Sisamtim

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)

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

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