Outlet multiplier ban

[shof515]

On royal website the prohibited items is updated to muti plug outlets and power strips: https://www.royalcaribbean.com/faq/questions/prohibited-items-onboard-policy

 

I am going to have a hard time charging my devices and keep things i need plugged in

[USFFrank]

You wrote this while I was replying about this to an earlier thread. LOL

 

[RCIfan1912]

I have one of those multi USB chargers that plug into the wall socket. Is that allowed?

[smokeybandit]

I read that to mean traditional outlet adapters. Not multi-USB adapters.

[RCIfan1912]

5 minutes ago, smokeybandit said:

I read that to mean traditional outlet adapters. Not multi-USB adapters.

Whew because it's a really nice one I recently bought. It's not surge protected or anything like that. There isn't even a cord to it. Plus directly into the wall. Thanks. 

[steverk]

I thought this was prohibited for quite a while...like several years. Am I missing something?

[RCIfan1912]

4 minutes ago, steverk said:

I thought this was prohibited for quite a while...like several years. Am I missing something?

Agreed, I'm not sure if this is new. I thought this was the case all along?

[smokeybandit]

4 minutes ago, steverk said:

I thought this was prohibited for quite a while...like several years. Am I missing something?

Old language: 

• Electrical Extension Cords,  including power strips/surge protected strips

New language

• Extension Cords and Multi-Plug Outlets/ Power Strips

Oddly, they removed "surge protected" but added "multi-plug outlets." I assume to account for the power strips that do not have a cord.

[TXcruzer]

USB Chargers are permitted

[TXcruzer]

Just now, smokeybandit said:

Old language: 

• Electrical Extension Cords,  including power strips/surge protected strips

New language

• Extension Cords and Multi-Plug Outlets/ Power Strips

Oddly, they removed "surge protected" but added "multi-plug outlets." I assume to account for the power strips that do not have a cord.

Probably removed the surge protected language because no one in baggage screening had any idea how to identify one vs the other.  Now just blanket language forbidding any item that turns one 120V plug into multiple 120V plugs.

[Tolkmit]

4 minutes ago, TXcruzer said:

Probably removed the surge protected language because no one in baggage screening had any idea how to identify one vs the other.  Now just blanket language forbidding any item that turns one 120V plug into multiple 120V plugs.

I think they removed the "surge protected" portion because many people didn't understand the difference between "including" and "exclusively." Under the old language, all extension cords were excluded. People just misunderstood "including surge protected" to mean "only surge protected."

Multi-plugs have long been prohibited as well, they just didn't make it very clear on the US site. The Australian version has had "power boards" which is just another term for multi plugs listed as prohibited for a long time. The new policy wording isn't a change in policy, it's just an effort to make the old policy more clear; and a needed one as pretty much every cruise fb group people are asking about it and being giving incorrect answers.

[Geezer Of The Seas]

I have one of the now banned plug in "cubes". In 4 cruises, didn't need it at all on Wonder, found it unplugged from an outlet on Jewel.  I think the cabin stewards are drilled on this issue. On Wonder I left a 110v charger plugged in at the desk, was unplugged on our return. On Mariner,  returned from a shore day and found our toothbrush charger unplugged.  No harm no foul, the brush was fully charged.  

I understand and appreciate their vigilance. Can't imagine a ship fire is a lot of fun......

[JasonOasis]

Another way to increase the number of outlets you can use in your stateroom is to buy a European power adapter in addition to what others have already posted.  

I have a multi USB charger and I also have European power adapters so we can use any power outlet in our stateroom instead of only being able to use the US power outlets.

[WAAAYTOOO]

46 minutes ago, JasonOasis said:

Another way to increase the number of outlets you can use in your stateroom is to buy a European power adapter in addition to what others have already posted.  

I have a multi USB charger and I also have European power adapters so we can use any power outlet in our stateroom instead of only being able to use the US power outlets.

