Is It OK to Drink Tap Water in Cabin

We usually drink bottled water on most of our cruises, but this will be a very long one and we are wondering whether or not the tap water in cabin is OK to drink.

Yes it is. It doesn't taste that great, but if you fill a bottle and keep it in the 'fridge, it's a bit more palatable.

We drank tap water and found it to be fine. Used it in the kettle to make tea, too.

I always drink tap water. Make sure your steward fills up your ice bucket twice a day and as long as you add ice and the water is cold, it tastes okay.

On our recent voyage on QM2, we were provided with bottled water, free of charge, for use in the kettle. The room steward, gave us new bottles every day. Not sure if this is across the fleet.

On our recent voyage on QM2, we were provided with bottled water, free of charge, for use in the kettle. The room steward, gave us new bottles every day. Not sure if this is across the fleet.

It depends what grade of accommodation you are in, generally bottled water has to be purchased.

Tap water is ok to drink.

From past experience we have found some questionable coloring at times especially when they are switching from city water to on board water supply or working on the system. This mostly occurs with the hot water service.

Chlorine can be detected thru their processing of the On Board Cold Water.

Since some people do question that taste, we have seen people purchase bottled water. For this reason we do have bottle water delivered to our cabin and also for dining room use at our table.

We once had a bad experience at tea time on the QE2 where the water they used at Tea Time in the Lido Area influenced the taste of the Tea.

It depends what grade of accommodation you are in, generally bottled water has to be purchased.

Hattie

Many thanks for the clarification. The free water was in Britannia Club accommodation. I wasn't expecting it as I thought that free bottled water was only provided in Grills, so just assumed that with the kettles in QM2 rooms, this was now standard.

In our Britannia balcony stateroom there was a 1-liter bottle of water behind the coffee tray with a hang tag advising that one could receive 6 of them in sequence for something like $20, so if you're concerned or for some reason dislike the taste of the tap water there is an alternative.

Thanks to all who have replied. I will probably purchase bottled water and my not fussy at all husband will drink the tap water.

I always drink tap water. Make sure your steward fills up your ice bucket twice a day and as long as you add ice and the water is cold, it tastes okay.

And of course the ice is made from ship's water. Tastes fine when flavoured with scotch.

I drink the tap water, and I'm still alive...I think.

Tap water is perfectly fine. Potable water is mostly used from reputable ports, but the ship also desalinates where needed. It's probably better than what you get at home.

Bottled water is such a waste and is bad for the environment anyway (assuming one cares). For shore days I just refill a water bottle and refrigerate it the night before - delicious! :D

I drink the tap water, and I'm still alive...I think.

Would any poster who has drunk the tapwater and not survived care to venture some thoughts?

Would any poster who has drunk the tapwater and not survived care to venture some thoughts?

Alas, communications from Davy Jones Locker have been few and far between.

incoming weak message...beware the sodium content in the ship's water:eek:

Alas, communications from Davy Jones Locker have been few and far between.

 

incoming weak message...beware the sodium content in the ship's water:eek:

Strong message coming in from the USPH and EPA. Water generated onboard ships have a maximum of 20ppm sodium, more commonly down around 2-10ppm. Water from Miami/Dade county, in its last water quality report was 30-40ppm, while NYC was 30-50ppm sodium, Galveston comes in at 48ppm, and even green San Francisco reports up to 19ppm sodium.

Strong message coming in from the USPH and EPA. Water generated onboard ships have a maximum of 20ppm sodium, more commonly down around 2-10ppm. Water from Miami/Dade county, in its last water quality report was 30-40ppm, while NYC was 30-50ppm sodium, Galveston comes in at 48ppm, and even green San Francisco reports up to 19ppm sodium.

Then are you saying it is better to drink ship's tap water if you want the lowest amount of sodium in your drinking water? I thought the bottled water sold on the ship had the lowest sodium content. This is important to know if you need to have a low sodium diet.

We usually drink bottled water on most of our cruises, but this will be a very long one and we are wondering whether or not the tap water in cabin is OK to drink.

I usually drink the tap water on a cruise. Some bottled water is just filtered tap water. The tap water on the ship is filtered.

Then are you saying it is better to drink ship's tap water if you want the lowest amount of sodium in your drinking water? I thought the bottled water sold on the ship had the lowest sodium content. This is important to know if you need to have a low sodium diet.

