Two way radios on Disney Fantasy 2018

[darkmancanada]

Has anyone recently been on the Disney Fantasy and have taken two way radios with them?

 

[TikiThunderPirates]

Just incase your not familiar, the Disney Cruise Line app (which is free to download) can be used onboard the ship to chat (text) between smart phones view the ships wifi for free(no data package purchase required or phone data use needed). Also each stateroom has wave phones (until they are discontinued) which you can call like a cell phone from another wave phone. These features might make the need for two way radios go away.

 

[Winston Wolf]

#1 - Don't do it. They're super annoying.
#2 - Probably wouldn't work well anyway due to the massive steel ship. Would probably only work on the open decks.

 

[darkmancanada]

I was thinking of off-shore excursions, not on the ship

 

[NS8VN]

Different countries have different rules on what frequencies and transmit power is allowed, so make sure you know you aren't breaking any laws. The US, Canada, and Mexico all allow the standard FRS radios you'll find in stores, but Mexico does not allow the FRS/GMRS models. I don't know about the Bahamas or other Caribbean islands, but you will absolutely want to find out first. Ham radios are specifically on the prohibited list for DCL, while FRS radios are not ham radios you might have a hard time convincing a bag checker of that if they decide to ask you about them. Don't rely on the range claims on the packaging, those are for the higher powered GMRS frequencies. FRS is limited to 0.5 watts which will get you about 2 miles over open flat terrain, and maybe a half mile in town if you are lucky. Would be easier all around to get your cell phone set up to use in whichever country you are going to.

 

[TrishaK]

Check with your cell phone carrier for their international rates. Some countries are included without any additional fees. And sometimes they have a very affordable per day fee ($5 or $10?).

 

[scottb8888]

Are wave phones going away?

 

[tigerchic89]

just use your cell phones or an old iPod touch in airplane mode on the ship and on CC. On other excursions, just stay together or check your cell plan. My plan (Tmobile) gives me free cell and data in most of the ports that Fantasy docks

 

[sarat8910]

We have T-mobile also but I didn't see free data or cell for Bahamas.

just use your cell phones or an old iPod touch in airplane mode on the ship and on CC. On other excursions, just stay together or check your cell plan. My plan (Tmobile) gives me free cell and data in most of the ports that Fantasy docks

 

[TikiThunderPirates]

Are wave phones going away?

There is a rumor that eventually the Disney Cruise Line App will do the same functions as the wave phone (mainly the Child Care/Clubs being able to notify/message parents) so if that happens the wave phone could go away. No official word and no current rumors that I have heard saying they will disappear.

 

[minniemouse1]

There is a rumor that eventually the Disney Cruise Line App will do the same functions as the wave phone (mainly the Child Care/Clubs being able to notify/message parents) so if that happens the wave phone could go away. No official word and no current rumors that I have heard saying they will disappear.

Oh. I didn't realize that I would still need the wave phone for the kids club contact. I thought they were using the cell phone text ability on the DCL app too. Good to know and thank you.

 

[Quellman]

Oh. I didn't realize that I would still need the wave phone for the kids club contact. I thought they were using the cell phone text ability on the DCL app too. Good to know and thank you.

We carried both with us, but they would try to text on the app first.

 

[Anchors Away 2016]

Officially, you still need the Wave phones, but in practice, many people get along with just the app.

 

[darkmancanada]

All I see is heresay. Has anyone sailed on DCL in the last 3 months that can verify if:

-Two way radios are allowed
-Wave phones still exist
-DCL navigator works well on existing iOS or Android phones

I currently have a Rogers Roam Like Home which I can use my minutes and data while I am in port (Falmouth, Grand Cayman, Cozumel). the rest of the cruise I will be using onboard WiFi. Two way radios would be a cheaper alternative while in port instead of using phones

 

[lsmith311]

I would not recommend planning on using these for communication. Much like at WDW there are so many people on the same free bands no one can understand who is talking to who.

I would use the wave phones or app on smart phone to communicate. While at post if you need to communicate check into your cell carrier options.

 

[PurplePencil]

We have T-mobile also but I didn't see free data or cell for Bahamas.

https://www.t-mobile.com/coverage/roaming
There is free data is the Bahamas, my family has used it in Nassau and Castaway Cay

 

[Starwind]

All I see is heresay. Has anyone sailed on DCL in the last 3 months that can verify if:

-Two way radios are allowed
-Wave phones still exist
-DCL navigator works well on existing iOS or Android phones

I currently have a Rogers Roam Like Home which I can use my minutes and data while I am in port (Falmouth, Grand Cayman, Cozumel). the rest of the cruise I will be using onboard WiFi. Two way radios would be a cheaper alternative while in port instead of using phones

We sailed on Fantasy in December. They still had the wave phones.

Cannot speak to whether DCL will allow non-amateur radio two-way radios on board the ship. However,

It may be illegal to use US or Canadian market FRS or FRS/GMRS radios in Mexico and/or other countries because of certification and/or licencing issues. Read http://www.qsl.net/wd9ewk/xe-frs.html and https://www.rei.com/learn/expert-advice/twoway-radios.html for some info.

We used Rogers Roam Like home in Grand Cayman, Cozumel and Costa Maya. Getting a good signal was challenging at times, especially for data. Stateside it was fine.

DCL Navigator app worked fine on our IOS devices, but this was before they upgraded it.

SW

 

[kenthanson]

All I see is heresay. Has anyone sailed on DCL in the last 3 months that can verify if:

-Two way radios are allowed
-Wave phones still exist
-DCL navigator works well on existing iOS or Android phones

I currently have a Rogers Roam Like Home which I can use my minutes and data while I am in port (Falmouth, Grand Cayman, Cozumel). the rest of the cruise I will be using onboard WiFi. Two way radios would be a cheaper alternative while in port instead of using phones

I have no info on 1, 2 yes they still exist, 3 the app works great we started bringing the wave phones as well as cell phones but the app messaging works so good that the wave phones were not needed.we would get kids club messages on the wave phones before the app but by maybe a minute. We sailed fantasy Jan 24-feb 3

 

[darkmancanada]

We sailed Fantasy in April and they did allow the two-way radios and only I only used it once. The Wave phones still exist and really didn't need it. The DCL Navigator app works well all over the ship.

 

[FigmentSpark]

All I see is heresay. Has anyone sailed on DCL in the last 3 months that can verify if:

-Two way radios are allowed
-Wave phones still exist
-DCL navigator works well on existing iOS or Android phones

I currently have a Rogers Roam Like Home which I can use my minutes and data while I am in port (Falmouth, Grand Cayman, Cozumel). the rest of the cruise I will be using onboard WiFi. Two way radios would be a cheaper alternative while in port instead of using phones

As of March 2018, the Fantasy still had wave phones. We didn't use them, though.

We have Fido Roam like Home. My DS15 activated his a few times in the U.S., so the charge was $6 for that 24 hour period. That was on the beach in St. Thomas. He also used it in St. Marten and on his fishing trip just off Castaway Cay. Both of those charges were $12 each for the 24 hour period. Sure, it's not cheap, but it could be a lot worse and it worked just fine for him.

Now, he was the only one doing that in our family, so if are trying to keep in touch with family, you may end up paying that on 2 phones, which is double the price, but if you are only separated from each other for one of your ports, that's not so bad. I mean, you could just consider it part of the cost of the excursion.