First time cruiser - first time with CPAP to fly...thoughts?

[catfan]

Taking my very first cruise in February... will be taking the effin' CPAP because I will have a cabin roommate and I am pretty sure I will snore and bother her if I don't have the CPAP. If I were alone I would leave it at home for sure!!

Am on the fence about carrying it thru security for flight or stuffing it in suitcase. I know that's not recommended but I'd rather not be carting it all over. What are your experiences? What do I need to know about using it in cabin? Do I need one of those travel power strips for it? Just use bottled water? I obviously am not going to be packing bottles of distilled.

I have the REsMEd AirSense10 and full face mask REsMed AirTouch F20. The case takes up a lot of space in luggage... .

[palerider]

If I were alone I would leave it at home for sure!!

That is what is technically known as stupid.

Am on the fence about carrying it thru security for flight or stuffing it in suitcase. I know that's not recommended but I'd rather not be carting it all over.

Do you comprehend WHY it isn't recommend?

I obviously am not going to be packing bottles of distilled.

Fun fact, the water on a cruise ship is either distilled, or RO filtered sea water.

The case takes up a lot of space in luggage... .

Huh, I was just texting to a friend about the low tolerance I have for "stupid", and then ...here you are.

Don't be stupid.

[SheitlQueen]

Take it with you. Not only to keep you from snoring, but to keep yourself healthy and to prevent fatigue. DO NOT put it in your checked luggage. My brother in law did that, and of course his luggage got lost. He snored so loudly my sister had to sleep in my room with me. Also the machine can get stolen. You are allowed to carry it on air planes without it counting as a carry on , but I always put mine in my carry on suitcase so I have one less thing to have to deal with.

[joelrk35]

Take your cpap as it is not a problem getting through security at the airport. Most of the time they don't open it or if they do, I ask them to use clean gloves and wipes. Has never been a problem and I have taken my cpap through airports since 2010. I've also gone on a number of cruises. I suggest that you call the cruise line and let them know that you will be using a cpap and will need distilled water and possibly an extension cord. I have done this numerous times and the cruise lines are very accommodating. Have a great trip.

[ChicagoGranny]

I would leave it at home for sure!!

Try sleeping without it at home for a couple of nights. You can see how miserable you feel - not a fun way to vacation.

[palerider]

I would leave it at home for sure!!

Try sleeping without it at home for a couple of nights. You can see how miserable you feel - not a fun way to vacation.

Plus, there's a lot of paperwork if he croaks off at sea, assuming they don't just dump the body overboard and look innocent...

[RobertS975]

Answers to the questions in no particular order. .. definately put your machine into the Resmed case and carry it onto the plane. It doesn't count towards your carry-on limits as it is a medical device. Airport security checkpoints see hundreds of these machines daily.

Use bottled drinking water for the machine.

Absolutely bring a 9 to 10 foot extension cord. I was on a recently renovated cruise ship that had zero bedside outlets. Your cabin steward can tape the cord down if it is a tripping hazard.

As for leaving the machine home, I would say "unwise" is a better word. In addition to consideration of your roommate, there are concerns that suddenly stopping CPAP therapy can be dangerous in any event....add in the late nights and possibly extra alcohol to magnify the apnea risks.

[TropicalDiver]

Answers to the questions in no particular order. .. definately put your machine into the Resmed case and carry it onto the plane. It doesn't count towards your carry-on limits as it is a medical device. Airport security checkpoints see hundreds of these machines daily.

Use bottled drinking water for the machine.

Absolutely bring a 9 to 10 foot extension cord. I was on a recently renovated cruise ship that had zero bedside outlets. Your cabin steward can tape the cord down if it is a tripping hazard.

As for leaving the machine home, I would say "unwise" is a better word. In addition to consideration of your roommate, there are concerns that suddenly stopping CPAP therapy can be dangerous in any event....add in the late nights and possibly extra alcohol to magnify the apnea risks.

A great response.

I would only add: you carry it on for the same reason you do prescription meds -- because they are important for your health and can be lost or stolen. Well, that plus your unit and mask is probably worth $1k and it is best to avoid damaging it....

[D.H.]

Much of this was said already, but here it goes again.

First you want to take it with you, as you won't enjoy your vacation if you're exhausted the whole time! This is whether or not you share the room.

You can take it on a plane without it being counted against you luggage max. FAA screeners are very familiar with CPAP machines, so this won't be an issue. As long as you're not planning to use it in-flight, that is.

Check with your cruise line. Inform them that you'll be using a CPAP in your cabin. Find out what type(s) of electrical socket(s) they have in the cabin, and where they are. Discuss whether you'll need and adapter. If you need an extension cord, clear it with them. A lot of cruise lines do not allow power strips, as they feel that they're unsafe for use with the wiring in ships.

BTW, make sure that you have a dedicated packing list for you CPAP. Keep a hard copy in the CPAP bag. This is needed not only for this trip, but all future trips, for emergency evacuations, and for planned an unplanned hospitalizations. In the case of an unplanned hospitalization, somebody else might need to pack the bag.

Additionally, if you're staying in a hotel on either end of the trip, pack an extension cord top use in the hotel (the socket might be far from the bed). If it's in a country other than your own, make sure that you have any adapter(s) that you need for the hotel.

[raisedfist]

Taking my very first cruise in February... will be taking the effin' CPAP because I will have a cabin roommate and I am pretty sure I will snore and bother her if I don't have the CPAP. If I were alone I would leave it at home for sure!!

Am on the fence about carrying it thru security for flight or stuffing it in suitcase. I know that's not recommended but I'd rather not be carting it all over. What are your experiences? What do I need to know about using it in cabin? Do I need one of those travel power strips for it? Just use bottled water? I obviously am not going to be packing bottles of distilled.

I have the REsMEd AirSense10 and full face mask REsMed AirTouch F20. The case takes up a lot of space in luggage... .

Pack it in the actual ResMed bag and bring it with you as a carry-on. It doesn't count since it's a medical device. It's relatively light and the TSA people see them all the time so it's not a hassle. Check in your heavy suitcases if anything. Check-in bags get thrown around, dropped from heights, items are stolen, and bags are lost as well. You don't want this happening with your CPAP.

Bottled water is just fine.

[booksfan]

My husband and I cruise several times a year and he used to travel quite a bit for business. We both have CPAPs.

Definitely carry it on! Hubby used to pack it in his rollaboard, which he always checked for business travel. Until his luggage was lost! The airline was pretty blase about until he told them his CPAP was in his lost suitcase. Then they jumped through hoops to get him a loaner machine and mask to use THAT NIGHT. And showed up a 1AM with his suitcase. He has carried it on ever since.

I always carried mine on, but after a problem in Copenhagen (international airports don't always follow the "CPAP medical device isn't included in carry on count" rule, as I discovered the hard way!), I bought an AirMini which is small enough I use a lunch box to carry it, my mask, travel adaptor, etc. This fits in my carry on, backpack, or tote, depending which I am traveling with.

If you let the cruise line and/or your travel agent know that you will need distilled water for your CPAP, it will often be waiting in the cabin for you. Or your cabin attendant will bring it when they come to welcome you. Most of the ships we travel on have bedside outlets. Hubby always brings an extension cord, just in case, for hotel stays, in addition to his own travel adaptor.

Have a great time!