RCCL requires Drs, note

[Ought To Be Cruising]

29 minutes ago, Wine-O said:

How do people know they need a note from their Dr. if they are over 70?  I heard some were refused boarding if they didn't have a note before they cancelled all the cruises.  Is your TA supposed to notify you once cruises start back up that they have to have a note?  The majority of cruisers don't read cruise critic.  How are they going to get notified? 

 

I would be really upset if I got to the pier and told, "Oh, you don't have a note?  Sorry, you're not going on the cruise." 🍷

 

 

One person said their TA emailed them. 

[firefly333]

34 minutes ago, fairweather said:

Urgent care units do routine exams for school sports participants all the time. This is not an urgent situation.

 

These facilities offer easy access while providing routine care for those who don't want to wait for an appointment with a regular doctor's office. Most primary care doctors now function more as gatekeepers for the insurance companies, deciding when you need to see a specialist. Their nurse practitioners do most of the exams.

 

Most urgent care facilities would be more than happy to provide the service I outlined which would greatly increase their profits. A majority of these places are personally owned by physicians who don't make all that much money as primary care doctors any longer, so they went out on their own and set up these new alternative care units.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

I went to 2 here in texas and both told me they dont take seniors, over 65.

 

It was for my dad, not me, I was just the driver. They were firm, we dont take seniors. I would telephone before I went as this my vary from state to state. 

[gatour]

36 minutes ago, fairweather said:

Urgent care units do routine exams for school sports participants all the time. This is not an urgent situation.

 

These facilities offer easy access while providing routine care for those who don't want to wait for an appointment with a regular doctor's office. Most primary care doctors now function more as gatekeepers for the insurance companies, deciding when you need to see a specialist. Their nurse practitioners do most of the exams.

 

Most urgent care facilities would be more than happy to provide the service I outlined which would greatly increase their profits. A majority of these places are personally owned by physicians who don't make all that much money as primary care doctors any longer, so they went out on their own and set up these new alternative care units.

 

Depending on where you live you are so wrong.

 

Where I live in Florida most of the urgent care units are owned by Hospitals and not privately owned by physicians.  The hospitals are either non-profit (Baptist/St Vincent(Ascension) or privately owned by large national chains (HCA).

 

In fact many primary care physicians have moved out of having their own practices and joined practices owned by above hospitals. 

 

In regards to primary doctors being "gate keepers" that ended years ago.  I don't have to see my primary care doctor to visit a dermatologist, podiatrist etc.  I just need to go to my insurance company's website, do a look up for a particular specialist and call for an appointment. 

[Dennis#1]

2 hours ago, fairweather said:

How about requiring everyone (including all children) to visit an urgent care in the port from which they will be leaving up to two days before a cruise is to embark? You just make the appointment at the same time you make your hotel reservations.

 

One would be checked out for any infections that could be contagious and to assess the true state of health of those with pre-existing conditions. Not just those age 70 and above have chronic health concerns. Passengers could also get a refill of any drug prescription they may have forgotten to bring with them or lost along the way at such a facility.

 

Instead of asking our primary care doctor weeks before a cruise to give an All Clear letter that might not be current, this would give the cruise line a much better evaluation of every cruise passenger's current health. And since it's always best to travel to port at least a day or two before embarkation because of weather conditions, lost luggage or just to sightsee and stock up on snacks/last minute purchases, I don't see this as being an inconvenience or undue cost.

 

Such a checkup at the urgent care would provide us all with a much better sense of safety. If we want to have a carefree vacation, there are some responsibilities we must all take in traveling around the globe.

 

It might also save us some money if we have to postpone a cruise at the last minute. The cruise lines would arguably be far more flexible in giving future cruise credits if we worked with them to save the cruise for everyone else. A better, safer cruise experience benefits company profits and repeat business. A pleasant, worry free experience should be the ultimate goal of both passengers and cruise lines.

Disagree with your post.

 

[Etta1213]

Maybe we just need a cruise line for seniors only! 

Maybe 60 + in age,  everybody sign a waiver, no waterslides needed.

[ChristyS]

If you see a doctor or nurse practitioner regular most would be willing and able to sign a simple form. In our practice , if the chronic condition is well controlled there would not be a problem. Now if your diabetes or blood pressure is unstable that is a different story.  My. Husband, a physician sees his unstable patients monthly. Routine well controlled chronic disease are seen every 3-6 months. If you have Medicare , it pays for one wellness visit every year. This is the perfect way to make sure you would be eligible for a note. He also sees 50% of the patients in the office when the NPs see the other 50%. 
my biggest worry is that sometimes people over 70 may not agree with the risks. Hubby is 75 himself. Wonder where he will get his note?

