What Radio Systems Should I Expect On The Carnival Celebration?

[JASII]

My wife, I and two other couples are going to be on the Carnival Celebration the first full week of February 2023. I will likely being something to monitor with. It looks like the traditional 457.525 (467.750) , 457.550 (467.775), 457.575 (467.800) and 457.600 (467.825) are authorized repeater outputs.

If 457.5375, 457.5625, 467.5375 and 467.5625 are is use, are they likely to be simplex?

Also, based on past Carnival cruises, I am expecting MOTO TRBO (DMR) mode to be in use. Should I expect them to be Capacity Plus?

Also, are the likely channel/talkgroup names (usages) usually:

-Bridge Ops

-Security

-Maintenance

-Engineering

-Hotel Operations

-Excursions

Would there be much value in me trying to look up the FCC licenses for these? I haven't looked up the Carnival FRN or the radio service code for that, yet.

Carnival's Newest Cruise Ship Departs on Maiden Voyage

Carnival Cruise Line's newest ship, Carnival Celebration, departed on her maiden voyage today. The 14 night cruise started in Southampton and will end in Miami on November 20, 2022. Carnival Celebration arrived in Southampton this morning and a special day was planned for local officials...

cruisefever.net

 

[n0esc]

Don't want to totally rain on your parade and I am sure it has been done before, but do note that Carnival specifically prohibits ...communication scanners, wideband receivers, satellite phones,... Ham radio equipment is specifically allowed so you may have luck that way if licensed, but be prepared to have a scanner "impounded" for the duration of the cruise.

https://www.carnival.com/help

Good reference threads here: Cruise Ship Frequencies

 

[dcr_inc]

I have taken my Pro668 and several other scanners with no problems on multiple Carnival cruises with no issues.

 

[RaleighGuy]

As @n0esc stated above and directly from Carnivals website...

"Emergency Position Indicating Radio Beacons (EPIRB), communication scanners, wideband receivers, satellite phones, transformers, lasers and laser pointers." (emphasis added)

Are there restrictions on what I can bring on board? | Carnival Cruise Lines

help.carnival.com.au

 

[ecps92]

As most newer ships come on-line they are DMR

That said, Carnival has only been observed/reported as conventional DMR, no Cap+ on Con+ has ever been reported for them
so, Yes, rely on the old traditional pairs as well as the splinters [more narrow]

Don't bother with the FCC info

My wife, I and two other couples are going to be on the Carnival Celebration the first full week of February 2023. I will likely being something to monitor with. It looks like the traditional 457.525 (467.750) , 457.550 (467.775), 457.575 (467.800) and 457.600 (467.825) are authorized repeater outputs.

If 457.5375, 457.5625, 467.5375 and 467.5625 are is use, are they likely to be simplex?

Also, based on past Carnival cruises, I am expecting MOTO TRBO (DMR) mode to be in use. Should I expect them to be Capacity Plus?

Also, are the likely channel/talkgroup names (usages) usually:

-Bridge Ops

-Security

-Maintenance

-Engineering

-Hotel Operations

-Excursions

Would there be much value in me trying to look up the FCC licenses for these? I haven't looked up the Carnival FRN or the radio service code for that, yet.

Carnival's Newest Cruise Ship Departs on Maiden Voyage

Carnival Cruise Line's newest ship, Carnival Celebration, departed on her maiden voyage today. The 14 night cruise started in Southampton and will end in Miami on November 20, 2022. Carnival Celebration arrived in Southampton this morning and a special day was planned for local officials...

cruisefever.net

 

[RayAir]

The last Carnival cruise I went on I packed my scanner and it made it to my room just fine.
Unfortunately, the ship crew were speaking Italian.

 

[JASII]

The last Carnival cruise I went on I packed my scanner and it made it to my room just fine. Unfortunately, the ship crew were speaking Italian.

I brought my Uniden SDS100 and other radios in the past, also. I do remember hearing non-English language, so it was of little benefit to me since I only speak English!

I found it interesting how it doesn't seem like I was that far from shore and often times there was relatively little to listen to even when essentially scanning all over the various bands. Oh, sure, occasionally there was a little on Marine VHF. There was a little bit on VHF-AM aviation. I would even check FM broadcast and hear some activity, but even it doesn't always carry as far away from shore as I think it might!

Even scanning through the amateur radio bands, like 2 meters and 440 MHz, would yield a little bit, from time to time, but not really a lot of activity.

 

[n2nov]

I brought various SDRs in my laptop case on a Disney cruise in 2017. Having a balcony stateroom helped with a small collapsable magmount on the railing when listening.

 

[ecps92]

From a room, you are basically in an electronic cage, but from a Balcony or up on deck - you should have heard much more.

