Best walkie-talkies for a cruise, and which lines allow them
Check your cruise line first. Carnival and Norwegian ban walkie-talkies. Royal Caribbean and Celebrity allow them with limits: up to 10 miles of range, 5 watts, and no outside antenna. If your line allows them, buy the Retevis RT22 4-pack: license-free, low power and an honest range claim.
Cruise line rules, from each line's own page
| Cruise line | Walkie-talkies | What the line says |
|---|---|---|
| Carnival | Banned | “All speakers (including Bluetooth, portable, and wireless types) and radios are prohibited and will be held and returned at the end of the cruise.” |
| Norwegian Cruise Line | Banned | Walkie-talkies are named on its prohibited items list. |
| Royal Caribbean | Allowed, with limits | “two‑way radios (walkie‑talkies) limited to a maximum range of ten (10) miles, a power output of five (5) watts, internal voice communication only, and no external antenna” |
| Celebrity Cruises | Allowed, with limits | “Two-way radios/walkie-talkies are permitted. Basic specifications are as follows: up to 10-mile coverage range, up to 5 watts power, internal voice, operated transmission, no external mounting antenna.” From Celebrity's Australian site; its US page doesn't say. |
| Disney Cruise Line | Not on its banned list | Its rules page doesn't name walkie-talkies. |
| Princess | Not on its banned list | Its rules page doesn't name walkie-talkies. |
| MSC Cruises | Not on its banned list | Its rules page doesn't name walkie-talkies. |
| Holland America Line | Not on its banned list | Its rules page doesn't name walkie-talkies. |
| Virgin Voyages | Not on its banned list | Its rules page doesn't name walkie-talkies. |
| Viking (ocean) | Not on its banned list | Its rules page doesn't name walkie-talkies. A 2019 list, the newest Viking list we found. |
Read on each line's own website, October 14, 2026. Rules change. Read your line's list before you pack. "Not on its banned list" means the list doesn't name walkie-talkies; staff can still decide at the gate.
Our picks
Best for most cruises
Retevis RT22 (4-pack)
- License-free FRS, confirmed by its FCC grant. FCC ID 2AAR8RETEVISRT22.
- Under 2 watts, well inside the 5-watt limit Royal Caribbean and Celebrity set.
- An honest range claim, not 30 miles. Retevis: “most FRS radios are usually within 0.5-2 miles”
- Four radios, charged by USB-C (Retevis).
Watch for
- A small speaker. On a loud pool deck, it can be hard to hear.
- 16 channels, not 22, so it works best with other RT22s.
Sold on Amazon by the maker's own store, Retevis Direct.
If you'll be near water
Motorola Talkabout T605 H2O (2-pack)
- Waterproof, and it floats. Motorola: “This radio meets IP67 standards. It will withstand submersion of up to 1m for 30 minutes.”
- License-free FRS. FCC ID AZ489FT4973 (from the maker's FCC filing for this model).
Watch for
- The box says “up to 35 miles.” That isn't real range, but a security officer may read it and think it breaks a 10-mile rule.
Amazon prices as of October 14, 2026, 10:00 PM Pacific. Prices change; Amazon shows the current one.
Don't pack these
- Radios with a removable or long antenna. Royal Caribbean and Celebrity bar external antennas.
- "Business" walkie-talkies. Some best sellers are approved only as business radios. Check yours.
- Ham radios. Norwegian, Princess, Holland America, Virgin and Viking name them on the lists linked above.
Questions people ask
Can I bring walkie-talkies on a cruise?
It depends on the line. Of the 10 lines we checked, 2 ban them, 2 allow them with limits, and the rest don't name them on their banned lists.
Do walkie-talkies work on a cruise ship?
Yes, but not far. A ship is steel, and steel blocks radio. Expect them to reach a few decks, not the whole ship.
Do I need a license?
Not for FRS radios like our picks. GMRS radios need an FCC license, and Royal Caribbean and Celebrity cap power at 5 watts.
What about the cruise line's app?
Most big lines have a messaging app that works on the ship's Wi-Fi. It may cost extra. Radios work without Wi-Fi.