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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 is 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. Additionally, we encourage guests to hand carry a fit-to-sail letter from their treating physician.

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 on board and timely availability of this specialty may be severely limited during the port visits. Any necessary medical care required by a 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.

There are many recognized risks dialysis patients may experience, including 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 in the event they need to visit the shipboard Medical Center, charges apply for treatment, which must be paid prior to debarkation. 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 on the ship, the quantities of each supply, and the name of the medical/vendor supply company the guest will be using to transport supplies. This information must be provided no later than two weeks prior to sailing, for the ship’s security access systems to be updated. If a guest brings their own supplies, it is important that they be hand-carried. Guests should not pack these supplies with their checked luggage. 

The electrical outlets on all U.S. based ships are compatible with U.S. household standards: 110 volts/60 cycles, while our Australia-based ships offer one 230 volt/50 cycle power point 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.

Please Provide the Following Information:

AT THE PORT AND ON BOARD

If you have arranged to have your dialysis solutions delivered, please contact us at 1-800-072- 670 ext. 70025 with your vendor delivery information. You must be present at the port to confirm your delivery.

Once on board, prior to sailing, the guest must contact Guest Services to verify that all supplies and equipment are on board the ship. They must also ensure any equipment is fully functional in the stateroom. Failure to do so will prevent the guest from sailing. The guest is responsible for arranging the pickup and delivery of their supplies and equipment.

In the case of certain medical complications that cannot be treated on board, the guest 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 the information, you plan to sail with us while undergoing dialysis, please contact our Guest Access department at 1-800-072-670 ext. 70025. Additional, forms/medical clearance may be required prior to boarding.

A signed risk acknowledgement letter must be sent by e-mail to access@carnival.com.Failure to submit this form, 5 weeks prior to sailing, will result in full cancellation with penalties.

If your form was received, an email response will be sent within 72 hours. If you do not receive an email, please contact us at (800) 438-6744 ext. 70025, or 1-800-072-670 ext. 70025 if calling from Australia.