Carnival Cruise Line answers the key question about plugs, plugs

A few years ago, a combination of not everyone having a smartphone and poor internet at sea made keeping devices charged on a cruise a minor issue. Cruise ships often offered only one American outlet and one European outlet at the desk.

This was enough to use a hairdryer or store any limited devices that passengers had loaded. Cruise ships weren’t designed, at least until recently, for every person in the family to have a phone, as well as maybe a tablet, a Kindle, and maybe a laptop.

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A family of four on a cruise ship usually has more than four devices, and keeping them charged is essential. That’s because many cruise lines are now using QR codes for menus and putting their daily schedule on their apps.

Both Carnival Cruise Line (CCI) and Royal Caribbean (Rd) they also have messaging services that allow families to keep in touch while at sea. Keeping devices charged can be a challenge on older ships that have limited outlets and USB ports.

Most people compensate by bringing multi-plug devices with added USB and USB-C ports. That solves the problem, but Royal Caribbean recently shockingly banned any device that turns one outlet into multiple outlets. It also banned adapters that turn a European plug into an American one.

You could never use outlets with surge protectors on cruise ships—they’re a fire hazard because of the way cruise ship electrical systems work—but regular multi-outlet devices were allowed.

Royal Caribbean now only allows devices that give you additional USB and/or USB-C ports on a single outlet.

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Newer ships have more outlets and charging ports.

Image Source: Daniel Kline/ComeCruiseWith.com

The carnival has some angry passengers

Carnival brand ambassador John Heald takes a lot of abuse from angry passengers. He is often held accountable for decisions over which he has no control and sometimes for problems that are not real.

He recently shared an angry passenger’s letter and his response on his Facebook page.

“I rarely get as angry as I did today Heald. Carnival Cruise Line prohibited us from bringing power outlets and chargers. There was no warning. I wouldn’t have known this if I hadn’t been a member of Carnival. The Facebook Carnival VIP group did not warn us in advance. I’m going to New Orleans tomorrow to board the Liberty and I’m upset enough to cancel this cruise.

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The cancellation seems extreme for a passenger driving on the cruise, given that any gas station would sell outlets that meet Royal Caribbean’s standard of not adding outlets. The passenger also had a suggestion about how Carnival should fix this perceived problem.

“Why doesn’t Carnival do like —- and provide a standardized outlet in every cabin that is acceptable to the cruise line with 4 charging units and USB outlets? My wife and son and I have 4 devices that need to be charged every night, it’s crazy,” the passenger added.

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Carnival sets the record straight

“Thank you and once again this infamous Facebook page will give wrong information, no shock there. However, you can bring an outlet. We haven’t changed our rules, and as long as it doesn’t have a surge protector and is in excellent working order, then pop it in your bag, mate, and bring it on board. I am sharing this with everyone in case anyone is misled by reading what is posted on that Facebook page,” Heald wrote.

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The brand ambassador took a bit of a dig at the passenger’s extreme position and threat of cancellation.

“And to cancel a cruise because you’re angry, well, that’s a very high level of anger. I don’t think I understand this at all. If I argue with my wife Heidi, the worst thing I do is open a bottle. of some condiment or sauce or packet of crackers when one is already open,” he added.

Many of Heald’s followers jumped to Carnival’s defense.

“If only people wouldn’t jump to conclusions and ask questions. It was RC who banned multiple. The article went on to explain why and offered an alternative. It has even been said that Carnival will NOT follow RC, but still allows the band,” said Missi Brown.

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More than 1,000 people commented on the post and many worried about the poster’s mental health.

“LMAO “I’m going to cancel the cruise because of the electrical outlet” is WILD. I guarantee this person throws a tantrum at least 15 times a week,” added Michele Briggs Allen.

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