No, Carnival Cruise Line Did Not Ban Power Strips, Although Another Cruise Line Did

Photo byCruise Fever

An angry Carnival passenger wrote to the company after reading a social media post which stated the cruise line was banning power strips from its ships, according to The Street.

A representative of the cruise line has responded by clarifying that power strips are still allowed to be packed and brought on board.

These power strips are used by many cruisers who need the extra outlets for phones, tablets, CPAP machines, cameras, and other devices.

After recent reports of Royal Caribbean banning power strips on its ships, Carnival Cruise Line has clarified that it has no such ban in place.

The statement comes in response to a social media post claiming that Carnival was joining its rival in banning the often-packed devices.

John Heald, Carnival's Brand Ambassador, addressed the issue in a post on his Facebook page.

The message to Heald stated the following:

Very infrequently do I get as angry as I am today Heald. Carnival Cruise Line have banned us from bringing on power strips and chargers. There has been no warning. I would not have known this if I had not been a member of the Carnival VIP Facebook group. Carnival has given us no advance warning. I am driving tomorrow to New Orleans to get on the Liberty. I am platinum and am angry enough to cancel this cruise and take the hit.

He confirmed that guests are allowed to bring power strips on board as long as they are in good working condition and do not have surge protectors. Surge protectors can interfere with the ship's electronics which are different than electric systems at home.

Heald emphasized that the information shared on the Facebook group was incorrect and advised guests to ignore it. He also expressed surprise at the idea of canceling a cruise due to such a minor inconvenience.

"Thank you and once again this infamous Facebook page has provided you with the wrong information, no shock there," Heald wrote. "Anyway, you can bring a power strip. We have not changed our rules and providing it does not have a surge protector and is in excellent working condition then poop it into your carry on mate and bring it on board."

The clarification from Carnival comes as a relief to many travelers who rely on power strips to charge their devices while on cruises.

Modern cruise ships have many more outlets in cabins, as they have adpated to modern trends. But cruise passengers on older ships will usually find the cabins lacking in this area.

For years, cruise experts have recommended cruisers pack at least one power strip or multi-plug adapter.

Smart phones are practically a necessity on today's cruise ships as a cruise line's app is used for reservations and notifications.

While Royal Caribbean's decision to ban power strips has generated controversy, Carnival's stance, at least for now, will calm any worries about the cruise line adding this restriction.