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Perhaps a small warning RE: Carnival and Guest Access Requests


MouseGal
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Background: my husband had a double lung transplant in April 2017. He has recovered fine, and we've cruised several times since then - most recently on the Carnival Splendor, Nov 2017.

 

Yesterday, I emailed Guest Access, to ask whether there is a fridge in the room that will keep his meds cold, and to notify them that we will have a small O2 bottle with us, which he uses with his CPAP when he's sleeping.

 

Not a big deal, right?

 

 

 

I got a call from Guest Access a few minutes ago, and the young lady stated that they would need a form filled out by his physician, stating that he is fit to travel. She emailed it to me, and it asks for his diagnosis, in detail, his meds, all medical equipment, any potential problems that might occur, and whether he is fit to sail.

 

Her email further states that "Once this information is received, we will forward it to our Medical Director for review and approval."

 

 

 

Excuse me? First of all, we wouldn't be making the trip if his transplant team hadn't given their approval. And I am well aware that the physician on board would not be able to do anything for him except MedEvac him to the closest major medical center in the US, if we had an emergency. Most hospitals in the US aren't equipped to deal with lung transplant patients.

 

 

 

We will have the form filled out, and send it in, however, I am now regretting having ever contacted them. (BTW, she assures me that the minibar fridge in the room will keep his insulin plenty cold, contrary to everything I've read on these boards...sigh)

 

 

Can't imagine showing up with an Inogen POC, or a bottle of O2 without letting someone know first, but...

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sorry, but the Captain under advice from his Medical Officer, is god. he can deny boarding to anyone for any reason.

 

you do realize that it is possible that MEDEVAC is not as easy a thing to just request, right? or that it can take hours to happen? and may not be to the US at all? if the Medical Staff do not feel they can properly stabilize him if things should go so South, they will deny you the cruise.

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First of all, it sounds like you have not ever filled out a SRI (Special Requirements Information). Exact title may very, regardless you would identify the medical equipment you are bringing on the cruise and that you require refrigerator for meds. Since your only requirement sounds like the need for a POC, which you will be bringing along. That is all you would have needed to tell them. Apparently you gave the cruise line the impression he just had the transplant.

 

As far as Med Evac, that is not a taxi service. Depending on where the ship may be at the time a person develops an emergency situation, he could be put in a local hospital. Chances are that your insurance company is going to attempt to get that hospital to take care of him so that they do not have to provide Med Evac... it is expensive. And that tiny little jet, with the pilot, co-pilot, two medics, your husband, his POC and maybe a small suitcase, is full and it is going to take him to the port of departure. Or, if both the medics are small, they may be able to squeeze you in and no luggage.

 

In regards to the fact that he may have to go to a specific hospital in the U.S., I do not know how that would be arranged. I had surgery in Fort Lauderdale and was put on a commercial flight with a medical escort to Minneapolis where they put me in a nursing home for a couple weeks.

 

Basically, the ship is doing everything to protect your husband. You attempted to to the correct thing, just apparently was not aware of the standard procedure and created excessive concern. I would suggest that if you booked directly with the cruise line, e-mail them back and ask for the form to fill out. If you used a TA, call the TA, tell him/her what happened and ask them to get the form for you. Also, make sure you have travel insurance.

 

Have a wonderful cruise,

Betty

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The company like all cruise lines just wants to protect itself. If you want to bring a O2 or a CPAP machine you need the approval of the company. And since the medical facility on these ships is basic at best, they can and do tell people they cannot cruise. You can only turn in the forms and let them approve or not.

 

The good news is many other lines if you have a issue with Carnival many other lines to travel. But they all require basically the same things.

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We had to Med Evac our mom when she fell and broke her hip on a ship. Believe me, you have no say how and where you're taken. We wanted mom to be flown back to her hospital/doctors in Wisconsin, but we weren't given the choice. It was Miami or Ft Lauderdale, period. Despite the fact that we had the means to fly her where we wanted, we had to listen to the ship's medical staff.

 

As for the jet, it was tiny, filled with medical equipment plus a nurse and Med tech person. My sister flew with mom, and I had to fly commercial to Ft Lauderdale, and the only luggage allowed for them was a small carry on. This all happened 11 years ago, and her flight was about 45 minutes long, and even then, it was more than $9000, and we had to pay it all up front, and get reimbursed by insurance after we got home.

 

Cruise lines are being sued for all kinds of reasons, and they are getting tougher with a lot of things, especially with passengers that seem to have complicated medical issues.

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I should have clarified that I am well aware “Medevac” is not a taxi service. We have cruised multiple times, before the transplant, with COPD, and after the transplant, with all the attendant concerns that brings. We are very careful. And yes, we always get travel insurance. That takes some extra research in our position, believe me!

 

I am not new. To cruising or to travel.

When I responded to the email, Carnival informed me that this was a new policy. No problem. We’ll get the clearance from the transplant team.

 

As several of you have pointed out, anyone can suffer an injury on board that requires medical service beyond the capabilities of the on-board medical staff - broken bones, illness, etc. Our situation requires our knowledge and care, first and foremost.

 

And Expatcruiser, I promise you, if you took a poll, the hundreds of people who travel with CPAP machines do not tell Carnival ahead of time, they just show up with it. Could they travel without it? Probably not. It would endanger their life to do so. But a CPAP is not the hazard that an O2 bottle is....

 

I guess my issue with the response was...I read these boards, and people in far worse condition that my husband travel on cruises regularly...do they not bother to inform the ship of anything beforehand? Just show up with the oxygen in tow, and assume they’re getting on board?

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I personally find it appalling that you have to disclose all this personal information. Apparently the cruiselines don't have to abide by HIPPA laws.

