Category Archives: Electronics

What Power Outlets Are Available on Royal Caribbean Odyssey of the Seas?

Wondering what power outlets are available on Royal Caribbean’s Odyssey of the Seas? This post has you covered. These are the outlets and USB ports that were in our Ocean View Balcony stateroom. I’m assuming setup is similar for all balcony and interior cabins and also assuming that suites will have a different setup.

The desk area has a 220 outlet, two USB ports and two three prong North American style outlets. Here you can see the 220 outlet with a dual outlet power adapter with USB

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8 Tips to Make the Most Of Limited Outlets On Your Next Cruise

Pictured: European Travel Plug Adapter, TESSAN International Power Plug with 2 USB, Type C Outlet Adaptor Charger for US to Most of Europe EU Iceland Spain Italy France Germany – See: Hands on Review: TESSAN International Power Plug with USB

Lack of power solutions in cruise ship cabins

Many cruise cabins have a common problem… lack of outlets. This has generally gotten better with newer ships, but can still be an issue. Even newer ships that have more cabin outlets, the outlets can be placed in such a way as to limit their usability. If two outlets are too close together… you can only use one.

This article outlines some ways to stretch the power resources that are available in your next cruise ship cabin.

#1 Use the 220 Outlet(s)

To accommodate European travelers cruise lines will often include one or more 220 volt outlets. If you’re used to using three prong 120 volt electronics this outlet will most likely go unused.

One way to stretch out the outlets on your next cruise is to… use the 220 volt outlet.

What style is the 220 volt outlet on cruise ships?

European Type C seems to be the standard style on cruise ships. This may vary, but it seems to be fairly standard.

Some Adapters and Devices to Consider:

European Travel Plug Adapter, TESSAN International Power Plug with 2 USB, Type C Outlet Adaptor Charger for US to Most of Europe EU Iceland Spain Italy France Germany – 1 three prong outlet + two USB ports – Hands on Review
Two Outlet Version: European Travel Plug Adapter Converter | TESSAN International Power Plug Converter with 2 USB | Type C Outlet Adaptor Charger | for US to Most of Europe EU Iceland Spain Italy France Germany – Hands on Review
[3-Pack] European Travel Plug Adapter, VINTAR International Power Plug Adapter with 2 American Outlets- 2 in 1 Travel Essentials to France, Germany, Greece, Italy, Israel, Spain (Type C)
Ceptics Europe Travel Adapter, Ultra Compact Dual USB Power Plug – for European Type C – 3 Inputs – iPhone, Laptop, Galaxy, Cell Phones, Camera Chargers, iWatch & More – CTU-9C
220v Travel Night Light – This night light fits into compatible 220v outlets and as a bonus gets you a USB wall charger.
European Wall Charger, Vifigen 2-Pack USB
Search Amazon for “type c outlet adapter” to shop around

Cruise Ship Power Solutions – Making Use of the 220 Volt Cabin Outlet On Your Next Cruise

Hands on Review: TESSAN International Power Plug with USB… Use the 220 Outlet on Your Next Cruise!

This article may contain affiliate links. We may make a small percentage if you use our links to make a purchase. You won’t pay more and you’ll be supporting Cruise Packing List and more content like this. Thank you for your support!

#2 Use An Approved Power Strip

Pictured: Cruise Essentials Power Strip USB – Flat Plug Power Strip with 3 Outlets 3 USB Ports(1 USB C PD20W), 5ft Braided Extension Cord, Compact for Cruise Ship, Travel, Home and Dorm

Most cruise lines allow the use of certain power strips. Generally speaking one thing you want to look for is a power strip that DOES NOT offer surge protection. Double check with your cruise line for specifics on what’s allowed on your ship.

#3 Use an Outlet Extender

Pictured: Multi Plug Outlet Extender with USB Outlets, Power Strip Non Surge Protector Electric Outlet Splitter with 3 USB Wall Charger (1 USB C), Multiple Outlet Expander for Cruise, Dorm, Travel, Home, Office – affiliate link, note that multiple variations of this product may be available, as such a different version may appear at this link

A similar solution as using a power strip, but more compact and outlet extender to split one power outlet into multiple outlets. Some include USB outlets.

