Cruise ships are like floating cities, with various amenities like restaurants, movie theaters, gyms, shops, and casinos. However, if you find yourself sick on a cruise ship, the amenity you may need most is the ship infirmary.
Most large cruise ships have an infirmary, where you can get care for minor injuries and medical emergencies. With a background in travel medicine, Dr. Jim Evans, SentinelMED’s managing director, knows what passengers should expect when they visit a cruise ship infirmary. Evans answered common questions about ship infirmaries for Allianz Travel, a travel insurance provider and a SentinelMED partner. Evans was also interviewed on the topic for a travel newsletter published by The Washington Post.
Here are some insights Evans shared with Allianz Travel about cruise ship infirmaries.
What is a ship infirmary? Most ships offer clinics meant to diagnose and treat minor conditions. Medical staff are also on call around the clock for emergencies and to help stabilize travelers who need more serious treatment. Most major cruise lines offer standard operating hours with at least one licensed physician and a small nursing staff available in their infirmary.
When you should go: If you feel you're having an emergency and would choose to go to the emergency room if you were home, that would be a reason to visit the ship's infirmary.
When you can skip the infirmary: If you have a minor injury or cold, you may be able to get common household medications in a ship's store without a clinic visit to help you self-treat.
Are appointments necessary? Appointments aren’t typically necessary, but it’s smart to call ahead in case the clinic is busy treating other guests or crew.
What to expect for cost: There is typically a set cost to visit the clinic during regular hours, with a standard starting rate of $100, which can increase if you need extra tests or x-rays or if the infirmary staff needs to visit your quarters during or after hours.
Will my insurance cover the cost? Your regular domestic medical insurance policy may not cover care received overseas or in international waters. Many travelers choose to purchase travel insurance with emergency medical coverage before cruising, as your policy may reimburse you for the cost of medical care while cruising.
Do I have any other options? Seeking care in a port while on a scheduled stop could be more economical. Plus, if the condition is more serious, advanced testing and care will be easier to obtain locally or after a medical evacuation, which can be easier and faster than if handled from the ship's clinic. By checking in with your travel insurance company, you can find out which medical resources will be available at the local port, and they also can assist with direct billing or issuing guarantee of payments.
Not having travel insurance can prove to be expensive, Evans said. He told The Washington Post “By the Way” newsletter about a passenger who paid almost $20,000 after receiving treatment on a cruise ship, having to be disembarked and flown back home because the patient did not have the needed insurance.
Work with Medical Travel Specialists
Evans and other members of the SentinelMED team work to assist people who are injured or become sick while traveling. As a medical assistance company, SentinelMED provides medical escort, medical evacuation, and repatriation services for people who need assistance returning home.
In many cases, SentinelMED’s medical escorts travel with patients on commercial flights, a cost-effective alternative to air ambulance services. Medical escorts are trained or experienced in emergency and critical care medicine and are matched with patients based on language, cultural, and health needs.
At SentinelMED, we understand the complexity of delivering exceptional care to domestic medical travelers. Please contact us if you’d like to learn more about our services and staff.
