NEW DCL policy on all power cord things

[ludari]

In the past I have used my belkin mini surge protector that has a couple of USB outlets to charge my devises. If this is no longer allowed (and it sounds like it's not) I also have a solar charger that is about the size of my cell phone that I will bring along.

 

[JohnDS]

Since DCL has added surge protectors to the cords, there must have been issues on DCL or other lines.

This is not a *nonsense* issue, DCL gains nothing in restricting these items when they lend them and not rent them.

I would much rather have no guests cords onboard then take the chance of a fire!

AKK

Perhaps, however a quick google search yields no results of any issues having occurred as a result of extension cords or surge protectors on cruise ships.
I work in a building with thousands of them in use and while we've had computers catch fire, we've had air conditioners catch fire, we've never had a power strip burn. We've had them fail in the manner they are designed to which is of course the reason you have them.
I'm sure some may have failed, but how many? how did they fail? There are thousands of anecdotal stories about various products being dangerous in one way or another, but without real statistics you can't tell if the product should be banned or not.
The ship is owned by a company and if they decide they don't want a particular product on board then that is their right, however I don't buy that this is a safety issue.

 

[DynamicDisneyDuo]

Perhaps, however a quick google search yields no results of any issues having occurred as a result of extension cords or surge protectors on cruise ships.

Not everything that occurs winds up on Google.

I work in a building with thousands of them in use and while we've had computers catch fire, we've had air conditioners catch fire, we've never had a power strip burn. We've had them fail in the manner they are designed to which is of course the reason you have them.

You can google surge protector fire and find multiple reports and recalls related to the topic. DCL does not want to take a chance and again, we have no way of knowing whether this has actually occurred on a cruise ship or not. It may have for all we know.

The ship is owned by a company and if they decide they don't want a particular product on board then that is their right, however I don't buy that this is a safety issue.

Given that there have been recalls and that DCL has no way of knowing if I'm bringing on a safe device, they have every right to call it safety related.

With the proliferation of devices that need charging, people could be overloading outlets which creates a fire hazard.

Even the Coast Guard recommends not using them:

http://www.uscg.mil/tvncoe/Documents/safetyalerts/SurgeProtectiveDevices.pdf

 

[Tonka's Skipper]

Perhaps, however a quick google search yields no results of any issues having occurred as a result of extension cords or surge protectors on cruise ships.
I work in a building with thousands of them in use and while we've had computers catch fire, we've had air conditioners catch fire, we've never had a power strip burn. We've had them fail in the manner they are designed to which is of course the reason you have them.
I'm sure some may have failed, but how many? how did they fail? There are thousands of anecdotal stories about various products being dangerous in one way or another, but without real statistics you can't tell if the product should be banned or not.
The ship is owned by a company and if they decide they don't want a particular product on board then that is their right, however I don't buy that this is a safety issue.

I am afraid I disagree

Unless it is a major fire or problem your not likely to see it reported.

I would think there is a big difference from a working building with new or approved equipment in good condition and a old cord or product a guest may have been using at home and bring on the cruise.

Again I don't see any other reason. DCL is not making any money by enforcing this rule. They are making cords available to guests on a lending bases. The power usage on a vessel like that is next to nothing.

AKK

 

[mcd2745]

I am afraid I disagree

Unless it is a major fire or problem your not likely to see it reported.

I would think there is a big difference from a working building with new or approved equipment in good condition and a old cord or product a guest may have been using at home and bring on the cruise.

Again I don't see any other reason. DCL is not making any money by enforcing this rule. They are making cords available to guests on a lending bases. The power usage on a vessel like that is next to nothing.

AKK

If you're not able to charge your camera, maybe they think you're more likely to buy their ridiculously priced photos.

Anyway...cigarettes, lighters and matches, etc. are infinitely more of a fire hazard than a surge protector. Yet they haven't banned smoking completely (hopefully, that day comes eventually).

I wouldn't be surprised if they eventually start selling "DCL approved" power strips in their shops (maybe even in the terminal before embarkation) at some point.

 

[Tonka's Skipper]

If you're not able to charge your camera, maybe they think you're more likely to buy their ridiculously priced photos.

Anyway...cigarettes, lighters and matches, etc. are infinitely more of a fire hazard than a surge protector. Yet they haven't banned smoking completely (hopefully, that day comes eventually).

I wouldn't be surprised if they eventually start selling "DCL approved" power strips in their shops (maybe even in the terminal before embarkation) at some point.

However the fact is they have not done any of those things. It would be logical to start sales of such items when they started enforcing the new rules.

