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Recently, there’s been growing concern among cruisers regarding the status of non-surge protected power bars on certain cruise lines. Will cruise lines confiscate non-surge power cubes and USB charging stations?

For many cruisers, power cubes are a very useful travel item. Whether it’s for keeping their devices charged throughout their voyage or to plug in a CPAP machine, this popular cruise essential is on many packing lists!

This is because many cruise cabins have only one or two electric outlets. Plus, unless you’re sailing on a newer cruiseship, it’s unlikely that you’ll find a USB outlet either.

Royal Caribbean has recently changed it’s prohibited items list to include power bars, restricting the use of these items onboard.

This has left many cruisers to speculate. Does this new rule apply to other cruise lines like Carnival, Princess Cruises, MSC or other popular lines?

In this post, I share the latest information and details about the cruise power bar ban. This includes a clarification from Royal Caribbean and Carnival, as well as what alternatives solutions to keep your devices powered during your cruise.

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Royal Caribbean’s New Prohibited Items Policy Regarding Power Cubes

Royal Caribbean has recently updated its prohibited items list to include multi-plug outlets or power strips, commonly referred to as power cubes. This change has caused concern among cruisers as the policy does not specifically differentiate between surge-protected and non-surge-protected devices.

In previous recommendations, non-surge-protected power cubes were seen as acceptable, but now Royal Caribbean seems to be taking a stricter stance.

When checking Royal Caribbean’s website prohibited items policy, I found this updated information under “Electrical Extension Cords”:

“Electrical Extension Cords – including power strips/surge protected strips and multi-plug outlets.
We do allow consumer type power conversion device USB charger (multi-plug blocks on which the outputs are for USB cables). Note: Devices must be stamped with US/Europe recognized Conformance Marking to demonstrate compliance with Electrical Safety standards.” – Royal Caribbean website

With many people asking questions about what they can bring onboard to charge devices, Royal Caribbean’s social media team has provided more clarity on what is permitted:

USB Multi-plug Charging Block

Based on the latest information from Royal Caribbean’s website and social media team, this is the USB multi-plug block I recommend (amazon link – we earn a commission from purchases).

Recommended: Multi-plug USB charging block (read 25,000+ reviews on Amazon here)

Carnival Cruise Line Clarifies Their Rules on Non-Surge Protected Power Cubes

With the rumors swirling online and in Facebook groups, Carnival Cruise Line’s ambassador John Heald stepped in to provide clarity. According to Heald’s recent Facebook post, Carnival allows passengers to bring power strips, provided they do not have a surge protector and are in excellent working order.

There has been no change to their rules, so you can continue to bring your non-surge-protected power cubes on Carnival cruises.

Heald’s clarification is particularly helpful, as many cruisers have been worried about potential bans across other cruise lines following Royal Caribbean’s update. As long as your power strip meets Carnival’s safety guidelines (non-surge protected and functioning properly), you should have no issue bringing it onboard.

Do Other Cruise Lines Have the Same Ban?

As of the latest updates, Royal Caribbean is the only cruise line that has explicitly banned multi-plug power cubes or outlets. There is no confirmation that Celebrity Cruises (owned by Royal Caribbean) has made similar changes, as their website does not reflect any updates regarding this issue.

In the case of Princess Cruises, the rumors about a potential ban have been debunked. Their policy explicitly allows the use of multi-plug box outlets, power strips, and extension cords, as long as they do not have surge protection.

However, they do state that if these items are deemed unsafe by security, they reserve the right to confiscate them until disembarkation.

This exception applies particularly to devices like CPAP machines, where extension cords are often necessary. It’s recommended to inform the cruise line in advance if you need such equipment, as they can help provide a solution.

What Does This Mean for Other Cruise Lines?

While Royal Caribbean’s policy might make you wonder whether other lines will follow suit, it’s not necessarily a given. For example, Norwegian Cruise Line banned cabin door decorations a few years ago, but other cruise lines did not implement similar restrictions.

