Cruise Ship & Gulf of Mexico Monitoring

[ecps92]

Pilots

What Frequency? As the Marine band extends into the 160-161 mhz area.

Much of the USA Gov't channels, don't begin until the 162 Mhz area.

I was on a cruise in the gulf last year. You should monitor the marine channels and also look for a ship's repeater in the UHF range. My ship had several UHF freqs going for operations.

In Cozumel the pilot boat was using a freq in the 160s, our govt band.
Tom

 

[FlashSWT]

I'm setting sail on the Carnival Ecstasy out of Galveston next week with my 396. I'm not sure how much time I'll be "allowed" to play with it but I'll report back anything I find.

.

 

[ecps92]

Carnival Ships

Carnival Ecstasy has been one of the Elusive Ships for Reporting of frequencies.

I'm setting sail on the Carnival Ecstasy out of Galveston next week with my 396. I'm not sure how much time I'll be "allowed" to play with it but I'll report back anything I find.

.

 

[aensr]

Island Princess

I will be on the Island Princess in a couple of weeks. I am assuming they use similiar VHF Frequencies and UHF Frequencies as to other Cruise Ships just a different CTCSS Tone. When I get back I will try and report what I found. Anyone having information, it would be appreciated

Alan

 

[ElroyJetson]

Should be pretty boring, actually. Plus, most cruise ships won't allow radio equipment
other than normal receivers, or FRS radios, on board.

Hearing that someone puked all over the dance floor and a mop is needed, or that the
bar's out of vodka and someone needs to send up another crate of Grey Goose, is not
my idea of an exciting scanning time.

The cruise should be enough fun by itself that if you're doing it right, you'll never even
remember where you stashed your book or your ipod, much less have time to break out
your scanner.

Elroy

 

[ecps92]

Cruise Ship Frequencies

Yes, however you never know where you might find frequencies.

the NCL Majesty has been in Boston every sunday for the spring/Summer for a few years now and we only just found two frequencies for it. The Elusive Housekeeping and the Fire Crews....

I will be on the Island Princess in a couple of weeks. I am assuming they use similiar VHF Frequencies and UHF Frequencies as to other Cruise Ships just a different CTCSS Tone. When I get back I will try and report what I found. Anyone having information, it would be appreciated

Alan

 

[ecps92]

Quite the difference...

Hmm...hearing a USCG Rescue Helo planning to land on the Front Deck for an Evac, must not be your cup of tea. Happend on my last Cruise. Knowing why were are delayed leaving, either. O ...why the Ambulance just left your Cruise Ship? [crew member or somone you met].

There is plenty to listen to, yes, you will hear the HOTEL type Traffic, but plenty of other interesting stuff as well,, mostly entering or leaving port.

Should be pretty boring, actually. Plus, most cruise ships won't allow radio equipment
other than normal receivers, or FRS radios, on board.

Hearing that someone puked all over the dance floor and a mop is needed, or that the
bar's out of vodka and someone needs to send up another crate of Grey Goose, is not
my idea of an exciting scanning time.

The cruise should be enough fun by itself that if you're doing it right, you'll never even
remember where you stashed your book or your ipod, much less have time to break out
your scanner.

Elroy

 

[FlashSWT]

Well I'm sorry to report that the 396 got left at home. It was a fight I wasn't going to win an hour before we left the house!

Maybe next time...

.

 

[aensr]

Cruise Ship Radio Monitoring

Besides needing a mop or a bar being out of vodka, they have the fire and rescue drills which can be interesting. I know I have heard one or two on other princess cruise ships and they seem to have there act together with command and control of an incident.

Overboard drills can be interesting also.

You can hear about problems on the ship, something not working or having a problem, something the Captain will never announce.

Before you leave port the Hotel Department talks about how many passengers are not aboard, it is nice to know that they are waiting for someone rather than just sitting there.

Yes can be boring, there are other things to do for sure but I enjoy it while my wife is playing Trivia Pursuit.

Alan

 

[aensr]

Island Princess

Just got back from a cruise, Los Angeles to Panama Canal and back. The following were used by the Island Princess.

Marine CH 16 - Calling [Initial Call To ports of arrival & other ships]
Marine CH 15, 68 & 69 [Tender Boat Operation, VHF Ship to Shore Party]

457.5250 CTCSS 103.5 - FB2 - CH 1 Deck Department-Bridge Operations
457.5500 CTCSS 114.8 - FB2 - CH 2 Engineering Department-Maintenance
457.5750 CTCSS 127.3 - FB2 - CH 3 Hotel Department-Entertainment Staff
457.5625 CTCSS 210.7 - MO - CH ? Hotel Accomodations Staff, Etc
467.5625 CTCSS 225.7 - - Casino Portables

Several Wireless microphones were heard from the various lounges and most were in the 25 to 49 Mhz range.

I have now been on four Princess Ships and all use CH1, CH2, & CH4 for the same purpose. Other frequencies programmed into there portables seem to be the same but vary on use from ship to ship

Alan

 

[ecps92]

Island Princess

Nice Report, Thanks..
I will be adding these to the On-Line List [see Tag Line] this weekend.

Just got back from a cruise, Los Angeles to Panama Canal and back. The following were used by the Island Princess.