 

I think you might be misapplying the HIPPA laws. First, the cruise line needs to know. Once it leaves and enters International waters, it is on it's own. A recent transplant patient, is pretty serious, and I'm glad he can travel, but it is important that the company can review the case, and that the onboard doctor can handle it if needed.

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Not that recent.

 

Interestingly enough, I send my original email to both "guest access" and "special needs" since I wasn't sure who I needed to contact. Guest Access was the email that requested the form be filled out. One day later, I received an email from Special Needs - paraphrasing, it says, "your booking has been noted with a medical/physical special requirement. Please review the next page. We look forward to seeing you on board"

The next page is just info about traveling with O2 - they do it all the time. Only one canister in the room (since some guests need more), instructions about boarding with the oxygen, etc.

 

Absolutely no big deal in this email, just, "hey, no problem, here's what you need to know...."

 

 

 

Ugh.

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I personally find it appalling that you have to disclose all this personal information. Apparently the cruiselines don't have to abide by HIPPA laws.

 

No violation of HIPPA here as the person has every legal right to share medical history and information as they see fit. The cruise line has the right to ask, you can say no and they can decline passage to you. But going past this these laws are US laws, and most cruise ships are not covered by US Laws as they are flagged in foreign counties, so covered under the laws in those counties.

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I personally find it appalling that you have to disclose all this personal information. Apparently the cruiselines don't have to abide by HIPPA laws.

First, no one is forcing the disclosure, your not cruising if you don't, but that's your decision. While some cabins are ADA, the cruise lines have done this VOLUNTARILY. Since almost all cruise lines sail under OTHER than USA registry, ADA and HIPPA do not apply.

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At this point, trust me, I'm wishing I would have said nothing at all...sigh.

 

Hi I have just read this thread for the first time.

 

I understand your reaction to Carnival's response. Most people have had a similar reaction at some point in their lives.

 

But if you cruise without informing Carnival of your husbands medical condition won't this invalidate your insurance policy?

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Hi I have just read this thread for the first time.

 

But if you cruise without informing Carnival of your husbands medical condition won't this invalidate your insurance policy?

 

Our insurance is with GeoBlu, not Carnival, so I'm not sure why that would have any impact...does everyone with diabetes inform Carnival of that condition before they travel? With asthma? COPD? CHF? I could list a dozen or more "conditions" that could worsen and cause a "crisis" during any trip that would necessitate a visit to the hospital unexpectedly...most folks don't think of advertising these health conditions to the world ahead of time. They handle their business as necessary. Yes, I realize a lung transplant is a in a whole other category - I'm living that dream, thank you :)

 

6 months after his transplant, we were in Belize, on a cruise, and he was cave tubing...he would be appalled to think that Carnival considers him a risk at this late date!

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I have COPD and osteoarthriris and am a Part time wheelchair user.

P and O (UK) insist that we tell them our difficulties and take out proper travel insurance. No Medicare for British passengers. A good NHS, but that doesn’t cover us on board ship.

Having said that I am sure a lot of British passengers don’t have proper insurance and many seem unaware that they need it.

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Having said that I am sure a lot of British passengers don’t have proper insurance and many seem unaware that they need it.

 

Agreed that having the right insurance is so important, and it's our responsibility to do the research and take care of that...I know that I need an insurance to be primary pay, and that will cover transportation if necessary. Lord willing, we will never need it!:)

Edited by MouseGal
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Our insurance is with GeoBlu, not Carnival, so I'm not sure why that would have any impact...does everyone with diabetes inform Carnival of that condition before they travel? With asthma? COPD? CHF? I could list a dozen or more "conditions" that could worsen and cause a "crisis" during any trip that would necessitate a visit to the hospital unexpectedly...most folks don't think of advertising these health conditions to the world ahead of time. They handle their business as necessary. Yes, I realize a lung transplant is a in a whole other category - I'm living that dream, thank you :)

 

6 months after his transplant, we were in Belize, on a cruise, and he was cave tubing...he would be appalled to think that Carnival considers him a risk at this late date!

I understand that your husband's medical condition is no one else's business but from your original post you stated your husband needs a CPAP machine and a bottle of Oxygen. I was just wondering if you don't inform Carnival, that you are bring a CPAP machine and a bottle of Oxygen with you, will this invalidate your insurance?

 

A few years ago in the UK a couple booked a hotel, and did not inform the hotel they were bring some medical equipment with them. I don't remember what the equipment was.

The room they were allocated was not suitable for their needs. The hotel had no other rooms available, as all the suitable rooms were occupied, so the couple had to travel home again.

 

The couple tried to claim on their travel insurance for out of pocket travel expenses (money for petrol and food) and the cost of the hotel deposit. Their claim was rejected due to the fact they had not inform the hotel they were bring medical equipment.

They then logged a complaint against the insurance company with the UK Insurance Ombudsman and again their complaint was rejected because they had not informed the hotel they were bring medical equipment.

 

 

That is why I flagged up the insurance aspect so you don't have your insurance validated.

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I understand that your husband's medical condition is no one else's business but from your original post you stated your husband needs a CPAP machine and a bottle of Oxygen. I was just wondering if you don't inform Carnival, that you are bring a CPAP machine and a bottle of Oxygen with you, will this invalidate your insurance?

 

Got it...no, I didn't think we could sail with O2 canisters without informing Carnival :)

 

I really just took their initial email in a "threatening" tone...it's easy to overreact at times.

 

I'm sure it will all be ok -- I mean, I'm reading threads on here where people are sailing while doing dialysis? And most cruiselines seem fine with that, as long as the customer accepts the risk...I do understand that it all about risk assessment for them :)

 

 

In any case, the clear to travel letter has been sent to Carnival, so I will assume we are good to go!

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