By Bill
The original tag line for this blog was We're Taking NxStage to Sea but it was pointed out that people using PD are welcome to join us. So the tag line has been changed to We're Taking Dialysis to Sea. I think this cruise is for people who have the freedom to travel either with working kidneys or with their dialysis equipment. Logistically I am planning on greasing the transport of NxStage supplies as much as I can. If you are on PD and are interested in going on the cruise, drop me an email and we'll figure out how your travel can be made easier.
If we're going to take dialysis to sea, perhaps it should be We're Taking Home Dialysis to Sea. That's a much better plug for home dialysis and definitely makes us different from the Dialysis at Sea people.
Posted by: Rich Berkowitz | 02/22/2009 at 08:43 PM
Hello, my wife and I just returned from a cruise on Norweigan Gem to the Bahamas April 4-11, 2009. She is a hemo dialyis patient therefore we took our NxStage cycler with us. We drove from Syracuse area in NY to the port in NYC with cycler and dialysate, etc. and had a super week on board the Gem. At the end of the cruise we were told that we should not have been allowed on board because only PD patients were okayed for the cruise.
Posted by: Robert L Stephens | 04/18/2009 at 08:25 AM
my husband and I were booked on Carnival and a week before we were to leave, they canceled our reservation and refused to allow us on board because we used Nxstage. I offered to send their chief medical officer information on the Nxstage, but they stood their ground that we could not board. What has made them change their mind?
Posted by: Dave Williams | 04/19/2009 at 11:22 PM
Dave's wife,
When was this? Some of the members of NxStageUsers have cruised on Carnival in the past without a problem.
BTW, you should join our group. Just go to the NxStageUsers website.
Posted by: Rich Berkowitz | 04/20/2009 at 11:15 PM
How does one manage all of the supplies that have to be used
in addition to the "portable" machine?
Posted by: Mary Agan | 12/04/2009 at 02:32 PM
Mary, the dialysate and cartridges will be shipped directly to the boat by NxStage. We'll be responsible for taking the other supplies. We've tried to find someone to supply the saline in the same fashion, but haven't found a source yet.
Rich
Posted by: Rich Berkowitz | 12/07/2009 at 08:30 PM
Hi, I have a friend that takes dialysis, three times a week, is there any chance that she would be able to go on a cruise & get her dialysis treatments, if so, can you tell me how to go about booking a cruise for her. Her wish is to go on a cruise, & I would love to see her dream come true.
Thanks,
Wanda
Posted by: Wanda Weber | 06/19/2010 at 09:10 PM
Wand, if she isn't a home dialyzor, she would have to book through a company like Dialysis at Sea.. This is an extremely expensive way to go as Medicare won't pay for the treatments. On the other hand, we brought our portable machines with us and had NxStage deliver the supplies to the boat. We dialyzed in our own cabin. To see what it was like, please go to NxStageUsers website (http://www.nxstageusers.com/2010cruise.html ). You'll find information on the homepage (http://www.nxstageusers.com/index.html ) as well as the Forum (http://www.nxstageusers.com/forum/forum.php ). We are planning more events and trips in the future. You may want to ask your friend if she is interested in dialyzing at home.
Posted by: Rich Berkowitz | 06/20/2010 at 10:05 AM
I am not a PD patient. i have to take dialysis 4 hours a day. So do you have a cruse that can take me?
Posted by: raquel | 07/27/2010 at 05:10 AM