Cruising with COPD & asthma does ship size and age matter?

[Teacher2016]

My mother has COPD she uses an oxygen concentrator a few times a week. My son and I are asthmatic. We are looking to cruise Thanksgiving week. We want to know if the size of the ship matters. Also are some lines better at helping with disabilities.

[Kamloops50]

My mother has COPD she uses an oxygen concentrator a few times a week. My son and I are asthmatic. We are looking to cruise Thanksgiving week. We want to know if the size of the ship matters. Also are some lines better at helping with disabilities.

 

Size won't matter at all. The ports of call will have more effet on your asthma.

[raindropsalways]

All ships are about as sterile as a hospital. Size or age does not make any difference. None of the ships really “help”. You will be responsible for all your own needs. I am assuming that your mother would bring a portable POC and any necessary inhalers. Also that both you and your son would bring your inhalers and any allergy medications you require. I always take extra along. It is imperative that each of you travel with your own medicines, special needs and a list of all your medications and needs.

 

Your mother will have to fill out a Special Needs form to make the ship aware that she will have the POC. I would recommend that you take an extension cord along. Sometimes the ship may have an extension cord, but do not count on it.

 

If your mother requires a wheelchair for boarding, I believe you request it at the terminal. Suggest you check that out with the cruise line you select.

 

All ships have a medical facility and visits are added to your on board account.

 

Have a wonderful cruise,

Betty

[spookwife]

My mother has COPD she uses an oxygen concentrator a few times a week. My son and I are asthmatic. We are looking to cruise Thanksgiving week. We want to know if the size of the ship matters. Also are some lines better at helping with disabilities.

 

they have zero impact whatsoever. even the behemoths have many areas where you can stop and rest if needed.

 

no line 'helps' with disabilities. you are responsible for your own care. now you can ask for certain accommodations such as dietary needs or equipment for the bathroom and an approved extension cord for the concentrator or a medical fridge to hold prescription medication.

 

you will need to do a lot research first, such as choosing a cabin that will minimize any impact such as being near elevators or on a floor close to where you expect to spend the majority of your time.

[ThursdaysChild]

My mother has COPD she uses an oxygen concentrator a few times a week. My son and I are asthmatic. We are looking to cruise Thanksgiving week. We want to know if the size of the ship matters. Also are some lines better at helping with disabilities.

 

What will have a major effect on all of you is the smoking policy of the ship. I have COPD and lymphoma and even the smallest amount of smoke triggers a severe reaction where I begin to cough, then choke, and cannot breathe. I cruise Celebrity and avoid the small three outdoor areas where there is smoking. Indoors, not a problem unless there is a cleaning product with significant VOCs being used.

[marelind]

DH has COPD and he is on oxygen about half the time. We take the size of the ship into account because of the distance needed to walk to dinner, fitness center or shows. We often book a cabin all the way forward, so walking to dinner becomes an aerobic event for him if it is all the way aft. When we have a mid-ship cabin then it is less of an issue. We like ships that are 2000 passengers or smaller; the 4000 pax ships seem too large for him to get around.

[Retired Educator]

I have COPD and cruise often. We purchased our own POC which can be used 24/7 if necessary. We DO take a power surge strip and plug it in up by the TV (we cruise Princess 99% of the time). This provides power for my POC at night as well as spots for charging iPads, cameras, fit bits etc.

Location of the cabin is important if mobility is an issue. We usually book an aft cabin on an upper deck which puts us near the buffet so I can get some stair climbing in :rolleyes:

One thing I have discovered is with breathing problems it is often hard to find seats that are comfortable on cruise ships. They all seem to be low slung, deep seated and hard to get out of, so now I take a firm throw pillow with me and it can go either under or behind me, keeping me more upright and better able to take those deep breaths.

Check the ship's deck plans to see where the casino and smoking lounge/areas are located. Friends booked a cabin just below the casino and near the fancy central stairway and the smoke was drawn down to their room so bad I couldn't go to their cabin after the first visit...even with my POC! Crowded areas with competing fragrances also trigger my "huffy-puffy" times. Don't know just how sensitive you all might be.

[SadieN]

I have COPD and cruise often. We purchased our own POC which can be used 24/7 if necessary. We DO take a power surge strip ..........................

 

 

Surge protectors are a fire hazard onboard. They act as a lightening rod, diverting the electricity. Ships aren't grounded (into the ground) like a land based building is.

 

Take a regular extension cord.

 

Search for posts by ChengKP75. He's been working on ships for over 40 years.

 

 

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[Retired Educator]

Surge protectors are a fire hazard onboard. They act as a lightening rod, diverting the electricity. Ships aren't grounded (into the ground) like a land based building is.

 

Take a regular extension cord.

 

Search for posts by ChengKP75. He's been working on ships for over 40 years.

 

 

Sent from my iPhone using Forums mobile app

 

I probably misspoke when I said surge protector as what we actually take is a short heavy duty multi socket (4) extension cord. But that makes sense. Guess my senior moments are showing :eek:

Happy cruising to all, Dian

[Taters]

For what it's worth, several of my recent cruises have included Cabo San Lucas in the itinerary. There is so much dust in the air there that it exacerbates my asthma and I have trouble for days afterward... In the future, I will just skip Cabo and stay on board the ship.

[psupa]

My mother has COPD she uses an oxygen concentrator a few times a week. My son and I are asthmatic. We are looking to cruise Thanksgiving week. We want to know if the size of the ship matters. Also are some lines better at helping with disabilities.

 

Not sure what cruise line you are sailing, but I would stay clear of the casino which is very smoky except on Celebrity where their casino is smoke free. There are other outdoor smoking areas to avoid as well. I don't know about you but someone wearing perfume triggers me to cough and almost gag.

[Welshbird08]

Size of the ship does matter if your asthma is brought on by walking/exercise.

 

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