Intercoms & pesky announcements

[D.P. Roberts]

I've read many threads where people talk about the endless announcements for bingo games, art auctions, etc. On most ships are these announcements over the PA in the public areas, or in the cabins too? If they are in the cabins, is there a way to shut them off?

[eandj]

Depends on the ship, if they are going into your stateroom. No you can't turn them off. Just choose a line that isn't big on having the urge to announce everything. You'll find that routine mostly on the mainstream lines.

[fann1sh]

One cruise book that mentions which lines have a lot of announcements is Berlitz's Complete Guide to Cruising and Cruise Ships 2008, by Douglas Ward.

[Bill S]

Our experience has been that Celebrity and HAL do not have a lot of PA announcements.

On most HAL ships, you do have the option to allow PA announcements to be heard or not heard in your cabin.

However, on the Eurodam, HAL's newest ship, there was no way to hear announcements in the cabin. This was on the inaugural cruise and the CD said that we would be able to hear disembarkation-day announcements on one of the TV channels, but it was not working. Maybe they have remedied that problem. Sometimes, we do want to hear the announcements. :)

[Senoj84]

On Carnival you can hear them in the cabin and hallways. At least that's where I was when all the announcements came on but on Carnival there is no way to turn them off in the cabins. I believe it was only 2 announcements a day on Carnival. 1 in the morning and 1 at night.

[cb at sea]

On RCI, you will hear them at the pool all day long--it does get annoying. But they won't be in the rooms!

[Keith1010]

Which cruise line are you asking about?

 

Keith

[hajekfam]

Celebrity has an announcement around noon from the captain with speed, temp, water temp, location, arrival at next port time, etc. followed by a brief announcement from the cruise director with a summary of the eveings activities. Other than that one announcement, the only other announcements you will hear is an emergency or a rare wildlife sighting. Outside of an emergency announcement which would be heard in your cabin, those announcements can be heard in the public areas of the ship.

[goin-away]

On Norwegian Majesty last year - my 1st cruise, the bridge announcements were on the TV and in cabin and halls. The Cruise Directors were only on the PA in the public spaces.

[Suebee42]

On both Carnival ships I have been on (Legend, Victory), the announcements were in the hallways, but not pumped right into our staterooms... we had to prop our doors open to hear them.

 

I only recall one in the morning, and one around lunchtime. But, I was on a charter cruise (see sig), so the on-board activities were somewhat different from a normal cruise. :D

[bar_20]

Of the different cruise lines I have been on, NCL was the worst for announcements, chattering all day long about bingo,watch sales,art auctons, etc. Anything going on that was going to make them money they announced it. On the other hand they have some of the lowest cruising rates in the industry.

[dna1990]

Our experience has been that only critical announcements are 'forced' into the staterooms. Some have a volume control to mute general CD type announcements. But on RCCL Radiance class I think, you have to turn on the TV to hear inside the cabin or prop the door open.

 

On deck or in public areas...yes some can get a little annoying. Our last CCL cruise had the CD on repeating what was already listed on the Capers. But people never read or follow directions on their own anymore. So I am sure it pays CCL to repeat it. The pool deck seems to be more bothersome...but easy to find quiet spots too.

[Wylie Coyote]

Of the different cruise lines I have been on, NCL was the worst for announcements, chattering all day long about bingo,watch sales,art auctons, etc. Anything going on that was going to make them money they announced it. On the other hand they have some of the lowest cruising rates in the industry.

 

I cannot agree with you more. On NCL the annoucements were very annoying and way too many for sales pitches....art auctions, bingo, casino, and more. Also, I can say, on the NCL Star, the Asst. Cruise Director's annoucements were horrible as she screemed into the PA system and ended each of her annoucements with a VERY LOUD WHOOO WHOOO. If I hear that again, there will be police intervention!

 

Just put everything in the daily publications.....and don't bother me unless there is a real reason!

 

Thank you very much

[Spikesgirl]

On Princess, the only time you hear announcements in the cabins is when it effects the entire ship, like call to muster, a change in itinerary, etc. For the daily announcements, you need to tune in the tv to the ship channel. Just one of many reasons why we pick Princess again and again.

[Aquahound]

No you can't turn them off.

 

On Royal Caribbean, there is a volume knob under the vanity mirror. When the announcements aren't being made, it's for music. You can turn the music and announcements off at any time.

[Teeara]

After the first day or two I just phase them out and barely notice them anymore. Maybe it comes with having cruised before.

[NCTribeFan]

Well, I notice them! But it depends on how loud & obnoxious the speaker is, and how irritating the voice.

 

Carnival's announcements (other than the call to muster) are not piped into the cabins.

 

Of course, I have a problem with the volume of all piped in music and/or announcements these days. I mean, should I really need to shout at the cashier in the grocery store to be heard over the piped in music? As horrible as Musak is/was, at least the idea was that it was BACKGROUND music.

 

:mad:

 

On the Miracle last December, I found myself sitting back near the aft adult pool, but at a table outside the buffet, by the bar. There we were, having just experienced the first day of winter on a lovely, sunny tropical island, and I was being forced to listen to blaring Celine Dior Screams The Christmas Classics while I enjoyed my frozen yogurt and Drink of the Day.

 

Sheesh.

 

Anyway, it varies. The more fun I'm having, the less I notice the announcements. But, yes, they can be annoying, especially if you're just trying to read and relax. If I wanted to attend the art auction, I would've checked the cruise daily to see when and where it was being held. If I wanted to play Bingo, I would know where to be and at what time.

 

Gotta wonder how many spontaneous Bingo players they get because of the announcements. Probably very, very few.

[cruiserbryce]

depends on the ship...last week on Rhapsody of the Seas, no they werent in the cabins...at least not in deck 3...but we have been on ships where they are in the rooms and there is a volume control button in the room (usually by the vanity).

[krystalkruzer]

My past 3 cruises on the Carnival Sensation they were not in the stateroom.

[sail7seas]

The only announcements in HAL cabins are "The Ship is Cleared" so people know they can go ashore.

 

Once a day, most Captains give a "Voice from the Bridge" report which is weather, position, docking/push off info and the like. Love that each day.

 

Welcome Back Aboard.....

 

Never have heard an emergency broadcast, thankfully.