#4 Use a Rechargeable Night Light

Using a rechargeable night light means no outlet is taken up most of the time. This is particularly helpful for bathrooms as those usually have 0 outlets.

Hands on Review: Auvon Rechargeable Night Lights + The Problem with Cruise Ship Bathrooms at Night

All About Night Lights for Your Next Cruise!

#5 Use a USB Night Light

USB night lights plug into a USB port. That means no outlet taken up. They could go on a laptop, USB wall charger or power bank.

#6 Check the Phone

Many newer or remodeled cruise ships offer a USB charging port on the phone. This is the phone that was in our cabin on Royal Caribbean’s Odyssey of the Seas.

#7 Use Rechargeable… Everything

Pictured: Cruise Ship Approved Travel Fan

When you’re making decisions on cruise gear considering opting for rechargeable items. These don’t constantly take up an outlet or USB port and when charged, they aren’t tethered to wherever an outlet happens to be.

#8 Use a Rechargeable Power Bank

Pictured: Anker Portable Charger

Using a rechargeable power bank gives you a de facto outlet (at least for USB devices) anywhere in your cabin. Beyond charging you can power loads of other USB compatible gear anywhere in your cabin.

Product specifications can change. Double check your product before use.

For lots more about cruise packing including some solutions for the outlet problem check out our complete packing list.

This post may contain affiliate links. We may make a commission when you use our links. This will never cost you extra. Thank you for supporting Cruise Packing List!

Make sure the components you use are compatible and rated for your intended application. Contact manufacturer with questions about suitability or a specific application. Always read and follow manufacturer directions. top:outlets tag:tpr

Setting Up Your Own Wireless WiFi Hotspot on Your Next Cruise!

But First… Read Cruise Lines Terms and Conditions

This article will walk you through options for creating your own WiFI hot spot on your next cruise. That can save you some money and make things a little easier around the cabin. You should also ask… can I do this? When you sign up or sign into your cruise line’s WiFi you will be presented with terms and conditions. I suggest reading through those to see if this is allowed or prohibited. This is going to vary by cruise line.

Next… What Are We Doing Again?

Setting up your own WiFi hot spot allows you to have your own mini network. You purchase an internet plan, setup a WiFi hot spot and then share that connection with other devices. The technologies used to do this will result in a small network that will be available in or very near your cabin. These solutions will not give you access throughout the entire ship.

Option 1: Travel Router

Travel routers are generally small devices that allow you to create a small Wi-Fi network.

The problem with traditional Wi-Fi routers is that they don’t know how to handle “captive networks”. Captive networks are networks that require you to log in before you can access the internet. Many publicly available WiFi networks are considered captive networks. That includes most hotels and cruise ships.

Travel routers are (or at least should be) designed to handle captive networks. You basically log in to the router through a web browser and then log into the captive network using the router’s settings.

This post may contain affiliate links. We may make a commission when you use our links. This will never cost you extra. Thank you for supporting Cruise Packing List!

Some Travel Router Options:

GL.iNet GL-MT3000 (Beryl AX) Pocket-Sized Wi-Fi 6 Wireless Travel Gigabit Router | WiFi Router | OpenVPN, Wireguard, Connect to Public & Hotel Wi-Fi login Page – affiliate link, note that multiple variations of this product may be available, as such a different version may appear at this link
What are Other’s Saying? Search this product’s Amazon reviews for “cruise” – may include reviews for other sizes or variations
Related: Hands on Review: GL.iNet GL-MT3000 Beryl AX Travel Router!

TP-Link AC750 Wireless Portable Nano Travel Router(TL-WR902AC) – Support Multiple Modes, WiFi Router/Hotspot/Bridge/Range Extender/Access Point/Client Modes, Dual Band WiFi, 1 USB 2.0 Port – affiliate link, note that multiple variations of this product may be available, as such a different version may appear at this link
What are Other’s Saying? Search this product’s Amazon reviews for “cruise” – may include reviews for other sizes or variations

GL.iNet GL-SFT1200 (Opal) Secure Travel WiFi Router | AC1200 Dual Band Gigabit Ethernet Wireless Internet | IPv6 USB 2.0 MU-MIMO DDR3 | 128MB Ram Repeater Bridge Access Point Mode – affiliate link, note that multiple variations of this product may be available, as such a different version may appear at this link
What are Other’s Saying? Search this product’s Amazon reviews for “cruise” – may include reviews for other sizes or variations

