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Cruising while on dialysis....


Dspcentury
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I have a brother who is disabled and on dialysis and would like to cruise. I have seen a program called Dialysis on the Seas which looks pretty good. Has anyone used them before? If so, what was the experience like? Also I would like to know of any other programs out there that my brother could explore?

David.....................................:)

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I did a little research when my husband started dialysis, and what I read was that you have to book one of the cruises offered by Dialysis at Sea (limited cruise lines, dates, and itineraries), and that each treatment is at least $500 (not covered by Medicaid or most private insurance plans). An alternative is booking dialysis at the ports, but you run the risk of missing the port due to weather, etc. If you do peritoneal dialysis at home, you can bring your equipment and have supplies delivered to the ship.

 

So for now, we are not considering a cruise, since it seems as if we could get more for our money on another type of vacation. I would be interested if anyone could offer some first-hand information (positive or negative) with Dialysis at Sea.

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I just had a friend who came back from a cruise and she used a portable diaylsis machine that the diaylsis center showed her how to use it and even sent all the supplies with her. I know the Kidney Association can give you more information about this as well. I know my friend did not use Diaylsis at Sea.

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Does your friend do periotoneal or hemodialysis? My husband is on the list to start home hemodialysis in a couple of months, but the machine looks pretty heavy to me to be "portable". So that's why I was thinking that staying at a nice resort with a clinic nearby might work better for us.

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My wife has been on Hemodialysis for 12 years now and during that time we have cruised with Dialysis at Sea 6 times with the 7th coming up in 5 weeks. Except for the expense, all of these cruises were wonderful, three on Royal Caribbean and 3 on Holland America. Dialysis was handled by a Nephrologist, nurse, and a technician using modern computerised equipment and all very professional and with zero complications.

We also have cruised many times (about 10) where she got hemodialysis on shore by pre-arrangement using "Global Dialysis" on the internet to make contact in advance and send in her medical information. So she got HD at Montego Bay in Jamaica, St Maarten, St Lucia, and also in Vancouver, St John, New Brunswick, as well as Ipswich in England(near Harwich), Dublin, Bergen in Norway and Voss in Norway-- all from cruise ships while in port at or near these places. Look up my signature for my previous posts and additional discussion on this subject. And I would be happy to answer any questions.

You may have to bring your own EPO, and as ship food is quite salty you will have to be careful to stick to the renal diet which is low sodium, low phosphorus,and low potassium. Also we bring our own blood pressure monitor and treat higher BP as need. Travel when you can as there may be a time when you can't. Jim (JHodg56010)

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Hi there. You gave me advice a couple of years ago regarding dialysis in Jamaica. My father sailed a couple of times when he was doing periotoneal dialysis and twice with hemo. We arrange for him to have dialysis in Cozumel(once) $700.00 included a hospital person who spoke perfect English to stay with my father to assist in translation. The doctor spoke English as well. His flow sheets were in English. He did dialysis twice in Grand Cayman. We had to pay out of the pocket for the services. He did not have any problems in either country. We prayed that we would be able to tender into Grand Cayman otherwise we would need to go from Ocho Rios to Montego Bay. We could not do the dialysis with sea because we traveled with a group.

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  • 1 month later...

We have recently returned from a river cruise on the Danube on MS Mozart, a Peter Deilmann boat that offers haemodialysis on some of its trips. My partner has only recently started dialysis and this was her first experience of it outside her hospital renal unit. She was quite anxious beforehand but in the event was delighted with the treatment. The medical staff were first class, and there was also a technician on board. For UK (and other EU) travellers, there is a charge of around €100 per treatment (the rest being covered by reciprocal health service arrangements), but I imagine that pasengers from elsewhere would be charged the full market price.

 

We used a specialist TA for this trip and would definitely do the same for any future cruise. She liaised extensively with the hospital and the on-board doctor beforehand (at no extra charge), and this gave us a good deal of confidence.

