Has anyone kept medication in med center freezer?

[PescadoAmarillo]

I am currently using eye drops that have to be kept frozen until opened. I’ll need one 0.5 ounce (very tiny) vial stored in a freezer. Has anyone been successful in having the medical center store drugs in a freezer?  I’ll have a second one opened that I’ll be using daily, and I’ll keep it in an ice bucket in the cabin refrigerator.

[PacnGoNow]

You would think Medical has come across this question in the HA group.

 

I would suggest emailing or calling Medical to inquire.

 

guestmedical@hagroup.com

 

(661) 753-2680
 

 

[PescadoAmarillo]

5 minutes ago, PacnGoNow said:

You would think Medical has come across this question in the HA group.

 

I would suggest emailing or calling Medical to inquire.

 

guestmedical@hagroup.com

 

(661) 753-2680
 

 

Thank you!

[Steelers36]

1 hour ago, PescadoAmarillo said:

I am currently using eye drops that have to be kept frozen until opened. I’ll need one 0.5 ounce (very tiny) vial stored in a freezer. Has anyone been successful in having the medical center store drugs in a freezer?  I’ll have a second one opened that I’ll be using daily, and I’ll keep it in an ice bucket in the cabin refrigerator.

Must be tricky getting it to the ship in first place.

[PescadoAmarillo]

2 minutes ago, Steelers36 said:

Must be tricky getting it to the ship in first place.

Yes, there’s been much discussion around here about how to do that, especially since we’re flying out several days early.  But they can be re-frozen if thawed as long as they are kept cold. Just have to get them through security in a block of ice and then I can keep them in an insulated water bottle packed with ice until we board the ship. 

[Prometheus1]

you could use dry ice in a thermal bag to transport to ship, many super markets sell it these days

[julia]

And you may want to have a doctor's note stating the requirements... may help with TSA.

[PescadoAmarillo]

28 minutes ago, Prometheus1 said:

you could use dry ice in a thermal bag to transport to ship, many super markets sell it these days

I looked for dry ice on Google Maps and it’s not sold anywhere around us. May try Kroger just in case. I would just need a small piece, way less than the 5.5 pounds allowed by TSA. These two bottles are really tiny, about the size of a piece of broccoli. They get lost inside our own freezer with comic regularity. 
 

Thanks @julia, I have that. 

[paddingtonbear]

57 minutes ago, PescadoAmarillo said:

Yes, there’s been much discussion around here about how to do that, especially since we’re flying out several days early.  But they can be re-frozen if thawed as long as they are kept cold. Just have to get them through security in a block of ice and then I can keep them in an insulated water bottle packed with ice until we board the ship. 

DH has medicine that has to be refrigerated (not frozen) 24/7. The doctor gave (free!!!) a tiny insulated bag for travelling with 2 freezable blocks that fit the bag perfectly with insulated baffles in between so the medicine doesn’t freeze. It gets accepted as medical equipment (so not included in passenger weight allowance). It has a subtle medical name on top and we breeze thru airports with it so they must know them. 
 

if you aren’t seeing your specialist before your cruise maybe ring the medication manufacturer and see if they give them away or sell them. 
 

it won’t solve your problem onboard the cruise though. 
 

Edited August 18 by paddingtonbear

[Senga]

Do you mind me asking the name of the eye drops?  My husband's eye drops have NO restrictions, mine need to be refrigerated UNTIL opened.  So many different scenarios.

[JF - retired RRT]

@PescadoAmarillo Google "portable medication refrigerator"...lots of options.

[PescadoAmarillo]

19 minutes ago, JF - retired RRT said:

@PescadoAmarillo Google "portable medication refrigerator"...lots of options.

Ty, I have, but they’re all huge compared to what I need.  Just need to get through security with them and then I can put them in my insulated metal water bottle filled with ice (or pieces of dry ice). I think that’s my best bet. These bottles are tiny but ridiculously pricey and irreplaceable if they go bad while I’m traveling.  

 

40 minutes ago, Senga said:

Do you mind me asking the name of the eye drops?  My husband's eye drops have NO restrictions, mine need to be refrigerated UNTIL opened.  So many different scenarios.

They’re serum tears. They’re made from my blood serum. There is no manufacturer. They make them up in a lab. I know, it’s bizarre. If they told me they were going to cut off a toe and attach it to my forehead it wouldn’t seem any less strange. 
 

I was planning to just skip them while I’m cruising until my doctor told me that was a recipe for ruining my corneas.

[cr8tiv1]

20 minutes ago, PescadoAmarillo said:

Ty, I have, but they’re all huge compared to what I need.  Just need to get through security with them and then I can put them in my insulated metal water bottle filled with ice (or pieces of dry ice). I think that’s my best bet. These bottles are tiny but ridiculously pricey and irreplaceable if they go bad while I’m traveling.  

