Power Adapter/Converter

[Gramma of Boys]

Hoping someone can help. The more I read the more confused I get. We are booked on a Rhine River cruise through Avalon Waterways in April. Do we need a power adapter or a converter, or both? So many options and my head is spinning! A link to something that has actually been used and worked well would be great. Thank you!

[JordanF]

My experience on Avalon and others is that because these boats are in Europe, they require the same adapter/converter that you would need on land in Europe.  You can get one on Amazon for $10-$15.  We have one that has multiple USB ports, and this has proven very useful as we can charge both phones and a kindle all at once.

[gnome12]

Virtually all electronics today (phones, computers, cameras etc) are dual voltage, so you only need a plug adapter. A converter is a more complicated and expensive item that converts the voltage which you don't need for dual voltage chargers.

[Second seating]

Just make sure hair dryers, straightening irons, curling irons, etc. are dual voltage and you are good to go with just the plug adapter.

 

Second seating

[gnome12]

39 minutes ago, Second seating said:

Just make sure hair dryers, straightening irons, curling irons, etc. are dual voltage and you are good to go with just the plug adapter.

 

Second seating

Check whether the cruise line even allows these items, as many lines ban heat producing appliances. All lines provide hair dryers.

[sharkster77]

Wife picked up a dual voltage curling iron (allowed by Viking) for a cruise 4 years ago for about $10.  For safety reasons, hair dryers are normally provided.

 

Adaptors are cheap---converters are not.  For charging phones, laptops, tablets, etc., just an adaptor is needed (chargers are dual voltage).  Even a CPAP is dual voltage and just needs an adaptor.  Rick Steves website sells adaptors for $3 each.  What you need is the 2 prong European adaptor.

Edited January 18 by sharkster77

[pontac]

16 hours ago, Gramma of Boys said:

Do we need a power adapter or a converter, or both?

 

From Avalon's FAQ

 

EUROPE

Electricity: Onboard electricity is 220v. Wall sockets take a European 2-prong plug. To use any small personal appliance such as an electric razor, curling iron, or electric plug-in type alarm clock, you will need an adapter to plug in to the wall sockets for dual voltage appliances and a converter as well as an adapter for appliances that are not dual voltage. Converters must be EU certified. Cheap, non-certified converters may damage your appliance and are a fire hazard on the ship. Staterooms are also equipped with USB outlets which are useful for charging phones, tablets, cameras, etc.

 

So USB sockets are provided.

You'll need a US to Euro plug adapter for other devices, like this

https://www.amazon.com/Unidapt-European-Adapter-Converter-adaptor/dp/B077WJYNQ5

 

 

 

Laptop computers are dual voltage so the above is OK. You only need a converter if you have a device that is not dual voltage such as an iron or hair drier. Hair driers are suppled. 

 

Others have posted on this forum in the past that they have found it cheaper to buy an iron in Europe than a power converter in the USA. The German Amazon - amazon.de - has irons at EUR 24.99.

Edited January 19 by pontac

[sharkster77]

2 hours ago, pontac said:

 

From Avalon's FAQ

 

EUROPE

Electricity: Onboard electricity is 220v. Wall sockets take a European 2-prong plug. To use any small personal appliance such as an electric razor, curling iron, or electric plug-in type alarm clock, you will need an adapter to plug in to the wall sockets for dual voltage appliances and a converter as well as an adapter for appliances that are not dual voltage. Converters must be EU certified. Cheap, non-certified converters may damage your appliance and are a fire hazard on the ship. Staterooms are also equipped with USB outlets which are useful for charging phones, tablets, cameras, etc.

 

So USB sockets are provided.

You'll need a US to Euro plug adapter for other devices, like this

https://www.amazon.com/Unidapt-European-Adapter-Converter-adaptor/dp/B077WJYNQ5

 

 

 

Laptop computers are dual voltage so the above is OK. You only need a converter if you have a device that is not dual voltage such as an iron or hair drier. Hair driers are suppled. 

 

Others have posted on this forum in the past that they have found it cheaper to buy an iron in Europe than a power converter in the USA. The German Amazon - amazon.de - has irons at EUR 24.99.

The adapters in the amazon link you shared have the 'pointed' sides, i.e.  <==>.  Ours have rounded sides (==).  The interesting part is we were in Switzerland for a week last spring.  Our rounded european adapters worked in every hotel EXCEPT the last one in Lucerne--we had to borrow a couple from the desk.  Technically the Swiss have their own adapter, with the pointed sides, but we had no problem with the usual euro adapter, until the end of the trip.

[pontac]

I have no personal experience of this adaptor, but they illustrate a 'Shuko' socket, which is commonly found, which has the holes in a circular depression and they say their adaptor works in it.

 

This is the illustration 

 

 

(However the British Isles  are coloured the same blue and this or any 2 rounded pin plug will not fit into UK or Irish sockets)

Edited January 19 by pontac

[RobInMN]

We travel with these:

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0058EG0KC/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_search_asin_title?ie=UTF8&th=1

 

And a couple of these:

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B07YDF8GCT/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_search_asin_title?ie=UTF8&th=1

 

While technically, one is an E/F and the other is a 'C' (C is thinner), we've had no issues using either/both in most outlets.

 

More importantly though, we use this for the bulk of our charging needs:

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0BX3V6ZZX/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_search_asin_title?ie=UTF8&psc=1

 

[Second seating]

The Tessan is the one we use and it works great!

 

Second seating

[Daisi]

We use these, they have 2 usb-c and 2 usb-a outlets (still haven't updated the power bank & camera so need the old outlets) as well as plugs if needed.  They worked great on our Avalon cruise in Sept. and with the folding plugs, take up a bit less space. 

 

https://www.amazon.ca/gp/product/B0C69NRF5Q/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_asin_title_o06_s00?ie=UTF8&th=1

 

 

Avalon only has usb-a outlets, so if you need the usb-c, make sure you have the right cables.

[Roz]

I bought the Tessan adapter from Amazon and used it on my recent Tauck river cruise.  Worked at my hotel in Amsterdam as well as on the river boat.