Cruise Ship Power Outlets & Charging: What I Pack and What to Leave at Home
|
|
Time to read 6 min
Affiliate disclosure:Â This article contains affiliate links. If you purchase through one of these links, I may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you.
Phones, watches, tablets, cameras, laptops, headphones...
It doesn't take long to realise that the couple of power outlets in your cruise cabin may have their work cut out for them. 😂
Newer ships tend to have more outlets and USB ports than older ones, but I've stayed in plenty of cabins where the available power points have required a little more planning.
The good news is that you can usually make the power available in a cruise cabin work quite well if you pack the right accessories.
The slightly more complicated part is knowing what you're actually allowed to bring onboard.
Before You Pack a Power Board, Check Your Cruise Line
Cruise lines take electrical safety seriously because fire onboard a ship is obviously a very different proposition to a faulty appliance at home.
Power boards, multi-plug adaptors and extension cords are therefore one area where you really need to check the rules for your particular cruise line.
And don't assume they're all the same.
For example, Carnival currently allows power strips, multi-plug adaptors and extension cords without surge protection, provided they're used appropriately and aren't considered a safety hazard.
Royal Caribbean's current rules are stricter and prohibit power strips, multi-plug outlets and extension cords.
Other cruise lines have their own requirements.
So before buying a special "cruise approved" power board online, check the cruise line's current prohibited-items list.
I'd be particularly wary of anything advertised as universally "cruise approved". Ultimately, the cruise line decides what comes onboard, not the person writing the Amazon listing.
If an electrical item isn't permitted, it may be confiscated at embarkation and returned at the end of the cruise.
What About CPAP Machines and Other Medical Equipment?
If you need power beside the bed for a CPAP or another medical device, don't assume you'll need to bring your own extension cord.
Check with your cruise line before travelling.
Some cruise lines can provide an extension cord or make arrangements for medical equipment, while others permit passengers to bring suitable cords specifically for this purpose.
It's much easier to sort this out before or when you board than discover at bedtime that your CPAP cord doesn't reach the nearest outlet.
Make Use of Different Types of Outlets
One of the easiest ways to increase the usable power in a cruise cabin is to take advantage of all the different outlets already there.
Depending on the ship, you may find a combination of:
- Australian outlets
- US outlets
- European outlets
- USB-A ports
- USB-C ports on some newer ships.
Because we're travelling from Australia, I normally have suitable adaptors with me for US and European outlets anyway.
This can effectively turn an outlet you might otherwise ignore into another charging point.
Just remember that a plug adaptor doesn't change the voltage.
Before plugging something into a different type of outlet, check that the device or charger supports the voltage being supplied. Many modern phone and laptop chargers are designed for 100–240V, but don't assume every electrical appliance is.
Look Under the Bed
This is one of my favourite little cruise-cabin discoveries.
If you're wondering why there isn't a power outlet beside the bed, have a look underneath it.
You may find an outlet being used for a bedside lamp.
If I don't particularly need that lamp, suddenly I have a very conveniently positioned power source for charging devices beside the bed.
Obviously, I don't start unplugging anything that appears to be part of the ship's essential equipment. But a simple bedside lamp? I can probably live without it.
This is also where a charger with a reasonably long lead can be extremely useful.
Watch Out for Upside-Down Outlets
Another slightly odd thing I've encountered onboard is power outlets installed in orientations you wouldn't necessarily expect.
Sometimes they're upside down.
That can make large wall chargers or multi-port adaptors surprisingly awkward. A charger that works perfectly at home may block another outlet, not sit securely or simply not fit properly against the desk.
It's one reason I prefer a multi-port charger connected by a cord, with the actual charging unit sitting flat on the desk.
The one I use gives me several charging ports from one wall outlet without having a large block hanging directly from the socket.
It also keeps all the charging cables together instead of having them spread across every available outlet in the cabin.
Amazon: 455w 7 port USB charger
Make Use of Bedside USB Ports
If your cabin has USB ports beside the bed, use them strategically.
They're perfect for devices that don't need a conventional power outlet.
My Voyage Ready 3-in-1 Wireless Charger is particularly handy here because I can charge my phone, Apple Watch and AirPods from one unit rather than having three separate charging cables beside the bed.
Depending on the cabin setup, I can connect it to a suitable USB power source or use an outlet I've found underneath the bed.
👉Shop the Voyage Ready 3-in-1 Wireless Charger
One thing worth remembering with older USB-A ports is that they may charge considerably more slowly than the modern fast charger you use at home.
They're still useful. I just wouldn't necessarily rely on an older cabin USB port when I need to charge something quickly.
What About the Bathroom Outlet?
You'll often find a small two-pin outlet in the cruise cabin bathroom.
Before getting excited about discovering another charging point, check what it's actually designed for.
These outlets are generally intended for electric shavers only and may be labelled accordingly.
Carnival, for example, specifically states that its bathroom outlet can only be used for electric razors.
So I don't count the bathroom outlet as part of my normal charging setup.
Take a Power Bank
A decent portable power bank is useful well beyond the cabin.
I'll often have one with me on port days anyway, but it can also be handy onboard if I want to charge my phone somewhere that doesn't have an accessible outlet.
Just remember that if you're flying to or from your cruise, airlines have their own rules about power banks and lithium batteries. These can include restrictions on capacity and where they must be carried, so check your airline's current requirements as well.
Amazon: NOBIS Power Bank 20000mAh, 65W Fast Charging Battery Bank
Cabin Power Can Switch Off When You Leave
Some cruise cabins use a keycard slot near the door to control the electricity.
Remove the card when you leave and some or all of the cabin power may switch off.
That's great for energy saving.
Less great if you've left something charging and return several hours later expecting a full battery. 😂
Don't try to defeat the system by leaving another random card permanently in the slot. If you have medical equipment that genuinely requires continuous power, speak to Guest Services about the appropriate arrangements.
Otherwise, I simply factor it into when I charge things.
Finding Power Around the Ship
You don't necessarily have to work or charge devices in your cabin.
If I'm taking my laptop somewhere on a public deck, I've learnt to look closely at pillars and fixed furniture.
There are often power outlets hiding in surprisingly useful places.
Tables and seating near structural pillars are particularly worth checking because power has often been run through them for cleaning equipment or other shipboard uses.
Lounges, libraries, conference areas and quieter indoor seating areas can also be worth exploring.
I've found some excellent little work spots simply by wandering around with my laptop and looking for outlets.
Voyage Ready Read 👉 Best Places to Work From Around a Cruise Ship
What I Actually Pack
Despite travelling with quite a lot of technology, my cruise charging setup is fairly simple.
I generally take:
- an Australian charger
- US and European plug adaptors
- a multi-port USB charger with a separate cord
- USB-C and any other charging cables we need
- my Voyage Ready 3-in-1 wireless charger
- a portable power bank.
That gives me plenty of flexibility without needing a conventional household power board.
Exactly what you need will depend on the ship. A newer cabin with several USB-C ports may require almost nothing extra, while an older ship with one or two outlets at the desk can require a little more creativity.
Check Your Ship Before You Sail
This is probably the biggest tip.
Don't assume the cabin on your next ship will have the same power setup as your last one.
Even ships within the same cruise line can have very different outlet arrangements depending on their age, original market and whether the cabins have been refurbished.
If you're able to find a recent cabin tour or photos of your particular ship and cabin type before travelling, have a look at the desk and bedside areas.
And check your cruise line's current electrical and prohibited-item policies shortly before sailing. These rules can change.
A little planning before you leave can save you from arriving onboard with six things that need charging...
...and one lonely power outlet sitting on the other side of the cabin.