How do I bring electrical medical equipment on board?
- Whilst we are happy to welcome guests on board who require oxygen via concentrator, we're still unable to accept guests requiring oxygen via cylinder, bottle or tank on board.
- If you are travelling with CPAP (or any other mechanical ventilatory support), an oxygen concentrator or peritoneal dialysis you should discuss your fitness to travel on your chosen itinerary with your primary health care provider.
- You must have full travel insurance that covers you for all pre-existing health conditions. If you have any queries or require any additional support, please contact our medical team via email medical@carnivalukgroup.com
- All equipment will need to be carried on board as hand luggage.
- It's important guests contact the manufacturer/supplier to ensure that their equipment is safe to use at 60 Hz and to ensure that their 50 Hz machine will not be damaged or its performance affected.
- All staterooms are fitted with the British three pin sockets.
- Personal Extension Leads are not permitted on board unless to be used with essential medical equipment (e.g. CPAP and nebuliser machines). Guests should ensure any extension lead for their medical device is long enough to reach the required areas. Surge protected extension leads are not accepted in any circumstances as they interfere with the ship's electrical distribution.
- If a guest wishes to take electrical medical equipment on board, they must complete a “Your on-board needs” questionnaire via My Cunard as soon as possible after booking and no later than two weeks before they sail.
You may find the following useful "Can I fly if I have a pre-existing medical condition, reduced mobility or any disability that requires assistance?".
Please also see "What type of plug sockets / voltage are used on board and where are they located?" and contact the supplier of the electrical equipment with any questions about compatibility.
Pacemakers / Implantable cardioverter defibrillator (ICD)
- It's important to note that some medical devices can be affected by the security scanners at ports and airports. Therefore, it is advisable for guests to travel with an official letter from their doctor (or their device card) which should be shown at security. This will mean they will not have to pass through the scanners, instead, a member of staff will escort them through the security process.
Electrical feeding pumps
- Electrical feeding pumps can be taken on board however, guests must ensure they bring sufficient quantities of any required medication/liquid feeds for the duration of their voyage. If guests anticipate needing additional refrigerator storage whilst on board, please email medical@carnivalukgroup.com detailing the number and sizes of boxes so alternative arrangements can be made.
Mechanical ventilators
- Guests must advise at time of booking that they will be bringing a CPAP/BiPAP/Nebuliser on board their voyage. Should the guest require the use of their CPAP/BiPAP/Nebuliser during their flight, please speak with the Partnership Helpdesk no later than 14 days prior to departure. We recommend that CPAP/BiPAP/Nebulisers are carried in hand luggage and not put in the hold.
- Guests should always travel with an extra battery and if guests are dependent on a machine, they should travel with an additional or backup machine as we are not able to replace these units on board. All guests taking electrical medical equipment on board will be required to take their own extension lead with them.
Delivery of liquid feeds and dialysis fluid
- Please arrange for the company supplying the guest’s feeds/fluids to email our Port Agency Southampton Southampton.Port.Agency@carnivalukgroup.com for assistance with delivery arrangements and to confirm the delivery address for all guests joining in Southampton.
- If guests are flying as part of their voyage, please call Flights. We will confirm our airline guidelines and restriction for carriage of liquid feeds and dialysis fluid.
- For all other embarkation ports, please email medical@carnivalukgroup.com for Port Agent details. Failure to do so may result in the guest’s delivery being refused or delayed. Deliveries must be marked with the guest’s name, booking reference, cabin number, ship name, cruise number and date of travel.
Suprapubic catheters/ catheters
- A suprapubic catheter is a catheter that empties the bladder through an incision in the belly instead of a tube in the urethra.
- A urinary catheter is a catheter that is inserted in the urethra to empty the bladder.
- Both catheters usually include a flexible tube that drains the urine and a place for the urine to empty into, such as a bag.
- The medical team on board will be able to assist should the guest require their urinary catheter to be changed during their cruise. We recommend that they bring all their own medical supplies with them and to advise that they will be charged for the services provided.
- The medical team onboard can certainly care for a suprapubic catheter but due to the specialist nature of their insertion, cannot guarantee that they would be able to be changed on board. If it was required and they were unable to assist, the team would arrange for this to be seen in a shoreside location.
Distilled water for medical equipment
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Please note we are unable to provide distilled water onboard; we recommend that you bring your own supplies or discuss a suitable alternative with your physician or the unit manufacturer. For sailings from Southampton; Delivery of distilled water can be arranged by a third-party company Mobility at Sea (https://www.mobilityatsea.co.uk / 0800 328 1699).
Additional Information
- You must ensure to ask every guest “In the unlikely event of an emergency, would anyone on the booking need assistance?”. If they would require assistance, please add the relevant level of support to Polar Online using the "package list" option. If a guest is bringing a mobility scooter or wheelchair on board, you must add evacuation chair assistance for them. However, it’s not possible to add this resource to existing bookings. If this step is missed or needs to be added post-booking, please complete the Partnership Helpdesk Webform and we'll come back to you as soon as possible. For bookings sailing within the next six months, you should call the Partnership Helpdesk for urgent support.
- If the guest has mobility or accessibility requirements, they must complete their "Your on-board needs" questionnaire via My Cruise as soon as possible after booking and no later than two weeks before they sail. You can send them a reminder to do this by following this process guide.
- We have a range of how-to-guides on Shine Rewards Club. Please click here for Cunard and here for P&O Cruises.