Post-surgery cruise?

[mevelandry]

I got surgery to get my appendix removed on thursday night. The cruise is Nov 30. I already spoke to my doctor, he thinks I will be strong enough to travel next sunday (29th). I will get my post-op appointment with him next friday (27th).

The healing seems to be on its way. I can stand, walk, shower by myself.

Will I need a paper from my doctor saying I can cruise or will I be okay?

EDIT: Spoke with my travel insurance, everything sounds ok.

But while I am at it, I had to cancel Rainforest Spa passes and bikes on Castaway Cay. Any suggestions for activities... for a fun but relaxing day at CC or on the ship?

Thanks in advance.

 

[ACDSNY]

I'd like to wish you a speedy recovery even though I don't have an official answer for you. I doubt DCL would even know about your surgery since it isn't a health question they ask. That being said, only you know how you're feeling and whether you'll feel up to traveling. Once on the ship you can relax and rest.

Our upcoming cruise is also a post surgery trip for my husband; however, his surgery was over 2 months ago.

 

[ForMyBoys]

WOW, I'm so glad this happened last Thursday and not while you were on the cruise!!!

If you are worried you can ask your doctor for a medical release, but I would think you wouldn't need it. It isn't a question I see on their health form so it likely won't come up unless you bring it up. Recovery is generally pretty quick. I'm not a medical professional, I'm just thinking about my own recovery and my son's recovery. We were both felt fine after less than a week. I was also able to resume working out after 2 weeks. I wish you a speedy recovery.

 

[ludari]

Several years ago I had a medical situation and visited the medical center on the ship to inform them of my situation and pain medication. Not to sound mean or anything but they really didn't seem to care. I went on to have an absolutely memorable and fun cruise.

 

[xlxo]

you might want to double check your travel insurance.

 

[mevelandry]

WOW, I'm so glad this happened last Thursday and not while you were on the cruise!!!

I know. They basically found it by accident as I was consulting for something else! :/ I've been lucky.

 

[mevelandry]

you might want to double check your travel insurance.

Why?

 

[PrincessShmoo]

Why?

Because stuff happens. Yes, you "should be fine" to travel. But something may happen before that. OR while on the cruise.

 

[mevelandry]

Not sure what I should tell them or ask?

It's the "cancel for any reason" police DCL is selling.

 

[PrincessShmoo]

Not sure what I should tell them or ask?

It's the "cancel for any reason" police DCL is selling.

You should have a copy of the policy. It's probably not a bad idea to look at it and see what's actually covered (and how much - 50%? 100%?) in the eventuality that you either don't make it onboard, or need to be medically evacuated. Just so you know.

If something were to come up on the cruise related to the surgery, a medical evacuation is not a cancellation.

 

[lanejudy]

First, glad to hear you are doing well and the surgeon expects to clear you for travel!

Second, just for peace of mind I would probably check the medica"l coverage included in your travel insurance. As a "just in case" and to know whether you would need to pay upfront and get reimbursement or how it would be handled.

Just a note...as to the "cancel for any reason" DCL policy -- the insurance policy itself is not cancel for any reason. However, if you do end up canceling and the insurance denies your claim, DCL will offer a credit of something like 75% to use on another cruise within a specified time period (I think it's one year, but not sure when that clock starts counting).

If I recall, you've been planning this cruise as a special celebration; hoping this was just a little blip and doesn't impact your cruise experience. Enjoy your cruise!

 

[hardis5]

just for peace of mind I would probably check the medica"l coverage included in your travel insurance. As a "just in case" and to know whether you would need to pay upfront and get reimbursement or how it would be handled.

I'd 2nd the above great advice. You will likely find travel insurance will still provide coverage but any consequence arsing from your surgery, they may tell you as a pre-existing condition, you will be liable for any costs related to should anything happen. Be prepared for that "just in case" to avoid a nasty surprise.

I know many would travel without asking hoping they'd be covered - I'd rather know such and we've been in that situation where a pre-existing last minute issue expiereneced did not stop us from sailing, but we knew if anything arose around we'd be on our own and would have made decisions based upon that and not that I had insurance that would cover.

