Experience with oxygen on ships

[Watery Dan]

My group is cruising on November. One of our group using oxygen 24/7. Has anyone had any experience with oxygen on board? We will try ot rent in Ft Lauderdale and has it sent to the ship. Any recommendations?

[bishop84]

My group is cruising on November. One of our group using oxygen 24/7. Has anyone had any experience with oxygen on board? We will try to rent in Ft Lauderdale and has it sent to the ship. Any recommendations?

 

Watery Dan, HAL will only accept oxygen supplies for guests only from Care Vacations. I suggest you check the website but I have pasted the bit about oxygen below. Hope you enjoy your cruise.

 

Oxygen and Oxygen Deliveries Onboard

The ship is not equipped to provide guests with these services other than on an emergency basis in the Ship's Medical Center. For security and safety reasons, we have selected CareVacations/CruiseShipAssist as the only outside vendor that we will permit to deliver oxygen supplies to the ship. We believe they will meet your on board medical needs:

 

CareVacations/CruiseShipAssist

phone: 877-478-7827

Fax: 800-648-1116

csa@carevacations.com

www.cruiseshipassist.com

 

You are also welcome, however, to bring your own oxygen and/or oxygen equipment from your home. Please note that our staff and crew are not permitted to handle your oxygen and/or oxygen equipment during the embarkation and disembarkation process. Thus, you must be able to handle your supplies if you bring your own. Please contact the Access & Compliance Department prior to sailing if you will require oxygen while on your cruise.

Note: Oxygen and/or oxygen equipment deliveries will not be accepted from any other companies.

 

If you require additional information on the ship's facilities or ability to accommodate your needs, please feel free to contact the Access & Compliance Department at 800-547-8493; TTY 800-254-8669; locally at 206-281-3535 ext. 4514 or email us at HALW_Access@hollandamerica.com .

[Watery Dan]

Thanks Bishop. I'm really looking forward to this cruise. Its been a looong year!

[stephaniec]

My group is cruising on November. One of our group using oxygen 24/7. Has anyone had any experience with oxygen on board? We will try ot rent in Ft Lauderdale and has it sent to the ship. Any recommendations?

 

 

Travel with oxygen is tricky. You say your friend needs oxygen 24/7 so they will also need need oxygen to and from the ship and especially on board the plane if you are flying into Ft Lauderdale. Using Care Vacations to only deliver to the ship will not meet all these needs. The good news is that there are now portable oxygen concentrators that run on rechargeable batteries that can also be used on most airlines. Your friend's local Medical Oxygen providers should be able to advise your friend on how they can accomplish this trip.

 

The local provider may be able to recommend a combination of solutions such as a portable oxygen concentrator for travel and/or service from local Ft Lauderdale providers. It is not unusual for providers to offer this courtesy service at far less cost than Care Vacations. The down side, if they recommend you use a local provider, you will have to arrange pickup and return yourselves. Holland will not accept delivery to the ship. You may also have to drag supplies on the ship yourself, so you may want to bring along a collapsible luggage cart. Sometimes, the longshoremen have been "convinced" to help out by taking our packaged supplies as checked baggage.

 

If the local provider is unable to help, there are companies who will rent concentrators for use door to door and on the plane. These services are expensive, as is the Care Vacation solution, but they can meet all the O2 needs and are far more convenient.

 

Whether you bring your own or use Care Vacation, there are documentation requirements from Holland. You also need to consult with the airlines to determine the specific models they allow (if any) and their documentation requirements.

[Watery Dan]

thanks Stephaniec. All of this is very helpful info. We want her to enjoy this vacation as much as possible. We're going to check on the concentrator and get her documentation together. Thanks again.http://boards.cruisecritic.com/images/smilies/smile.gif