 

John

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  • 5 months later...
My wife has been on Hemodialysis for 12 years now and during that time we have cruised with Dialysis at Sea 6 times with the 7th coming up in 5 weeks. Except for the expense, all of these cruises were wonderful, three on Royal Caribbean and 3 on Holland America. Dialysis was handled by a Nephrologist, nurse, and a technician using modern computerised equipment and all very professional and with zero complications.

We also have cruised many times (about 10) where she got hemodialysis on shore by pre-arrangement using "Global Dialysis" on the internet to make contact in advance and send in her medical information. So she got HD at Montego Bay in Jamaica, St Maarten, St Lucia, and also in Vancouver, St John, New Brunswick, as well as Ipswich in England(near Harwich), Dublin, Bergen in Norway and Voss in Norway-- all from cruise ships while in port at or near these places. Look up my signature for my previous posts and additional discussion on this subject. And I would be happy to answer any questions.

You may have to bring your own EPO, and as ship food is quite salty you will have to be careful to stick to the renal diet which is low sodium, low phosphorus,and low potassium. Also we bring our own blood pressure monitor and treat higher BP as need. Travel when you can as there may be a time when you can't. Jim (JHodg56010)

 

I have book a cruise in Feb 2010 and on Dialysis. Can I get your e-mail to discuss what I can expect Mine is mikiek at cableone dot net

 

Thanks a million

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Hello

I have just read your post. It gives me hope. Can you tell me if these cruises are for all vacationers. We live in Canada and are both Canadian and Australian citizens. I'm expecting the cost to be around 300 pounds. Is the hemodialysis actually on the boat or on shore?

 

Sisamtim

 

We have recently returned from a river cruise on the Danube on MS Mozart, a Peter Deilmann boat that offers haemodialysis on some of its trips. My partner has only recently started dialysis and this was her first experience of it outside her hospital renal unit. She was quite anxious beforehand but in the event was delighted with the treatment. The medical staff were first class, and there was also a technician on board. For UK (and other EU) travellers, there is a charge of around €100 per treatment (the rest being covered by reciprocal health service arrangements), but I imagine that pasengers from elsewhere would be charged the full market price.

 

We used a specialist TA for this trip and would definitely do the same for any future cruise. She liaised extensively with the hospital and the on-board doctor beforehand (at no extra charge), and this gave us a good deal of confidence.

 

John

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Hi

Thanks for your information. Do you have dialysis treatment on the ship or is always on shore?

 

Sisamtim

 

I have book a cruise in Feb 2010 and on Dialysis. Can I get your e-mail to discuss what I can expect Mine is mikiek at cableone dot net

 

Thanks a million

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Hi Jim

 

I think I asked this question to the wrong person. My husband is on dialysis (just started) and we're wondering if the hemodialysis that your wife has is ever on the cruise ships or is it always on shore? Are you saying that Royal Caribbean and Holland America offer hemodialysis on the ship but at other times you have arranged through Global Dialysis to go on shore for the treatments?

 

Sisamtim

 

My wife has been on Hemodialysis for 12 years now and during that time we have cruised with Dialysis at Sea 6 times with the 7th coming up in 5 weeks. Except for the expense, all of these cruises were wonderful, three on Royal Caribbean and 3 on Holland America. Dialysis was handled by a Nephrologist, nurse, and a technician using modern computerised equipment and all very professional and with zero complications.

We also have cruised many times (about 10) where she got hemodialysis on shore by pre-arrangement using "Global Dialysis" on the internet to make contact in advance and send in her medical information. So she got HD at Montego Bay in Jamaica, St Maarten, St Lucia, and also in Vancouver, St John, New Brunswick, as well as Ipswich in England(near Harwich), Dublin, Bergen in Norway and Voss in Norway-- all from cruise ships while in port at or near these places. Look up my signature for my previous posts and additional discussion on this subject. And I would be happy to answer any questions.