 

Do I understand this correctly?  You have 2 questions:  getting through TSA security and on board the ship?

 

As far as TSA security....a frozen water bottle is considered a solid.  Can you find a wide mouth water bottle, fill it half way with water...freeze, add eye drop bottle and more water, freeze entire container?  Wrap in frozen ice packs (also TSA approved) and carry through screening device with Doctor's note/prescription.

 

Can't help with onboard the ship.

[cr8tiv1]

I know, over kill (glad you could understand my above post).  I travel back and forth between the islands A LOT with frozen foods.

 

Extra layer of cold...Pack everything in a small carry on collapsible insulated cooler lunch bag.  Counts as a lunch bag (not toward your carry on items).

 

edited:  

Freeze in non-metal plastic bottle. (like a mayonnaise jar)

 

Dry ice is the least messy option.

 

Can't help you with hotel either.

Edited August 18 by cr8tiv1

[PescadoAmarillo]

I had that same idea but DH pointed out that a frozen block of ice in a metal insulated water bottle wouldn’t be xrayable and likely wouldn’t get through security. And yes, I have two issues. Actually three. Getting through security (which I think I can handle), keeping it cold in our hotel and then re-freezing one of the bottles on the ship. 
 

I have emailed the contact @PacnGoNow suggested and found dry ice at our local Safeway. 

[PacnGoNow]

Also, does your hotel room have a mini frig with a freezer compartment?

You could call your hotel to inquire.

They could make sure the freezer works well in your room,

 

IIRC, PCL mini frig had a freezer compartment on the top shelf.  But, don’t remember seeing those on sailings for a while.

What a dilemma, huh?  Hope it all works smoothly for you.

 

[PescadoAmarillo]

33 minutes ago, PacnGoNow said:

Also, does your hotel room have a mini frig with a freezer compartment?

You could call your hotel to inquire.

They could make sure the freezer works well in your room,

 

IIRC, PCL mini frig had a freezer compartment on the top shelf.  But, don’t remember seeing those on sailings for a while.

What a dilemma, huh?  Hope it all works smoothly for you.

 

Yes, I’m set with the hotel and *think* I’m good with the flight and security, which is good, because any issues will be expensive and irreparable. Thank you for your good wishes. I will await a response from HAL group medical. 

[Waynetor]

Not quite the same thing but on a 64 night cruise our cabin fridge was not working to start and my wife's insulin all went bad.  Princess agreed to replace it and the medical centre held the insulin and doled it out to us in 10 day requirements.  So in special circumstances they do hold

[Thrak]

3 hours ago, PescadoAmarillo said:

I was planning to just skip them while I’m cruising until my doctor told me that was a recipe for ruining my corneas

 

Listen to your doctor! Trust me, you will feel really stupid going blind when you could have avoided doing so. (We will also miss you here if you have to stop cruising.) Do whatever it takes to take along the drops and preserve them.

 

While I have zero knowledge regarding the Princess policies I can see two sides to the question.

1. Duh... Of course they will allow storage of your necessary meds.

2. Duh... No way will they take on the responsibility for storage of your necessary meds and the possibility of a lawsuit if something happens to the items.

 

As usual with Princess, it's a toss up. I say keep on searching for a local source of dry ice and carry the meds in a small Yeti or other insulated bottle. Heck, a Stanley thermos should do the trick if you can source a small amount of dry ice.

[PescadoAmarillo]

Thank you @Thrak .  Yes, I have to figure this out. I think a combo of several of the ideas here will work. And if I have to keep them my metal water bottle filled with ice cubes in the refrigerator in our cabin, that’s what I will do. I know what to look for in case they go bad. And the longer I can keep that from happening the better off I’ll be. 

[Thrak]

12 minutes ago, PescadoAmarillo said:

Thank you @Thrak .  Yes, I have to figure this out. I think a combo of several of the ideas here will work. And if I have to keep them my metal water bottle filled with ice cubes in the refrigerator in our cabin, that’s what I will do. I know what to look for in case they go bad. And the longer I can keep that from happening the better off I’ll be. 

 

On a personal note: Tell G that, inspired by him, I tried a number of unusual potato chip flavors in Australia last year. I found most of them, not all but most of them, to be "un-good". 🤪

Edited August 19 by Thrak

[PescadoAmarillo]

Just now, Thrak said:

 

On a personal note: Tell G that, inspired by him, I tried a number of unusual potato chip flavors in Australia last year. I found most, but not all,of them to be "un-good". 🤪

They do have some unusual ones. We have a saying at our house: “It tastes good only if you’re hungry”. I think that some of those chip flavors could be described that way. 