This is what we do, too

[ScottD]

I have one of the ones that plug right into the wall and turns into 3 outlets and 3 usb ports, but honestly- I never really NEED it. I charge up the two battery packs during the day, then use them to charge the phones on the nighstands next to the bed every night. And then if I have anything else that needs to be charged like a tablet or laptop, I can plug them into the wall outlets overnight. Everything is charged for the next day, all with the 1-2 outlets provided. 

[RCIfan1912]

So now that I'm really thinking about this I don't think what I have is allowed now. It doesn't just have It USB ports but turned 1 outlet into 2. Check it out and let me know so I don't show up with it and then I'm screwed charging wise. I'll us a different device. 

3-Outlet USB Wall Charger and... https://www.amazon.com/dp/B082FJXVW6?ref=ppx_pop_mob_ap_share

 

 

Thanks

[SimGuy]

FYI - Royal has added now added electrical outlet multiplier devices to the “banned” list.

As a long time (now retired) career electronics technician, I find this to be completely unnecessary, even stupid, safely overkill.  The previous “banned” list already included any high current items that would overload a circuit.

So, now, you can’t charge two cell phones on the same outlet at the same time even though they are very low current devices.

[WAAAYTOOO]

40 minutes ago, RCIfan1912 said:

So now that I'm really thinking about this I don't think what I have is allowed now. It doesn't just have It USB ports but turned 1 outlet into 2. Check it out and let me know so I don't show up with it and then I'm screwed charging wise. I'll us a different device. 

3-Outlet USB Wall Charger and... https://www.amazon.com/dp/B082FJXVW6?ref=ppx_pop_mob_ap_share

 

 

Thanks

Yep, pretty sure this one will be a violation.  I had a similar one confiscated about a year ago.

[WAAAYTOOO]

On 9/19/2024 at 8:09 AM, SimGuy said:

So, now, you can’t charge two cell phones on the same outlet at the same time even though they are very low current devices.

Sure you can.  You just need a multi USB device rather than a multi AC outlet device.  Add to it a 220/110 converter and now you have a multi device charger that isn’t using any of your US outlets.  It’s a great setup and completely “legal”.

[Matt]

My interpretation of the change is it just expands to cover any power strip.

USB hubs are still allowed.

Granted, I don't work for Royal Caribbean so just my opinion

[Lovetocruise2002]

@CGTLH and @AshleyDillo, does that mean the outlet thing that you used on UT recently falls under this ban? I just bought it

[RCIfan1912]

1 hour ago, WAAAYTOOO said:

Yep, pretty sure this one will be a violation.  I had a similar one confiscated about a year ago.

Well that really stinks because I love this thing. Charge a bunch of stuff with it. I guess it's 2 bricks and two charging cables. That works but it's just easier with what I have. 

[Gilley]

Can somebody post what is acceptable to bring on board to charge multiple devices.  On older ships like the Vision class outlets are vey limited.  I would like to be able to charge my phone, tablets, and portable chargers and they all use different types of cords.  I'm sailing Visions next month.  On newer ships like Icon and Utopia I'm sure outlets are plentiful.

[WAAAYTOOO]

15 minutes ago, Gilley said:

Can somebody post what is acceptable to bring on board to charge multiple devices.  On older ships like the Vision class outlets are vey limited.  I would like to be able to charge my phone, tablets, and portable chargers and they all use different types of cords.  I'm sailing Visions next month.  On newer ships like Icon and Utopia I'm sure outlets are plentiful.

[Gilley]

Thank you so much.  

[Geezer Of The Seas]

Wishful thinking here I know, but RCL would do passengers a great service if they posted on their website  ACTUAL PHOTOS of forbidden electrical adapters. 

Cruisehive, where I first read this information,  displayed a photo of a plug adapter that is capable of 240v or North American 110v. Is that forbidden? Does look kinda sinister with all those prongs and a switch on the bottom.This blog, puts up a photo of a 110v corded power strip for illustration purposes, which as long as I've been getting on RCL ships has always been forbidden.  So the Interwebs is furthering the confusion.

The rest of it? Guns, knives, nuclear tipped cruise missiles,  etc. I get......

[WAAAYTOOO]

1 hour ago, Gilley said:

Thank you so much.  