You may have to bring your own EPO, and as ship food is quite salty you will have to be careful to stick to the renal diet which is low sodium, low phosphorus,and low potassium. Also we bring our own blood pressure monitor and treat higher BP as need. Travel when you can as there may be a time when you can't. Jim (JHodg56010)

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Hi Jim

 

I think I asked this question to the wrong person. My husband is on dialysis (just started) and we're wondering if the hemodialysis that your wife has is ever on the cruise ships or is it always on shore? Are you saying that Royal Caribbean and Holland America offer hemodialysis on the ship but at other times you have arranged through Global Dialysis to go on shore for the treatments?

 

Sisamtim

 

You are not reading Jim's post correctly. None of the Cruise lines offer dialysis services. Jim has booked some cruises through "DIALYSIS AT SEA" a company that plans special cruises specifically for people who require dialysis to be done while at sea. They contract certain dates with various cruise lines and bring their own medical staff and equipment on board. You book the cruise directly with "DIALYSIS AT SEA" rather than with the cruise line. There are select dates that these cruises are offered. Here's the link to DIALYSIS AT SEA"

http://www.dialysisatsea.com/about.aspx

 

He has also book cruises on his own and arranged to have dialysis done in port through Gobal Dialysis. Here's their website: http://www.globaldialysis.com/

 

Hope this information helps you.

Edited by xxoocruiser
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The questions raised above are similar to those we had and experienced before and during our first "Dialysis at Sea" experience. My mother is a 3 day per week hemodialysis patient requiring the normal 3 to 3 1/2 hours per treatment (MWF). I took her on a trip to Alaska using the "Dialysis at Sea" company on RCL's Seranade of the Seas in September 08. On the first day all the participants met and a schedule was given out as to treatment days and times. The schedule held firm for our cruise and everything went as if we were back home and using our normal provider. The staff was excellent and no problems were experienced. Other points to consider:

 

a. Dialysis at Sea is not covered by Medicare since the cruise ships are not US registered and Medicare is only applicable in the "US". Most people would be surprised at the limitations of insurance coverage, and a check of one's individual coverage is highly recommended. The dialysis cost is over and above the cruise price quoted from the company.

 

b. The cruise line only provides space in the medical unit for the conduct of dialysis by the experts from "Dialysis at Sea". Otherwise, the line provides nothing special for any of the kidney patients.

 

c. The prices charged by "Dialysis at Sea" are in line with normal dialysis costs (not inexpensive), and the company only works with their own travel agency...that in itself is a fairly large cost. The company contracts for X number of cabins over the year and the price is fairly stiff. A patient or customer will pay full bore for their cabins, and the price will not go down if the cruise line drops their price. (I've currently scheduled my mother for a March cruise on the Radiance of the Seas, and her cost for a balcony stateroom is $1200 higher than the current advertised price by the cruise line...2 people)

 

d. Bottom line: Not inexpensive but efficient and gets the job done.

 

I hope this somewhat helps those who are traveling as, or with, a dialysis patient.

 

WWS

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To Sisamtim: XXOOCruiser answered your question exactly. Dialysis at Sea is a travel agency in Florida that contracts with just a few cruise lines (HAL, RCI, and occasionally with Celebrity) to set aside a few rooms for their equipment, personnel, and for a group of hemodialysis patients (up to 12 I think) on some selected sailings. They show on the internet or their brochure which ships and which cruises they will provide dialysis on the ship. They do a very good job but are not cheap. They can assist with dialysis on land, But we have always done that independently via the internet, using the info from GlobalDialysis.com Both can assist with peritoneal dialysis as well. One nice thing about Dialysis at Sea is the ease of just riding down the elevator to their rooms, usually near the medical center, and getting immediately on to the machine. It is quick and easy. We are scheduled to use DAS on our next cruise on the Oasis of the Seas in Feb, 2010, and dialysis on land in Juneau on a Radiance cruise from Seward to Vancouver in July, 2010. We are lucky in that my wife who has been on dialysis for over 12 years needs it only twice a week and tolerates it very well. We have used the St Paul Hospital in Vancouver for her hemo in the past with no problem, and land dialysis is cheaper than Dialysis at Sea, but less secure as sometimes a ship has to miss a port. Be sure to get travel insurance in case you have to cancel at the last moment, or leave the ship early due to some unexpected complication. All the patients we have sailed with using DAS have enjoyed their cruises very much. Costa Cruise line offers some Dialysis cruises, and so does the Peter Dielman Line but we have not used these. Live now and enjoy life while you still can. Jim

