Suggestions or advice please

[hsiburt]

We are at a cross road right now. We have our first disney cruise booked for October. There will be 7 of us traveling (my parents, my sister and niece, my hubby, our daughter snd myself). This cruise is the top thing on my moms bucket list, but unfortunately because of health issues, we may have to cancel.
Long story short- 12 years ago my mom lost a kidney to cancer. A year and a half ago, the cancer came back in the other kidney and moved into her lung. Last week, the kidney failed and she began dialysis.
Disney does not have dialysis on the ship. I am hoping that she will be a candidate for at home dialysis, but only time will tell. I have been checking on dialysis at our ports of call. Our 1st port is Cozumel and no dialysis centers close - she will need dialysis 3 days a week. So our only 2 options are portable dialysis in the stateroom if she is a candidate (prayers) or rebook for a 3 day cruise and spend time at disney.
Should I book another 3 day cruise and have both cruises until we figure out what is going to happen with my moms help? We would like a joining state rooms, but I am thinking if we wait, that may not be possible. Worried about not getting a full refund too. Suggestions? Advice?

 

[Club Disney Chandler]

We are at a cross road right now. We have our first disney cruise booked for October. There will be 7 of us traveling (my parents, my sister and niece, my hubby, our daughter snd myself). This cruise is the top thing on my moms bucket list, but unfortunately because of health issues, we may have to cancel.
Long story short- 12 years ago my mom lost a kidney to cancer. A year and a half ago, the cancer came back in the other kidney and moved into her lung. Last week, the kidney failed and she began dialysis.
Disney does not have dialysis on the ship. I am hoping that she will be a candidate for at home dialysis, but only time will tell. I have been checking on dialysis at our ports of call. Our 1st port is Cozumel and no dialysis centers close - she will need dialysis 3 days a week. So our only 2 options are portable dialysis in the stateroom if she is a candidate (prayers) or rebook for a 3 day cruise and spend time at disney.
Should I book another 3 day cruise and have both cruises until we figure out what is going to happen with my moms help? We would like a joining state rooms, but I am thinking if we wait, that may not be possible. Worried about not getting a full refund too. Suggestions? Advice?

As far as booking a 3 day cruise, if you can afford the deposit, I would book it now, provided you don't book concierge. As long as you cancel before your final payment you'll receive a 100% refund.

As far as your moms health is concerned, I wish her a speedy recovery and wish your family the best.

 

[Drusilla99]

We've had pretty much this same thing going on with our family. We had an Alaskan cruise booked for July for my parents 50th anniversary, but after recent surgeries for my dad we decided a cruise overall wouldn't be the best for the whole group. Cancellations are too strict for cruises, so...we have changed gears and the group are spending a week together at Aulani. If something major comes up before the trip, we can cancel, or postpone. If something comes up on the trip, there are hospitals nearby.

 

[MUN]

We are at a cross road right now. We have our first disney cruise booked for October. There will be 7 of us traveling (my parents, my sister and niece, my hubby, our daughter snd myself). This cruise is the top thing on my moms bucket list, but unfortunately because of health issues, we may have to cancel.
Long story short- 12 years ago my mom lost a kidney to cancer. A year and a half ago, the cancer came back in the other kidney and moved into her lung. Last week, the kidney failed and she began dialysis.
Disney does not have dialysis on the ship. I am hoping that she will be a candidate for at home dialysis, but only time will tell. I have been checking on dialysis at our ports of call. Our 1st port is Cozumel and no dialysis centers close - she will need dialysis 3 days a week. So our only 2 options are portable dialysis in the stateroom if she is a candidate (prayers) or rebook for a 3 day cruise and spend time at disney.
Should I book another 3 day cruise and have both cruises until we figure out what is going to happen with my moms help? We would like a joining state rooms, but I am thinking if we wait, that may not be possible. Worried about not getting a full refund too. Suggestions? Advice?

Can your parents stay home and the rest of you go on the cruise? Dialysis is a big ordeal. I'm not sure I would want to travel while on dialysis.

MUN

 

[bcwife76]

There are actually dialysis cruises at sea (I've looked into it as my mom is on dialysis) but obviously this is not offered by DCL (I think it's only one or two cruise lines that offer specific routes with the ability to have dialysis while onboard).

 

[hsiburt]

Can your parents stay home and the rest of you go on the cruise? Dialysis is a big ordeal. I'm not sure I would want to travel while on dialysis.

MUN

Yes, going without my parents is a possibility, but this was supposed to be a family cruise that my mother has booked and paid for so all of us can go with her to the number one thing on her bucket list before........ I don't even want to talk about the before.
Going without my parents would just be wrong.

There are actually dialysis cruises at sea (I've looked into it as my mom is on dialysis) but obviously this is not offered by DCL (I think it's only one or two cruise lines that offer specific routes with the ability to have dialysis while onboard).

And body and I have tried to convince my mother to do the dialysis at sea cruise, but she is not interested in it at all. A family Disney Cruise has been on the top of her wish list since I don't know when. She is not budging at all. We have been on other cruise lines - carnival, Royal Caribbean, Norwegian. This will be our first Disney cruise, and is not budging. She would much rather change from a seven day to a three day then not go at all

 

[JJsmama]

I am sorry for all of you. i would not take mom away from good medical care. Maybe a 3 day cruise, but rushing to and from dialysis on day 1 and 3 would still make it hard to enjoy.

Maybe what mom really wants is Disney Time with the Family. Ask her if that is the case vs speciifically 'cruise.' In that case, you could do a Super WDW trip with everyone for the price of the DCL. You could fill it up with character meals and parades, shows, etc. There must be a good place for Dialysis close to WDW. She and one other could go as often as needed and join the rest of you upon return. I hate to even think about you all hitting rough seas or mom feeling sea sick....

 

[OrcaPotter]

I had a Close family friend who was on dialysis for years and she loved cruising. She was only ever able to do 3 day cruises as result; for some reason the "dialysis cruises" never worked out. It was rough on embarkation day because she had to go in at like 5 am to be on the ship by 2, and was exhausted as result. But she enjoyed herself, even if she was disappointed she couldn't do a cruise that was longer. I would cancel the 7 day and attach a WDW portion ahead of the 3 day cruise to make it special.