[molly361]

5 hours ago, Etta1213 said:

Maybe we just need a cruise line for seniors only! 

Maybe 60 + in age,  everybody sign a waiver, no waterslides needed.

We have one (or used to) Holland America😇

[Roger88]

If I am not mistake, the agency has to notify about it all its passangers over 70. Usually they send an email but due to the fact that many of the oldies dont know how to use the internet - they give them a call. I also heard that this paper can be signed by anyone and its not that important to have a doctor's sign.. moreover, I am not sure that any doctor will sign such paper. The risk of losing a liscene is too high 

[molly361]

I hope Super Mario is under 70.  If you need one per cruise that's A LOT of doctor notes😇

[ONECRUISER]

51 minutes ago, Roger88 said:

If I am not mistake, the agency has to notify about it all its passangers over 70. Usually they send an email but due to the fact that many of the oldies dont know how to use the internet - they give them a call. I also heard that this paper can be signed by anyone and its not that important to have a doctor's sign.. moreover, I am not sure that any doctor will sign such paper. The risk of losing a liscene is too high 

https://www.royalcaribbean.com/content/dam/royal/resources/pdf/rccl-approved-physician-letter.pdf   Curious, where you heard not important who signs it?

Edited April 9, 2020 by ONECRUISER

[molly361]

Cancel that transmission

Edited April 9, 2020 by molly361

[Ocean Boy]

4 hours ago, Roger88 said:

. I also heard that this paper can be signed by anyone and its not that important to have a doctor's sign.. 

What? I don't ever remember a thread on CC with do many crazy posts.

[Ocean Boy]

9 hours ago, ChristyS said:

If you see a doctor or nurse practitioner regular most would be willing and able to sign a simple form.

He also sees 50% of the patients in the office when the NPs see the other 50%. 
 

Well I guess I don't fall into the "most" catagory. I am not willing to sign that "simple" form. I also don't see 50% of the patients in the office, I see them all.

[grapau27]

8 minutes ago, Ocean Boy said:

Well I guess I don't fall into the "most" catagory. I am not willing to sign that "simple" form. I also don't see 50% of the patients in the office, I see them all.

I have had the same doctor for 20+ years.

The thing with notes is you might be fine 1 day and have a heart attack another so can understand doctors being wary of signing health forms.

Personally I was in the gym lifting heavy waits every day on our 14 night Princess Hawaiian cruise and 12 days later I was in coronary care after a heart attack.

As long as everyone has travel insurance this should be accepted by cruise lines.

[Biker19]

3 hours ago, molly361 said:

I hope Super Mario is under 70.  If you need one per cruise that's A LOT of doctor notes😇

BxBers only need one, kinda like you only need the Setsail pass for the first sailing.

Edited April 9, 2020 by Biker19

[molly361]

Just now, Biker19 said:

BxBers are exempt, kinda like you only need the Setsail pass for the first sailing.

I know  I was just joking😇

[Ocean Boy]

11 hours ago, fairweather said:

Urgent care units do routine exams for school sports participants all the time. This is not an urgent situation.

 

These facilities offer easy access while providing routine care for those who don't want to wait for an appointment with a regular doctor's office. Most primary care doctors now function more as gatekeepers for the insurance companies, deciding when you need to see a specialist. Their nurse practitioners do most of the exams.

 

Most urgent care facilities would be more than happy to provide the service I outlined which would greatly increase their profits. A majority of these places are personally owned by physicians who don't make all that much money as primary care doctors any longer, so they went out on their own and set up these new alternative care units.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Your post is wrong on so many levels that I don't even know where to start.

[Blizzard54]

6 hours ago, molly361 said:

I hope Super Mario is under 70.  If you need one per cruise that's A LOT of doctor notes😇

Mario is in his 60's

[TMLAalum]

Totally get no physician being willing to sign such a release, although it appears to be specific to COVID-19.

 

To quote:

"I hereby certify that this patient does not suffer from any chronic illness (e.g. heart, lung, liver or kidney disease autoimmune deficiency status due to HIV/AIDs or diabetes) which would make this patient susceptible to complications arising after infection with the Novel Coronavirus (2019nCoV)/COVID-19."

 

So, if there can be some proof that a 70+ year old has immunity to COVID-19 either by having survived the virus or -hopefully in the near future- been vaccinated against the virus, perhaps a physician would be willing to sign such a letter?

 

Unless things change, looks my my cruising days are over....

 

 

 

Edited April 9, 2020 by TMLAalum

[fairweather]

The cruise industry is going to go bankrupt if they can't get passengers to cooperate in screening out those infected with  contagious diseases before they get on board.

