When you get off the cruise ship and walk to customs, there is always a table that has items that the cruise line has confiscated. Typically, these boards are full of things that inexperienced passengers wouldn't realize are illegal on cruise ships.
You'll see some really ridiculous things like toasters, blenders, and coffee makers, but the vast majority of the table is filled with irons and surge protectors. Those are items that apparently you should be able to take on board, but you can't.
Royal Caribbean's banned list is already extensive
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Royal Caribbean explained its policies for these items on its website:
Candles, Incense, Coffee Makers, Clothes Irons, Travel Steamers and Hot Plates. (Items that generate heat or produce an open flame. This includes heating pads, irons, stoves, candles, incense, and any other items that may create a fire hazard. NOTE: The only exception to this policy is curling irons and flat irons. Normal matches and lighters are allowed on board. However, “torch lighters” and novelty lighters that look like guns are not allowed on board. Torch lighters emit a powerful, concentrated flame. are prohibited.
Passengers may not know that those items are prohibited and the cruise line understands this. That's why those items are confiscated but then returned.
However, a recent change to their banned list has made things very complicated for Royal Caribbean passengers. This is because it has banned some energy-related items that other cruise lines allow.
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Royal Caribbean makes a plug change
Royal Caribbean no longer allows any devices that create additional plugs. This includes European adapters that convert the outlet to an American-style plug.
“Passengers can bring adapters with multiple USB ports, but not those that include regular AC outlets, so only multi-USB plugs. This change is intended to reduce fire risks and prevent stress on the ship's electrical system , which can occur with high-power devices such as extension cords, surge protectors, and outlets for multiple devices,” the cruise line shared.
The cruise line has updated its prohibited items page:
Electrical extension cords, including surge-protected power strips/strips and multi-plug outlets. We allow USB chargers from consumer-type power conversion devices (power strip blocks where the outlets are for USB cables). Note: Devices must have a conformity mark recognized in the US and Europe to demonstrate compliance with electrical safety standards.
Royal Caribbean used to allow power strips and power strips as long as they did not have surge protection. Those items are now banned even though they remain allowed on other cruise lines, including Celebrity Cruises, which is also owned by Royal Caribbean.
Passengers using a CPAP machine can ask their room attendant for an approved power cord once on board.
These are the devices that Royal Caribbean allows
Older Royal Caribbean ships often only have one power outlet. For a family of four traveling with phones, tablets, and even laptops, this can be a big challenge.
Keeping all your devices charged in that situation requires three things:
- A power brick with multiple USB and USB-C ports.
- A charging battery with multiple ports.
- Multiple USB and USB-C cables.
A good power brick can turn that outlet into four (or more) charging ports. Adding a rechargeable battery can allow people to charge their devices away from the cabin desk, where the outlet is usually located.
If you charge your batteries during the day, you can use them to ensure that you can charge all your devices overnight.
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It is also important to have enough cable to charge multiple devices at the same time. Additionally, some bars and casino slot machines on some ships have USB charging ports.
If you have a cable with you, it is possible to recharge your device outside your room.
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