Question from new CPAP user

[JF - retired RRT]

16 hours ago, BDevilCruiser said:

Am on the Sapphire right now ( still at the dock in Vancouver dealing with propulsion issues.)

 

Here’s a picture of the bedside table in an ocean view cabin.  www I’ll be a tight fit for my CPAP, but the lamp has a USB port, which is an improvement.  Still need to plug in at the desk, though.

The shelf underneath is a good option.

[JF - retired RRT]

3 hours ago, cr8tiv1 said:

Need to get out of the mind set of putting it on the night stand.  The CPAP is supposed to be below your sleeping level.  The drawer works perfectly.  The box needs to be slightly taller than the draw (6 - 8 inches).  

 

Either use it when packing or fold it flat and "expand" when you get to the ship.  A regular cardboard box is sturdy enough without adding tape or other adhesives.  

The reason it's supposed to be lower than you are is so that IF your using a humidifier and it doesn't have "active" humidification (i.e. the level changes with room temp), there will be moisture build-up in the hose and it could get blown into your nose. That would wake you up.

For those who don't uses a humidifier, it isn't an issue.

[memoak]

1 hour ago, JF - retired RRT said:

The reason it's supposed to be lower than you are is so that IF your using a humidifier and it doesn't have "active" humidification (i.e. the level changes with room temp), there will be moisture build-up in the hose and it could get blown into your nose. That would wake you up.

For those who don't uses a humidifier, it isn't an issue.

And I have never needed the humidifier portion. 

[BDevilCruiser]

Back from my cruise, and have recovered from the redeye across country (SEA to RDU) so catching up.

 

My machine is an AirCurve 10 (https://www.resmed.com/en-us/sleep-apnea/cpap-parts-support/sleep-apnea-full-products-list/cpap-machines/aircurve-10-bilevel/)

 

I placed the machine on the side of the lamp towards the bed (see copied picture in comment #51, without the BiPAP), and used an extension cord to connect to the power at the desk.  (While the extension cord was on the floor the entire time in my obstructed view OceanView, it wasn't in the way as I got in/out of the bed on the other side.)

 

I did find that the machine got pulled onto the mattress during the night. More of a "lean" than falling onto the mattress.  No harm to the machine.  I didn't need humidification (unlike home;  guess being surrounded by the Pacific Ocean helped there!), so there wasn't a water issue.

 

The new USB lamps were a help, I was able to plug in my phone to use as a clock/alarm.

 

[Rick&Jeannie]

For anybody who might be wondering about the best way to power your CPAP (my opinion...) here is what I do:

 

As has been stated previously...*most* ships that I've been on have a 220 volt "European style" 2 prong socket behind one of the beds. (The nightstand lamp is generally plugged into this socket.)

I use the adapter below (Amazon) to give me both a European style socket as well as a US style socket.  This way, you can keep the lamp plugged in while also giving you the US style socket needed for the CPAP.  Of course...you need to MAKE SURE that your CPAP power supply is a dual voltage unit!!!  (Most are...)

[JF - retired RRT]

11 hours ago, Rick&Jeannie said:

For anybody who might be wondering about the best way to power your CPAP (my opinion...) here is what I do:

 

As has been stated previously...*most* ships that I've been on have a 220 volt "European style" 2 prong socket behind one of the beds. (The nightstand lamp is generally plugged into this socket.)

I use the adapter below (Amazon) to give me both a European style socket as well as a US style socket.  This way, you can keep the lamp plugged in while also giving you the US style socket needed for the CPAP.  Of course...you need to MAKE SURE that your CPAP power supply is a dual voltage unit!!!  (Most are...)

 

Pretty sure that ALL CPAPs are dual voltage. The manufacturers send the machines all over the world. They got tired of making one machine for the US and a different one for just about everyone else. It's a money thing.

[Rick&Jeannie]

1 hour ago, JF - retired RRT said:

Pretty sure that ALL CPAPs are dual voltage. The manufacturers send the machines all over the world. They got tired of making one machine for the US and a different one for just about everyone else. It's a money thing.

I agree...but sure as a world, *someone* will come up with a 110 volt only power supply and give me grief! So...I just always toss in that warning. 

[cruisinsince75]

My CPAP is an Airsense11 and I love it.  Has a small carrying case and easy to transport.  My post #29 about the desk being on the opposite wall in our Mini Suite was incorrect.  I was looking at the standard Mini.  Saw a video of our accessible Mini and was happy to see the desk is by the bed. So we will be bringing a small cruise approved extension cord.  😀  

[Thunderbird19]

Don’t bother with buying a travel CPAP. Just bring your regular one. It will fit on  nightstand. Also travel with a few feet of duct tape wrapped around a bottle or pencil that you can peel off little bits of and use if needed to hold cord or tubing in place (never had it damage furniture or walls).  I travel with an AirSense 11.  It has a nice compact travel case that I also tuck other carryon/ must have items into.

