Handheld radios on Holland America Cruise

[Hdc30474]

Does anyone have direct experience carryng a handheld two way radio or scanner on board Holland America Cruise Lines. Last year we were on a Viking Cruise and I had no trouble at all taking 3 radios. VHF Marine, VHF airband and a scanner radio.

We tend to do excursions that take us out of cell phone range. Part if my first aid/safety kit that I take hiking in remote areas includes a marine handheld and an aviation handheld. In Alaska, the FCC rules are sort of overlooked due to it being a wild frontier. VHF marine is commonly used inland between villages. Wilderness guides carry and recommend having VHF airband handheld transceivers.

Has anyone encountered issues with Holland America boarding or disembarking for excursions carrying any radios?

 

[BC_Scan]

welcome to the forum, I'm afraid this topic has been beaten to death (and the answer lay withing the search) , If you have done it before I see no reason why not, you can search in this forum as others have deep dived into Holland's web site of the list of prohibited items , there is a few that dont allow, generally they do . i ensure i cruise on a boat that allows

 

[ecps92]

Does anyone have direct experience carryng a handheld two way radio or scanner on board Holland America Cruise Lines. Last year we were on a Viking Cruise and I had no trouble at all taking 3 radios. VHF Marine, VHF airband and a scanner radio.

We tend to do excursions that take us out of cell phone range. Part if my first aid/safety kit that I take hiking in remote areas includes a marine handheld and an aviation handheld. In Alaska, the FCC rules are sort of overlooked due to it being a wild frontier. VHF marine is commonly used inland between villages. Wilderness guides carry and recommend having VHF airband handheld transceivers.

Has anyone encountered issues with Holland America boarding or disembarking for excursions carrying any radios?

as in other threads, YMMV - I would call them and get a Supervisor and have it in writing to put right next-to the device when being carried on/off the ship.

What items are prohibited on board Holland America cruises

The following list is provided to assist in determining what items are not allowed onboard without a valid, lawful reason.

www.hollandamerica.com

and specifically listed are :

• Communication Devices including Emergency Position Indicating Radio Beacons (EPIRB) ham radios, communication scanners, wide-band receivers, satellite phones, personal satellite dish/receivers, routers, and transformers.

 

[KF6DGN]

Another reason NOT to use that ship line. With the travel advisories, maybe we just not go to these chaotic criminal filled third world countries.

 

[Hdc30474]

I did read Holland America's policy. Viking had a policy too, but more leanient. It did not address scanners or 2 way radios, just Ham radios. When we boarded and disembarked at every port all our items went through xray. None of my radios were ever flagged. I did not take any ham gear. Just the marine, aviation for backup to cellular in emergencies and a scanner.

If someone has direct experience with Holland America, I would be interested to know how it worked oit for them.

 

[ecps92]

I did read Holland America's policy. Viking had a policy too, but more leanient. It did not address scanners or 2 way radios, just Ham radios. When we boarded and disembarked at every port all our items went through xray. None of my radios were ever flagged. I did not take any ham gear. Just the marine, aviation for backup to cellular in emergencies and a scanner.

If someone has direct experience with Holland America, I would be interested to know how it worked oit for them.

Yes, and the Amateur (ham) radio exists from the HF days, hanging wire antenna's off the Balcony and is/was not designed around a hand-held VHF/UHF, but get's lumped into the mess. Even now Extension Cords and Power Outlets are banned, yet the ship will provide an extension cord for CPAP etc, if the power is across the room (now a trip hazard)

My last cruise on RCCL the bedside power was 220 and the 120 was across the room on the vanity.

 

[Hdc30474]

Yes, and the Amateur (ham) radio exists from the HF days, hanging wire antenna's off the Balcony and is/was not designed around a hand-held VHF/UHF, but get's lumped into the mess. Even now Extension Cords and Power Outlets are banned, yet the ship will provide an extension cord for CPAP etc, if the power is across the room (now a trip hazard)

My last cruise on RCCL the bedside power was 220 and the 120 was across the room on the vanity.

The worst thing that would happen from what I have found in other posts is they take it and return it at the end of the cruise. The radios stay in my safety/first aid back pack. Viking and RCCL has a similar policy and they didnt care when I was on either of those. This will be our first Holland America cruise.

Last Alaska Cruise we did an excursion hike through bear country in sketchy cell service. The two guides had guns and bear spray, but no radios.

 

[ecps92]

The worst thing that would happen from what I have found in other posts is they take it and return it at the end of the cruise. The radios stay in my safety/first aid back pack. Viking and RCCL has a similar policy and they didnt care when I was on either of those. This will be our first Holland America cruise.

Last Alaska Cruise we did an excursion hike through bear country in sketchy cell service. The two guides had guns and bear spray, but no radios.

Yup have had that happen, confiscate and returned (atleast we returned to the same port) at the end, but that was Celebrity

 

[Hdc30474]

Yup have had that happen, confiscate and returned (atleast we returned to the same port) at the end, but that was Celebrity

Did you have yours in a carry on bag? Where was it detected? The cruise port security doesnt care. It isnt a prohibited security item.

Ours is also a roundtrip cruise oit of Seattle.

 

[ecps92]

Did you have yours in a carry on bag? Where was it detected? The cruise port security doesnt care. It isnt a prohibited security item.

Ours is also a roundtrip cruise oit of Seattle.

Backpack with my Camera equipment and caught at Port Security (faux TSA style bag screeners) YMMV depending on the port.

Oddly that same cruise, one of our bags was flagged by Ship Security, had to go down to the holding area, and give them permission to open it. Seems the hand sanitizer bottle looked too much like Alcohol No problem.

However the lady ahead of me, could not understand why here entire set of grilling implements (fork etc) was being held until the end of the Cruise.