The NIH did a study of sodium content in several popular bottled waters in the US, and came up with a range of 2-15ppm. Therefore, what I am saying is that the most sodium you are going to encounter from the various water sources onboard (ship or bottled) will be from the municipal water loaded in port. A ship that uses evaporators to produce water, and loads little shore water will have similar or better sodium levels than the average bottled water, but a ship that loads a lot of shore water will not. Note that the reject level of even Reverse Osmosis produced water, at 20ppm, is still below the level recommended by the EPA for a restricted sodium diet.

The NIH, CDC, EPA ...how many ships really follow USA guidelines when the ship is far from US shores? And why should they? I suspect we believe our arms reach further than reality.

The NIH, CDC, EPA Meaningless terms, except when ships enter USA territorial waters and produce their test results for US Inspectors.

BTW, QM2 scored 87 (85 is failing) on her last CDC Vessel Sanitation Ispection, which was the lowest score since she failed inspection in 2011.

The NIH, CDC, EPA ...how many ships really follow USA guidelines when the ship is far from US shores? And why should they? I suspect we believe our arms reach further than reality.

 

The NIH, CDC, EPA Meaningless terms, except when ships enter USA territorial waters and produce their test results for US Inspectors.

 

BTW, QM2 scored 87 (85 is failing) on her last CDC Vessel Sanitation Ispection, which was the lowest score since she failed inspection in 2011.

I am using those for the majority of cruises that call at US ports. When passenger ships are within the EU, they must follow the EU's ShipSan program, and outside these areas they must follow local regulations in areas like Oz where they have water quality and ship sanitation requirements, or the WHO's passenger ship sanitation program in all other areas. All of these programs are very similar. And most of the EU and other countries like NZ and Oz have public health inspections of foreign ships, just like the US.

As to why to follow the USPH regulations when far from the US? It is in the cruise lines' best interests, if you understand the governing mandate of the USPH, which is not to protect the health of cruise ship passengers. The USPH is mandated to prevent the introduction of contagious disease into the US, and to do this, they have the mandate to board and inspect all ships coming from foreign countries. Now, I don't know if you've been on a ship undergoing a USPH sanitation inspection, but it takes about 8 hours, looks at every aspect of ship sanitation, down to lighting and ventilation, and for most ships involves interviews with crew and passengers as to their health. Now, could you imagine the chaos if this was done every week when a ship returned to the US? In order to prevent this from becoming a reality, the USPH and the cruise lines developed the VSP (Vessel Sanitation Program), whereby a ship that agrees to follow the construction and operations requirements of the USPH will not have to be inspected every voyage, but only randomly. So, it is in the cruise lines' interest to keep the records, and keep the procedures in place all during the voyage, to keep the USPH at bay.

And while the QM2's score was unimpressive, and the findings pretty disappointing, even though the first 3 findings were related to potable water, most of that was record keeping, and nothing was noted with regards to water production or possible high sodium levels or problems with the salinity equipment onboard.

Thanks for the info Chief. It prompted memories of the "good ole days" on freight ships with only tank water. The potable water could be quite "iffy" depending on the port. Our Ch Eng. would monitor it and dose it as necessary. The old filters caught the big bits but the shore water, along with the tank rust, could provide some pretty funky water. Made fruit juice or even beer seem much more palatable. We did carry lots of the old big glass bottles of water but you know how it goes, the hitch can (or could back then) sometimes exceed the supplies.:D

Thanks for the info Chief. It prompted memories of the "good ole days" on freight ships with only tank water. The potable water could be quite "iffy" depending on the port. Our Ch Eng. would monitor it and dose it as necessary. The old filters caught the big bits but the shore water, along with the tank rust, could provide some pretty funky water. Made fruit juice or even beer seem much more palatable. We did carry lots of the old big glass bottles of water but you know how it goes, the hitch can (or could back then) sometimes exceed the supplies.:D

We spend quite a lot of time anchored off Galveston, and regularly have deliveries of Galveston municipal water brought out to the ship. It is definitely an acquired taste, and we have installed some carbon filters on the scuttlebutts to remove the rust and funky taste. Have had problems with some deliveries showing coliform bacteria, so we now only load one out of two tanks, and dose with bleach each time, even with a UV sterilizer in the system.

We spend quite a lot of time anchored off Galveston, and regularly have deliveries of Galveston municipal water brought out to the ship. It is definitely an acquired taste, and we have installed some carbon filters on the scuttlebutts to remove the rust and funky taste. Have had problems with some deliveries showing coliform bacteria, so we now only load one out of two tanks, and dose with bleach each time, even with a UV sterilizer in the system.

People on cruise ships really do have it nice!:D:D