Cruise Line to Finally Offer ‘Medical Necessity’ For Texas Guests

Major cruise lines that sail out of the port of New Orleans in Louisiana, Galveston in Texas, and Mobile in Alabama have been listening to you. Since the cruise industry began its great rebound from COVID guests have been more vocal about what they want and what they don't want on a cruise vacation.

Many Texas cruisers that we've spoken to are very excited that lines such as Carnival, Royal Caribbean, and Norwegian Cruise Lines have upgraded their internet service by signing on with Elon Musk's Starlink service. Those who've used the Starlink connections say they're very reliable. So, reliable in fact that one ship the Oasis of the Seas held a special online ticket purchase event for fans of the recently reunited band Oasis. Cheeky? yes. Fun? certainly.

Despite what your teenager might tell you "the internet" is not a medical necessity. What Carnival Cruise Lines has now added to its lineup of available items certainly is. Let's play a bit of a guessing game, shall we? See if you can figure out what this very common item is that has been missing from cruise ships all of these years.

Here are some hints, it's the one thing that you'd think a cruise ship would have plenty of. The item in question is used by people while they sleep. You can make your own, but not on a cruise ship. It looks like a lot of other products but those who need it, need it specifically. Have you figured out what the "mystery" product is?

If you guessed water, then you'd be close. Cruise ships seem to have enough water, heck they are surrounded by it. How can people use water when they sleep? If they are one of the millions of Americans who use a machine for "Continuous Positive Airway Pressure" then you'd need it while you sleep for your CPAP machine. And while you've figured out we are talking about "water" the product in question is actually "distilled water". 

Distilled water is water that has been purified so it is the choice of those who use it in their CPAP machines. It is estimated that between 8 million and 33 million Americans use a CPAP while they sleep to prevent sleep apnea and the many health issues it can exacerbate. Up until recently, if you took your CPAP on a Carnival Cruise, you couldn't get the water you needed on the ship. Now you can.

Sure, it's a minor addition to the cruise ship gift shop but it does show the cruise lines are listening. And it also eliminates the excuse for not bringing the CPAP with you on your trip.