 

[mevelandry]

Good news. I just called them. Since I bought the insurance a long time ago, the appendictis and surgery are not considered "pre-existing conditions" they assured me that if anything was going to happen following my surgery, it would be covered.

 

[lanejudy]

There should be not question that an acute attack of appendicitis 2 weeks prior to sailing is not a "pre-existing condition." Pre-existing conditions are determined based on the date the insurance was purchased (pre-existing = prior to insurance purchase). The DCL insurance was purchased at least a couple of months ago since that is officially purchased at PIF. However, many people are used to their personal medical insurance where the doctor/hospital bills the insurance company first. In a foreign country and using travel insurance, that may not be the case. The insurance may require the patient to pay upfront and submit a claim for reimbursement, even if it is expected that the insurance will cover; possibly the travel medical will require a patient to submit a claim to their personal medical insurance first. Any medical service received onboard the ship will need to be paid upfront, and often medical services onshore as well. I would want to be prepared if I might need a credit card for a big charge.

I do think OP is likely to be fine for her cruise, but being prepared is good.

 

[mevelandry]

My credit card is ready!

 

[mrslaney]

I got surgery to get my appendix removed on thursday night. The cruise is Nov 30. I already spoke to my doctor, he thinks I will be strong enough to travel next sunday (29th). I will get my post-op appointment with him next friday (27th).

The healing seems to be on its way. I can stand, walk, shower by myself.

Will I need a paper from my doctor saying I can cruise or will I be okay?

Thanks in advance.

I'm in the same boat, literally and figuratively! We are on the same sailing as you, and I had surgery on this past Tuesday. I have post-op on Wednesday and we are heading down on the following Sunday. My doctor says that he thinks I will be okay as long as I really rest this week leading up to travel. I had a partial hysterectomy, so I'm still pretty zonked today. I pray you have a quick recovery! We can lay by the pool and do nothing together. Lol.

 

[mevelandry]

I'm in the same boat, literally and figuratively! We are on the same sailing as you, and I had surgery on this past Tuesday. I have post-op on Wednesday and we are heading down on the following Sunday. My doctor says that he thinks I will be okay as long as I really rest this week leading up to travel. I had a partial hysterectomy, so I'm still pretty zonked today. I pray you have a quick recovery! We can lay by the pool and do nothing together. Lol.

Hope you'll be back in shape by the cruise too!

Oh it will be a more-quiet-than-expected vacation for us... I cancelled the bike ride on CC... I think I might as well cancel the spa passes (because of fresh scars)... EDIT: cancelled it without any problems. Sad because I loved the Spa but the last thing I need is getting an infection...

Although I won't be on painkillers I don't know If it's a good time to do alcohol tastings? :/

Any suggestions on activities (where I don't have to move too much or bathe in anything) we could do to replace the ones I had to cancel?

 

[mevelandry]

*I'll bump this, just in case*

I don't know what happened last night but I am feeling so much better this morning compared to yesterday!

Hope I'll keep doing better!

 

[mrslaney]

Good news. I just called them. Since I bought the insurance a long time ago, the appendictis and surgery are not considered "pre-existing conditions" they assured me that if anything was going to happen following my surgery, it would be covered.

Hope you'll be back in shape by the cruise too!

Oh it will be a more-quiet-than-expected vacation for us... I cancelled the bike ride on CC... I think I might as well cancel the spa passes (because of fresh scars)... EDIT: cancelled it without any problems. Sad because I loved the Spa but the last thing I need is getting an infection...

Although I won't be on painkillers I don't know If it's a good time to do alcohol tastings? :/

Any suggestions on activities (where I don't have to move too much or bathe in anything) we could do to replace the ones I had to cancel?

My intention is to pick up some cheap novels and read them in the quiet cove or on my verandah. I feel the same way about the spa. Hubby and I are doing a Palo brunch. That's about the extent of what I have planned for myself. Surgery was unplanned so it sort of threw a kink in my plans.

 

[mevelandry]

I don't really read so I'll need a different kind of entertainment... Hopefully they have a lot of good shows and movies.