GL.iNet GL-MT300N-V2(Mango) Portable Mini Travel Wireless Pocket VPN WiFi Router – Access Point/Extender/WDS | OpenWrt | 2 x Ethernet Ports | OpenVPN/Wireguard VPN | USB 2.0 | 128MB RAM – affiliate link, note that multiple variations of this product may be available, as such a different version may appear at this link
What are Other’s Saying? Search this product’s Amazon reviews for “cruise” – may include reviews for other sizes or variations
Related: Hands on Review: GL.iNet GL-MT300N-V2 Mango Travel Router!

There are other options available – search Amazon for “travel router” – look for something with good ratings and something that can handle captive networks. Specific mention of being compatible with hotel and cruise ship networks is also something I’d look for.

Option 2: Connectify Hot Spot

Connectify is a program that you install on your compatible Windows laptop. After it’s installed it runs in the background and shares the internet connection that your laptop is using. You handle the captive network business on your laptop browser, so Connectify doesn’t have to specifically handle that.

Set your laptop power plan to always on so the hot spot stays up and going.

Connectify Hot Spot

Other Options to Save on Internet on Your Next Cruise

Sometimes cruise lines offer free to discounted internet via their loyalty programs or in certain cabin categories.
Sharing a log in. Some cruise lines (I know this is the case for Royal Caribbean) allow you to log in and log out of devices. This allows you to use one account across multiple devices.
Get an international plan and access internet on port days.
You’re on vacation… don’t get on the internet. 🙂

What Else?

Got another great solution or tip for accessing Internet on cruises? Leave a comment and let us know.

Related: Using Your Cell Phone Onboard with WiFi Calling!

wifi calling and cruise ships My iPhone with Royal Caribbean Adventure of the Seas Royal Promenade int eh Background. See “VZW Wi-Fi”

Related: Hands on Review: GL.iNet GL-MT300N-V2 Mango Travel Router!

Related: Hands on Review: GL.iNet GL-MT3000 Beryl AX Travel Router!

Related: Use the 220 Outlet on Your Next Cruise

Will My Phone Work on a Cruise Ship?

All About Night Lights for Your Next Cruise!

All information provided is deemed accurate at time of publishing, but is not guaranteed and should be independently verified. top:wifiap tag:tpr

Hands on Review: Airalo e-SIM – use your phone internationally!

Airalo is app for iOS/iPhone and Android smart phones that makes it easy and inexpensive to use your compatible phone internationally. They partner with local and regional providers to provide short term coverage in many parts of the world.

What’s a SIM Card?

SIM is an acronym stands for Subscriber Identity Module. It’s small card that fits in select phones that’s basically the digital identification for the phone. You can theoretically quickly change phones by swapping out your physical SIM card.

What’s an eSIM Card?

Fast forward to eSIM cards. eSIM stands for Embedded Subscriber Identity Module. Instead of a physical SIM card an eSIM is a logical identity for select phones. No need for a physical SIM card.

The part where the magic comes in… Some phones also allow you to have multiple eSIM cards. So you can actually have multiple phone numbers on a single phone.

What devices support Airalo eSIM?

To use an eSIM, your device must be carrier-unlocked and eSIM-compatible.

Airalo provides a regularly updated list of supported devices.

An eSIM example…

Here is a screenshot from my iPhone. On the top left you’ll see my primary carrier Verizon. Below that is my secondary carrier Tello. I use two carriers, one for business the other for personal. If you want to give Tello a try use referral code P3XR5K8D and earn Tello dollars.

Using Airalo for international coverage!…

We recently went on a cruise to Aruba, Curaçao and the Bahamas. I decided to give Airalo a try and purchased e-SIM cards for Aruba and Curaçao.

Purchasing an e-SIM card for Curaçao. I went with 1 GB of data. We were in Curaçao for about a day. The e-SIM I purchased was valid for up to 7 days. This was a data only e-SIM meaning I didn’t have a local phone number. I didn’t need to use the phone if I had to I could have used Google Voice, WhatsApp, Skype or FaceTime. Of course there are other apps that can utilize a data connection for phone calls and video chat.