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To lynn and Michael, my E-Mail address is JHodgman

@roadrunner.com I have also sent you an E-mail with this info. I would be happy to answer any dialysis questions, either on line here, or by E-Mail. I am a doctor, now retired and worked at the Cleveland Clinic for 35 years where Dr Willem Kolff, inventor of hemodialysis (in Holland in the 1940's) also worked. I have access to medical as well as cruise information, and experience with 7 cruises using Dialysis as Sea. If I can be of any help for your cruising plans, I'd be happy to try to assist. Jim

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I am traveling through the Panama Canal with my father (on dialysis) a total of six of us on Feb. 5th 2010. We are using Dialysis at Sea on the Maasdam. I have been pleased with the company so far in the bookings and information. I am looking forward to a wonderful time with my father. If anyone else is going on this one, we would love to chat. I noticed that some might be traveling to Alaska this summer, my father visits me here in Juneau and the staff at the center is great. We even have picnics here on the beach. Let me know when you are in town and maybe we can chat about our cruises, or have lunch. Talk to Rhio when you are in the center, she is funny, but all the staff is friendly.

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  • 1 year later...
  • 2 weeks later...

I think you didn't notice that the posts you were responding to were years old! My husband is on home hemo and we are trying to arrange a cruise in the UK this summer. Do you have any experience with this?

YL

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  • 9 months later...
My wife has been on Hemodialysis for 12 years now and during that time we have cruised with Dialysis at Sea 6 times with the 7th coming up in 5 weeks. Except for the expense, all of these cruises were wonderful, three on Royal Caribbean and 3 on Holland America. Dialysis was handled by a Nephrologist, nurse, and a technician using modern computerised equipment and all very professional and with zero complications.

We also have cruised many times (about 10) where she got hemodialysis on shore by pre-arrangement using "Global Dialysis" on the internet to make contact in advance and send in her medical information. So she got HD at Montego Bay in Jamaica, St Maarten, St Lucia, and also in Vancouver, St John, New Brunswick, as well as Ipswich in England(near Harwich), Dublin, Bergen in Norway and Voss in Norway-- all from cruise ships while in port at or near these places. Look up my signature for my previous posts and additional discussion on this subject. And I would be happy to answer any questions.

You may have to bring your own EPO, and as ship food is quite salty you will have to be careful to stick to the renal diet which is low sodium, low phosphorus,and low potassium. Also we bring our own blood pressure monitor and treat higher BP as need. Travel when you can as there may be a time when you can't. Jim (JHodg56010)

My sister was recently diagnosed with kidney failure and is on a 3x/week schedule for 3.5 hours each time. She had three cruises she's had to cancel.

 

From looking at Dialysis at Sea, I gather you book through them and pay their cruise price which includes equipment and medical personnel. However, you pay for each dialysis treatment which isn't covered by Medicare.

 

Do I have this right? I've got some questions:

 

1. Has anyone had the onboard dialysis treatment covered by secondary insurance? My sister has Anthem Blue Cross, one of their best policies.

 

2. How much is the per-treatment cost? My sister is under the impression that it's $3,000 per treatment which doesn't sound right based on what I've read here.

