boone2

As a cruise ship nurse - not on princess but run by princess medical ops - I can comment. if a crew member had vomiting and/ or diarrhea they have to report immediately to the medical centre. If they fail to do so they face disciplinary action and even firing. They will be placed in isolation for 24 hours - 48 if they are food handlers If they report to the medical centre with respiratory symptoms and they have a fever they will be placed in isolation. The same applies to guests. The cruise lines take illness among crew and passengers very seriously and try very hard to limit spread

Terry

After using the onboard medical facility for a nasty sinus infection I contracted on a week or so into our last TA on the Emerald I learned that although I had both personnel medical and Princess travel insurance, I had to pay for all treatment and medicine prior to disembarking. I was responsible for filing for reimbursement through both insurances after returning home. In this case the bill was just over $200 USD but with a more serious illness it could be significantly more.

 

 

 

If you need the care the above information wouldn't seem important but it's something to be aware of.

That would be no different if a foreign visitor came to our ER or we visited a foreign hospital. There are many different types of insurance available and a ships medical centre does not have the time or capability to handle insurance claims, something that some passengers get very upset about. How to handle an insurance claim is noted in the information when it is purchased, I agree passengers should be aware

Terry

After reading many reports of excellent medical care in some pretty dire circumstances, I feel your assessment is very harsh and unfounded.

As someone who works as a nurse on cruise ships I agree. No one is dumped ashore. They are medically disembarked with consultation with the hospitals and a care team shore side to assist

You have to realize that although we can stabilize most emergencies the capacity to provide ongoing care at the level needed is not available. As someone pointed out we can be up all night caring for a sick person and then continue with our normal duties of caring for passengers and crew during the day. On a TA we could have 5 days at sea and continue to give care. Some of the smaller ships is some fleets only have 2 nurses and a doctor. I also work in an ER at home as most of us do and I am proud of the care given on the fleet I sail with. It is of the same high standard and I should also point out that there are some places where it is not ideal to disembark patients so they are kept until the next port

Btw a kidney stone would be treated with pain killers and fluids and you would be sent for a urological consult and imaging at the next port. A decision would be then made as to whether you need a higher level of treatment than can be provided onboard

Terry

Who is your Cellar Master? I had heard somewhere that our last year's CM, Miguel Borge, had "jumped ship", in fact had left HAL.

 

PS We really enjoyed Miguel last year. He made a lot of effort to bring on interesting wines and had some great tastings.

My friend Miguel is currently on the Zuiderdam

Terry

I work as a nurse for a cruise line and can't believe the number of passengers who travel without medical insurance. One pax told me she never took out insurance for the Caribbean as it was so close to the US. The cost of a medivac from the Caribbean to FLL can be up to $40000 the charges for an overnight in the ICU can be 2-5000$. It doesn't matter how healthy you are or how many times you have cruised without insurance. One accident or serious illness can happen to anyone anytime. And believe me it does. The price of medical insurance should be factored in to the price of cruising. I don't even go over the border shopping in Buffalo without insurance

Terry

That did occur about 5-6 weeks ago on the Ruby and a lady did have an emergency appendectomy on-board. I was talking to her on the pier when the ship returned and she mentioned it to me that she had to have an appendectomy. Heck of a thing to have happen to you on a cruise!! :eek:

 

Tom

That would be highly unlikely. Most shipboard medical centres are not equipped to do any kind of emergency surgery. The majority of docs are not surgeons. Hence the need for medivaccing

Terry

Can't comment on the different types of medical insurance as we only get involved when we have to disembark a guest and call whichever insurance company involved - if any. Just know that the number of times we ask for details of insurance company many US citizens assume Medicare/blue cross or whatever their normal insurance company will cover I don't think they do normally. Just as our Canadian coverage doesn't include medivaccing. I do know that there have been many very expensive broken bones and acute medical conditions that can give you a very high level of cost - even with younger people. I always smile on CC when I see people getting their knickers in a twist about the cost of tipping or hotel service charges and it's so small compared to the cost of a medical disembark, even in Alaska

Terry

Timing is everything I guess... I'm in the process of adding the insurance to our trip. I'm opting for the better insurance (still less than the plan Princess sells) because it has better coverage and includes medical evacuation and .... well this thread just helped me understand that anything can happen. The insurance is cheap, all things considered.

