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CPAP needs on Avalon Tapestry II


rakes5
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I searched the River Cruising thread and didn't see this discussed.

 

I am bringing a CPAP machine on our upcoming Avalon Tapestry II Paris - Normandy cruise.

 

I am familiar with ocean cruising, where I have been able to get a gallon of distilled water, and an extension cord if no outlet is near the bed.

 

My TA sent in a special needs request, and here is the response from Avalon:

 

We have received notice that our mutual client(s) will be bringing a Sleep Apnea Machine on tour with them. Please review the applicable information below with your passengers.

 

-Please advise your client(s) that they are responsible for bringing all adapters, electricity converters, extension cords and batteries (if needed). If they need distilled water, they are responsible for purchasing it on their own. If your clients are traveling on an Avalon Waterways cruise, we can request distilled water (for the cruise portion only). The passengers must check with Reception upon embarkation to advise the amount needed.

 

-They may want to bring back-ups just in case of power outages.

 

-We are not responsible for any denial of services by carriers, hotels, or other independent suppliers.

 

-Please verify with your medical supplier that your equipment is covered in foreign countries for any mechanical problems that may occur due to various reasons including use of adapter or currency converters.

 

Thank you for your immediate attention to this matter. If you have any questions regarding this information please call us at 800 372 1761.

 

Best Regards,

 

Customer Care Assistance Specialists

As we are spending 3 days pre-cruise in Paris, I will probably purchase distilled water, as their letter doesn't make it a sure thing that they will have water. First it says I have to purchase on my own, then says I can request when I board if traveling on Avalon.

Does anyone have experience with this ship and can tell if you were able to get distilled water, but more importantly how far the nearest outlet is to the bed?

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Ocean ships make distilled water when the ship is underway (and then treat it for palatability before pushing it into the pipes) -- so they should be able to tap into the source for needs like this. I don't believe river ships make their own fresh water, so they don't have this ability. [i'm sure someone with better scientific knowledge will jump in. Chengkp75 is a wonderful source on ship engineering, and we have a Big Bang Theory interplay on another thread here -- 'Penny, Penny, Penny' please jump in ;)]

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I too an taking an Avalon Cruise in MAy on the Illumination.I will taking my phillips cpap on board. From what I have have readabout, all I will need is THE ADAPTER. NOT SO MUCH THE CONVERTER WHILE ONboard. You will need an adapter while staying in Prague. I also purchased a battery backup from Freedom Battery(google it) it will let you sleep with your CPAP for 2 nights before recharging.

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My husband travels with a CPAP machine when we have traveled on a river cruise, he always takes an adapter, converter and extension cord. For such a short period of time, he uses the water on the ship and never had any negative effects.

Cole

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Today, I called the 800 number. I was told that this is a standard letter that they send for all Globus / Avalon / Monograms inquiries.

 

I was told that I could get Distilled water only on the Avalon ship. As we have 2 days in a hotel pre-cruise, they would not provide water for pre or post stays.

 

I also asked about how long an extension cord I would need, and was told that there was an outlet near the bed.

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My husband is on Bipap. Getting distilled water has been problematic. When went to stores in Amsterdam, Venice, and Barcelona, shopkeepers look at you with a blank look because they don’t know what it is. In Shanghai the store attached to hotel had a good supply. Even on princess cruise we had difficulty getting water as they didn’t know what it was. On Tauck river cruise we were able to get water. As far as plugs, we always take converters, adapters, and extension cords. On the Tauck river cruise last year there were very few American plugs and none by the bed so we needed converter and extension cords. We carry a 25 foot extension cord at all times.

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I just came back from Bordeaux on Uniworld. I typically pack a liter in a hard Nalgene bottle with my check in luggage that lasts a few days. Upon arrival I asked at the front desk of the ship. It turns out that the ships use distilled water in housekeeping for their irons they purchase in large quantities. The hotel manager told me to give him my empty bottle when i left for the excursions and it was returned filled with distilled water in my cabin upon my return.

 

I'm leaving in a few weeks on Royal Caribbean and will make the same request. I also bring adapters and an extension cord packed with my cpap along with a power strip with a short cord. Never enough outlets to charge phones, cameras, pads, etc.

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  • 2 weeks later...
  • 5 months later...
Today, I called the 800 number. I was told that this is a standard letter that they send for all Globus / Avalon / Monograms inquiries.

 

I was told that I could get Distilled water only on the Avalon ship. As we have 2 days in a hotel pre-cruise, they would not provide water for pre or post stays.

 

I also asked about how long an extension cord I would need, and was told that there was an outlet near the bed.

 

This may be too late to help you but... NEVER go on a cruise (River or Ocean) without a long extension cord. On Avalon, the only electrical outlets are in the bathroom and at the desk/dresser combination. Because I sleep on that side of the bed, and because CPAP chords are really long, I could plug into the wall and it would easily reach to my bedside table. But we still needed an extension to run along the head of the bed to plug our phones into at night.

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I travel for a living. 150 to 180 nights a year in hotels. I take my CPAP everywhere. I NEVER put distilled water in it when I travel. I use bottled water or tap water. Never had an issue. If the local water is high in minerals, it will clean out just fine with vinegar when you get home. Don't obsess about distilled water and waste time searching for it. You'll be fine without it. BUT ALWAYS take your own extension cord and adapter. No need for a converter on the ship or in most of Europe. Virtually all electric devices, for the past couple of decades, or made to handle dual currents.

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Agree with previous posters. I used CPAP on Avalon Tapestry II last Oct in France. I just used the bottled water that was provided as I normally do when I travel. I keep an extension cord in my case but did not need with the length of my cord on the machine. I did plug into a converter that I had and used for electronics but I don't think it was necessaryl

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