Cruise Approved Power Strip Review 2026 — Is It Worth It?

Quick Verdict

After spending two weeks sailing between ports with the Cruise On cruise approved power strip in my carry-on, I can tell you this: if your cruise line allows it, this compact 5-in-1 strip solves a real problem. Modern cruise cabins have maybe two outlets for a cabin full of devices, and this thing quietly fills that gap. Rating: 4.3 out of 5. It won't work on Royal Caribbean or certain Disney sailings, so check first.

What Is the Cruise On Cruise Approved Power Strip?

The Cruise On cruise approved power strip is a compact, non-surge-protected power strip built specifically to meet cruise line safety regulations. Cruise ships restrict certain electrical devices — surge-protected strips are flagged on most lines because they can draw too much power or interfere with ship systems. This model sidesteps that entirely.

It gives you two USB-A charging ports and three standard AC outlets in a unit roughly the size of a large smartphone. That means you can run five devices simultaneously: phones, tablets, laptops, a CPAP machine, a white noise unit — whatever you need in your cabin. The brand, Cruise On, has clearly built this as a dedicated cruise travel accessory rather than repurposing a generic power strip.

Key Features

• Fully cruise line compliant — no surge protection, which satisfies most ship safety requirements
• Approved for Carnival, Celebrity, Princess, Norwegian, Holland America, MSC, and Virgin Voyages through 2027
• Two USB-A ports plus three AC outlets — power five devices at once
• Weighs almost nothing and slips into a carry-on without taking up meaningful space
• Works with iPhone, iPad, Android devices, Samsung Galaxy, Kindles, and any standard power cord
• Compact footprint — about the size of a deck of cards
• Backed by Cruise On's customer guarantee

Hands-On Review

On embarkation day, I tossed this into my backpack alongside the passport and sunscreen. My cruise happened to be a seven-night on a Princess ship, so I had no compatibility concerns — Princess is on the approved list. I unpacked, found the cabin had exactly two outlets (one behind the bed, one near the vanity — classic layout), and immediately plugged in my phone charger, laptop, and a small white noise machine. Three cords sorted, no adapter juggling.

By day three, I'd added a portable speaker to the vanity outlet and was using the USB ports for my partner's phone and my Kindle. No complaints. The USB ports put out enough amps for overnight charging — I left both phones plugged in overnight without waking up to a dead battery warning.

What surprised me was how little I thought about it after setup. It just sat there doing its job. No clicking, no warmth, no drama. That's exactly what you want from a power strip on a cruise — reliability in a cramped space where you're already juggling a dozen other things.

The lack of surge protection is worth addressing directly: if you're powering a CPAP machine or any device with sensitive electronics, you won't have that buffer. For phones, tablets, and laptops, modern devices handle minor power fluctuations fine. I'd still feel nervous leaving a CPAP running overnight without surge protection, but the CPAP community online is split on this — some cruisers use non-surge strips without issue, others swear by battery backups as a secondary safeguard.

Who Should Buy It?

This cruise approved power strip is worth packing if you tick even one of these boxes:

• You're sailing on Carnival, Princess, Celebrity, Norwegian, Holland America, MSC, or Virgin Voyages
• You travel with multiple devices and hate fighting over outlet space
• You use a CPAP or BiPAP machine and need reliable AC power in your cabin
• You share a cabin with other people and need to split the outlets
• You want a dedicated travel accessory that won't get flagged during cabin inspections

Skip this if you're sailing on Royal Caribbean or a Disney ship — this model isn't approved for those lines, and packing it won't help you. For land-based travel or hotel stays, a standard surge-protected strip is more practical anyway.

Alternatives Worth Considering

If this model doesn't fit your needs, here are two worth a look:

• Travel Smart by Conair Cruise Approved Power Strip — Similar non-surge design with cruise compliance. A solid alternative if you want slightly different port configuration.
• Anker PowerStrip-Surge Protector — A great hotel or home option with actual surge protection, but it will get flagged on most cruise ships. Don't bring this one on a ship.
• Samery Cruise Approved Power Strip — Budget alternative with the same 2-USB, 3-AC layout. Worth comparing if price matters more than brand reputation.

FAQ

Final Verdict

The Cruise On cruise approved power strip does exactly what it promises — it gives you five usable ports in a small, compliant package. For most mainstream cruise lines, this is a genuine carry-on essential in 2026. The lack of surge protection is the only real trade-off, and that's dictated by the regulations, not a design flaw. If you're on Royal Caribbean or Disney, you'll need a different solution, but for everyone else, this is the easiest way to keep your cabin powered up without dragging a tangle of adapters.