There’s no reason to believe that other cruise lines will automatically adopt Royal Caribbean’s approach to multi-plug power cubes.

Solutions for Power Needs Onboard Your Cruise

If you rely on extra outlets or USB ports to charge your devices, there are still ways to manage your power needs without a non-surge protected power cube or strip.

Here are some practical tips and solutions:

1. Portable Power Banks

Portable power banks are another excellent solution, especially if you like to keep your phone by your bed for easy access.

Fast-charging power banks that can charge your phone multiple times before needing to be recharged. These chargers are compact and easy to bring on any trip, providing a convenient and cruise-friendly way to keep your devices charged.

These are the ones I use and recommend for travel:

• Fast Charging INUI portable changer power bank (my favorite)
• Portable mini chargers (great for on the go!)
• Smallest fast charging power bank
• Portable charger with built in cables

2. Use an International Travel Adapter

Most cruise cabins, even older ones, come equipped with both American and European outlets. By bringing an international travel adapter, you can make use of the European outlet, effectively giving you an additional outlet.

Don’t forget, if you’re going on a Mediterranean cruise or traveling internationally, this is a must-pack item for hotels.

No products found.

Recommended: International travel adapter (we use this for overseas travel)

3. Leverage Your Laptop

A lesser-known hack is using a fully charged laptop to power your devices. Many laptops can charge phones and other USB-powered devices multiple times before needing to be recharged.

This allows you to keep your devices powered up during the day and charge your laptop overnight while you sleep.

4. USB Multi-plug Charging Stations

Although Royal Caribbean’s ban appears to target multi-plug outlets, but their social media team has clarified that USB multi-plug charging outlets are permitted.

These devices can be plugged into a single outlet and provide multiple USB ports, allowing you to charge several devices at once without needing multiple outlets.

Recommended: Multi-plug USB charging block (read 3400+ 4.5* reviews on A

5. Non-surge protected Power Cube with USBs (for Carnival, Princess, MSC, NCL etc.)

This non-surge protected power cube can be used on most cruise lines, with the exception of Royal Caribbean. It’s compact and lightweight, while having 3 electric outlets and 3 USB outlets.

Recommended: Non-surge power cube with USB’s (USB-C & USB-A)

What About CPAP Machines?

If you use a CPAP machine, cruise lines are generally accommodating. It’s important to inform the cruise line ahead of time so they can provide necessary assistance, such as distilled water for your machine.

For power needs, Royal Caribbean and many other cruise lines may provide extension cords upon request for medical devices. Some cruise lines may authorize an exception to bring these to use on board.

Just be sure to contact your travel agent or the cruise line’s special needs department in advance to ensure a smooth boarding process.

Why Is Royal Caribbean Enforcing This Ban?

While Royal Caribbean hasn’t publicly addressed why they’ve imposed this ban, one possible explanation is the confusion and challenges they’ve faced at security when passengers bring surge-protected devices.

Ensuring that passengers only bring non-surge-protected power cubes may have become difficult to manage. Additionally, concerns about safety and electrical overloads may have influenced this decision.

Looking Ahead: Should Cruise Lines Add More Outlets to Their Cabins?

With the rise in the number of devices travelers bring onboard—smartphones, tablets, e-readers, and more—there is a growing demand for additional outlets and USB ports in cruise cabins.

On older ships, especially, there’s often a shortage of outlets, leaving passengers to rely on gadgets like power cubes and USB extenders. Hopefully, Royal Caribbean and other lines will address this need by adding more outlets and USB ports to cabins, particularly on their older ships.

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Final Thoughts

While it may be disappointing that Royal Caribbean has banned non-surge-protected power cubes, there are several alternatives to help you keep your devices charged during your cruise.

For most other cruise lines, there does not seem to be any change to their policy on non-surge protected power cubes.

Happy Cruising!

Ilana

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