I even completed a 150+ mile QSO on a GMRS Repeater, just south of Boston from my 10th floor balcony off NJ

I brought my Uniden SDS100 and other radios in the past, also. I do remember hearing non-English language, so it was of little benefit to me since I only speak English!

I found it interesting how it doesn't seem like I was that far from shore and often times there was relatively little to listen to even when essentially scanning all over the various bands. Oh, sure, occasionally there was a little on Marine VHF. There was a little bit on VHF-AM aviation. I would even check FM broadcast and hear some activity, but even it doesn't always carry as far away from shore as I think it might!

Even scanning through the amateur radio bands, like 2 meters and 440 MHz, would yield a little bit, from time to time, but not really a lot of activity.

 

[KK4JUG]

For the life of me, with all the things there are to do on these "floating cities," why would anyone be concerned about whether a scanner is allowed. Perhaps I'm not as fanatical as others but I just don't see it.

 

[IAmSixNine]

For some people it brings them enjoyment to play with their toys while on vacation. If i ever took a cruise id be one of them wanting to play with a scanner (even if its a short amount of time).

 

[ecps92]

Just like from home, or travel - situational awareness and fun

Two I remember, and the wife enjoyed the view from our balcony, but watching a run of shame from Carlos and Charlies as we all cheered from the balconies... listening we knew how many we would see, and ooops the room numbers some folks left them love notes.

The other was to awaken at 3am, as the ship turned around into the wind, to support the USCG Medically evacuate a crew member..
so many the next morning only wondered why the ship turned back north toward Nantucket for a couple of hundred miles, but we knew

Each to their own, why do you listen to what you do ? Nosey ? Informed ?
My moto is if it transmits, it is mean't to be found and listened to.

We now return you to the scrum known as RR

For the life of me, with all the things there are to do on these "floating cities," why would anyone be concerned about whether a scanner is allowed. Perhaps I'm not as fanatical as others but I just don't see it.

 

[k6cpo]

Even though "ham radios" are specifically prohibited on Disney Cruise Lines, I took a VHF/UHF handheld with me on an Alaska cruise in September. I had intended to see if I could talk to any Alaskan hams while in port, but I never got around to it. The only time the radio was used was to record some tracks using the built-in GPS so I could pinpoint exactly where some of my photos were taken.

 

[KenMaltz]

I have taken my Sony portable receiver onboard several ships and was able to log many low-frequency navigational beacons while hanging out on deck. My logs and a brief story were published in Monitoring Times several years ago. It's not a bad segment of this hobby to get involved in. However, many LF beacons are being phased out, so catch them when you can.

 

[AM909]

As @n0esc stated above and directly from Carnivals website...

"Emergency Position Indicating Radio Beacons (EPIRB), communication scanners, wideband receivers, satellite phones, transformers, lasers and laser pointers." (emphasis added)

Are there restrictions on what I can bring on board? | Carnival Cruise Lines

help.carnival.com.au

Further down the page, though, under exemptions: "Ham Radios/Amateur Radio Equipment: Permitted to be used on board after inspection and only if they do not pose a safety risk. " whatever that means. Maybe I can flash my GROL or some dead presidents?

 

[KB0VWG]

Wonder if anyone would know the difference between a scanner or a radio at inspection.
kb0vwg

 

[Alrib123]

As most newer ships come on-line they are DMR

That said, Carnival has only been observed/reported as conventional DMR, no Cap+ on Con+ has ever been reported for them
so, Yes, rely on the old traditional pairs as well as the splinters [more narrow]

Don't bother with the FCC info

Bingo. I think almost every ship is conventional DMR now with older ships being switched out to DMR when they go to dry dock

 

[ecps92]

From 1st hand experience, No they don't know.

Wonder if anyone would know the difference between a scanner or a radio at inspection.
kb0vwg

 

[RayAir]

Just like from home, or travel - situational awareness and fun

Two I remember, and the wife enjoyed the view from our balcony, but watching a run of shame from Carlos and Charlies as we all cheered from the balconies... listening we knew how many we would see, and ooops the room numbers some folks left them love notes.

The other was to awaken at 3am, as the ship turned around into the wind, to support the USCG Medically evacuate a crew member..
so many the next morning only wondered why the ship turned back north toward Nantucket for a couple of hundred miles, but we knew

Each to their own, why do you listen to what you do ? Nosey ? Informed ?
My moto is if it transmits, it is mean't to be found and listened to.

We now return you to the scrum known as RR

Someone jumped off the ship and the coast guard was called. Disney ship rescued the person. Was worth it bringing a scanner.

 

[ecps92]

- Go back to and Re-Read my post.

a. Crew Member - btw it was appendicitis
b. No it was not Disney
c. Yes - always worth listening, even the XYL enjoys it (Situational Awareness)

Someone jumped off the ship and the coast guard was called. Disney ship rescued the person. Was worth it bringing a scanner.