Purchasing an e-SIM card for Aruba. Also 1 GB data and 7 days.

Here’s my phone after purchasing and installing both e-SIM. As of this update iPhone 15 can handle up to eight e-SIM with a maximum of two active e-SIM cards at any one time. Note that my Verizon and Tello numbers have been redacted.

Using Airalo in Curaçao

I enabled my Curaçao e-SIM card and disabled all other e-SIMs installed on my phone

Whammo I’m connected

I fired up Google Maps for directions to the beach we wanted to go to.

We made it to Cas Abao beach! It was beautiful!

I tried Blue Curaçao. It was pretty good.

I tweeted from the beach to test the connection. It worked great. Connect with me on X!

Let’s be friends! Twitter | Instagram | Facebook | Pinterest | RSS

When I bought the e-SIM card the carrier was named Dushi wireless. I had no idea what that meant, but learned when visiting. visitaruba.com says… “Dushi – This is such a dynamic Papiamento word. In Aruba, ‘dushi‘ is used to describe food as ‘sweet‘ or ‘yummy‘ tasting, or to indicate that a sensation is good (think of pleasant smells or nice music), but it is also used as a term of endearment for your lover, translated as ‘sweetheart‘ or ‘sweety‘.”

Speedtest. The connection was quite zippy. This test shows 58.4 megabits down and 46.6 megabits up.

At the end of the day I still had 700 MB left. It’s worth noting that you can also buy longer eSIMs with more data AND you can purchase eSIMs for entire regions instead of a single country.

We had a wonderful time in Curaçao!

Using Airalo in Aruba

I tweeted from Eagle Beach to test the connection. It worked great. Connect with me on X!

Airalo’s partner in Aruba was blazing fast. Here’s a speed test. This test shows 114 megabits down and 26.9 megabits up.

We had an amazing time in Aruba! This was our first time doing a Southern Itinerary cruise and it was one of our favorites!

Conclusions

Airalo worked flawlessly! I paid $9.50 per eSIM card. Each card had 7 days of validity. That’s much cheaper than my carrier’s international coverage. Going forward Airalo will be a regular part of our international travel!

Related: Pelican’s IP68 Waterproof Phone Case – affiliate link, note that multiple variations of this product may be available, as such a different version may appear at this link

Related: Using Your Cell Phone Onboard with WiFi Calling!

My iPhone with Royal Caribbean Adventure of the Seas Royal Promenade int eh Background. See “VZW Wi-Fi”

Related: FREE… Royal Caribbean Perfect Day at CocoCay Phone Wallpaper

Setting Up Your Own Wireless WiFi Hotspot on Your Next Cruise!

All information provided is deemed accurate at time of publishing, but is not guaranteed and should be independently verified. top:airaloreview tag:tpr

Will My Phone Work on a Cruise Ship?

will my phone work on a cruise ship?

The short answer is… yes it will work. But that answer has some caveats.

Onboard Cellular

Most larger cruise ships have cellular capabilities. Ships have the equivalent of their own cell phone towers that provide service to people onboard and nearby. This is separate and different from Wi-Fi.

These towers are international no matter where the ship is. If you look on your cell phone carriers website for international coverage, many times cruise ships will be listed by names and show up alongside foreign countries.

This post may contain affiliate links. We may make a commission when you use our links. This will never cost you extra. Thank you for supporting Cruise Packing List!

Using Cruise Line Cellular

Using cruise line cellular for voice and data can be VERY expensive. Check with your carrier to be sure, but generally, it’s super expensive to use your cell phone (via cellular) on a cruise ship.

I know of no carrier that includes cruise ships in their international plans or international day plans. Example, Verizon’s TravelPass gets you unlimited international coverage in select countries for as little as $10 per day. That’s not available for cruise ships.

Voice and Data

Because of cost, I recommend against using cruise line for voice and data. It’s just too expensive. An internet package with Wi-Fi calling is much more cost effective. SMS messages are a potential exception to this recommendation. Keep reading for more on that.

Using Texts To Communicate While Onboard

While data and voice rates on cruise ships is generally very expensive, SMS messages are generally much more economical. If you’re looking for a way to communicate while onboard, this is an option. Check with your cellular provider to see how much text messages will cost.

