A Guide to Cruise Ship Plug Types

Created onOctober 11, 2023

Last updated onAugust 22, 2025

There is nothing worse than boarding your cruise ship, enjoying the sailaway party, and making yourself comfortable in your cabin before dinner, only to realise that all the gadgets you’ve packed feature a different plug from the sockets in your stateroom. It can be a costly lesson to learn, with plug adapters costing a huge amount more in port or on board the ship, something made even more annoying when you have a drawer full of them at home!

Here at Bolsover Cruise Club, we recommend checking which socket type is available on board your ship before you sail. We have put together a guide to plug sockets on cruise ships that provides you with information on all cruise lines and the socket types available in cabins on board. All cruise ships feature either a British socket, a Continental socket, or a US socket, with the newest and most technologically advanced ships also featuring USB charging ports. As cruise lines develop more innovative ships over the coming years, USB charging ports may be added more frequently, as passengers take more and more gadgets on a cruise holiday with them.

What Plug Sockets Are on Cruise Ships?

The four types of plug sockets vary across different cruise lines, with some cruise lines having only one type of socket, some having multiple types, and only one cruise line offering USB charging ports. We have compiled the following table detailing all of the cruise lines and the types of plug sockets they support.

Cruise Line	US Plug	European Plug	UK Plug	Australian Plug	USB Ports
AmaWaterways	❌	✅	❌	❌	❌
Azamara	✅	✅	❌	❌	✅
Carnival	✅	✅	❌	✅ (AU sailings)	✅
Celebrity	✅	✅	❌	❌	✅
Crystal	✅	✅	❌	❌	❌
Cunard	✅	❌	✅	❌	❌
Disney Cruise Line	✅	✅ (some ships)	❌	❌	❌
Emerald	❌	✅	❌	✅ (SE Asia)	❌
Explora Journeys	✅	✅	❌	❌	✅
Fred. Olsen	✅	✅	✅ (some)	❌	❌
HAL (Holland America)	✅	✅	❌	❌	✅
Hurtigruten	❌	✅	❌	❌	❌
HX Expeditions	❌	✅	❌	❌	❌
Marella	✅	✅	❌	❌	✅
MSC	✅	✅	❌	❌	✅
NCL	✅	✅	❌	❌	✅
Oceania	✅	✅	❌	❌	✅
P&O Cruises	❌	❌	✅	❌	✅ (some ships)
Princess	✅	✅ (some ships)	❌	❌	✅
Royal Caribbean	✅	✅	❌	❌	✅ (some ships)
Regent Seven Seas Cruises	✅	✅	❌	❌	❌
Scenic River	❌	✅	❌	✅ (some ships)	❌
Seabourn	✅	✅	❌	❌	❌
Silversea	✅	✅	❌	❌	❌
Viking Ocean	✅	✅	❌	❌	✅
Viking River Cruises	✅	✅	❌	❌	✅

Legend:

✅ = Available
❌ = Not mentioned or not available

British Sockets

There are only three cruise lines that have the traditional British plug socket: Cunard Cruise, some Fred Olsen Cruise Line ships and P&O Cruises. These cruise lines are known to feature the three-pronged British socket, meaning if you book your cruise with them, you won’t need to bring an adapter.

European Sockets

European sockets are much more common across the cruise lines, with 24 cruise lines featuring European-style plug sockets on their cruise ships. The following cruise lines support European sockets:

If you are booking a cruise with one of these cruise lines, you will need to bring a plug adapter to ensure your charger type can utilise the plug sockets.

US Two Pin Socket

The US socket can be found on 20 different cruise lines that all feature the two-pronged plug socket; these cruise lines include:

To ensure your devices remain charged throughout the duration of your cruise, you will need to bring an adapter for your plugs if you book a cruise with one of these cruise lines.

USB Chargers

Most cruise lines now offer cruise ships with USB ports, enabling universal charging. The cruise lines that offer USB charging ports include:

With this universal method of charging becoming the new standard within the industry, you can expect more cruise lines to adopt this type of charging socket.

Do You Need a Plug Adapter on a Cruise Ship?

If you are heading on a cruise holiday, then a plug adapter is an essential piece of equipment to pack. By following our guide to the types of plug sockets available across all of the major cruise lines, you can plan ahead and find the correct adapter for the cruise ship you are sailing on. For more inspiration on what necessities you’ll need to take on your next cruise, make sure you take a look at our guide to what cruise essentials to pack.

Discover Your Perfect Cruise Getaway with Bolsover Cruise Club

Get ready to book your next cruise getaway with all of the major cruise lines available here at Bolsover Cruise Club. If you need help booking a cruise, please don’t hesitate to contact us. A member of our team will be happy to assist you.