Packing Essentials...charger / sunscreen etc...

[slmoy1016]

65 days left for my cruise, and off to Hawaii!

I'm curious as to what portable chargers you bring? I had a Mophie on my last cruise, but given with age, it's probably time to upgrade. And second: what sunscreen will be coral reef safe? I have eczema that can flare up with over the counter sunscreens... Thank you in advance on suggestions!

 

[diznymom]

We are just bring our cords and charging blocks for our devices (iPhones, iPads).

Sunscreen: Look for sunscreen w/ zinc oxide and / or titanium oxide as its main ingredients for reef safe (I think......could be wrong). OTC for eczema-I have no idea. Maybe talk to your doctor.

 

[FigmentSpark]

Anker is my go-to for chargers and extra cords. They have the quick charge for both types of devices, so you just have to read which is best for you. Also, you can just phone them. They have a N.A. number for any questions.

 

[NAB]

I have eczema too and can not use anything by Banana Boat. It dries my skin , especially my face.

We too only take our normal charging phone cords ,but there are is only 2 of us now instead of 4.

 

[Thecrookedcap]

I typically use Anker products. I'll take two - one big brick that can charge 3-4 things at a time and a smaller one that can do one at a time. On shore I'll usually take the smaller one.

 

[99Wendy]

I believe Blue Lizard sunscreen is...I have very sensitive skin and have had great luck with their baby formula

 

[PrincessShmoo]

And second: what sunscreen will be coral reef safe? I have eczema that can flare up with over the counter sunscreens... Thank you in advance on suggestions!

Just to clear it up, here's what makes a sunscreen "reef safe":

Reef safe sunscreen is sun protection that doesn’t use chemicals like oxybenzone or octinoxate as its active protective ingredient. Instead of using oxybenzone or octinoxate, these sunscreens use minerals to protect your skin from sunburns and skin cancer, as well as prevent aging due to sun exposure.

Typically they have lots of zinc oxide in them (think kabuki mask). I'm not sure how that would work with eczema, as zinc oxide is pretty thick and drying (at least on my skin).

I second the suggestion you ask your doctor.

 

[FigmentSpark]

Is there anything in the DCL website that talks about limiting the type of sunscreen you can bring? Or is this really a word of mouth thing? Am I going to get checked at the gate of some place or other to make sure I have an approved sunscreen?

 

[PrincessShmoo]

Is there anything in the DCL website that talks about limiting the type of sunscreen you can bring? Or is this really a word of mouth thing? Am I going to get checked at the gate of some place or other to make sure I have an approved sunscreen?

There may be excursions that specify reef safe ones, but DCL, AFAIK, doesn't require it.

Some people just prefer to use reef safe sunscreens on principle.

 

[TestingH2O]

Is there anything in the DCL website that talks about limiting the type of sunscreen you can bring? Or is this really a word of mouth thing? Am I going to get checked at the gate of some place or other to make sure I have an approved sunscreen?

No because it's not a DCL rule, but Hawaii, Key West, and various resorts in Mexico and Grand Cayman have banned them.

 

[FigmentSpark]

No because it's not a DCL rule, but Hawaii, Key West, and various resorts in Mexico and Grand Cayman have banned them.

But how do you know they've been banned. I don't mean you personally, but any person who isn't really up on things and just goes on a cruise or to a resort. Do they just show up and find out they can't use their sunscreen?

 

[clten]

As far as sunscreen, we like CeraVe. It's mineral based (so reef safe) and we don't find it drying. It's pricy but for sensitive skin, we find it worth it.

 

[jexball]

For the sunscreen ban it's simply not sold there. They won't take it away from you, but encourage you to use reef safe.

If i'm going in natural water (oceans, lakes, etc.) I use the reef safe, but it makes me break out badly so I use my normal coppertone for anything else. I'm fair skinned so I live in sunscreen. If i look at the sun it burns me.

 

[monkeydawn]

But how do you know they've been banned. I don't mean you personally, but any person who isn't really up on things and just goes on a cruise or to a resort. Do they just show up and find out they can't use their sunscreen?

I second this question.

I was on an MSC cruise and we stopped at their private island. ICR if non reef safe sunscreen was banned or just strongly discouraged but we didnt find out until the day before our stop at Ocean Key via a letter left in our room. We still used our regular sunscreen but we didnt go in the water so I'd think it was moot for us. I can say that the wording for plastic water bottles on the same note was that they were banned but we still saw plenty of them on the island. We did leave our plastic water bottles on the ship for that stop.