Need info re dialysis while on a cruise
 

We have a friend who receives dialysis three times a week. She wants to join us on a cruise, but obviously will need to continue receiving dialysis. Have any of you any experience with this? What little research I've done so far seems to indicate Holland America might be our best bet in this regard. I plan to post on Cruise Critic as well. Any thoughts or information will be appreciated.

When I was the Social Worker on a dialysis unit (many years ago), I coordinated this sort of thing--so your friend may get help from the SW. I believe that there are two organizations that may assist: www.dialysisatsea.com and www.dialysiswhilecruising.com

There are cruises devoted to those who need those services. I happened upon some while googling our sailing---to see if a group was booked. I was pretty amazed---how wonderful for those people!

Giovanna, I'd like to know more about how this plays out. Please post again on what you are able to arrange and which cruise line you go with and how things go.

I have had patients (I am RN) who report they have done this - and the first stop in making arrangements was always through their present dialysis center. A few have reported insurance problems since it is officially out of US - but I do not know details of this. wish I could get you more details, but at least I can say that I know it has been done by others in the past.

I've gone to www.dialysisatsea.com and they offer a large selection of cruises, mostly on Holland America and Royal Cruise Line. I found destinations for everything I can think of. Nothing about cost on the website.

Thank you gail for posting. Good advice to start from our friend's dialysis center. We're planning to go to Honolulu in April and her social worker will make arrangements for dislysis while we're there for a week.

Hope a cruise works out and I will post with any further details or plans Doug.