You are very welcome.  If you add a 240 to 120 power adapter to this setup, then you have a home run. 
 

[Carlos A.]

I think they made this change to address this kind of power strips often recommended on other forums to take onboard. 

[AshleyDillo]

1 hour ago, Lovetocruise2002 said:

@CGTLH and @AshleyDillo, does that mean the outlet thing that you used on UT recently falls under this ban? I just bought it

Ugh. I'm not sure since it has multiple plugs...I would search for a right angle power adapter that's a single outlet option. 

[SimGuy]

If the rt angle adapter has a single outlet and is plugged into a single outlet what have you gained?

[HeWhoWaits]

25 minutes ago, SimGuy said:

If the rt angle adapter has a single outlet and is plugged into a single outlet what have you gained?

Better access to an outlet incoveniently locate too close to a corner for your plug on an inflexible cord.

[billdauterive]

2 hours ago, WAAAYTOOO said:

You are very welcome.  If you add a 240 to 120 power adapter to this setup, then you have a home run. 
 

The 240V to 120V adapter is the important piece of information here if you want to use the A/C for anything other than electronics that can already handle 240V (usb is fine for anything). 
For example, laptops should be fine on the A/C without the adapter but US hair dryers are not.  Basically anything with a "brick" power cable should be ok (double check first), but US devices without it are almost definitely not.

[TXcruzer]

6 hours ago, SimGuy said:

FYI - Royal has added now added electrical outlet multiplier devices to the “banned” list.

As a long time (now retired) career electronics technician, I find this to be completely unnecessary, even stupid, safely overkill.  The previous “banned” list already included any high current items that would overload a circuit.

So, now, you can’t charge two cell phones on the same outlet at the same time even though they are very low current devices.

You can with a multi USB charger

[AshleyDillo]

1 hour ago, SimGuy said:

If the rt angle adapter has a single outlet and is plugged into a single outlet what have you gained?

The ability to actually use the provided hair dryer at the vanity with the provided outlets.

[RockerDom31]

We always need a medical fridge and that takes up one of the outlets. So we splurged on a travel adapter (UK/US/EU I believe) that also includes 4 USB-A ports (for my phone and two USB desk fans) and 1 USB-C port (for my wife's phone). It technically only has one outlet so I don't suppose it is considered a "outlet multiplier" or whatever the term is.

 

[Tolkmit]

7 hours ago, Matt said:

My interpretation of the change is it just expands to cover any power strip.

USB hubs are still allowed.

Granted, I don't work for Royal Caribbean so just my opinion

The USB hub suggested in the RCB article has a surge protector.  That's part of Anker's MultiProtect that it is advertised as having. I think it's relatively certain that device is the exact sort of thing Royal is trying to avoid having onboard.

[Rackham]

15 minutes ago, Tolkmit said:

The USB hub suggested in the RCB article has a surge protector.  That's part of Anker's MultiProtect that it is advertised as having. I think it's relatively certain that device is the exact sort of thing Royal is trying to avoid having onboard.

It's not. The issue isn't surge protection per se. It's that typical surge protection can divert the excess current through the ground pin or only break the current on the live pins and not the ground pin. However, on a ship, the neutral/ground line also caries current which means the device doesn't actually stop electricity flow and has become a serious fire hazard. In the case of this device, it's a two pin plug. There's no ground pin, thus it's safe to use aboard a ship.

[RCIfan1912]

Well I just have to say even though my device won't be allowed we have to be as safe as possible when it comes to fires on a ship. We all just have to follow the rules. There might not be anything more scary than fire at sea. I'm even ok with them being overly cautious. 

Now let's ban cigarettes altogether because I worry about that very much on cruises. Plus it's gross. 

[pheenix99]

22 hours ago, TXcruzer said:

USB Chargers are permitted

That makes sense. I mean, laptops tend to have multiple USB ports which arguably makes them a multi port USB charger with a built in computer.

[Pattycruise]

There was that cabin fire recently-(past 6 months?) wonder if whatever caused it has created this update.