It sure is and as part of onboard medical team I can't believe the number of people who choose to travel without medical insurance. One lady told me she never bothered in the Caribbean. I suppose she thought it was cheaper to medically disembark from there. Not sure why. Please do include the cost of medical insurance as part of the cost of cruising - or any other type of travel. I don't even drive over the border to the states without

Terry

I was booked on AC rouge from BCN to YYZ for work last year and based on the reviews I was dreading it. It actually wasn't as bad as I thought it would be but I was lucky in that I had an empty seat next to me and I could stretch out. This year I was booked for another contract on Alitalia to ATH changing in Rome. I actually asked to change to Rouge with a direct flight rather than doing that combination, I hate FCO it's a zoo. I hope I don't regret it[emoji16]

 

Terry

Ok I eat my words. I flew rouge to Athens and paid $100 for an exit row seat. Even with this it was hell one of the worst flights I've had. The extra room barely extended much beyond my knees. I will totally avoid rouge and take FCO transit any day. I flew home with Turkish airlines from Istanbul. I got an exit row for no extra money and had one of the best flights I've had in economy - ever. I fly reasonably - frequently 22 long haul segments last year. And I got way less FF points on rouge than on Turkish

I also think it is so wrong to record a conversation without permission. I have had people try to do that with me in the ER that I work in and tell them to turn it off immediately. Not that I have anything to hide, I just don't agree with recording conversations especially without permission

I am a huge dog lover. Had one for 40 years - not the same one obviously- I am so full of admiration for true service dogs, they do an amazing job and are so well trained. I do have a problem with so called therapy dogs. Our neighbour got an on line certificate for a therapy or companion dog. They have a condo in the states they use in the winter and dogs aren't allowed. This is their way around being able to have the dog with them while staying at the condo. They carry the dog with them in stores and restaurants. It's as much a therapy dog as ours- not- really does a huge disservice to those real service dogs doing a real job and I told them so

Terry

Hmm. As a survivor who is still in a longitudinal dose-dense trial, I get the panel & tumor markers every 6 months... This isn't related to the cancer, but my experience suggests my advice:

 

A few years back in the Med, I had to visit sick bay for life-threatening pneumonia & assorted resulting issues... I did get excellent care (med staff were all Aussies, BTW). Hefty bill charged to my account, fortunately all covered by my insurance upon return, via a long complicated process.

 

But the real problem was getting the reports of tests (vitals, xrays, EKG, ECG, labs) and espec. treatment & meds, conveyed to my docs. They refused to directly email or even snail-mail to me or the addresses of medical professionals. Forget about getting a disk! They would only give me a very flimsy, virtually illegible, thermal-paper copy of their records, for me to scan & email or print & mail to the ins. co. & the docs. And of course, it would not scan nor print with any decent legibility.

 

BC/BS did cover it though. Though I gave them all the illegible copies, my oncologist, endocrinologist, cardio & PCP could only enter in my chart what I relayed to them verbally. (I do have a pretty good memory & was alert to all tests, diagnoses, treatment, numbers for vitals, etc.--but still.) Pretty frustrating.

 

So you may be taking some chances with getting the actual data. Bring a notepad & make them tell you the lab results as well, just in case they won't/can't give you/email the report to your oncologist.

 

Or maybe even see if you can delay getting the labs until your return to the states. (After all, what would they do based on results: administer new treatment on board? Send you home mid-cruise?) Best of luck, whatever you decide!

On Hal ships you will be given a copy of your chart, your test results and a cd with your X-rays if you request them

Terry

They are sent to your cabin as a paper copy so a scanner would be needed.

