Bottled water on HAL

I'm aware ther is a strict limit on bringing alcoholic beverages on most cruises, but im unclear about bottled water. We're going to Alaska this month on Holland America lines, Nieuw Amsterdam. Thanks for everyone's help.

Water is not an issue...although the ships water is the same stuff as in a bottle. It's H2o...water is water! There is nothing that water does but HYDRATE you. Your body needs water..but as long as poison isn't present (and there is no poison in the water), you will be hydrated. No need to haul plastic bottles of water onboard.

Ship water is more pure than some bottled water. Why not just take a wide-mouth water bottle, and fill it with water and/or ice whenever you like.

I usually drink tap water at home, but I wasn't sure of the source on cruise ships. I guess they must fill their water tanks when in port. As long as it's not desalinized sea water (lol) I guess I'll just take the ad ice of taking my refillable water bottle.

I usually drink tap water at home, but I wasn't sure of the source on cruise ships. I guess they must fill their water tanks when in port. As long as it's not desalinized sea water (lol) I guess I'll just take the ad ice of taking my refillable water bottle.

What do you think is not good about desalinated sea water?

IMHO the bottled water industry is one of the biggest cons of all time, not to mention the ridiculous amount of plastic it adds to the environment.

I usually drink tap water at home, but I wasn't sure of the source on cruise ships. I guess they must fill their water tanks when in port. As long as it's not desalinized sea water (lol) I guess I'll just take the ad ice of taking my refillable water bottle.

You may want to do some research about the quality of desalinated water (a main source of cruise ship potable water), which is purer and has more extensive quality controls than many municipal water supplies or bottled water products.

You may want to do some research about the quality of desalinated water (a main source of cruise ship potable water), which is purer and has more extensive quality controls than many municipal water supplies or bottled water products.

If you are afraid of desalinated water, do not drink the water in Carlsbad, California. It has the nations' largest desalinization plant, producing millions of gallons of potable water for the city.

If you are afraid of desalinated water, do not drink the water in Carlsbad, California. It has the nations' largest desalinization plant, producing millions of gallons of potable water for the city.

How about this?

http://www.desalinatedwater.info/hair-damage.php

Speaking of, do cruise ships use GM food?

How about this?

 

http://www.desalinatedwater.info/hair-damage.php

Did you bother to check who is sponsoring the site - "Arden Healthcare is the world's No. 1 specialist in providing the solution to hair damage caused by desalinated water. The solutions you need here today".

Do you think that they just might have a financial interest in convincing very gullible people who do not verify the sources of their information that desalinated water is not good for you.

DON

Speaking of, do cruise ships use GM food?

With regard to genetically modified food, 100% of the food we eat is genetically modified. When scientists pick crop breeds with traits that they feel are useful and crossbreed them with other crop breeds with other good traits, you get a cross breed that has both traits. This is as much a genetically modified food as the stuff that you are scared of.

For example, read this article - http://www.sciencemag.org/news/2007/05/secret-history-potato to see what the simple potatoe would look like if our ancestors did not practice genetic modification on the crop.

Page 4 of this article -

Read basic source material before you make overly simplistic statements.

DON

How about this?

 

http://www.desalinatedwater.info/hair-damage.php

The article relates (besides the obvious vested interest) to living in areas that use desalinated water continuously, and does not state how long it takes to have adverse effects.

This is also a situation where they are using water produced strictly by reverse osmosis. Water produced by evaporation/distillation does not have the worry about pollution affecting the inlet water. Cruise ships' water comes from three sources, flash distillation, reverse osmosis, and shore water taken on in port. Unlike the municipal water supplies quoted in the article in the Arabian Gulf, ships are not allowed to make water from sea water until 12 miles out to sea, so any local pollution is minimized. Further, the main sterilization of reverse osmosis desalination plants on ships is done using Ultra-Violet light, not chlorine, so the levels of chlorine do not need to be raised.

Finally, the article doesn't even get the facts right. Yes, calcium is added to desalinated water, but not to "control the chlorine levels". Calcium carbonate (the active antacid ingredient in Tums) is added because desalinated water is slightly acidic, so the carbonate is added to neutralize the acidity.

For the OP, if you search my post history, you will find many posts about the water production, source, and safety of ship's water.

Wow, What a can of worms have I inadvertently opened with my naive question about bottled water! As suggested, I have done some on line research about desalinization and still prefer water that hasn't had the taste "purified" out of it. Sounds like it tastes like distilled water, the kind I used to put in my steam iron...yuck!

However, I agree with those of you who think bottled water is a huge ripoff, but I do like non sweetened sparkling water, like Crystal Springs. That is what I wanted to bring on the ship. No one has answered my original question about bringing it on the ship, yet.

No problem bringing bottled water aboard a HAL ship.

I don't believe there are any limits to water.

If you have more questions, you could try posting on the Holland America forum (just scroll down a bit).

Have a wonderful cruise, Alaska is beautiful.

Wow, What a can of worms have I inadvertently opened with my naive question about bottled water! As suggested, I have done some on line research about desalinization and still prefer water that hasn't had the taste "purified" out of it. Sounds like it tastes like distilled water, the kind I used to put in my steam iron...yuck!

 

However, I agree with those of you who think bottled water is a huge ripoff, but I do like non sweetened sparkling water, like Crystal Springs. That is what I wanted to bring on the ship. No one has answered my original question about bringing it on the ship, yet.

Don't know about HAL , but on Oceania you can ask for all sorts of "sparkling" water (e.g., Pelligrino) and get it everywhere (bars, restaurants, cabin fridge) at no extra charge.

I had no problems with drinking HAL's water from the taps until our cruise in October on the Eurodam. And we have quite a few cruises on HAL -- over 1000 days. My feet and ankles swelled up to the point I looked like I had elephant feet.

I found out that not all HAL ships are desalinating the water the same way. Eurodam's had a lot more salt added to their's -- 14 day cruise.

We talked with our family doctor when we got home and he suggested I drink bottled water.

On our Westerdam cruise -- 21 days -- I did buy the bottled water. It is not free anywhere on HAL ships.

I had no problems with my feet or ankles on that cruise.

Speaking of, do cruise ships use GM food?

I've seen mostly Ford and Chrysler. Never GM.

Ships have their own water treatment plant! U do not need bottled water but if u still want some u can bring it in! Don't know how u can bring in dozens of water bottles in tow though!

No one has answered my original question about bringing it on the ship, yet.

You can bring as much bottled water as you wish at embarkation and also at ports of call.