the license for his, it is fine to use in the United States, but NOT always legal in foreign ports. So, while it's unlikely that Pauls radio will get him in trouble in a foreign port you can make your trip worry free by getting the FRS radios which are legal anywhere. If you're thinking that the larger more powerful version that Paul has is 10 times as good, it is only slightly better. The FRS radios can transmit about 2 miles if un-obstructed and the other type may reach about twice that, but on a ship where there is steel everywhere the difference is minimal. Hope this helps, again, just look for the line "FRS or Family Radio Service" on the package, that is the kind you want. Best wishes on an enjoyable cruise!

Thanks Bob for your input. I will definitely look into getting a FRS type 2-way radio. I want it mainly so that I can get a hold of my son if we should get separated for any length of time since the Explorer is such a huge ship. I am not interested in getting one of those "FCC licensed" type radios. That's a little more than I need for this trip. By the way, since you were happy with the one you used, can you tell me which one it is. There are so many out there on the market, I could use some help in picking one out. Thanks.

Jan: Any name brand should be fine. Motorola is a good name, but any name you've heard before should be OK. Stay away from ones with lots of extra features, they usually never get used and tend to confuse you more than help. You should be able to get a good pair at most major chain stores for $50 - $80 (thats for the pair, not each). With any radios you may find places on the ship where you can't hear each other due to thousands of tons of steel. If you try calling your kids and they don't hear you, just walk to a different spot and try again. We've found they save a LOT of walking and time searching. Another way they work is in port. If your family is walking around shopping in the port (within 2 miles) you can stand on the deck of the ship and easily talk to them. Bob

Thanks again Bob for responding so quickly. Your input was most appreciated by me.

The 22 channel radios have both frequencies. The radios that go up to channel 14 are the ones that have the most traffic since that is what most people buy. The radios that go from 1 up to channel 22 will have little or no chatter on channels 15 to 22. That was the reson for my post. I do not believe using channels 15 to 22 is legal without a license no matter where you use them. Unless I need a special license to use them in foreign ports. I really do not wish to pay a fee to any kings or queens. Paul

Whatever brand you decide, figure out how you will use them. Decide on the set channel ahead of time. Perhaps come up with an unusual name. You will hear "mom" and "dad" more than anything. I had one lady tell me that "I was on her channel". I said, "Lady, with 3600 people on this ship, someone is bound to be on your channel".

Paul: Re-Read Bob's original post. The reason that you're not hearing people on those other frequencies is that you're using radios that are illegal to use for this purpose without a license. The radios you have MUST HAVE AN FCC license or you cannot use them even in the U.S. Bob is correct, in foreign ports the radios you are using could be taken away from you and you could be fined. In fact, it sounds like you never applied for the FCC license so you cannot use them anywhere, including here in America.

No, you re-read my post. I paid $75 for a 5 year license. Paul

I will probably get bashed for this but people using these radios are rude and inconsiderate of others. Who wants to constantly hear these things all day long? Try having dinner with these things constantly going off with all that static and Hey Joe where are you? or Hey Mom then the person has to scream back a reply. These radios should be banned!!!

Paul and Starfish: First Paul, why are you so defensive? I too thought you hadn't bought a license when you replied "I really do not wish to pay a fee to any kings or queens". Noah was very nice in the way he tried to respond to you, and I still don't think you got his point that you should be using the FRS radios, not the high power ones you are using. Starfish, I know what you mean. It's like people standing in line in front of you at the grocery or McDonalds yacking about nothing on their cell phones. If only there was some way to control peoples consideration of others.

You may as well wish for the stars as to expect people to be considerate with these radios, cell phones or anything else. Most people today don't give a damn about anything, including their own self respect. If your teenager is doing something they shouldn't be and you call them on the radio and say where are you and what are you doing, do you think they will tell you ? Not. Agree wholeheartedly that people shouldn't have to be subjected to someone elses phone calls, crackling radios,etc. Someone other than me said "common sense is not so common".