Question 1

What medical services do cruise ships offer?

Accepted Answer

This depends on several factors, including the ship’s size and operating line. But generally, a cruise ship’s capabilities are similar to those of an urgent care center. Passengers can usually walk in or make an appointment for routine reasons, including a fever, sore throat, minor orthopedic injuries, cold symptoms, abdominal pain, vomiting or diarrhea. These medical centers can also be accessed for emergencies or to stabilize travelers in need of serious treatment, such as those experiencing chest pains, difficulty breathing or uncontrolled blood sugar. “If you feel you’re having an emergency that would prompt you to go to the emergency room or urgent care center if you were home on your daily routine, that would be a reason to visit the ship’s infirmary,” said Jim Evans, senior medical consultant at Allianz Travel Insurance. Cruise medical centers on ships will typically at least have a bed for every 1,000 passengers, and larger ships could have anywhere from five to six beds, Scott said. There is also at least one doctor on board, and some can have three or more. They usually work with two to seven nurses, as well as paramedics and health-care assistants. A ship’s medical center will also determine whether a passenger needs to be quarantined or isolated for highly contagious illnesses. Staff might also want to disembark the patient as soon as possible for serious conditions so they can access additional testing and treatment.

Question 2

Do cruise ships have pharmacies?

Accepted Answer

Many cruise ships carry basic medications. You probably won’t face issues finding Tylenol, aspirins or medications for minor conditions, including sea sickness, fever or even hangovers. If those options are limited, most ports of call should have pharmacies. If the onboard medical professional prescribes you a medication, you’ll be able to obtain that up on the ship.

Question 3

Will health insurance cover care on a cruise?

Accepted Answer

There’s a good chance your average medical insurance policies won’t cover services on cruises or overseas, Evans said. On Carnival, Scott says passengers are responsible for costs of onboard medical services and can submit bills to their insurance company. Because most insurance plans don’t cover services abroad, many travel experts suggest purchasing travel insurance for a trip. Not doing so can put you at risk of paying expensive, out-of-pocket costs for receiving services at a hospital, taking a flight home or using an air ambulance. Traveling back to the United States if you have to depart early could be costly. Evans recalled a case where a passenger paid nearly $20,000 after receiving treatment on a ship, having to be disembarked and eventually flown home because the patient didn’t have proper insurance.

Question 4

What happens if you get sick at a port of call?

Accepted Answer

Evans recommended checking with your travel insurance provider to find out what medical resources can be found at your local port, where they can also help with billing or issuing payments. Remember that it is unlikely that your ship will wait for you while you’re being treated on land.

Question 5

When do you need to be evacuated from the ship?

Accepted Answer

Infirmaries usually don’t have access to medical specialists, invasive testing methods, surgeons and long-term care. So, in some cases, a ship might disembark a passenger if they need treatment from a hospital or medical center at a port. Depending on severity, a ship’s medical staff will determine whether an evacuation should take place from a port of call, which is an easier process than having to be disembarked while at sea, especially in remote areas. There’s a high threshold for disembarking passengers, because it’s expensive and logistically challenging for ships to coordinate.

Question 6

How are cruises handling covid?

Accepted Answer

When cruises returned to sailing in June 2021 after a pandemic hiatus, many lines had testing, vaccine and masking requirements in place, but those have since been dropped. Passengers should notify the ship’s clinic if they have coronavirus symptoms or have tested positive with an at-home test. Medical staff can work to isolate affected passengers and can monitor the extent of the spread. Passengers should call the clinic from their staterooms before walking there to avoid contaminating others.

What to do if you get sick on a cruise

What to know about medical facilities, doctors and emergencies on cruise ships

More cruise news