Our Travel Tips Page.
On this page, we have added some tips and hints we have come across during our travels. We will update this page from time to time, so pop back occasionally.
Subjects
Let’s talk about Cruise Ship Luggage tags.
Cruise ship luggage tags must be added to each bag before drop off at the terminal; otherwise, you will never see the bags again. If your bag/suitcase that you wish to check in has two handles, we suggest a tag on each handle. I would also suggest that each piece of hand luggage has a tag attached to it, and yes, there is a story here. During the drop-off confusion, when many hands we involved in taking the bags out of the rideshare vehicle, a carry-on bag was placed on the drop-off cart! The roll-aboard luggage was not noticed as missing until we placed items on the security belt to check in! I rushed outside and found the missing luggage that did not have a tag on it. Phew. I was not practicing what I preached! Be warned, tag everything.
Royal Caribbean luggage tags are not mailed to you. You must download the PDF and print the tags. The last page of the eDoc is the luggage tag. Yours may look slightly different than ours for the following reasons.
- You have a confirmed stateroom and know the deck and stateroom number. This information will be displayed on the luggage tag. Print this page of the eDoc for the number of tags you require per bag. Our suggestion is two tags per checked bag and one for each carry-on. Just write in your last name before attaching it to the bag.
- Like us, suppose you have a GTY stateroom. This is a guaranteed stateroom of the cabin class you have selected and is used by RCCL when availability for that class is low. The deck and stateroom number will be advertised to you later, and this can even be on the day of embarkation, so the deck and stateroom will not appear on the printable tag; therefore, print the tag, then add the deck, stateroom, and last name by hand. Or, if you have a pdf file editor as I do, edit the file, add the deck and stateroom numbers on both sides, then add your last name, and you are now ready to print. Print the required number of copies required remember two per checked bag and one for each carry-on item.
How to attach the tag? You can see from the image above that there are fold lines on the printed tag. Once folded, you can use a staple or clear packing tape to attach the two halves of the tag once you place it through the handle.
If you are a frequent cruiser, you may want to purchase reusable plastic holders. Our ones were from Amazon. There are a dozen in the bag. There are wire loops that screw together through the handle of your luggage. None of these wire loops have broken, and we have been using them for years. We highly recommend them because they are easier to use than staples or tape, especially if you are traveling and not coming from your home.
Let’s talk cruise ship electrical.
Here are some types of questions I see from time to time on FaceBook travel pages. What adapters do I need? Will my USA plus work? Any UK-type sockets? I will attempt to answer these questions
The three cruise lines I have been on, Royal Caribbean Curse Line (RCCL), Holland America, and Princess, all have the same setup. The information below and the images are from RCCL.
The staterooms on RCCL have USA-type three-pin outlets, 120 Volts AC, and European-type outlets at 230 Volts AC. If you are wondering, the stateroom has volume control for the speakers in the room. This is on the right of the US power outlets. Note: Only important announcements come into the staterooms. The RCCL stater rooms have the same setup on the vanity mirror. USA on the left and European on the right.
I use both sets of outlets using an international travel adapter on the European outlets. I never travel without this adapter.
WARNING: The hair dryer in the room is 120V ONLY. Therefore, never plug it into the European outlets with a USA adapter otherwise, you will destroy the hair dryer, or at the least, it will run hot and cut out due to the over-temperature sensor.
Most cell phones, laptops, CPAP, and anything you travel with usually are dual voltage these days, meaning you can plug it into either outlet. Get a magnifying glass out and look at the power supply and make sure it says something like 120V-220V AC input. If it only says 120V, DO NOT plug it into the European 220V outlet. The image below is from the hair dryer in the room and is only 120V.
Hairdryer in the stateroom is only 120V.
Electrical Adapters we use
We have traveled extensively in Europe and the UK. For work, I have traveled to Asia, Australia, and places in between. The following equipment has served me well for all of our travels. UK-based cruise line P&O only has UK-style sockets and no European or US outlets.
Adapters
My adapters were purchased before USB charging became a thing. Now similar types of adapters are available with USB charging ports. This is a Swiss design and was made in Switzerland and is very solid and not flimsy. Some of the models I have seen on the road are cheap and made in china, especially those with interchangeable plugs where the housing can get broken and fall off, exposing live terminals!
We did travel with this adapter. It gives us an additional 120V outlet, a USB-C, and a USB-A charging port. Warning, while jumping onto the Anthem at Bayonne, NJ this adapter was confiscated because it has two 120v outlets and is banned. Use the link below to view the prohibited list.
In addition, I have a 1-meter extension cord with three outlets. This is a plane cord with no switches of GFCI etc. Extension leads are prohibited on cruise ships. This link is for prohibited items on RCCL ships. If you have a need for an electrical extension cord for a medical device, I.e CPAP machine, then ask your stateroom attendant, as they will supply you with one.
The newer ships do have updated technology in the room. The Anthem (2015) has two 1-Amp USB-A ports on the desk. On one side of the bed there is a 120V outlet therefore no extension cord needed for the CPAP.