As to cigarettes, lights and matches, lighters and matches are not likely to start a fire as they shut off and go out when released . Granted cigarettes are a problem. A power cord or multi plug devise, left alone in a Cabin is a problem shipboard. I know that for a fact as it has caused small fires on my vessels.

Add to that many here have reported there is enough plugs for average use. You can charge phones and camera in a relatively short time and rotate the devises in the plugs.

Again..........what advantage to DCL???... none noted so far.

AKK

 

[geoffrey]

Does anyone know if the Magic has outlets by the bed? DH has a C-Pap machine and I don't want to worry about needing to get an extension cord onboard if I don't need one- I have other things to worry about

Yes. There's one on each side of the bed.

Thanks for answering!

Not on the Magic! The Fantasy and the Dream have outlets on each side of the bed, the Magic and Wonder do not.

In an inside cabin, we usually use an extension cord, plug it in behind the TV and run it along the wall to the bed. Then under the bed to the other side.

 

[JohnDS]

Not everything that occurs winds up on Google.



You can google surge protector fire and find multiple reports and recalls related to the topic. DCL does not want to take a chance and again, we have no way of knowing whether this has actually occurred on a cruise ship or not. It may have for all we know.



Given that there have been recalls and that DCL has no way of knowing if I'm bringing on a safe device, they have every right to call it safety related.

With the proliferation of devices that need charging, people could be overloading outlets which creates a fire hazard.

Even the Coast Guard recommends not using them:

http://www.uscg.mil/tvncoe/Documents/safetyalerts/SurgeProtectiveDevices.pdf

You can search the internet for all types of things, doesn't mean they should be banned. As I indicated if Disney wants to ban them they are within their rights, it's their ship. However I don't believe that the products are unsafe or at least more unsafe than countless other things that they don't ban.

I think the Link to the Coast guard probably does reveal the true cause for the ban though.

From the article
The Coast Guard recommends that vessel Owners, Operators, Class Society Surveyors, Insurers, and other inspection personnel examine the risks associated with the use of SPDs aboard their vessels, and if necessary ensure their organizations have policies and procedures relating to their use.

From my experience Insurers will often take recommendations such as and write policy requirements to match or exceed the given advice.

 

[Minniemiss]

Not on the Magic! The Fantasy and the Dream have outlets on each side of the bed, the Magic and Wonder do not.

In an inside cabin, we usually use an extension cord, plug it in behind the TV and run it along the wall to the bed. Then under the bed to the other side.

When the Magic was in dry dock this last time they added plugs by the bed.

http://disneycruiselineblog.com/2013/11/final-thoughts-reimagined-disney-magic/

 

[Minniemiss]

This is from another cruise forum. Also I keep in mind that not everything on the internet is factual, but I found it interesting.



Shipboard wiring in general, not just in the cabins, is two "hot" legs and ground, no neutral. The light switches open both sides of the circuit, not just one.

Unlike the plug in your house, on the ship if you measure either of the "blade" contacts to ground, (the round or U-shaped contact) you'll see a potiential of about 55 VAC, which makes 110v between the blades. At home, a voltmeter would show 110v to 120v from the longer blade to either the short blade or to ground if the outlet is wired properly. (These are US and Canadian numbers... Europe and Asia are a whole different "ball of wax")

As a result, a power strip with a built-in surge protector won't work properly onboard, and if it trips, you'll still have a "hot" circuit on the strip, which can create a load imbalance. That, more than the number of items plugged in, is what the Engineering Department is worried about. Also, a two-wire extension cord is usually confiscated because there is NO way to ground whatever is plugged into it.

 

[NWmom]

Does anyone know if the Magic has outlets by the bed? DH has a C-Pap machine and I don't want to worry about needing to get an extension cord onboard if I don't need one- I have other things to worry about

The Wonder and Magic do not have outlets by the bed. We have found them on the Fantasy.

Not on the Magic! The Fantasy and the Dream have outlets on each side of the bed, the Magic and Wonder do not.

In an inside cabin, we usually use an extension cord, plug it in behind the TV and run it along the wall to the bed. Then under the bed to the other side.

This is what we have found as well.

When the Magic was in dry dock this last time they added plugs by the bed.

http://disneycruiselineblog.com/2013/11/final-thoughts-reimagined-disney-magic/

We sailed the Magic 1/27/14 At that time (post drydock) there was no outlet by the bed in our cabin on the bedside table that did not have the phone.

