Fan is considered a prohibited item, including battery operated fans

[roger001]

8 minutes ago, goldmom said:

I am a long time NCL cruiser and currently Diamond Latitude.  I read recently on cruise critic that NCL has now started added all types of fans to their prohibited list.  I would respectfully ask that NCL Corporate re-evaluate this decision or at least amend it.

 

I take a small battery (using D batteries) operated fan or USB fan with me on vacation  I have done this for the past 10 years since a entered menopause.  I also use a fan at home and have not slept without a fan blowing on me for 10 years.  I will not be able to sleep without a fan which means that I will no longer be able to go on NCL cruises.

 

I can understand banning electric fans, but to ban battery operated or USB operated fans makes no sense and will certainly impact many people's cruising decisions.  Please rethink this decision or at least allow those of us who need a fan to sleep to be allowed to at least bring a battery or USB operated fan onboard with a doctor's note.   There are many of us for who a fan is a medical necessity in order to sleep.

 

Here is the e-mail I sent basically I'm just asking them to re-evaluate no matter what prompted them to make the decision in the first place. 

Exactly.  I emailed also.  And for my wife, it is a must have.  No fan, no cruise.  After 25 NCL, I told them no more.  Might sound stupid for most folks, but unless you have the fan issue, you would not understand how important it is.  

[mitchtech]

17 hours ago, DCGuy64 said:

You're missing a key element here: liability. If NCL installs the hair dryers, they're responsible in case something happens (barring obvious misuse by a guest). But NCL does NOT own battery operated fans, hence they don't want the liability in case something happens. Personally, I don't think these little fans are a hazard, but they certainly aren't NCL's property.

I always bring my own blow-dryer so I can use it in the bathroom if I want and also because I know the wattage is high. I hope they don't  add this to the prohibited  list too!

[cruiseny4life]

Why? I firmly believe (watch out, opinion here, no factual data whatsoever)!! that NCL is just trying to control electricity costs. 

 

When I sailed Joy last week, it was the hottest sailing I've had this year. The entire ship had me sweating. They're not using A/C on that ship...well they are, but only a minimal level. We've never had an issue getting our room to be comfortable for sleeping, but Joy was ridiculously hot even with the A/C on. We reported this issue to the Concierge three times. Three times the Concierge claimed a "report has been filed" which means maintenance was in the room. They may have been in the room, but they didn't fix anything. 

 

And yes, I know the little snowflake does nothing. We set the A/C at the lowest possible temperature and left it there. It was always, at least 75 degrees in the room. We never found it necessary to travel with a fan, but after our experience in a Haven room on Joy, well...a fan is now necessary. 

 

I'm sure this is part of NCL's "sustainability" push. There's no other reason to ban battery-controlled fans or to use a minimal amount of A/C. Those batteries sure do eat up a lot of garbage space when they're used up and thrown out...I wonder if ships recycle batteries? 

 

So @DCGuy64, that's the reason! I don't care what anyone else says....Also, if you actually want the reason, probably better to contact NCL as @goldmom did. 

[Two Wheels Only]

1 hour ago, goldmom said:

Here is the e-mail I sent basically I'm just asking them to re-evaluate no matter what prompted them to make the decision in the first place. 

 

Your email is well written and explains your complaints/concerns very clearly. 

 

Unfortunately, if you get a response, it will likely be a canned response that was written years before the Fan Ban went into effect. 

[vulcan97]

I just got off the phone with a "Cruise Specialist Supervisor" (Amy) and the only answer she could give me is that it's "for safety".  No further explanation could be given.  😒

Edited March 31, 2023 by vulcan97

[vulcan97]

1 hour ago, cruiseny4life said:

Why? I firmly believe (watch out, opinion here, no factual data whatsoever)!! that NCL is just trying to control electricity costs. 

 

This is my thought, too.  Electricity usage increases engine load.  Increased engine load increases fuel consumption.  It feels like a cost-cutting measure.

[goldmom]

45 minutes ago, Two Wheels Only said:

 

Your email is well written and explains your complaints/concerns very clearly. 

 

Unfortunately, if you get a response, it will likely be a canned response that was written years before the Fan Ban went into effect. 

More than likely that will be the case, but at least I made my voice heard.  And, maybe if enough people complain they will reverse or at least revise the decision.  They have occasionally done that.   Or at least I can hope.  Lol!

[The Traveling Man]

On 3/29/2023 at 9:24 PM, IronRobi said:

Fans run on motors which do make them different from other electrical devices. It's possible that the ship's electrical systems aren't rated to safely handle the inductive load from X number of cabins. The battery and USB powered fan is probably just collateral damage because it's easier to ban all fans than it is to allow certain types and slow everything down because they have to inspect and make a judgement call.

My rechargeable beard trimmer also uses an electric motor which is powered by a battery.  I’m not sure how different that is from the power profile of a portable fan.

[graphicguy]

11 minutes ago, The Traveling Man said:

My rechargeable beard trimmer also uses an electric motor which is powered by a battery.  I’m not sure how different that is from the power profile of a portable fan.

If I had to guess, they are more worried about those cheap fans that are of dubious electrical build quality and likely to overheat.

[OrangeCatRamblers]

I'm embarrassed to say how attached I am to sleeping with a fan! I fully 100% empathize with those of you who will not be able to sleep without one!! 

 

Not sure what I will do. Maybe a white noise machine as others have suggested. 

[goldmom]

For me it's more the breeze than the noise.  Although the noise does cover DH's snoring.

