Bringing or Obtaining Distilled Water on a Cruise?

[WhatMeSnore]

I'll ask this of the cruise line too, but thought I'd check here first. I'm going on a cruise soon and will bring my Bi-PAP unit. I've been reading about the strict alcohol policies on the cruise lines (especially mine - Norwegian Cruise Line), and how people try to sneak in alcohol so as to avoid paying for it on board. How should I bring on a gallon of distilled water? Will they let me? Do they just need to inspect it first? It's going to look like the worst smuggling attempt ever until they inspect it. LOL!

But I'm sure people have dealt with this a lot, so I'd love to know. Thanks!

[englandsf]

Bottled water will work just fine, just wash your reservoir when you get home. I did a 7 week round the world trip in 10 hotels and 8 countries, worked just fine.

[grayghost4]

just do not use sea water

[LSAT]

There are probably 100-200 people using CPAPs on an average cruise. I'm sure if you inquire, they will have distilled water. If not...use bottled water.

[sc0ttt]

Do you know how they make water when they're at sea? They DISTILL it.

[archangle]

Do you know how they make water when they're at sea? They DISTILL it.

It might be distilled, it might be reverse osmosis, but it might also be municipal water from where they dock. Municipal water is much cheaper than distilled or RO water. They might also add salt and minerals back to distilled water to make it taste good.

However, any drinkable tap water is fine for your CPAP as long as you dump, clean, and rinse every day.

[wm_hess]

When I went on a cruise last year, I requested & received a gallon of distilled water. I contacted room service and they brought it to the cabin within the hour.

Enjoy the cruise!

-Bill

[Sheriff Buford]

There are probably 100-200 people using CPAPs on an average cruise. I'm sure if you inquire, they will have distilled water. If not...use bottled water.

Really?... that many?... I gotta talk my wife into a cruise... she has no interest. Any suggestions?

Sheriff

[LSAT]

There are probably 100-200 people using CPAPs on an average cruise. I'm sure if you inquire, they will have distilled water. If not...use bottled water.

Really?... that many?... I gotta talk my wife into a cruise... she has no interest. Any suggestions?

Sheriff

Depending on the cruise line, their could be 2500-4000 passengers. If you are going on your first cruise, I would go to a travel agent that specializes in cruises.

[SleepyCarey]

Really?... that many?... I gotta talk my wife into a cruise... she has no interest. Any suggestions?

My best tip - check out TravelZoo.com (and even sign up for their weekly email). They are a very reputable outfit and have some outrageously cheap deals.

[sptrout]

Cruise lines will also provide an extension cord as well as distilled water. Many lines will confiscate all extension cords and any surge protectors (useless, and a fire hazard per the USGC) when your luggage, or carry on, is x-rayed. Check your cruise line's website and look for "Special Needs" link. At that site, you can either check-off listed needs (wheelchairs, for example) or fill in a box telling them what medical equipment you will be bringing on board and what is needed to support it. Celebrity Cruises has such a page and CPAP/BPAP is on their site as a check box. A couple days after I submitted this form for my CPAP, they replied saying that they would supply both an extension cord and distilled water.

[Denial Dave]

I've done 2 cruises in the past year... the room attendant was happy to give me a gallon of distilled water... AND he helped with taping my extension cord down to the carpeting to prevent tripping over it during the day

[sptrout]

I've done 2 cruises in the past year... the room attendant was happy to give me a gallon of distilled water... AND he helped with taping my extension cord down to the carpeting to prevent tripping over it during the day

Which line were you on? The confiscation of extension cords varies by line, at least for now (they are all headed that way IMO). I know Celebrity will grab them as has been reported by several people on a cruise forum board that I participate in. Although I have been on 19 cruises, this coming January will be the first one since I started CPAP. I will take a cord with us because I expect to need one for the pre-cruise hotel night, but I expect it to be confiscated when we check in the next day. It will be a cheap one so I don't care if they take it or not.

[traveling Utz]

I have used mine on Royal Caribbean and Carnival. The room stewards are very aware. I use a towel to cover the cord at night, the stewards always made sure I had a towel to use..

I got Distilled Water from both. I think Carnival charged $3..

I contacted the cruise line and made them aware of the CPAP machine, it is a simple form to be filled out. I am actually a Travel Agent, so I make sure that I fill it out if clients need it done.

[jnk...]

My experience is that cruise lines have different policies from line to line, from country to country, and from ship to ship.

I am in the habit of informing the agent/line/medical officer ahead of time that I will be using CPAP, just as a courtesy to them. Some ships have then provided distilled water and an extension cord without my even asking for either.

One ship asked me to allow them to charge a deposit for their extension cord. I said that I didn't agree with the policy of charging passengers with medical needs anything extra and that it is not my fault the ship was designed with poorly placed outlets, but if they insisted on the deposit I would cooperate. They didn't charge a deposit. I returned the favor by walking the cord back to the front desk first thing the morning of debarkation.

When I have used my own extension cord, I have wrapped it up and put it away every morning as a favor to the cabin steward. But I put my machine away every morning completely when away from home, even in nice motel rooms with an outlet on the lamp or right behind the nightstand. That's just how I roll. From my point of view, my machine is the most valuable thing I own, since it preserves my life and sleep, and I see no reason to give anyone the opportunity to bump it, break it, or take it. Not so much a trust issue for me but more a preventative measure for mission-critical gear.

The cruise lines have very nice extension cords in bright colors, so there is something to be said for using one of theirs.

I find cruise-ship water to be fine for my machine, so I don't ask for distilled if they don't put it in the room. I have no trouble drinking cruise-ship water from the tap either. Probably better than many US cities' water supply.

One of the best purchases I've ever made for travelling with PAP is one of these fold-up hose hangers: http://www.amazon.com/gp/offer-listing/ ... dition=new

Enjoy the cruise!

-jeff