Edited May 22 by Thunderbird19

[suzyed]

On 5/10/2024 at 12:13 AM, Teechur said:

Have you explored the electrical connection? You may need a (ship supplied) extension cord because there are no outlets by the bed(s) except on the new Sun. One 220 outlet under the bed for the lamp.

Many of the ships have an outlet under the head of the bed, but you need an European adapter.

 

[cruisnfool]

We have been cruising with 2 CPAPS for years. No biggie. I request distilled water from special needs and an extension cord. I never take mine because they say they will take it from you. I put the machine on the side table, if it doesn’t fit I put in drawer. You can carry it on a plane as a carryon that does not count but I just pack in my carry on with clothes around it.

[memoak]

8 minutes ago, cruisnfool said:

We have been cruising with 2 CPAPS for years. No biggie. I request distilled water from special needs and an extension cord. I never take mine because they say they will take it from you. I put the machine on the side table, if it doesn’t fit I put in drawer. You can carry it on a plane as a carryon that does not count but I just pack in my carry on with clothes around it.

As long as your extension cord does not have a surge protector you can bring it. I have been bringing one for years. The ones they provide are industrial size

[azbirdmom]

12 minutes ago, cruisnfool said:

I request distilled water from special needs and an extension cord.

 

Note that the distilled water ordering process on the website in the dietary section hasn't worked for our last two requests.  We get the usual message that we will hear back but don't.  Apparently they have moved the rest of the dietary requests to the Medallion app but this one was left out.  I've had luck emailing dietaryrequest@princesscruises.com .  They respond within a day or two and the notations about the distilled etc. appear on the Travel Summary.  You can still do this onboard but it's just so much easier to have it on the record than add one more item to the Steward's list for later.  

[paddingtonbear]

DH has an airsense11 for home but uses a travel CPAP when we aray because it is 1/10th of the size and much lighter. Also works on a battery if required. No water required for the humidifier as it is built in.  It’s a tiny bit noisier than the air sense so putting it on the nightstand shelf will be perfect.  Whatever works for you to get a safe good night sleep is the way to go. 
 

Thanks for the info about the under the bed power point and adapters. 

[JF - retired RRT]

I watched a video of the new Sun and the bedside tables don't have anything on them. The lights are mounted on the wall...at least in the cabin in the video. Also, an electrical plug-in and USB port are located there (convenient location for CPAP users). 

[Rick&Jeannie]

18 hours ago, paddingtonbear said:

DH has an airsense11 for home but uses a travel CPAP when we aray because it is 1/10th of the size and much lighter. Also works on a battery if required. No water required for the humidifier as it is built in.  It’s a tiny bit noisier than the air sense so putting it on the nightstand shelf will be perfect.  

Sounds very much like the Resmed Airmini... I just purchased one of these; can't use it because of the extreme difference in noise!  (Very light sleeper.) Looking to sell it or *somehow* get some of my $1100 back!

[paddingtonbear]

5 hours ago, Rick&Jeannie said:

Sounds very much like the Resmed Airmini... I just purchased one of these; can't use it because of the extreme difference in noise!  (Very light sleeper.) Looking to sell it or *somehow* get some of my $1100 back!

Yes an airmini. DH took out the dehumidifier disc and that reduced the noise. Also place the machine on the floor or in a draw on the bedside table below the level of the bed. I’m the light sleeper between us and admittedly I generally sleep with earplugs but I don’t hear a thing with either machine. I get disturbed by wind and rain and neighbours dogs before either of the machines! 
 

Or try a different mask with it? DH says the mini mask has the air coming out from the top of the tube - below your nose but right near your ear which he can hear but it doesn’t disturb his sleep. You can buy an adapter for the mini hose to use any Resmed mask.  The other Resmed masks release air from a few places so the noise is greatly reduced.  The other Resmed masks are also more comfortable for him and don’t dry him out so much. I hope this helps you. Good luck. 

Edited June 2 by paddingtonbear

[joeyjeremiah]

So both my husband and myself are CPAP/BIPAP users. We always travel with our normal machines. When flying we place them in their case and place in our roller carry-on bags. I know it is a free item for airlines but I already have a personal item at my feet and like having the extra protection of the roller bag so nobody can ram their suitcase into it trying to make impossible stuff fit into the overhead bin. So I prefer to give up some carry-on space for that piece of mind. And yes in Canada you have to take it out and send the actual machine through x-ray in its own bin which they don't require in the US.

