NXSTAGE CRUISES

[Stever]

Bear in mind I'm from the UK and the number of cruises offering haemodialysis are extremely limited, mainly to Costa. The choices appear to be a little better in the US, although extremely expensive with dialysisatsea. I have enquired with other cruise lines, but most of them say it is not up to them to provide facilities and, even if they could, the water systems are not suited to haemo. I understand the Nx machines do not need specialist installations and can be used almost anywhere, including ship cabins (yes, I've seen the Freedom videos). However, what does one do if there is a problem when you are at sea, whether it be with the machine or you personally? My wife is currently on conventional HD three times a week and does not have the confidence or inclination to go it alone. Therefore, does anyone know of any plans to provide Nx facilities, complete with nursing support on any ship. Perhaps then, if there is anyone else out there in a similar position, groups could get together to fund the support and then negotiate directly with the cruise line for the appropriate cruise. At least then, you would probably get 20 to 50% off the cruise to assist with the support costs, rather than pay in excess of brochure costs with other organisations. Any thoughts anyone?

[boswife]

theres an upcomming NxStage cruze comming up.  I think it's still open for reservations and i think it's the only way we too would feel confident enough to go on.  i was so hoping to go this year but doesnt look like its going to happen for us.  i'll find that info for you if you like orrrrrr, im pretty sure it's posted in the "home hemo" or nxStage section here. 

[boswife]

http://ihatedialysis.com/forum/index.php?topic=23099.0   theres the thread

[Bill Peckham]

The NxStage cruises are for people using their own machines - people who are using a NxStage machine at home day to day. The idea of going with a group is that if there is a problem with the machine during the cruise you can use a fellow NxStager's machine. That was the plan on the first cruise out of Miami. In the even no ones machine went down so the backup plan was unnecessary.

But your question is what about people doing conventional incenter dialysis? NxStage isn't a good choice if the plan is to dialyze 3x/week. There is an expensive alternative: Dialysis at Sea. Dialysis at Sea leaves from a wide range of ports, for a variety of itineraries. They use standard machines (FMC K series I believe) and set up a small dialysis unit in the ship infirmary as a sub contractor. They've made an arrangement with the cruise line.

To use their service you have to book through them and they do not discount the cost, so that is the first sticker shock. Forget about those teaser rates you see for a three night cruise, Dialysis at Sea primarily does 10+ day cruise so it's going to cost you though they will upgrade your cabin to the next level, at least in many cases. The biggest cost is that they charge you for every other day dialysis - 10 day cruise = 5 treatments - whether you dialyze that much or not. And the cost per treatment was $500+ last I heard.

This is the primary cost savings for people using NxStage: no added cost for doing dialysis. For people doing 3x/week you really are at the mercy of Dialysis at Sea. One advantage of Dialysis at Sea is that you will be traveling with dialysis nurses that will run your treatments and there is a nephrologist on board in case an issue comes up but in most serious case the result will be the same whether you're doing Dialysis at Sea or using your own NxStage machine. You'll end up in a hospital at the next port of call.

[amanda100wilson]

When is there going to be another NxStage cruise?

[Riki]

A friend and I looked into Dialysis at Sea a few years ago.  The cost for dialysis was a flat fee of $2000US.  It was well out of our price range, so she went to Las Vegas, and I went to New York.

[paulanisar]

did anyone ever invite one of their dialysis nurses to go on a cruise with them and have them run a nxstage for them even if they dont use one regularly. it would probably be cheaper than a freedom cruise.hummm maybe there is a market for this..have a traveling dialysis nurse go on trip with u and bring nxstage just for them to use? what do u think people??

[Riki]

My nurses talk about that all the time.  Whenever one of us is planning a trip, they ask if they can come as our personal dialysis nurse...