FIRST, CONTACT YOUR TRAVEL AGENT TO ASSIST YOU WITH GETTING YOUR NEEDS MET.
MEDICAL CARE
In the event a guest requires medical attention while on board, our ships have medical facilities and staff to assist 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. In case of a serious medical emergency, where more comprehensive facilities are required, guests are referred to shoreside medical facilities. Our Medical Center cannot supply or refill prescriptions.
We strongly encourage guests to carry a copy of their medical records (e.g., a list of medical conditions, allergies, names, and medication dosages as well as the name and contact information of their physician).
DIABETES
For guests who are traveling with injectable medication and need a Sharps disposal container, please contact the Medical Center or the onboard Housekeeping staff. Some ships have staterooms equipped with mini-bars designed to maintain the temperature of beverages. Mini-bars are not to be used to store medications that have specific temperature requirements. Portable medi-coolers are available in limited quantities, and on a first-come, first-served basis with a refundable rental deposit required. If a cooler is not available, our Medical Center can assist guests with refrigeration needs (accessible during operating hours of the Medical Center only) or you may bring your own personal-size cooler for this purpose. Ships equipped with mini-bars are:
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DIALYSIS*
There are significant risks associated with undergoing dialysis during a cruise. Guests should be aware that our ships do not have kidney specialists or dialysis equipment and supplies available on board and our medical staff are not trained to perform dialysis.
We highly recommend that guests have been stable on their home dialysis treatments for a period of at least 12 months prior to sailing.
CONSIDERATIONS PRIOR TO CRUISING
Guests requiring peritoneal or hemodialysis, travel on our ships at their own risk. Guests traveling while on dialysis should consult with their nephrologist and provide them a copy of our risk acknowledgement letter prior to making any travel arrangements.
The ship does not carry a nephrologist onboard and timely availability of this specialty may be severely limited during the port visits. Any necessary medical care required by a specialist nephrologist will not be available while the ship is at sea.
Ships do not have back-up battery support for dialysis related equipment. In the event of a power outage on board, dialysis equipment requiring electricity may not be functional.
The risks to the guest who misses a scheduled dialysis treatment are very serious. The guest assumes additional risks when a ship is unable to make a scheduled port of call for operational reasons.
Among the many recognized risks dialysis patients may experience include pericarditis, cardiac tamponade, congestive heart failure, anemia, hemorrhage and death. Risks associated with peritoneal dialysis include infection, obstruction of the catheter, hemoperitoneum and metabolic complications. Recognized risks associated with hemodialysis include low blood pressure, bleeding, infection, clotting of the vascular access, and seizures.
Guests should be aware that charges apply for treatment in the ship’s medical center, which must be paid before disembarkation. An itemized bill will be provided which can be submitted to the guest’s travel or health insurance. Typically, standard trip travel interruption insurance does not cover medical costs.
We strongly suggest that guests contact their own health insurance to determine their benefits for medical providers outside of the United States, as well as available air-ambulance and repatriation benefits. Travelers are advised to purchase travel health insurance with defined out-of-country treatment and repatriation benefits, even if this coverage might be redundant.
ARRANGEMENTS
Guests are expected to make all arrangements regarding dialysis, whether self-administered on board or at a shore side facility, and therefore take full responsibility for their arrangements, equipment and supplies.
For security reasons, the Guest Access Department must be advised of the type of supplies the guest is taking to the ship, the quantities of each, and the name of the medical/vendor supply company the guest will be using to transport supplies, no later than two weeks prior to sailing, in order for the ship’s security access systems to be updated. If a guest will be bringing their own supplies, it is important that they be hand-carried. Guests should not pack these supplies with their checked-in luggage.
The electrical outlets on all the ships are compatible with U.S. household standards: 110 volts/60 cycles, while our Australia-based ships offer one 230 volt/50 cycle powerpoint per cabin. If there are specific requirements for machinery (such as water intake), these must be communicated to the Guest Access Department as soon as possible. Medical waste receptacles can be provided for disposal of bio-hazardous waste.
ON BOARD
Prior to the ship sailing, the guest must verify that all supplies and equipment are on board the ship and any equipment is fully functional in the stateroom. Failure to do so will prevent the guest from sailing. In the case of certain medical complications that cannot be treated onboard, you may be required to be disembarked to a medical facility ashore. The patient will be responsible for all medical expenses both on board and ashore.
If, after considering this information, a guest plans to sail with us while undergoing dialysis, they must send a fit to sail clearance letter from their nephrologist and a signed risk acknowledgement letter by e-mail to access@carnival.com. Failure to submit this form, along with the fit to sail letter from their nephrologist, 5 weeks prior to sailing will result in full cancellation with penalties.
OXYGEN*
The Medical Center is equipped with oxygen for emergency use ONLY. If you require the use of oxygen during your cruise, you must arrange for an adequate supply to be delivered to the ship on your sailing date. Please contact Guest Services once on board for proper storage of your oxygen. Guests are responsible for the pickup and delivery of their own oxygen. Please have your medical supply company contact us, otherwise port clearance may not be granted.
If you choose to bring your own personal supply of oxygen, you must hand carry it with you. Packing oxygen cylinders and/or tanks in your checked luggage is strictly prohibited, as is putting them through security x-ray machines. Please hand-carry your oxygen machines (BiPAP, CPAP, Concentrator, Nebulizer, etc.) and not place them in your checked luggage.
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