If your clients have ever taken a river cruise, chances are they have encountered a listening device (such as Quietvox or Whisper), while participating in a guided shore excursion.
These traditional devices, no matter the brand, generally work the same. They include a chunky receiver, which is often larger than a contemporary cell phone, worn on a neck lanyard and tuned in to the channel of a guide with a microphone transmitter. (Older models require dialing into a certain number, while newer ones use a pinhole scanner to read a code from the surface of the guide’s “lollypop” tour sign.) A single earpiece is then plugged into the device, connecting your ear to the receiver.
Of course, problems can certainly arise: The devices don’t always pick up an audio signal reliably, for example. And if they do, the unwieldy headsets and receivers add tension to the neck — and scream “tourist” in the process.
These devices have long been a source of frustration for many travelers, including me. But I’ve found that there are a few modern technological solutions to finally overcoming the listening hassles.
Scenic’s Unique Approach: Using a Smartphone and Mobile App
Only when I recently sailed on Scenic Luxury Cruises & Tours did I experience the first real solution to this shortcoming, which often clouds an otherwise great river cruise excursion experience.
Scenic’s approach is much more contemporary, relying on guest smartphones and the line’s Scenic VoiceGuide mobile app. Rather than depending on radio reception, the guide speaks into a microphone that distributes his or her voice via Wi-Fi to devices already owned and carried by the vast majority of passengers.
Best of all, clients can use their own headsets (wired or wireless). In my case, I pocketed my iPhone as usual and wore my wireless AirPods to be entirely free of all lanyards and cords. The experience was infinitely better than any other river cruise tour I had experienced before. It’s a significant differentiator that sets Scenic well apart, in my opinion.
My Own Hybrid Solution to the Quietvox Problem
Even after my experience with Scenic, I knew I would eventually sail with another river cruise brand and be saddled with Quietvox again. I got to thinking: Might there be a hybrid solution, something that utilizes the original receiver, but with a better delivery system?
It turns out, I already had the solution in hand. To use my noise canceling AirPods Pro with in-flight entertainment (IFE) systems, I had previously purchased an AirFly, which converts the wired signal of the IFE to Bluetooth, which is then received by my wireless earbuds.
As it turns out, that same AirFly (or an equivalent converter) can also be plugged into a Quietvox. So, as I tuned into the guide, I plugged my Bluetooth transmitter into the provided receiver and pocketed the makeshift contraption.
As on Scenic, I was again free to use my AirPods without any wires or lanyards.
I was quite pleased with my solution, but it does come with a few of its own challenges: Not only does it require syncing the Quietvox with the guide, it also needs to properly pair the AirFly with Bluetooth earbuds. If clients choose to go this route, they should know that it does add a step that occasionally requires added patience to work through. (However, once fully dialed in, the solution is solid.)
One further tip: Clients using AirPods Pro or other noise-canceling headsets should place them in transparency mode to hear some noises beyond just the audio commentary. On a plane, it’s great to block out the background noise, but when touring a public city, it’s wise to be more aware of the surroundings for safety purposes.
