Prescription Meds/Adaptors.
We will be taking this cruise which starts July 1.
A few questions..
Do prescription meds need to be in their original containers? Or can they be in weekly dispensers? We don't want any issues getting into London/Paris.
I assume we need plug adaptors in London to charge our cell phones/Ipads, etc.
Do we need an adaptor while we are on the Sapphire cruise ship? If so, what kind?
All responses will be appreciated.
Thanks,
Sue
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Comments
Sue,
Here is a link that can help you identify what adapters might be needed wherever you travel.
https://power-plugs-sockets.com
I have only taken prescription bottles once. Otherwise I have always taken them in weekly containers. We have never been asked to show any medicines. When you get to customers, never offer to show them unless asked. Of course don’t take any recreational drugs with you.
That website is good but does not address being on a ship. I’ve only taken one river cruise but can’t remember. I would assume European and maybe one American outlet is in the cabins.
Medication dispensers are fine. I have never been challenged in Europe. I do bring a listing of medications, however.
Depending on how many devices you travel with, you may need adapters on the riverboat. I find there are adequate amounts of U.S. outlets as well as USB ports for my limited needs.
I take meds in weekly containers. Smiling Sam gave you a place to find out about adapters. My experience on most ships is that they provide US style outlets with 120 volts and European (2-prong Type C) outlets with 230 volts.
Electrics Adapters: all Tauck river cruise ship cabins have both US and European outlets. The exact location and number depend on the cabin class. Generally at least one of each at a nightstand location, same at a desk where the Vox charger may be plugged in and a European outlet in the bathroom to use the provided hair dryer. A type C European adapter is worth bringing to expand the number of outlets you can use beyond just the US ones and also because many hotel rooms only have European outlets. A type C is easy to find at big box stores and Amazon for a few dollars depending on design. I like the ones that include both a US type inlet and USB ports.
Meds: the official guidance is bringing in your original container but I never do so in Europe. I print a copy of all my prescriptions from MyChart. Some people take photos of the bottle with their smartphone or get a print out from the pharmacy. For any trip longer than a week I use the tiny ziploc bags meant for medication that are labeled with the day & date. I find that handy as I can get everything ready in the morning, leave out my meds for the day & toothbrush, go to breakfast and return to take care of pills and teeth. Especially handy on days we're moving to a new hotel.
Here's a link to Tauck's website page for the Sapphire. It lists the ship amenities and if you go to the Deck Plan and each Cabin Category it will lists additional details on amenities like robes, toiletries, etc.
https://www.tauck.com/ships/ms-sapphire?
Claudia - I've never seen a rechargeable Vox. The ones I've used have replaceable batteries. I only do land tours. Is this something specific to river cruises?
I’ve seen rechargeable ones
Yes, the river cruise ones we've had in the past were rechargeable. You put the unit in the base upon return from excursions. Even the new small ones we used in 2023 had a charging unit.
Kinda makes sense on a boat, as you don't need to move it from hotel to hotel. Now if they would only get some with bluetooth, so I could use my own earbuds...
We have used small, lightweight really nice listening devices on a tour with another company so they are out there.
Type G for England and type C for the ship. The US outlets are somewhat limited in each cabin so a multiport adapter and/or charger comes in handy. As hotels are updating it is becoming more common to have USB-A ports bedside. In the past I brought a short Anker extension cord with a plug, two USB A ports and one USB-C port.There are two outlets in the bathroom medicine cabinets which are European C outlets. The Eurostar should have charging ports at each seat which in business classes which are both C and E types with a USB-A port as well. For medications I print a copy from the health record, lay it on the table with one pill by each medication name and take a picture which I share with my spouse. I then take the print out and put it with the copy of our passports.
I originally also took pictures of the pills but they keep changing because most are now generics and I often get different ones which are completely different in color and shape than the originals ones.
