Sick at Sea

What happens if you are sick while on a cruise? What if you have a medical emergency?
The best way to stay healthy at sea is don’t indulge in more alcohol and food than you would at home and wash your hands often. Many cruise lines offer hand sanitizer dispensers in front of restaurants and next to the gangway.

Disney Cruise Line recommends guests to use them when boarding the ship after visiting a port and before each meal. They also urge guests to purchase Disney Cruise Vacation Insurance for costs incurred for treatment and medical evaluation/repatriation.
Doctor visits, cabin calls and procedures range in price from $100 on up, medical evacuations can cost over $10,000. Read the fine print in your cruise documents and understand your financial responsibility if you get sick. To be safe, buy travel insurance that covers health-related issues.

Each Crystal Cruise Line ship has 1 doctor and 3 nurses onboard their medical facility. We interviewed a doctor, who told us he invites doctors listed on the passenger list to a cocktail party the first night at sea. He inquires about the doctor’s specialty and asks if he may consult with them if needed during the cruise.
For passengers with a medical condition, cruise lines urge travelers to bring a letter from their doctor outlining their condition, treatment and recommendations, along with a list of the medicines and prescriptions you are currently taking, just in case something happens at sea.

Holland America has 2 doctors and 2-3 nurses on each ship available 24 hour a day for emergencies. All ships medical centers have two exam rooms, an isolation room, radiology suite, Intensive Care Unit and pharmacy. Guests should bring plenty of their medications, in case the ship’s pharmacy doesn’t carry it.

Princess Cruise Lines staffs up to two British certified doctors and up to five nurses, all full-time maritime medicine specialist. These shipboard doctors all have at least three years of post-graduate medical training including experience in primary care, minor surgery, emergency medical care, and cardiac care. All are certified in Advanced Life Support. At least one doctor on every ship is also certified in Advanced Trauma Life Support.

Royal Caribbean has two fully licensed doctors and three nurses aboard every ship. The medical center hours are listed in the daily Cruise Compass.

When at sea, know you are in good hands with a professional medical team.

The Evolution of Cruising

The cruise industry is a Cinderella story. During the past 40 years, cruising has evolved from small and older converted ships to enormous, new, all-inclusive, floating resorts. Before the 70s, cruising was for the wealthy. Three cruise lines made this fantasy become a reality for more travelers.
An American businessman, Stanley McDonald, founded Princess Cruises in 1968 and built his first modern ship, Princess Italia, specifically for cruising. In 1975, Princess agreed to be the backdrop of Aaron Spellings newest television series, “The Love Boat.” When the popular series was broadcast all over the world, sailing the seas had the allure as a relaxing and romantic vacation.
Carnival Cruise Lines purchased some older ships and refurbished them into passenger cruise lines in 1972. Because of their age, Carnival was forced to discount their cabins to attract a larger market share and younger crowd. When they introduced their ship, Carnivale, they offered the first Sunday, seven-day departure, and the “Fun Ship” theme was born.
In 1982, the construction of Carnival Tropicale was their first custom-built ship with larger inside and outside cabins. It was the beginning of an industry-wide, multi-billion dollar shipbuilding boom.
Carnival has the largest market share in the industry with its alliance including Holland American Line, Princess Cruises, Cunard, Costa and the Yachts of Seabourn. The “Most Popular Cruise Line in the World” carries more passengers than any other line.
Royal Caribbean Cruise Line’s first ship, Song of Norway, entered the seas in 1970. Eight years later, the ship was cut in two and stretched by adding an 85-foot mid-section to increase capacity from 700 to 1000 passengers. Today, the inauguration of their “Oasis of the Seas” earns the title of the worlds’ largest cruise ship, carrying 5,400 passengers.
To increase company profits, cruise ships must sail at full capacity. Passengers buying shore excursions, playing in the casino, enjoying a spa treatment, purchasing liquor in the bars, and dining in the specialty restaurants, all contribute to cruise line revenues. To sail at full capacity, the cabins are discounted. Carnival, Princess and RCCL have all recently reported a rise in bookings for 2010. As you book a cruise, keep in mind that your deposit is fully refundable, in most cases, until your final payment is due. Cruise ships today have become the destination and the ports are an extra plus.