 

On the ship I carry it on with me (still in my roller bag). I've always been able to find a way to make it fit on the nightstand even with the light there. We order distilled water from the medical service requests. I bring my own small extension cord and run it to the desk but may try one of the adapters for next cruise as I like having my lamp. I use magnetic hooks to run the cord across the sealing and not be a tripping hazard and then additional magnetic hooks to hang mask off of during the day. This keeps it neat and tidy, out of the way of the cabin steward, and easy to access.

[Cabunit]

Here is a new question for all of the experts out there:

 

My APAP has a cellular modem built into it.  It cannot be disabled.  It connects daily to download data.  Does anyone have experience with this sort of a CPAP/APAP?  Do we get charged when it sends data?  How much is charged?  Any idea when this occurs during the day?  How long does it take?  Anything else I should know?

 

I'm trying to figure out if we just grin and bear the charges (if any) or if we should try to finesse the timing of when it is powered up (to try to use the port cell connections).  The durable medical equipment provider isn't particularly knowledgeable about the cellular details.

 

Thanks in advance!

[memoak]

13 minutes ago, Cabunit said:

Here is a new question for all of the experts out there:

 

My APAP has a cellular modem built into it.  It cannot be disabled.  It connects daily to download data.  Does anyone have experience with this sort of a CPAP/APAP?  Do we get charged when it sends data?  How much is charged?  Any idea when this occurs during the day?  How long does it take?  Anything else I should know?

 

I'm trying to figure out if we just grin and bear the charges (if any) or if we should try to finesse the timing of when it is powered up (to try to use the port cell connections).  The durable medical equipment provider isn't particularly knowledgeable about the cellular details.

 

Thanks in advance!

You probably need a WiFi plan and if so there would be no charge since it probably goes to an app you have. At least that is how mine works. No wifi no data 

[NavyVeteran]

56 minutes ago, Cabunit said:

Here is a new question for all of the experts out there:

 

My APAP has a cellular modem built into it.  It cannot be disabled.  It connects daily to download data.  Does anyone have experience with this sort of a CPAP/APAP?  Do we get charged when it sends data?  How much is charged?  Any idea when this occurs during the day?  How long does it take?  Anything else I should know?

 

I'm trying to figure out if we just grin and bear the charges (if any) or if we should try to finesse the timing of when it is powered up (to try to use the port cell connections).  The durable medical equipment provider isn't particularly knowledgeable about the cellular details.

 

Thanks in advance!

My CPAP has a cellular modem. However, I do not have a contract with a cellular provider to connect the CPAP. The CPAP company provides for the cellular connection. It does not use wi-fi. The CPAP does not use my cellular service. I've used my CPAP several times on cruises with no problems. I know the data was eventually uploaded so that my physician could see it. However, I never checked to see when it was uploaded. I suspect the CPAP does not use data roaming and waited until I returned to a United States cellular connection before uploading the back data, but I don't know for sure.

When you use a phone with a roaming foreign or nautical cellular connection, you don't pay the company providing the connection directly. You pay your home cellular connection for the roaming, as stated in your contract with them. I don't have a contract to provide cellular connection for my CPAP, so I'm not responsible for how it connects to a cellular network. I suspect that your situation is the same.

[NavyVeteran]

47 minutes ago, memoak said:

You probably need a WiFi plan and if so there would be no charge since it probably goes to an app you have. At least that is how mine works. No wifi no data 

@Cabunitsaid the APAP uses a cellular modem - not wifi. If it uses a cellular modem, then it would not use wifi. Your machine may be different.

[Cabunit]

Thank you @memoak.  My APAP comes in a number of "flavors."  One can obtain data from it via an SD card, or WiFi or Cellular.  My doctor chose cellular, so that is what I have.  I just wish there was a way to control the cellular connection, but there isn't.

[Cabunit]

Thank you @NavyVeteran!  (Also one myself)

 

I think your scenario makes complete sense.  I was hoping to save whomever pays for the cell connection from paying for any at-sea rates.  I would suspect that the durable medical equipment provider is on the hook for it, but they didn't seem to care when I talked to them.  Since Princess says that bills come from the cell provider, not them, and I don't have any contract for the APAP, it seems like we just go for it and see if anything happens.

 

If anything other than "nothing" happens, I will report back in this thread.

[memoak]

On 2nd thought if you are on airplane mode there will be no cell connection. Different from mine as on my last cruise I could see my sleep stats on my app