Use Airplane Mode

If you choose to use cruise line cellular for voice and SMS. My recommendation is to ALWAYS turn data roaming off while onboard. Or better yet, use airplane mode.

I use airplane mode while on board and turn WiFI on. This allows me to access the Internet (with a package) and not worry about getting data roaming charges.

Full Phone Functionality with Wireless Internet… WiFi Calling!

If you purchase an Internet plan you can use many of the features of your phone like web browsing, social media, video and audio calling (Facetime, Skype, Snapchat, Facebook Messenger, etc).

There are some activities that don’t work with an Internet only connection – standard voice calls and SMS messages (iMessages do work because they rely on Internet).

You can make standard voice calls and SMS work without a cellular connection by enabling WiFi Calling

With a compatible phone and an internet connection WiFi calling makes your phone think that it has a cell tower. This allows you to place voice calls and send text messages as if you had a regular tower,

I use this and it works REALLY well. I turn airplane mode on and connect to WiFi. Quality is at the mercy of the ship’s internet but in general it has worked great for me.

Again, it’s important to have data roaming turned off. I turn my phone to airplane mode, turn on and connect to WiFi and the phone activates WiFi calling.

See: Using Your Cell Phone Onboard with WiFi Calling! for lots more on WiFi calling

wifi calling and cruise ships My iPhone with Royal Caribbean Adventure of the Seas Royal Promenade int eh Background. See “VZW Wi-Fi”

This post may contain affiliate links. We may make a commission when you use our links. This will never cost you extra. Thank you for supporting Cruise Packing List!

Setting Up Your Own Wireless WiFi Hotspot on Your Next Cruise!

All information provided is deemed accurate at time of publishing, but is not guaranteed and should be independently verified. top:willmyphonework tag:tpr

Do AirTags Work on Cruise Ships?

What is an Apple AirTag?

An Apple AirTag is a small tracking device developed for the Apple “Find My” Ecosystem. It uses a replaceable button cell type battery along with Internet connected iOS devices to update locations. If you’re within close range of an AirTag you can also find the device using the “Find My App” or trigger the AirTag make a sound.

Battery life is about one year. Apple achieves all of this by using a crowd-sourced network of iOS devices. AirTags themselves do not connect to Internet and update location. They use ultra-wideband to connect with iPhones that in turn update locations. This relationship keeps AirTags small, gives them a great batter life and makes them reasonably priced.

It’s worth noting that any nearby iPhone can update your AirTag location. It doesn’t have to be your iPhone. This is all done automatically and anonymously.

Check Current Price and Availability:

Apple AirTag – affiliate link, note that multiple variations of this product may be available, as such a different version may appear at this link
Apple AirTag 4 Pack – affiliate link, note that multiple variations of this product may be available, as such a different version may appear at this link

What About Android Users?

If you’re not an Apple user, consider Tile Trackers

What Can You Track with AirTags?

Well… lots of things. As far as travel goes we use AirTags on our travel backpacks, carry-ons, purses/handbags and checked bags. I also use them on my keys and vehicles.

Do AirTags Work on Cruise Ships?

Hey, here’s an AirTag on a towel animal from one of our cruises!

Yes, they work, well… kind of. With some caveats.

Since AirTag location is updated periodically when AirTags are in range of connected iOS devices there can be a disconnect of sorts when you’re not right by your AirTags. You normally do not see this on land because items are either stationary or physically with you. Since the ship is moving lack of location updates can make it seem like AirTags have been left behind.

Here’s an example of what I’m talking about. At the point this screenshot was taken the blue dot is where the ship is located. As you can see my bags and keys appear to be 21 miles back somewhere in open ocean. If this happens to you you can relax… your bags are probably still in your cabin.

You can also see your bags “catch up” with your ship if someone with a connected iOS device gets close enough to your cabin. That lets the AirTags update their locations and may make it seem like they’ve caught back up with the ship.

The other caveat is the AirTags have no awareness (at least presented to the user) of elevation. So, an AirTag that has recently updated location on a stationary ship would should the position of the AirTag on the ship with no indication of what deck it’s on.

Notification that items are left behind.My Apple Watch letting me know my bags have been left behind in the middle of the ocean 🙂