 

3. Will Dialysis at Sea accommodate you on your regular schedule within reasons? She's on a Tu/Th/Sa schedule and if she were put on a different schedule, it might throw things off.

 

Would love more specific information. She's read the Dialysis at Sea brochure but she's not the best when it comes to reading the fine print.

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My sister was recently diagnosed with kidney failure and is on a 3x/week schedule for 3.5 hours each time. She had three cruises she's had to cancel.

 

From looking at Dialysis at Sea, I gather you book through them and pay their cruise price which includes equipment and medical personnel. However, you pay for each dialysis treatment which isn't covered by Medicare. Yes you have to book direclty with Dialysis at Seas

 

Do I have this right? I've got some questions:

 

1. Has anyone had the onboard dialysis treatment covered by secondary insurance? My sister has Anthem Blue Cross, one of their best policies. Dialysis at Seas website states that some secondary insurance plans offer assistance but that you need to check directly with you specific carrier.

 

2. How much is the per-treatment cost? My sister is under the impression that it's $3,000 per treatment which doesn't sound right based on what I've read here. It appears from how it's worded on their website the cost your sister has been told is most likely for the entire week and not per treatment.

 

3. Will Dialysis at Sea accommodate you on your regular schedule within reasons? She's on a Tu/Th/Sa schedule and if she were put on a different schedule, it might throw things off. Dialysis at Seas takes up to sixteen patients a cruise and the dialysis times are on a first come first serve basis.

 

Would love more specific information. She's read the Dialysis at Sea brochure but she's not the best when it comes to reading the fine print.Probably best that you contact Dialysis at Seas rather than depending on the Brochure information or for that matter from someone on CC as insurance and needs can vary

 

This link to Dialysis at Seas answers many of your questions. http://www.dialysisatsea.com/faqs.cfm

Hope your sister is able to find a cruise the meets her needs

Edited by xxoocruiser
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  • 2 weeks later...

I called Dialysis at Sea today and the owner, Steve, picked up the phone and answered my questions. Nice guy. :) Here's what I learned that's not covered in the FAQs:

 

-- The cost per treatment is $575.

 

-- You pre-pay for the treatments and some secondary insurance policies will pay a percentage, up to 100%. Some will pay the invoice when submitted so you're not out of pocket.

 

-- Each patient is given a treatment the first full day and put on a schedule. They are given a treatment the day before disembarkation so they can travel and/or get back on their regular schedule.

 

-- There will be nephrologists and one will be on duty during every treatment.

 

-- Treatments are given in a ward or two of the Medical Center.

 

-- Cruise fares can be competitive because they book a group.

 

Hope this info helps others who, due to kidney failure, think their cruising days are over. They're not.

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Hi Pam

I'm a dialysis nurse and actually travel as often as I can with Dialysis at Sea. I think you will be very happy with them. As you found, a real, knowledgable person answers the phone. The machines are state of the art.

I've been in the field for 26 years.Almost all the nurses I've met also have years of experience. Many work in the hospital dialysis programs. They never sail without one nurse who has traveled with them before.

I know it's expensive, but many patients tell me that the opportunity opens up whole new worlds for them. As one patient told me 'I feel like I'm living with kidney failure instead of dying from it'

Bon Voyage

Marsha

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Marsha, I know it's very doable. The challenge will be to convince my sister she's well enough to do it. She was literally at death's door in September and has come a very long way but she still has a way to go and feels very vulnerable, and mortal. It'll happen; just don't know when. I wanted to get this information so she could explore the opportunities and have something positive to look forward to. :) I believe that having a dream will help her recovery.

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What a terrific resource Cruise Critic is. I just asked this question on the Celebrity boards and they pointed me over here. Great info all. I will be going on dialysis in the future( hopefully in the far future ) and I was so afraid my cruising days were over. I am leaning toward peritoneal and from what I am understanding from here, i can can bring the machine and I can have the bags and fluids delivered to the ship? How or where do u find the service to do this ?

 

Jeff

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