C-pap machine - Cruise Line Fans: Cruise Forum, Reviews and Chat From Real Cruisers

mrsunclebill · 04-08-2009, 11:50 PM

I have sleep apnea and use a c-pap machine at night (which I will carry on - can't risk it getting lost) It needs distilled water to operate.
Do I need to do anything special in advance- ie a doctor's note or such? Will the ship be able to provide distilled water?

Char · 04-09-2009, 12:22 AM

Carolyn, my hubby has used a BiPap for years and cruised without any trouble at all. The water that comes out of the tap IS distilled water. The ship has it's own desalination plant.

The longest we have sailed using the ships tap water was for 24 days. There was no residue at all in the chamber at the end of the cruise.

We take an extension cord and power strip. If your humidifier and pap machine are 2 seperate pieces of equipment you will need the power strip since the cabin will probably only have one outlet. Even if there are 2 outlets it's not always possible to plug both in at the same time due to the shape of the plugs.

Bob always carries a copy of the prescription for the pap as well as a current doctors note. We have never had to show them to anyone, but will continue to keep them in the bag we use for the equipment.

patsea · 11-16-2009, 06:58 AM

Sometimes when flying my husband puts his in carry-on in case of damage and it has been swabbed a few times for drugs. In 2001 they looked at it and asked what it was. Then they called over all kinds of people and then they swabbed it. Now they know what it is and we just go on our way. Works fine with ships water but if you're going in a day early to port go to a store and pick up a gallon of it and carry it on.