traveling with CPAP

DrainedDad · Post by **DrainedDad** » Thu May 31, 2007 10:19 am

My wife and I are getting ready to take a cruise for our 25th anniversary. Any advice for traveling with CPAP? Is it treated as a "carry on" by the airline? Are there any special considerations for on the cruise ship? I appreciate any advice from you veteran CPAPers who travel.

Dark_Star · Post by **Dark_Star** » Thu May 31, 2007 11:04 am

It should be no problem taking your CPAP machine, It is medical equipment and can be carried on airlines.

Here is a link to TSA..
http://www.tsa.gov/travelers/airtravel/ ... index.shtm

I have never been on a cruise ship... so I do not know the rules. But I imagine there is no problems..

I do HIGHLY recommend bringing an extension cord with you. Since you may need to find an electrical outlet and they are not always right next to the bed side.

Janine · Post by **Janine** » Thu May 31, 2007 11:07 am

I just came home from my first trip with cpap. The security people said they saw cpap all the time. They just scanned it and that was it.

I don't know about cruises, but totally agree about the extension cord!!!

amos · Post by **amos** » Thu May 31, 2007 11:29 am

Hints for using cpap on a cruise:

Hand carry your equipment with you on board. Do not trust the luggage guys to treat it as carefully as it should be.

Carry a multiple outlet with you. There is usually only one outlet in the stateroom.

The outlet is usually by the chest/vanity/mirror, so you will need a long extension cord.

If there is not a built in chest on your side of the bed, ask the steward to get you a small table to set the cpap on.

Depending on the cruise line, if there is a built in chest on your side of the bed and it is about two feet from the bed, set your cpap on the floor at night so you do not pull it off the chest.

You may also want to carry a bungee cord if you need the hose to be higher than your head. You may need to take down a painting for this to work.

Some cruise lines have distilled water on board that they will give you. You may wish to ask them ahead of time, and they will have it in your stateroom for you.

I always carry a few "Gatorade" bottles of distilled water with me just in case.

If you have any particular questions, I shall be happy to answer them for you. Have a happy cruise.

Amos