Your medical needs on board
If you have an existing medical condition, we advise you to discuss your travel plans with your doctor. We strongly advise that you follow their expert advice regarding your fitness to travel on board a cruise. You should also be aware that if you do not follow your doctor’s advice your medical insurance may be deemed invalid.
If you have any further questions about your medical needs please e-mail us at medical@carnivalukgroup.com. This inbox is monitored 8am to 4pm Monday to Friday.
All ships have a medical centre staffed by Doctors and Nurses which is open daily for routine appointments. An emergency service is available 24 hours a day. However, the ships medical centre is not required to be and is not equipped to the same standards as a land-based hospital, it is not designed for the provision of extensive or continuing treatment and medical staff cannot provide carer duties. Please be aware that we operate a private health care service and charges will apply for all services and medications dispensed by the ship’s medical centre; costs will be applied to your onboard account to be settled prior to disembarkation.
Should you have any specific dietary requirements then we can provide a full and varied menu that caters to your needs if we are informed in advance of your cruise. If you are diabetic, vegetarian, vegan or need a fat-free or gluten-free diet, all you need do is contact us to register your requirements by calling our Customer Contact Centre on 03453 555 111 (local call charges apply).
If you have a food allergy or intolerance you will need to call our Customer Contact Centre to inform us before you embark. We will endeavour to meet your requirements but are unable to guarantee specific branded items.
If you require kosher meals, please advise us at the time of booking or no later than 8 weeks prior to departure. We will send you a list of pre-prepared meals for you to choose from. Please select your choices and return this to us as soon as possible. Once onboard, your selected meals will be available for you to choose from each day to enjoy. Please note, we do not have a separate kosher kitchen on board.
For babies, Hipp Organic baby food jars (Stage 1 and Stage 2 only) are available. If required, please request this at the time of booking.
Please note: baby food must be requested a minimum of 8 weeks before sailing. We also cannot supply guests with baby food on bookings made within 8 weeks of the departure date.
Pregnant guests can travel with us, however, we cannot accept guests who will be more than 23 weeks pregnant (i.e. 23 weeks + 1 day or more) at any time during the cruise.
Please tell us about your pregnancy by emailing medical@carnivalukgroup.com. You will be required to send confirmation of your expected due date (EDD) certified by your doctor or midwife and you should confirm with them that you will be fit to travel on your planned cruise. (Documentation you send us must include the EDD calculated from both your last menstrual period (LMP) and ultrasound, if performed). Failure to provide the information requested could result in you being denied boarding at your own expense.
A sharps bin and/ or red medical waste disposal bags can be placed in your cabin on request by completing the on-board needs questionnaire prior to your holiday. Soluble pouches must not be flushed into the plumbing systems on board our ships. Please ensure that all medical waste is appropriately wrapped and placed in the bin in your cabin.
All guests bringing electrical equipment on board a flight must contact the airline directly as soon as possible and no later than 14 days before departure to confirm carriage.
The electrical supply on board our ships differs from the standard UK electrical supply.
Standard electrical supply in the UK 50Hz / 240V
Arcadia 220V / 110V
Aurora / Iona / Arvia 60Hz / 220V
Azura / Ventura 60Hz / 230V / 115V
Britannia 60Hz / 230V / 120V
It is important that you contact the manufacturer or supplier to ensure that your equipment is safe to use at 60Hz and that your 50Hz machine will not be damaged nor its performance affected. Please be advised that we are unable to provide distilled water on board. We recommend bringing your own supplies, or you may wish to discuss a suitable alternative with your respiratory team or the manufacturer of your CPAP unit.
All guests taking electrical medical equipment on board are required to take their own extension lead with them.
Personal extension leads are only permitted on board to be used with essential medical equipment (such as CPAP and nebuliser machines). Your extension lead should be at least 3m long to accommodate plug locations and layout of cabins. Surge-protected extension leads are not accepted in any circumstances, as they interfere with the ship’s electrical distribution. If you are travelling with CPAP, an oxygen concentrator or peritoneal dialysis, you should confirm your fitness to travel on your chosen itinerary with your primary health care provider. You must also 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
Please be advised that we are unable to provide distilled water onboard. We recommend bringing your own supplies. Alternatively, you may wish to discuss a suitable alternative with your respiratory team or the manufacturer of your CPAP unit.
Please ensure you bring enough medication and liquid feeds to last the duration of your holiday. If you will require extra refrigerated storage, let us know before you sail so that we can advise on whether we can assist; please email medical@carnivalukgroup.com. Tell us the number and size of the boxes you need to store. Also, read the ‘Electrical medical equipment and electrical supply’ section above to ensure your machine is safe to use on board.
Embarking at Southampton – please arrange for the company supplying your feeds to email our Southampton port agency at southampton.port.agency@carnivalukgroup.com for assistance with delivery arrangements and to confirm the delivery address for all guests joining in Southampton.
For all other embarkation ports – please email medical@carnivalukgroup.com for port agent details. Failure to do so may result in your delivery being refused or delayed. Deliveries must be marked with your name, booking reference, cabin number, ship name, cruise number and date of travel.
If you are flying as part of your cruise, please call our Customer Contact Centre on 03453 555 111 (local call charges apply). We will confirm any airline guidelines and restrictions for carriage of liquid feeds.
Have a question about your medical needs?
Email us: medical@carnivalukgroup.com. This inbox is monitored 8am to 4pm Monday to Friday.