CarenNH

This is really great info! Thanks! I would never have thought to look up how many other ships are in the ports at the same time, and how that might affect things. And I wasn’t aware of the port damage. That’s exactly why I’m trying to do my homework on this. I knew Grand Cayman was a tender port, as I’ve been there before. I just received a reply to my inquiry to the clinic in Grand Cayman. They have space available at noon, which I guess should give me plenty of time to get there but probably not enough time to really do a full treatment and get back for re-embarkation. Regarding Jamaica, I haven’t heard back from the clinic yet. I’ll investigate the possibilities near the other ports you mentioned as backups. im going to discuss with my doctor how bad it would really be to just get dialysis in Ft Lauderdale the day before and after.

Has anyone here received hemodialysis while in port in either Ocho Rios, Jamaica, or Georgetown, Grand Cayman? Backstory: I currently get hemodialysis (via fistula) at a local Fresenius clinic 3 days a week. I’m considering a 7 day Caribbean cruise on Holland America’s Nieuw Statendam in December. HAL doesn’t offer dialysis on board or work with Dialysis at Sea. I’d most likely be traveling solo, and am in a wheelchair. I would be renting a scooter on board. My tentative plan is to fly down Friday morning, and get dialysis in the afternoon at a Fresenius clinic in Ft Lauderdale. Then I’d stay over and embark on Saturday. The itinerary lists a stop in Ocho Rios, Jamaica on Tuesday from 8:00 am to 4:00. I understand that the actual time passengers are allowed off the ship will be shorter than that. Then we’re scheduled to stop in Georgetown, Grand Cayman on Wednesday from 8:00am to 4:00pm. Theoretically I could do dialysis either or both days if it’s feasible. I know insurance won’t cover it so I’ll have to pay privately, plus arrange the transportation to and from the port to the clinic. Then I would get another treatment back in Ft Lauderdale on Saturday afternoon after we disembark, and fly home Sunday. My doctor says schedule-wise it’s doable. Any thoughts?