 

But chronic conditions are another thing entirely. Most people with these conditions are continually monitored. They wouldn't book a cruise if their condition wasn't under control and would postpone one if they were not feeling well. One would think the cruise lines would want to work with these passengers and give them more flexibility in rescheduling as well as getting refunds/credits.  Repeat business is the bread and butter of any industry. 

 

In my state urgent care facilities accept all ages including those over 65. I'm sorry to hear that other states don't. While some are affiliated with hospitals, there are many here independently run. They offer many services including preventative health care.

 

If there is a need to provide a service which issues health letters for cruise passengers, you can bet there will be some enterprising medical source more than happy to offer that service in the future. And, as another person pointed out, there are literally thousands of people per ship, multiple ships per port leaving weekly who will now need them.

 

It's the irresponsible who refuse to cooperate in any way and think they don't have to follow the rules everyone else does who ruin things for everyone. It's outrageous that senior citizens are being blamed for this cruise problem and this pandemic. No one watches their health more.

 

Maybe someone will start a cruise line for the those who want to be quarantined for weeks on board and possibly die at sea, just so they don't ever have to take any precautions. Just dump their bodies over the side? No need to pay for a funeral?

[zekekelso]

If the rule becomes no note, no cruise, no refund, people will take matters into their own hand. 

[Thesandman12]

14 hours ago, Wine-O said:

How do people know they need a note from their Dr. if they are over 70?  I heard some were refused boarding if they didn't have a note before they cancelled all the cruises.  Is your TA supposed to notify you once cruises start back up that they have to have a note?  The majority of cruisers don't read cruise critic.  How are they going to get notified? 

 

I would be really upset if I got to the pier and told, "Oh, you don't have a note?  Sorry, you're not going on the cruise." 🍷

 

 

Hey Wine-0.  We have bailed out of 2020 cruising. Going for 2021, What I hear, rumor, etc, but seems logical No one in the cruise industry knows what is going to happen on the doctor thing. One idea I'm pretty sure maybe true, from some contacts, is have the passenger sign  off  that they have no infection, disease, no contraindications that would prevent them from cruising. Make the cruiser accept the liability  for anything that happens to them, in the event they give something to someone else, then that person or cruise line can go after that cruiser, In other words do not blame us, blame cruiser xyz for everything they did and we have a signed release form from them. Just hear that the idea is being floated around among others. Ain't life wonderful, hope to see you in 2021.

[Lady Hudson]

Like to be more optimistic.  Listening to the news today it seems as though things are looking up.  Early projections of deaths seem to have been a bit over blown.  I can’t believe the cruise industry will stay with this doctors’ note requirement if the virus situation is much improved.  The cruise industry is going to be suffering anyway and I can’t believe they will not do away with this requirement ASAP.

 

I think back to many discussions with posters in the past about who is more valuable to the cruise industry — the young folks who go on a cruise every year or so, or the older folks who travel many times a year but don’t spend a lot of money per trip.  Still going with the older folks — especially now.  All the cruise lines will need their regular and most enthusiastic cruisers to sail again.  Looking forward to seeing everyone on a ship someday soon.  Katherine

[Wine-O]

31 minutes ago, Thesandman12 said:

Hey Wine-0.  We have bailed out of 2020 cruising. Going for 2021, What I hear, rumor, etc, but seems logical No one in the cruise industry knows what is going to happen on the doctor thing. One idea I'm pretty sure maybe true, from some contacts, is have the passenger sign  off  that they have no infection, disease, no contraindications that would prevent them from cruising. Make the cruiser accept the liability  for anything that happens to them, in the event they give something to someone else, then that person or cruise line can go after that cruiser, In other words do not blame us, blame cruiser xyz for everything they did and we have a signed release form from them. Just hear that the idea is being floated around among others. Ain't life wonderful, hope to see you in 2021.

 

I think that's a great idea.  It's all called personal responsibility.  We're still hoping for late August/September sailings.  Already booked for 2021, B2B in both Spring and Fall, and one for May 2022.  🍷

[Thesandman12]

6 minutes ago, Wine-O said:

 

I think that's a great idea.  It's all called personal responsibility.  We're still hoping for late August/September sailings.  Already booked for 2021, B2B in both Spring and Fall, and one for May 2022.  🍷

What do you have in the fall 2021, I'm looking at adventure coming out of Copen to Ams 8/31 - 9/7, 7day, have it booked, but don't know where it goes after that, I don't find it again until Galveston 11/13. Where is in between.

Everything seem to be coming out of BCN, T/A and no where else