Why do you bring water onboard?

[ms simba]

I know this question must have been asked before but the "search" won't work for me today.

 

I see many posts of cruisers wanted to know where they can buy water to bring on the ship. Why? Is the water of bad drinking quality?

 

I am going on my first cruise In December 2008 so I have no experience with food or water.

[mndity]

I know this question must have been asked before but the "search" won't work for me today.

 

I see many posts of cruisers wanted to know where they can buy water to bring on the ship. Why? Is the water of bad drinking quality?

 

I am going on my first cruise In December 2008 so I have no experience with food or water.

 

Some people think there could be an issue.........but it is purified and probably cleaner than the tap water we drink at home. Don't worry!!!

[barryod]

It's been my experience that the water on board your major cruise lines is just fine. Their water purification systems are excellent. There are those cruisers who prefer bottled water and that is their chioce. If one was to visit bottled water plants and ship water purification systems, a good choice would be the ship's water. It's your choice. Have a great cruise regardless of what you drink.

 

Barry

[Philob]

But some have to have that $15 bottle of Tibetian Spring Water from Austria:D

[kimcruiser]

I will bring water on board if I get a chance but wont go out of my way. there are two reasons. one is if I want a bottled water to carry off the ship this is cheaper (just my way of pinching a penny) BUT number two is the main reason: while it is true the ship does a great job purifying the water it still has a high salination to it and by the end of the week I am so swollen from water retention I cant stand it. you cant taste the salt they do a good job with the desalinization process but it still has a high content. That is my purpose I am not a Diva or anything else, lol. :D

[cb at sea]

I've NEVER brought water onboard! The ship's water is fine and pure! Probably better that what you pay for in those bottles (which are NOT regulated by anyone, and come from a tap somewhere!!!)

It's not the "salt" that is making some folks "swell", it's the humidity! The water is de-salinated--meaning NO SALT!!!!

[Cruzman]

I've NEVER brought water onboard! The ship's water is fine and pure! Probably better that what you pay for in those bottles (which are NOT regulated by anyone, and come from a tap somewhere!!!)

It's not the "salt" that is making some folks "swell", it's the humidity! The water is de-salinated--meaning NO SALT!!!!

 

I could not agree more! I only wish that I had thought of selling tap water myself. Never thought there could possibly be a market for it. Was I ever wrong! For those who wish for the convenience of taking water off the ship in ports, why not bring a few empty plastic containers, fill them with the ship's water, place them in the fridge, and they are ready to go ashore for you. Total cost $0.00.

[Grayce]

I think the water on board tastes great. Better than my water at home.

[ehfl]

The water on board is fine, and tastes fine...however, it is desalinated, and does have a bit more sodium than most people are used to. Since the food is also cooked with this water, it tends to have more sodium as well.

 

This causes some people to retain water. So to help flush their system, they drink bottled water, which is more expensive on board, so they bring it.

 

An easier solution is to just bring potassium supplements (available at any drug store). The water retention is actually caused by the ratio of sodium to potassium....not by the absolute level of sodium. So you can counteract the additional sodium by adding potassium. It's much easier than lugging several pounds of water on board.

[kimcruiser]

Thanks ehfl, I do realize that but I also have to keep K+ in pretty good balance so I try to just do my own way of keeping sodium level low. I appreciate it though. To the other posters, I have watched documentarys that the cruise line industry has put out and after hearing from them how they handle the desalinization of the water, to just the point of enough salt being taken out so you dont taste it, I feel pretty comfortable with my decision to take my own water. Like I said I dont go out of my way and I dont carry tons of it and I also stay away from the coffee, tea, etc.. because this is made with same water. I have noticed in doing this over my last few cruises the difference. Remember to each his/her own and the OP did ask so if you would let posters explain that would be lovely. Have a great day!

[Krazy Kruizers]

The water on board the ships is better than what we have at home -- JMO.

[BonnieVA]

I know this question must have been asked before but the "search" won't work for me today.

 

I see many posts of cruisers wanted to know where they can buy water to bring on the ship. Why? Is the water of bad drinking quality?

 

I am going on my first cruise In December 2008 so I have no experience with food or water.

 

I've never cruised either. I just asked this question last week. My reason for asking was because I want to have water for times when we're OFF the ship ... we ALWAYS carry water bottles around - even in winter - so we can drink whenver we need to! I have 4 boys & they're thirsty all the time from all their activity! I don't want to have to spend $ on water all the time & want to make sure the water we drink OFF ship is safe.

[cruzin girl]

I am one that brings my own water onboard not beecause I think that the water is bad but I get headaches easily from something in some waters, its probably nothing bad just a sensitivity on my part and so I take what I know will not give me one. The rest of my family drinks ship water and are fine with it.

[CPT Trips]

The water on board is just fine.

I thought the swelling was from the salt used in cooking . . . something I don't get at home.

I always bring one water bottle per suitcase. To take ashore - even if refilled from the ship. And, most importantly, as a "throw down" in the event by suitcase gets selected for a booze search.