I agree with British. Quite frequently when I renew one of my husband’s prescriptions there is a change in the pharmaceutical company resulting in different colors and shapes of the pill. I just make sure the list I take on holiday travel is current even though I have never needed to show it.
Exactly my point. Medication reconciliation is a pain in the behind. A stranger(customs officer/nurse/EMT..) needs to know what is the little blue stripe capsule that you are taking or likely may need to urgently give you one of your medications. You may or may not be able to answer that question particularly if it has recently change form.
You will have your list of MyChart meds with you if Customs get serious, or in an emergency medical situation you can log into your health records for foreign doctors to see your records. You can also access websites that have info on all meds and their appearance is described.
The only time here on the forum that I have read about being challenged about meds was someone going into Australia who had supplements confiscated and that was years ago.
Finally, has anyone been questioned about their meds? Did they voluntarily take them out to show a customs officer? Never do that! Two weeks worth of meds in weekly containers is very unlikely to cause any trouble. Large amounts may set off alarms, like bottles of strong pain killers. As older people, we generally get passed over. These days, even though I can’t go through X-ray machines at airports, most take one look at my gray hair and barely pat me down. That’s certainly true when I go to theatres with machines, some don’t even search me, they just let me bypass everything.
Eight years ago, when I was coming back from Bolivia, the local equivalent of the TSA agent really scrutinized my prescription bottles. (There were no opiods or epinephrine or anything that could have been prohibited.) That was the one and only time that I've had that happen. I usually bring medication in zip lock bags to minimize space and weight, but I'm glad I didn't do it that time. I, too, take photos of bottles of over the counter medications and a list of meds.
We’re on the Emerald right now. We do recharge the vox in the room at night.
There are two 110s and we also use adapters in the other sockets.
MCD, Did they ask to see your meds, or did you get them out to show them? Thanks for the info.
The time I took bottles, I had to ask the pharmacist to give me extra proper prescriptions bottles to put the ones I needed for the trip in, I don’t want to risk taking an entire bottle of three months worth of meds and risk getting it stolen or lost on a trip. So, I’ll risk just taking weekly containers and an official list of meds from MyChart.
Thanks, British. I didn't realize that there was a list of my medications on MyChart. I just went there and checked. They have one or two that I no longer take but otherwise it was correct.
Glad that helped Mike.
If you've never used MyChart for this function, here are the steps I follow.
Log In to my heathcare provider website. (this may differ for you)
Select Go to MyChart
Click on the Medications Button
Click on the Printer Icon
Normally the Destination will default to the printer I have attached to my PC. If I'd rather have a PDF, I can change that Destination to Save as a PDF. That file could be saved on my smartphone/tablet or printed using Adobe.
If I'm printing directly from MyChart I set the options to:
Select custom printing and only the pages I need. MyChart tends to retain old no longer used meds I don't pack.
2 Pages Per Sheet
Print on Both Sides (my printer has that capability)
Flip on Short Side
For me this results in one piece of paper I fold in quarters and it fits easily in the quarter ziploc bag all my meds go into.
If you've saved it as a PDF and want to print, you can use Adobe to get the same results as above by using the Booklet printing function. That's the same way I print the Final Documents to create my own "green book". I pick the pages I want to include and use the Booklet printing functions.
For the trip I create all my daily mini ziploc bags. I use the Snack sized ziplocs to put one week's worth of minis. This just keeps the slippery little devils from getting jumbled up. Then I use the mini sized bags to pack a week's worth of any critical meds labeled with what it is. This gives me a backup supply in case of delays. The print out means I can clearly communicate with any medical providers what I currently take in case of emergencies.
Awesome Claudia, we do the same as you. You can also order renewal scripts on there too Mike. And I can assume you can message your doctors too like I do.
Yes I can request renewals but usually don't need to. I also use it to sign in for upcoming appointments saving a lot of time upon arrival, I can request appts or cancel them. You can also get a complete vaccination list and you can print QR codes for covid vaccines even though I don't think anyone needs those these days.