Marine CH 16 - Calling [Initial Call To ports of arrival & other ships]
Marine CH 15, 68 & 69 [Tender Boat Operation, VHF Ship to Shore Party]

457.5250 CTCSS 103.5 - FB2 - CH 1 Deck Department-Bridge Operations
457.5500 CTCSS 114.8 - FB2 - CH 2 Engineering Department-Maintenance
457.5750 CTCSS 127.3 - FB2 - CH 3 Hotel Department-Entertainment Staff
457.5625 CTCSS 210.7 - MO - CH ? Hotel Accomodations Staff, Etc
467.5625 CTCSS 225.7 - - Casino Portables

Several Wireless microphones were heard from the various lounges and most were in the 25 to 49 Mhz range.

I have now been on four Princess Ships and all use CH1, CH2, & CH4 for the same purpose. Other frequencies programmed into there portables seem to be the same but vary on use from ship to ship

Alan

 

[troymail]

Couple of years ago, on the way back to Miami through the gulf north of Cuba, we encountered a small boat carrying 12-13 refugees. We were sitting on one of the lower side decks and I thought I noticed a flash of light or something off in the distance. I found out I wasn't imagining things when about 3-4 minutes later I sensed the ship making a sudden turn....

The crew noticed also and it turns out the refugees were trying to signal the ship because they were taking on water and no where near land...

So the reason for this story is I had my 396 with me but had no idea what freqs the Royal Caribbean ships used. So I turned on the close call feature while they were telling us to go inside and I found them... that's how I got the details of what was going on and boy, did I have a crowd standing around me trying to hear everything...

I'm not sure I heard any hotel or puking stuff but I didn't really sit and listen like I would normally at home...

 

[rescuecomm]

Put you booze in nalgene bottles labeled hair tonic, mouthwash, duckoil, or whatever. They won't mess with them. I have seen it done several times on cruises. I checked with the cruise line when I wanted to take my Icom W32A dual band talkie and a GPS with me. They said the W32A was okay, but said no to the GPS. I was unable to get into the repeater on St. Martin to key up the IRLP link. Didn't thiink to scan with it.

Bob

 

[BenB]

Take the scanner, but you probably won't use it much..I used my very very little. If you don't see anything crazy going on like the post above about some fugees off in the distance, I wouldn't bother breaking it out.

And for the alcohol, don't bring any on board. The booze in the the shops is less than what you'd find in town sometimes.

 

[tneff]

The wife and I will be heading out on The Ecstasy on Nov 12th, gonna try and sneak my scanner in the suitcase. We'll see if I can pick anything up.

 

[bassmkenk2508]

Nov. 19th, me and my family will be on a 5-day cruise in the Gulf. Will be on the Carnival ship Holiday.

Will monitor as well.

 

[ecps92]

Ecstasy

Looks like you have your PORTS all to your Cruise ship except for the 14th & 15th
when you share the PORT with the Carnival Fantasy


Carnival Cruise Lines Fantasy Progreso, Merida, Mexico 11-14-2007 7:00 AM 4:00 PM
Carnival Cruise Lines Fantasy Cozumel, Mexico 11-15-2007 9:00 AM 5:00 PM

The wife and I will be heading out on The Ecstasy on Nov 12th, gonna try and sneak my scanner in the suitcase. We'll see if I can pick anything up.

 

[ecps92]

Holiday

Looks like a Busy day on the 21st with Multiple ships in Cozumel

Carnival Legend Cozumel, Mexico 11-21-2007 9:00 AM 6:00 PM
Disney Magic Cozumel, Mexico 11-21-2007 10:30 AM 10:00 PM
Norwegian Majesty Cozumel, Mexico 11-21-2007 10:00 AM 6:00 PM
Norwegian Sun Cozumel, Mexico 11-21-2007 8:00 AM 5:00 PM
Grand Princess Cozumel, Mexico 11-21-2007 8:00 AM 6:00 PM

Nov. 19th, me and my family will be on a 5-day cruise in the Gulf. Will be on the Carnival ship Holiday.

Will monitor as well.

 

[Bentley]

I am a little confused, there are two freq's listed for some of the marine channels, one is an output, one is an input. Which one should I be entering into my scanner?

Also, I am going to be on Royal Carribean's Voyager of the Seas in a few months. Does anyone know where I can find ship specific frequencies like the casino's / bridge ops / staff / engineers etc.

Lastly, and I hate to say what if's but.... " what if " I bring my gps and scanner and I am told they will not be permitted on board. What do I do with them? This is my first cruise if you couldnt tell.

Thanks!

 

[ecps92]

Part 1

I've been on many a Cruise and never have my electronics been denied.

Pack them in your regular bags [checked] not your carry-on and you will be fine.

I am a little confused, there are two freq's listed for some of the marine channels, one is an output, one is an input. Which one should I be entering into my scanner?

Also, I am going to be on Royal Carribean's Voyager of the Seas in a few months. Does anyone know where I can find ship specific frequencies like the casino's / bridge ops / staff / engineers etc.

Lastly, and I hate to say what if's but.... " what if " I bring my gps and scanner and I am told they will not be permitted on board. What do I do with them? This is my first cruise if you couldnt tell.

Thanks!