Learn the answers to some of your most pressing questions about how our program works and learn about general staff requirements.
Dialysis at Sea® Cruises provides dialysis services onboard select Royal Caribbean and Celebrity Cruise Lines cruises. The dialysis onboard the ship will parallel your land-based unit, as your dialysis orders will be adhered to. The dialysis takes place in the infirmary with two beds/chairs per room.
Nephrologists: Our program is essentially a working vacation. We provide you and your companion with an ocean view cabin in exchange for your medical services. There is no monetary compensation and this is not a permanent employment opportunity. You are contracted for the duration of the cruise only.
RN's, LPN's, PCT's: Our program is essentially a working vacation. We provide you an inside cabin in exchange for your medical services. There is no monetary compensation and this is not a permanent employment opportunity. You are contracted for the duration of the cruise only.
Nephrologists: We always sail with one nephrologist on board. If you are scheduled for a cruise, then you will be sailing. If you are on standby for a cruise, then you will only sail if the physician that is currently scheduled to sail cancels.
RN's, LPN's, PCT's: In an effort to improve our medical staffing program, we are pleased to add a purchase cabin option that will allow any medical staff taking time off from their home unit to secure a guaranteed sailing position on any sailing of their choosing with Dialysis at Sea® Cruises. The purchase option reduce rate is available to medical personnel only. Companions and family members wishing to sail must book at the prevailing cruise fare rate.
Staff positions 1 through 4 are guaranteed to sail. At the minimum, staff position 1 and staff position 2 (charge-nurse, and non charge-nurse) will be working on-board the cruise. If we reach a certain patient load, we will require staff position 3 and/or staff position 4 to work on-board. However, if the patient load remains low, those scheduled in staff position 3 and staff position 4 that are not required to work can still sail at a reduced rate. You will still be sharing an inside cabin with a fellow staff member of the same gender.
In the event that we do not have enough patients to require your services at the time you submit a position request for position 3 or for position 4, we will offer you the option to purchase your cabin fare, at a reduced rate, and guarantee your position on-board the ship. It is not required to purchase your cabin fare and if you choose not to, you will be placed on a list and will be contacted if additional staff will be required for the sailing you chose. Please keep in mind that medical staff that exercise the purchase cabin option will be place at the top of the list.
If you have purchased your cabin fare and we reach a patient load that requires your services, we will activate your position and refund your purchased cabin fare.
The cost of this option is $60 per pay plus port taxes.
We finalize medical staffing five months prior to sailing. You will be notified 150 days prior to departure.
Nephrologists: We allow nephrologists to bring a companion along with them. Please review the Terms & Conditions for more details.
RN's, LPN's, PCT's: You will be sharing a cabin with a Dialysis at Sea® medical staff member of the same gender. We do not reserve cabin space to accommodate companions of our medical staff. If any guests of yours would like to cruise, they would have to book their cabin on their own, outside of Dialysis at Sea® Cruises. Please keep in mind that we only provide the cabin for the medical staff. We will not reimburse you if you do not stay in your assigned cabin.
There are times when we have an odd number of staff sailing and can provide space for a guest, at their own cost. However, when signing up for a cruise, you should anticipate sharing a cabin with a fellow staff member of the same gender. Requests for cabin space for guests should be made when we contact you to finalize your booking, not when you sign up.
You will first need to complete an application. A confirmation will be sent once your application has been received, reviewed and approved. Your email address will also be added to our staffing mailing list. You will then receive a link to the site that contains our current staffing positions and their availabilities.