Entries about luggage

You may have heard of the cruise lines confiscating booze from those attempting to smuggle spirits onboard. But, what about power strips? #headscratch

I've been on several cruises to date and on four different cruise lines. After the first cruise, I quickly learned the value of having additional power outlets in the cabin aboard. This has become even more valuable today than it was in the year 2000 when I took to the seas as a cruise rookie.

Even though I park the cell phone in the cabin safe for the duration of the cruise, except for certain ports of call, there is still plenty of need for prime outlet time. Ladies, I'm not referring to shopping when I mention the phrase outlet time. I'm simply referring to the time needed to recharge the many electronic devices that we are all accustomed to using on vacation.

In addition to the occasional recharge of our the cell phone, we have other things that require charging during our cruise. You have the infamous tablet that one uses for either playing a game or reading a book while you relax on your balcony, by the pool, ashore on the beach or that semi-secluded place that you managed to locate onboard. There are other devices that require recharge time as well, like cameras, portable music devices, Bluetooth listening devices and replacement batteries for all mentioned items.

Let's not forget other things that require electrical power while these things are charging. Things like hair dryers, clocks (yes some folks take clocks so as not to miss an onshore excursion), radios, music players and speakers just to mention a few.

Other than the outlet(s) in the bathroom, your have one, perhaps two but rarely three outlets per stateroom. This is not nearly enough outlets (power, not shopping, ladies...stay with me here) for two folks, let alone if you are traveling with a teen or two.

So, I pack a power strip with 4 or 5 places to plug in devices. It's a power strip that is either new or perhaps a year or two old and I rotate charging items as required so that everything either has power when called upon or is fulled charged as needed. Bottom line, they were always an agency rated strip with a circuit breaker included and in safe working condition.

I've never had an issue with packing them in my suitcase. A close friend of mine returned from a cruise on one of the largest cruise ships in that company's fleet and they confiscated his power strip. A piece of his luggage did not show up at his cabin door the night of his embarkation. He asked about it and had to go down below normal guest decks to retrieve his luggage. He was asked to open his bag to remove it. When he pulled out the strip, he was instructed to hand it over. Get this, they took the power strip, but left a three outlet extension cord which is far less safe than the power strip.

The cruise line provided a check tag so that he could pick up his power strip from a huge pile of them at the end of the cruise. When he went to do so, he located his power strip, but there was no tag on the power strip. They made him show his passport so that he could walk away with his power strip. #shakemyhead He noted that there was a lady there picking up her power strip, but also picking up a full size iron (not a travel iron) that was confiscated. Now that one, I understand.

Has this happened to you? What have you had confiscated either as you board or after your boarded? #whatisnext