[PacnGoNow]

7 hours ago, Thrak said:

 

Listen to your doctor! Trust me, you will feel really stupid going blind when you could have avoided doing so. (We will also miss you here if you have to stop cruising.) Do whatever it takes to take along the drops and preserve them.

 

While I have zero knowledge regarding the Princess policies I can see two sides to the question.

1. Duh... Of course they will allow storage of your necessary meds.

2. Duh... No way will they take on the responsibility for storage of your necessary meds and the possibility of a lawsuit if something happens to the items.

 

As usual with Princess, it's a toss up. I say keep on searching for a local source of dry ice and carry the meds in a small Yeti or other insulated bottle. Heck, a Stanley thermos should do the trick if you can source a small amount of dry ice.

OTOH, this is critical medication and they should help storage for a guest.

 

One would think!🤔 

[PescadoAmarillo]

I just got an answer on this and wanted to share it here in case it helps someone else in the future.

 

I had emailed Guest Medical at the address @PacnGoNow posted above on Sunday. On Monday they responded that they were forwarding my email to the Access Department. 
 

Good day,
Thank you for contacting Guest Medical.
This email is being forwarded to the Access Department.
The email is, Access OfficePrincess <accessofficeprincess@princesscruises.com>

 

Today (Friday) I received this email from the Access Department. It sounds like they will be able to accommodate my request. I’m not sure if I get charged for the appointments to drop off and pick up the eye drops (hopefully not!). 

We look forward to welcoming you onboard! Thank you for your loyalty.

Regarding refrigeration, each stateroom is equipped with a small cooler. The coolers in each stateroom are kept at about 45 degrees F/7 degrees C to about 37.4 degrees F/3 degrees C when the room is at an average temperature (about 77 degrees F/25 degrees C). The temperature may vary slightly. 

The on-board medical centers may be able to store some refrigerated spare medications not required on a daily basis that may not fit in the stateroom coolers. All medication should be labeled with the guest’s name and cabin number. Access to any medication stored in the medical center is during clinic hours only and by appointment only. The Medical Center uses an appointment-based system for non-urgent needs. Appointments can be made after embarking the vessel by following the guidelines provided onboard. Guests storing refrigerated/frozen medication in the ship’s medical center do so at their own risk. 

  

Access to the Medical Center is by appointment only. While onboard the guests can call to make an appointment to collect meds etc from fridge/freezer.

If you have any accessibility or mobility questions, please do not hesitate to contact us.

Kind regards,

Staci M.

Accessible Experience Specialist

Princess Cruises

Email: accessofficeprincess@princesscruises.com

 

Thank you all for your input. Happy cruising!

 

[PacnGoNow]

50 minutes ago, PescadoAmarillo said:

I just got an answer on this and wanted to share it here in case it helps someone else in the future.

 

I had emailed Guest Medical at the address @PacnGoNow posted above on Sunday. On Monday they responded that they were forwarding my email to the Access Department. 
 

Good day,
Thank you for contacting Guest Medical.
This email is being forwarded to the Access Department.
The email is, Access OfficePrincess <accessofficeprincess@princesscruises.com>

 

Today (Friday) I received this email from the Access Department. It sounds like they will be able to accommodate my request. I’m not sure if I get charged for the appointments to drop off and pick up the eye drops (hopefully not!). 

We look forward to welcoming you onboard! Thank you for your loyalty.

Regarding refrigeration, each stateroom is equipped with a small cooler. The coolers in each stateroom are kept at about 45 degrees F/7 degrees C to about 37.4 degrees F/3 degrees C when the room is at an average temperature (about 77 degrees F/25 degrees C). The temperature may vary slightly. 

The on-board medical centers may be able to store some refrigerated spare medications not required on a daily basis that may not fit in the stateroom coolers. All medication should be labeled with the guest’s name and cabin number. Access to any medication stored in the medical center is during clinic hours only and by appointment only. The Medical Center uses an appointment-based system for non-urgent needs. Appointments can be made after embarking the vessel by following the guidelines provided onboard. Guests storing refrigerated/frozen medication in the ship’s medical center do so at their own risk. 

  

Access to the Medical Center is by appointment only. While onboard the guests can call to make an appointment to collect meds etc from fridge/freezer.

If you have any accessibility or mobility questions, please do not hesitate to contact us.

Kind regards,

Staci M.

Accessible Experience Specialist

Princess Cruises

Email: accessofficeprincess@princesscruises.com

 

Thank you all for your input. Happy cruising!

 

Wonderful!  So happy they can accommodate you.

 

Have a great cruise and one less worry for you.  Thank you for letting us know.

 

Take care.