Cruise trip with stage 3b kidney failure

[Mariets]

I was diagnosed last November and as it is diet controlled I've been taking prescribed Mountjaro and lost 35 lbs. I've booked a trip for a 7 day Med cruise with my family on MSC Fantastica and wondered if anyone has done one and could tell me a bit about the food choices as I need to limit salt and eat quite plain food.

You will be fine. I haven’t been on MSC (only Explora which is owned by them), but we have taken my dad with kidney failure and diabetes on many cruises. You need to notice the cruise line but it doesn’t usually make a difference. Evenings are easy as you can just order plain food eg grilled fish and stipulate no salt. Lunch buffets are harder as some salads etc are pre-prepared with sauces but I think he will still manage.

*notify the cruise line

Thanks everyone.

Make sure you have decent travel insurance!

I certainly am. It's not cheap but I really don't understand how anyone can travel without it then set up a just giving page when they have an accident or something.

The food will be straight forward - you can ask for simple food such as grilled fish and no salt , plain salad no dressing etc. The key is making sure you have comprehensive travel insurance which covers your condition. Without this you won’t be able to travel.

Write to them 3-4 weeks before travel minimum with requirements, they are really used to special diets so should not be an issue plus at the buffet they have plain salad vegetables, basic protein types etc which should be ok anyway. On your day after boarding, introduce yourselves to the maitre d of the main restaurant too as they can get menus in advance to assist in planning, and if needed arrange something off menu that’s compliant eg plain fish or meat with steamed vegetables

@opdo you have kidney failure or stage 3b chronic kidney disease? They are quite different. The latter is not kidney failure

It's stage 3b kidney disesase, but when I first googled it I put in kidney failure by mistake and it stuck. My kidneys are between 28 and 30.

WhI has told you to change your diet ? Drs don’t really advice much except keep a healthy weight and normal blood pressure.

my gfr is 26 now and I eat everything in moderation.

The nurse at the surgery takes my blood every three months and although my potassium levels are normal now, they were high in the past and she told me to check food labels and also check online if they were suitable before I ate them. She also told me to give up salt and alcohol.
I have the odd glass of wine occasionally but I'm finding it very difficult to do without any salt. Rice,pasta and veg aren't nice without some salt in the cooking water.

Annoying how they all say different,I have regular bloods and speak to the nephrologist with the results and he says keep a healthy weight (I’ve lost 9 stone )
I was once told to add some salt as my bloods showed I was deficient.

id be adding some salt for flavour but maybe not loads,

It’s just what you’re used to. I don’t add salt to anything. Can’t bare it when someone does. You’ll get used to the taste difference.

Thanks again everyone.

Getting really pissed off now. Just ordered my alcohol free drinks package and saw that the water is vitamin enriched so I did a check. Apparently it contains phosphorus and I can't drink it, plain water only. Does anyone else follow all the restrictions all of the time?