Cruising with cancer?

Taking relatives on transatlantic cruise New York to Southampton as she has been diagnosed with cancer. she has finshed her chemo treatment for now but is not by any means all clear. this holiday is the trip of a lifetime for her but we are concerned with the medical insurance bit. I have been informed that we have to wait til 4 weeks before departure before companies will look at medical insurance & that we will need a letter from her specialist giving his blessing for her to go. However, I do not know what Cunards policy is regarding this subject. Do I have to inform them beforehand & if I dont - will she be refused medical assistance? Can anyone advise where we might get medical insurance cover to ensure she is attended to whilst on holiday? Can anyone offer us any advice? I would be very grateful. We are not concerned about recouping any expenditure if she cannot go on the trip, we're just concerned that she has some peace of mind should she have a funny turn & we're only looking for insurance for the 2 weeks away. Where do I go?

From all I have read re: booking travel in the UK, it is very different than how we book in U.S.

In U.S., when we book our cruises, we have to book our travel insurance within a very definite number of days (each travel insurance company has its own schedule) in ordre for pre-existing conditions to be covered. It is VERY important that deadline be met.

We also have available a policy called CSA Luxe which covers pre-existing conditions and can be purchased at time of final payment....again with very specific time frame.

If you are booking this cruise through the U.K., you may have very different parameters and should speak with a VERY reliable, well respected TA. This is too important for you to not be well advised about.

Keep in mind that the ships have doctor, nurses and infirmary but they are not a trauma unit equipped to render very advanced care. Certainly they have been known to stabalize heart attack victims and have them removed from the ship first opportunity.

Medical evacuation from a ship can be hugely expensive.

Other than pregnant women, I know of no policy which requires a guest to present a doctor's note saying they are well enough to travel. Perhaps it is so and even if not, it is good idea to get such a letter. If her doctor won't provide it, she shouldn't be traveling, particularly on a ship, I wouldn't think.

A website many on these BB's use is http://www.insuremytrip.com.

I sincerely hope you can find a workable way to bring her on this cruise. And certainly that she makes a good recovery.

I wish I could have been more helpful.

Hi, I cruised a couple of times with my husband after he had a cancer diagnosis. Most of the insurance companies will not cover you going to America due to the high cost of healthcare there. I would suggest that you try the Macmillan website (www.macmillan.org.uk). They have a page of helpful information on travel insurance. Hope you manage to get cover - don't go without it - its too much of a risk.

Another good insurance company that may be worth trying is http://www.karmainsurance.com/

they will cover a lot of conditions other insurers do not touch, but I think you will need to call them.

Thanks for sharing your experience.

The relative. Is she from the US, UK, or somewhere else? Different countries, different insurance realities.

Cruise companies do have a general "medically fit to sail clause" so it could be an issue. You can be denied boarding (or removed at a port of call) if the cruise line (and/or medical officer) has a problem.

Make sure insurance is figured out and UNDERSTOOD before booking.

The insurance does have the right to a medical opinion about your health. They don't want to insure a person who is certain to have a problem.

Sent from my LG-D852 using Forums mobile app

Just for reference, this thread is 9 years old. EM

Actually, your "cruise contract" (which you agree to when you book your cruise) states that you are well enough to travel....so you shouldn't book a cruise if there is a decent chance of complications....just saying. You are far from advanced care and as said, evacuation is very expensive, and doesn't always happen immediately if there is an emergency.