Another issue is the bedside table being large enough to hold both the CPA machine and the phone if that side did have an outlet. We did not check that side as there would have been nowhere to place the CPAP.

CPAP contain distilled water when in use (which DCL will kindly provide when requested). They must sit flat and be secure to avoid a spill.

We have found it best to have the CPAP sleeper against the wall.
When we did use the side near the couch, children's feet knocked the CPAP over during the night.

 

[geoffrey]

When the Magic was in dry dock this last time they added plugs by the bed.

http://disneycruiselineblog.com/2013/11/final-thoughts-reimagined-disney-magic/

Yea! That has been one of the biggest hassles for us. Glad they fixed this

 

[jrabbit]

Add to that many here have reported there is enough plugs for average use. You can charge phones and camera in a relatively short time and rotate the devises in the plugs.

"Time to Make the Donuts" - get up every two to four hours - depending upon whats being charged to change to the next device. That doesn't sound very relaxing! Most devices stay charged all day (camera / video batteries wont if you are using them) All of our camera battery chargers do not like to coexist with other devices - by design they take up space on either side of the outlet so you cannot plug multiple devices in at one time.

 

[tmoor]

The outlets on the Wonder are on the desk and behind the TV (next to the desk). He can sit at the desk (there's a stool there).

We sailed on the Magic Nov 2013. So the outlet next to the night stand on the re-imagined Magic were new? We didn't need any additional outlets because my husband just used his c-pap plugged into the night stand outlet by the bed. He did have to sleep on the side next to the couch in order to use the machine. My side next to the bathroom did not have an outlet that I recall.

I guess I need to make that known when filling out the special needs section when I do my online check-in. We sail on the Wonder in October.

 

[kileybeth]

wow. very new as Lisa Graves says.

We just returned from a Fantasy cruise and actually received in a welcome gift from Dreams Unlimited (that's a very big shout out!) an extension cord to use!

It was an invaluable use with two girls trying to do our hair before dinner each night. I also used my Ipad for the navigator app and as our sole camera. My DH had to keep his cell phone charged at all times for work. He actually had to take a few calls while we were away.

Since we both use I phones what we did not need or use for the trip were these devices:

a laptop, any hand held gaming devices, any kids cell phones, any medical devices, or anything else I am forgetting to list.

We were however aware at all times that something needed to be charged or was running low in terms of charge. The wave phones complicated matters.

Since we are cruising again this year ~on the Wonder this time (happy to be back on one of the classic ships, found the newer ships to be too big and too busy for our taste) I was just saying I was happy not to have to remember an extension cord as DU may include another one in welcome gift? maybe not then!

We cruised at end of Jan2014 returning to Port on Feb 1st and used our extension cord everyday? Always unplugged it when not in use.

And that's just my mini/power electrical trip report for what it is worth!

 

[DynamicDisneyDuo]

You can search the internet for all types of things, doesn't mean they should be banned.

I was just pointing out that they do, in fact, fail in a manner that creates a fire hazard. Fire at sea is an incredibly bad thing.

However I don't believe that the products are unsafe

DCL apparently disagrees. There is absolutely NO indication of what other motive they could possibly have for banning them.

I think the Link to the Coast guard probably does reveal the true cause for the ban though.

Yeah, it's a safety issue.

 

[Tonka's Skipper]

There is little extra work in rotating the recharging of your needed devises. Even if you sleep 8 hours that's 16 hours to can use to get what you need charged.

I really think it you cannot manage this, then the problem is TOO MANY devises.

Just my experience!

AKK

 

[NotUrsula]

Can you get clarification as to whether or not this includes USB charging adapters?
(The sort that have only female usb ports as input, not A/C outlets.) Most good models have two outlets that draw at least 2 amps, which are suitable for tablets, and a couple more that draw 1 amp, which will normally recharge a phone.

A high-quality USB adapter can charge 4-5 portable devices on a draw of under 6 amps, which is the normal draw for one plug on a 110v. outlet on a DCL ship (according to verbiage in DCL's special needs information, the outlets are 12 amps each.)

 

[JohnDS]

Yeah, it's a safety issue.

We'll just have to agree to disagree on this, I've worked in the insurance industry and I've seen this scenario countless times.

 

[JohnDS]

There is little extra work in rotating the recharging of your needed devises. Even if you sleep 8 hours that's 16 hours to can use to get what you need charged.

I really think it you cannot manage this, then the problem is TOO MANY devises.

Just my experience!

AKK

Well, to be realistic, the 16 hours is when you'd probably want to be out using the devices, rather than stuck in the cabin rotating chargers off of the outlet.