The clinic will email the results to your MD

Terry

You can have a cbc drawn. Not familiar with the other test you will see the MD the first visit and be charged a consultation fee. You will then be charged for the blood test. After that you will just be charged the test fee The results can be emailed to your md

Terry

I was booked on AC rouge from BCN to YYZ for work last year and based on the reviews I was dreading it. It actually wasn't as bad as I thought it would be but I was lucky in that I had an empty seat next to me and I could stretch out. This year I was booked for another contract on Alitalia to ATH changing in Rome. I actually asked to change to Rouge with a direct flight rather than doing that combination, I hate FCO it's a zoo. I hope I don't regret it[emoji16]

Terry

Going back to the original post- I know the chefs will have probably changed since our cruise but on the maiden transatlantic in October I was somewhat disappointed in the food in the MDR. It wasn't bad, we always found something to eat, but it wasn't that good either. (Except for the amazing gazpacho which they made especially for us one night). Never ate dinner in the HC but it looked very good every time we went through there, lunch and breakfasts in The HC were excellent. I think the buffet on the regal is the best of any ship (and I work on cruise ships).

Terry

We also did the castle and lake tour privately while on the Regal TA in October. Really enjoyed it had lunch in a small village at the top of a mountain. And it made a change from driving all the way to rome. It was with Rome in limo tours I believe

Some cruise lines won't accept you if you are over 24 weeks pregnant

Terry

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He's usually by the lido pool at lunchtime

Terry

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Anybody know if we can get a Z-Pak in the ship's pharmacy? There aren't very many antibiotics that will work w/ a sinus infection, and I have side effects to the others.

Yes you can. You have to have a doctors exam first for him to prescribe it if he feels you need it

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Spice beach resort is really nice we spent the day there today but it is not short walk from the pier. It took us a good 30 mins steady walking. It's only a $2 pp taxi ride and would definitely consider this. $5 each rented your beach lounger and use of the pool and facilities. A good deal. Lunch was good too

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There are usually nurses on board, would they be also for Alaska? I wonder if it would be possible to hire one of them for the few hours a tour would take?

The nurses on board absolutely would not be able to care for someone, I speak as a cruise ship nurse, that is not their role.

My mother has dementia, still living at home with carers, our son is getting married in the Caribbean in June. There is no way she could cope with the change involved, she can only cope with a set routine, although we are all heartbroken she can't be there. Taking someone on a cruise with dementia needs very serious consideration, I hope you are able to resolve it

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hi,what was the name of tour company for MP,cheers brian.

I just booked hotel and flights as a package through Expedia and then researched and booked MP independently, you have to book the train to get there as well. We stayed in the sacred valley and used a local taxi/guide to take us to the main sights and for a day in Cusco as taxis are very cheap. One of the best 6days of our lives, would love to do it again but are almost afraid to as our memories may be spoilt if it's not as good.

Terry

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Hi Terry, how did you cope with the thinner air. Was it a problem?

Bearing in mind I was extremely fit with daily gym workouts when we went(lapsed a little since then) and my husband not at all, he managed well, better than I did. Although I didn't suffer from altitude sickness I became extremely short of breath when climbing any heights. There is a lot of climbing to be done in Machu Piccu and the sacred valley. It didn't spoil my enjoyment, nothing could have, it was an amazing place to visit but I was surprised at how it affected me. I would have hated not to have acclimatised before our visit and I don think I would have done so with a 3 day tour. We had six days in an amazing hotel in the sacred valley and return flights from Toronto for $1200 each. I arranged our own tour of MP and all our other tours which amounted to a further $500 for the two of us so a lot cheaper and incredibly enjoyable

Terry

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What dissapointed him? The tour or the cruise? I like the idea of the package as it has all the transfer. As we have not done a huge amount of traveling it keep it easy for us. Was the weather okay in Feb/March time? That is when we are thingkn ing of, but that depends on when they sail

Sorry just got back. He was hoping for more action from the sea after all the books he had read about rough journeys around the Horn. However the cruise was fantastic. The weather was really good. We were one of the few ships to make it into the Falklands and had a perfect day there. The captain commented that a bubble of calm weather had followed all the way around from BA to LA. The only rain we had was in Patagonia on one of the 2 days a year it rains there😀

We went independently to Machu piccu as I was worried about not being able to acclimatise in the 3 day tour from the ship. No one knows how altitude will affect you and we didn't want to have the trip spoilt by altitude sickness

Terry

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