Are European plug outlets standard?
 

A few years back I bought in France a hairdryer and curling iron so I wouldn't have to mess around with adapters and/or transformers. But now I'm planning to take both of those items with on my upcoming Danube cruise. The handbook says the rooms are equipped with "European-style outlets." Can I expect those to be the same as I found in France, or do I start all over again at square 1?

You should be okay unless you're going to the UK.

Yikes thanks for you post Underhill

I COMPLETELY FORGOT ABOUT THIS!

Can you think of anything else along these lines that I should be thinking of?

I think that always means the standard two-prong continental plug, just like in France.

"Continental" Europe uses the standard two-prong plug. Hence, France and Germany have the same plug. If you're not going to the UK (it's not on the Danube!), you won't need to worry about their differing three-prong plugs.

Your hair dryer and curling iron will work in Germany and you will be beautiful! 8^)

Hi Underhill
I was just in Lyon France and found that the outlets had a third prong in the sockets. I had some electronics that was 110/220, so all I had to do was use an adaptor. But I also had some stuff that required the 220/110 transformer...and it would not fit directly into the socket, so I needed the adaptor also...so bring both.
Enjoy your trip,
Mike

kropla.com is a good source for electric questions :)

A small tip If you are in the USA-Duane Reade now sells a package that includes all the possible adapters for any outlet globally, listed by region and/or country.

blissa you saved me 5 steps THANK YOU!

I well remember the plugs in the U.K. Interesting doesn't begin to describe what we went through trying to make one fit!

France a few years back began using the grounding plugs with the third prong; we encountered some outlets with, but most are still without. I hope Austria and Germany are still using just the 2-prong models--that's what shows on the Magellans.com site chart, and the adapter plug for those countries is exactly the same as the plug on my appliances. Wish me luck!

Luck isn't needed in case of Germany and Austria. The plugs are standardized since 1926 and unchanged since the 1930ties: 3-prong Schuko. 2-prong "Europlugs" are compatible.

That's comforting to know.

Hi

This is the best guide I've found.

Beware, some plugs look the same, but just don't fit !

Peter