Cruising with Pacemaker for first time

[rollissaria]

I will be going on my first cruise in a week since receiving my pacemaker and was just wondering if any of you would share your experience with security when boarding the ship before sailing, as well as getting off and on the ships in port. Just worried about going through the scanners mostly!!

[gadan1]

My mom and I did a B2B in April-May and it was her first cruise with a pacemaker. Going through security (both at the airport and the cruise port), she just pulled out her pacemaker card and they patted her down.

 

Getting back on the ship after a day in port, she just told security she had a pacemaker. They would shut off the machine and/or have her just walk around it and they would then have to summon a female security officer to pat her down. The female officer was usually already down there and just had to be pulled over from whatever she was doing.

 

Getting off the ship on port days do not involve the scanners or security.

Edited August 29, 2015 by gadan1

[dillydilly]

I have had a pacemaker for 9 years and have gone on 10 cruises with only minor issues. I tried to walk through airport security because I don't like getting patted down, the system detected the pacemaker. So I told ships security about the pacemaker and they would pull me aside and pat me down. I think on maybe the second or third cruise I would just go through ships security with no problems. The alarm has never sounded.

[Ducman]

I tell the person running the machine. Sometimes they turn it off, others they have me walk behind. I have never had to show my card. On the boat, sometimes they pay me down, sometimes not.

 

With the new pacemakers, there is hardly a risk walking through the machine, but the manufacture of mine says to avoid them. And you'll probably be away from the kind of medical treatment that you'd like to have, if something does go wrong.

 

I'd rather be safe, than sorry.

[rollissaria]

Thanks, that's kind of what I was thinking. I'm not pacer dependent but I would hate to take a chance by walking through anyway, especially my first time with it. Did you let them know at check in (like when they ask if you need any extra assistance or whatever) or just when walking through security or both?

[richfret]

My wife has a pace maker and she has not had any problems on the cruises. She does tell them that she has a pace maker and she did not have to be scanned.

 

For information, we bought a travel chair because the walk to the ship can be very strenuous. Not only is it long but it is on an incline for a considerable distance. You can also request wheel chair assistance if necessary. Like the airports, they have someone push the travel chair and I pull the carry-ons. Makes it much easier. They also know the short cuts and where the elevators are and that helps also.

[Ducman]

I just tell them at the scanner. They're used to it.

[RWolver672]

I have had a pacemaker for 9 years and have gone on 10 cruises with only minor issues. I tried to walk through airport security because I don't like getting patted down, the system detected the pacemaker. So I told ships security about the pacemaker and they would pull me aside and pat me down. I think on maybe the second or third cruise I would just go through ships security with no problems. The alarm has never sounded.

 

It's not a matter of the alarm sounding. I just had a defibrillator installed. They told me to never go through one because the magnets in the machine will throw off the settings in your pacemaker/defibrillator. That's why they give you the card to show security.

[mommom of 7]

It's not a matter of the alarm sounding. I just had a defibrillator installed. They told me to never go through one because the magnets in the machine will throw off the settings in your pacemaker/defibrillator. That's why they give you the card to show security.

 

I have cruised many times with my Pacer No problems at all. Have gone through the scanner & also have been escorted around it.

Now the defibrillator is a whole different thing & I know that a scanner xray could really set it off.

The Dr's on ship are really quite good, and will take good care of you if God forbid something would happen.

Char

[cb at sea]

Hubby's been traveling with his (on his 2nd one!) for years....you just can't be "wanded" or go thru magnet scanners....just ask for a hand search...no biggie! BTW, hubby carries his "card" but has NEVER been asked to show it!

 

Yes..the magnets can reset your pacemaker/defib unit....do NOT go thru them!!!!!

 

If you're flying, going thru security may take longer....they take hubby to be hand searched, and I go thru the normal line with all our stuff. I put my things into the scanner, but I do NOT go thru the detector until I KNOW all of our stuff has been cleared....you don't want to pass thru the detector, and have your purse come back out the backside of the scanner.....I've had the TSA folks urge me to "move along", but I won't....not until I know I can physically access our things again! Don't let them bully you!

Edited August 30, 2015 by cb at sea