Do 2-way radios work onboard??

[jnc1970]

We are thinking about buying 2-way portable radios for our family, but I am wondering how well they work on the ship. For my own piece of mind, I want a little more security than just a pager from the kids clubs. Has anyone ever tried using radios on the ship, and if so, how did they work??? Thanks for any help!

 

[EWL]

We bought some (Cobras, not the most expensive) to bring last week on our 1/15 7-day Magic cruise and were glad to have them. They didn't always work-- sometimes just a lot of crackling and sputtering from interference within the ship, I guess-- but they did work often enough that we and the grandparents carried them most of the time. Plus they worked when we were in port. We thought they were worth having!

 

[d'Isigny]

Absolutely - mid to high end 2-way radios work well onboard...loved using ours and will take them again & again. We have a pair of Motorola Talkabouts...$35 to $45ea. These worked great!!
There is nothing worse than having to wait at a meeting spot when there is something else to do. We were able to (on limited occasions) split up and contact each other with a location to meet up at - without the guilt of needing to 'stay where we agreed to meet up'....or....hurt feelings of 'you were susposed to meet me 'here' at 'this time''.
I am an early riser - love to watch the sun rise and take photos when the ship is uncrowded...rest like to sleep in. When the rest of the crew was getting ready...I could get a table and have food waiting when my princesses arrived.
In my opinion - these allowed us....'me time'...'couple time' and 'family time'.

 

[zacsmom]

We always use them on board the ship with no problems. We have also found them to be very helpful when we split up to do the ressie rush. If you are investing in a new set. Make sure that you get a set that comes with it's own charging station

 

[rsjj]

yes, they worked, for us! ours was motorola, from costco. we used it when we first boarded, while DH went to book for flounders & myself for palo. other than that, we didn't have the need, since our boys were 4 & 2 at the time. but i'm sure they would be really convenient, like others have said.

 

[soleglo]

We used the Motorola Talkabouts and they worked fine everywhere. They were the least expensive ones and we paid $25/pair at Walmart. I took extra batteries on our 4 night cruise but didn't need them.

 

[KatHuss]

I am surprised they work that well! I would have thought with all the steel in the ship they wouldn't work so well. We have one that hooks onto a beltloop that our dd uses at home so we know where she is when she goes out to play with her friends. If they work that well we may bring them along!

Kat

 

[Mike_in_FL]

I have bought Talkabouts for almost every member of my family, and they use them all the time. My kids and nephews really enjoy their Motorola/Disney ones. My parents cruise a couple of times a year and just love having their radios on board. They have had several people come up to them and ask them where they got them, or regretting that they did not bring their own radios with them.

I would caution that if you are aft on deck 1 and the other person is forward on deck 9, you might have an issue due to all the steel between the two of you (as KatHuss mentioned). I would also note that it is not legal to use the Talkabouts (or the Cobras or Unidens or...) in all countries you may visit. The FRS (Family Radio Service) was set up in the USA as a set of frequencies that could be used without an FCC license, as long as the radios did not exceed a certain transmitter power. Other countries are adopting similar approaches, but not all, and certainly not necessarily on the same frequencies.

Hope this helps somebody!
Mike

 

[mark & sandra]

We used motorola talkabouts and they walked almost everywhere. The only times we were unable to use them was when the kids were in the lab, everywhere else had no problems...Mark

 

[DCLgodess]

we used Motorola 2-ways and they worked everyplace but studio Sea. This was on the magic. I assume they work the same on the wonder.

 

[ClarabelleCow]

Maybe I am in a bad mood today, but it is great that they work, but there is nothing ruder than listening to the squelching of those things!!! Or Dad screaming into them while Mom is elsewhere. Then the kids get ahold of them and all you here is static! Kind of like the rude Nextel users that don't put the 2-way on quiet when in public!

We have tons of 2-ways, but refuse to bring them because they are just an annoyance, imagine what we all did as kids without all the gadgets!!! Gee, I even survived not having a car seat as a kid!

 

[KatHuss]

Clarabelle, I understand your point. The only reason I am thinking about bringing them is because we are bringing my mother who is in a wheelchair. If she chooses to stay in the room while we go and do something on board we need a way for her to contact us if she needs something. Otherwise I wouldn't even be thinking about bringing them. I certainly wouldn't give it to my dd8 to use on board.

Kat