 

Maybe DH will stand over me waving a palm leaf.  That would take care of the snoring and the air current.  Lol!

[davencl]

39 minutes ago, goldmom said:

 

 

Maybe DH will stand over me waving a palm leaf.  That would take care of the snoring and the air current.  Lol!

That could work assuming it's not a handheld palm leaf which would be banned under the policy as written.  Lol

[The Traveling Man]

6 hours ago, mitchtech said:

I always bring my own blow-dryer so I can use it in the bathroom if I want and also because I know the wattage is high. I hope they don't  add this to the prohibited  list too!

Anything with an electric heating element that is not furnished by NCL is prohibited.

[BirdTravels]

7 hours ago, cruiseny4life said:

Why? I firmly believe (watch out, opinion here, no factual data whatsoever)!! that NCL is just trying to control electricity costs. 

There is zero substantiation to this claim. Made up fake news. 

[OrangeCatRamblers]

47 minutes ago, The Traveling Man said:

Anything with an electric heating element that is not furnished by NCL is prohibited.

 

Is this true? I thought people could bring curling irons or Instylers.

[The Traveling Man]

16 minutes ago, OrangeCatRamblers said:

 

Is this true? I thought people could bring curling irons or Instylers.

Prohibited Items List

 

The safety and security of our guests and crew is our number one priority. The following items are prohibited on-board vessels. These items will be confiscated and not transported aboard. When an item is determined to be illegal the appropriate authorities will be informed.

 

• 21. Items brought on board the vessel and not supplied by the Company containing any kind of heating element, such as but not limited to: immersion heaters, heating blankets, clothing irons, water heaters, coffee machines with heating/hot plates, etc.

 

31. All types of fans including handheld, battery operated, electric etc.

 

 

[OrangeCatRamblers]

Ok but wait - aren't people still packing or planning to pack curling irons and Instylers? Nobody is talking about this? I feel like I read so many complaints about how the mirrors aren't well situated for plugging in and curling one's hair!!

[The Traveling Man]

12 minutes ago, OrangeCatRamblers said:

Ok but wait - aren't people still packing or planning to pack curling irons and Instylers? Nobody is talking about this? I feel like I read so many complaints about how the mirrors aren't well situated for plugging in and curling one's hair!!

Passengers have reported taking many things on board which are on the prohibited list.  They may or may not be stopped and the items may or may not be confiscated.  That does not alter the fact that the items are on the list of prohibited items, it just means that some people have managed to slip them past the security checkpoint.

Edited March 31, 2023 by The Traveling Man

[davencl]

56 minutes ago, The Traveling Man said:

Passengers have reported taking many things on board which are on the prohibited list.  They may or may not be stopped and the items may or may not be confiscated.  That does not alter the fact that the items are on the list of prohibited items, it just means that some people have managed to slip them past the security checkpoint.

Like many things there are exceptions.  Curlings irons and hair dryers are two of them.  Elsewhere on NCL's website:

https://www.ncl.com/faq/guest-conduct-policy#:~:text=Certain items that generate heat,and may require a converter.  So these are not prohibited since they are expressly allowed.

Edited March 31, 2023 by davencl

[cruiseny4life]

2 hours ago, BirdTravels said:

There is zero substantiation to this claim. Made up fake news. 

What gave it away? The "no factual data whatsoever" line?

 

9 hours ago, cruiseny4life said:

Why? I firmly believe (watch out, opinion here, no factual data whatsoever)!! that NCL is just trying to control electricity costs.

 

So @DCGuy64, that's the reason! I don't care what anyone else says....Also, if you actually want the reason, probably better to contact NCL as @goldmom did.

Or the "if you actually want the reason, probably better to contact NCL" line?

[chengkp75]

9 hours ago, cruiseny4life said:

Why? I firmly believe (watch out, opinion here, no factual data whatsoever)!! that NCL is just trying to control electricity costs.

Yeah, that 3 watt USB fan (even if there are 2000 of them onboard all running at the same time), really makes a difference when you are generating 40,000,000 watts of power for propulsion, and 8,000,000 watts of power for the hotel load.  Even if every cabin had a 5-6" fan, drawing about 60 watts, that would be less than 0.25% of the electrical load.

[Sinbadssailors]

28 minutes ago, chengkp75 said:

Yeah, that 3 watt USB fan (even if there are 2000 of them onboard all running at the same time), really makes a difference when you are generating 40,000,000 watts of power for propulsion, and 8,000,000 watts of power for the hotel load.  Even if every cabin had a 5-6" fan, drawing about 60 watts, that would be less than 0.25% of the electrical load.

 

Which would be a greater threat to safety, 2000 fans(prohibited) or 2000 curling irons (permitted)?

[Sinbadssailors]

31 minutes ago, chengkp75 said:

 

 

Edited April 1, 2023 by Sinbadssailors
Double post

[The Traveling Man]

3 hours ago, davencl said:

Like many things there are exceptions.  Curlings irons and hair dryers are two of them.  Elsewhere on NCL's website:

https://www.ncl.com/faq/guest-conduct-policy#:~:text=Certain items that generate heat,and may require a converter.  So these are not prohibited since they are expressly allowed.

Thanks.  That's a good catch.  Too bad NCL's rules and regs are so confusing and contradictory.  If you simply search for "prohibited items" you get an absolute rule, but if you look further like you did, you find exceptions which say exactly the opposite.  Thanks for digging further.

[uneamie]

USB rechargeable fans do not get "hot". They do not use any more electricity than your cell phone to charge them. Maybe I will turn the hairdryer on "cool" and face towards our bed....