Cruise ship companies, like airlines and train firms, have specific rules about what their passengers are allowed to bring aboard. But while cruise enthusiasts may be anticipating rules about guns, explosives, knives or other weapons, certain items on the banned list can spark surprise.
Fire prevention
A large part of the rational behind the prohibitions has to do with fire prevention. Small electrical appliances, such as kettles and travel irons, pose a fire risk and therefore are not permitted on board and will be confiscated when bags are scanned at the start of the voyage.
This can be a minor inconvenience, especially if it’s the type of cruise where one dresses for dinner and wishes to be seen in a crisp shirt or smart dress. Passengers may even point out the seeming contradiction in allowing passengers to take fire hazards such as cigars, cigarettes and lighters with them while banning travel irons.
New multiplug ban
But now it appears Royal Caribbean has banned another item that previous passengers were able to take with them: multiplugs – and the new rule is causing annoyance.
Royal Caribbean has always prohibited passengers from bringing extension cords with them, as well as any type of power strip or device equipped with surge protection, due to the way electrical power on board cruise liners works. But a new change in wording to the rules published on the company’s website, has added multiplugs to the banned list, which now names “Extension Cords and Multi-Plug Outlets/Power Strips” as not allowed.
Lack of facilities for charging devices
The Street points out that older cruise ships often only have one US-style plug and one European plug per cabin and no USB ports. This means that experienced cruisers tend to rely on bringing multiplugs with them to have enough outlets to charge their various devices. Even on newer ships that are better equipped, large parties find they need additional plugs to keep the whole family charged.
Despite no official communications to passengers about the change in rules, the edit on the website is attracting furious online commentary, with the New York Post citing passengers who say they will “go elsewhere” for their cruises, while others argue that fire safety on board ships is a matter to be taken seriously and people should take advantage of the opportunity to switch off from their devices.
Meanwhile Royal Caribbean has not provided any further clarification to press at the time of writing.