[Desert star]

I've never cruised either. I just asked this question last week. My reason for asking was because I want to have water for times when we're OFF the ship ... we ALWAYS carry water bottles around - even in winter - so we can drink whenver we need to! I have 4 boys & they're thirsty all the time from all their activity! I don't want to have to spend $ on water all the time & want to make sure the water we drink OFF ship is safe.

 

You can always bring refillable water bottles. Then refill with the ice water on the ship. I always worry if all those bottles we pop in the trash will be recycled.

[BonnieVA]

You can always bring refillable water bottles. Then refill with the ice water on the ship. I always worry if all those bottles we pop in the trash will be recycled.

 

Yea, actually, I NEVER buy bottled water. We just reuse thick bottles that the kids sometimes get when they're at camp or an event somewhere. And they get cheap, free water bottles all the time. I make sure they're cleaned out in the dishwasher. And I use a sports bottle when I work out ... but that leaks if it tips. I also hate to see all the bottles thrown away.

 

I had asked about bringing bottled water because I wasn't sure if they allowed you to refill bottles an ship. Someone had suggested filling a clean cup & then pouring that into your own reuseable bottle so that we wouldn't contaminate the spout. Makes sense. I'd rather bring 6 empty bottles instead of a week's worth of filled water bottles for a family of 6!!

[Jungle Jane]

I thought the water tasted terrible! And I'm not picky! Even just to rinse our teeth after brushing we gagged every time we tasted that tap water. I am glad I got a few bottles from the hotel vending machine before we left. After those were gone I paid the $4 to buy a bottle of water as we walked off the ship at each port. No way could I have drunk (drank?) an entire bottle of that tap water. I always drink tap water at home but the ships water had a terrible metallic taste. Not salty, just metallic and even maybe a bit chemical-y. YMMV, but that was our experience.

[WinnieinWA]

Count me in as one who drinks the water on board. I bring a bottle with me to fill up before going on an excursion but I like the water on the ships.

 

HappyCruising:)

[karatemom2]

I think the water tastes very good, however, I do have to disagree with those of you who argue that it does not have a higher sodium content. Although you don't taste it, it absolutely does. This was confirmed to me by one of the bar staff I became friendly with during the last cruise. For the first time ever on a cruise my feet and ankles became so swollen it was uncomfortable. I was commenting about it to my crew friend and she asked if I was drinking more of the ship's water than I have in the past. Since this was the first cruise I decided to skip buying a soda card, I had been drinking water and tea (made with the water) exclusively. She said that the salt content was the likely cause of my problems. I cut way back on the tea and ship's water and started drinking bottled water and sodas for the remainder of the trip and my ankles shrunk back to their normal size within a day and stayed that way for the rest of the cruise. For me even though I don't mind the taste, the sodium content is clearly a problem that I will be mindful of in the future.

[Jungle Jane]

Gosh I wonder why we thought it tasted so terrible when clearly the majority thought it was fine. Strange. I wonder if something was up with our sink? We drank the tea and lemonade and thought those were fine. Of course if you put enough lemonade mix or tea mix or splenda in anything it will taste fine. We really hated the tap water and we are really not picky at all. Odd.

[popsec]

The only time we thought the ship's water had an off-taste was on the Fascination....and I thought it was really bad. Since I drink only water 24/7 I asked the cabin steward to fill one of those large plastic buckets (the kind you get buckets of beer in) with ice. I'd let that melt down and use it for drinking water. The ice was fine...it must be because it's double filtered. I also filled water bottles with ice to take ashore.

[DiannaInVA]

I think it depends on the ship. When I was on Liberty of the Seas it was fine. However, when I was on Majesty of the Seas, the first time I turned on the tap, brown water came out. Eventually it cleared, but I don't care what anyone says, I don't want to drink brown water--even if they tell me it's just food coloring (I actually don't know what it was...all I know is that it was brown).

[rchauv]

As one who had some experience with water treating, I am wondering whether folks are getting water softening and desalinization confused. In softening, you exchange hardness (mainly Calcium and Magnesium ions) with Sodium ions (supplied from salt) and in that case the Sodium content rises. In desalinization, by definition, you are removing salt from water. That is done by an evaporative process.

 

The port from which I cruise from loads up with city water for its primary source which therefore does not alter the sodium content in either direction.

[cathi]

I take water on board for 2 reasons - first at home we have well water that is not chlorinated or chemicalized in anyway so the ship's water whether safe or not taste awful to me. So I have to pay for bottled water that is "closer" to what I drink at home. Onboard most ships they want an arm and a leg for what you can buy on shore for pennies. So yes - at almost every port I buy a large bottle of water and lug it on board.

[Chexmix]

I always bring a case of water on board. I also bring an ice chest. This way I can have nice ice cold water in my room anytime I want it. I also take a couple of bottles on excursions as well. ( A tip to keep them cold - wrap in hand towel from state room.)

 

I will drink the ship water while out and about on the ship or in the casino. (Another tip - when in the casino ask server for ice water in a large glass. There is no charge. However, I always tip $1.00 about everyother time they bring it to me.)

 

In ports if I run out of water I will only drink bottled water. I also make sure that the seal is NOT broken. Although I have drank drinks with ice (made from water) and have never had a problem. I really don't think that the ports want anyone sick so they do take precautions.