What happens if you get CRITICALLY sick while on the cruise?

[computerkitten]

We haven't cruised before and planning for an upcoming trip. What happens though if you are critically ill... is there a helicopter pad or a way to get retrieved off the boat and flown back to the hospital in the states? Like...swine flu that leaves you critically sick or anything else. We are hoping to get the swine flu shot soon but who knows just like for others.

 

CK

[Dirkgun]

They just throw you overboard with a life vest... lol.:p:rolleyes: When that happens I believe that they just go to the nearest port.... they are never that far away in general if they have something happen. I have heard of ships making unplanned stops for heart attacks etc. I hope nothing like that happens to you. have a great cruise.:D

[ricarte]

We haven't cruised before and planning for an upcoming trip. What happens though if you are critically ill... is there a helicopter pad or a way to get retrieved off the boat and flown back to the hospital in the states? Like...swine flu that leaves you critically sick or anything else. We are hoping to get the swine flu shot soon but who knows just like for others.

 

CK

 

Stay at home, lock the doors, pull the blinds down, turn the lights off. And don't make a sound. Safe as houses. Don't risk going on the trip of your life - you might catch a cold!!

 

.

[jessemon]

They do everything from a emergency port stop to a helicopter if needed. US Coast Guard...

I always buy trip insurance. $50 or so for piece of mind.....

[mom2boys97]

Well first off i never plan a trip on the what if's cause you will worry so much you wont have a good time, so leave your what if's at home and have a great trip....

[donaldsc]

You die.

 

DON

[Moeve]

ehmmm those ships dr. will want you off their ship as soon as they can- officially it is because you need specialist care they are unable to provide -unofficially they want you off their hands so that you cannot sue them for anything.

[bplazo]

Make sure that you have travel insurance.

[uppitycats]

If you became ill, you'd head to the ship's infirmary, where they will decide what might be wrong with you. If it's something rather mild that can be treated on the ship,

 

depending on the facilities available you may end up in the infirmary, or confined to your cabin. The ship's doctor is able to provide some medications and treatments.

 

For something like the swine flu -- unless we're talking serious complications, that might be all that is necessary.

 

Depending on your itinerary, they may decide to discharge you from the ship at the next port, into the care of a local doctor or hospital. If you are really sick, indeed they'll arrange to have you evacuated, either immediately upon reaching the next port, or if you're at sea, then by helicopter.

 

NOTE: ALL THIS COSTS A BUNCH OF MONEY, including that preliminary trip to the ship's infirmary. And the costs only escalate with the degree of illness. Generally your land-based medical insurance will not cover these costs. Nor will Medicare (although some Medicare supplements might). That's one major reason why people buy trip insurance.

 

But like the others said...you could always stay home, lock your doors, and not risk going anywhere. But then, people get seriously ill at home, too.

[bluwes]

We were on the Dream inaugural when a lady was taken off the ship in a serious condition.

 

We were sailing around the heel of Italy. The ship came close to land and stopped and the local pilot boat came out to pick her up along with her partner and one of the medical staff from the ships infirmary.

 

We were stopped for almost an hour before the pilot boat returned with the staff member whilst the lady was rushed to hospital

[Cruisin'Trooper]

We saw a lady taken off the Miracle in Costa Maya a couple of years back. Scary because the ambulance was dirty and about 20 years old.

 

We also had a chopper respond and take a man off the Glory years ago. The ship stopped and the chopper hovered while the gondola drew him into the chopper and off they went. Crew members tell us that it is not uncommon to do this at sea.

[flyingb]

We haven't cruised before and planning for an upcoming trip. What happens though if you are critically ill... is there a helicopter pad or a way to get retrieved off the boat and flown back to the hospital in the states? Like...swine flu that leaves you critically sick or anything else. We are hoping to get the swine flu shot soon but who knows just like for others.

 

CK

 

I had a very serious problem a couple of years ago while on a ship. I got choked at dinner(the Formal one of course) I had a peice of steak lodged in my throat. I could breath but could not swallow. ANY THING! :eek: I spent the night in the infirmary and the plan was to reroute our itn. and take me to St Thomas to see a specialist who the Dr. had gotten me an appointment with. Fortunately the obstrustion went on down shortly before 8 AM, which was the time that I had to make the decision to remain on board(with a waiver protecting CCL for any liability) or go to St Thomas. It was a very long night in that little bed with only a porthole when I had a balcony cabin several decks up. I had to have my esopogus (spelling?) streched as soon as I got home. :eek: So please take the insurance.

Luv's Crusin'

[kyrisong1]

I totally agree with Jesse, get the insurance and then you have no worries.

I think it's always prudent to have a game plan for "what if's", there is a doctor and nursing staff on board, they can stop in ports or life flight out. Very expensive so the insurance is a no brainer.

Have a great trip and be assured there IS medical treatment close at hand.

Carole

[NSBFloridaRetiree]

We haven't cruised before and planning for an upcoming trip. What happens though if you are critically ill... is there a helicopter pad or a way to get retrieved off the boat and flown back to the hospital in the states? Like...swine flu that leaves you critically sick or anything else. We are hoping to get the swine flu shot soon but who knows just like for others.

 

CK

 

Trip insurance. Check out:

 

http://www.tripinsurancestore.com/

[computerkitten]

Thank you very much for those that actually answered my question. I think its something to at least be aware of, nothing wrong knowing. We also have twins that are 2 years old and so more reason to just be aware. My husband did end up buying some insurance...will have to see what it says.

 

Thanks,

CK

[gtalum]

Critical illness and evacuation is the very best argument for travel insurance. If you get evacuated form the ship, the insurance will cover the cost which can easily hit $100,000 or more. you don't want to be stuck choosing to forego an evacuation (from ship or from a port with primitive medical facilities) because the cost would kill you financially. Look for insurance with at least $100,000 in medical evacuation coverage.

 

What happens if you get critically ill on board is the Coast Guard will fly out to meet your ship and evacuate you to the nearest hospital. They can do this whether the ship has a helipad or not. On ships without helipads, they use a winch and stretcher to get the patient aboard. In ports, a private air ambulance company will evacuate you back to the nearest US city. Either way it gets very expensive very quickly.

[klmorg]

If you became ill, you'd head to the ship's infirmary, where they will decide what might be wrong with you. If it's something rather mild that can be treated on the ship,

 

depending on the facilities available you may end up in the infirmary, or confined to your cabin. The ship's doctor is able to provide some medications and treatments.

 

For something like the swine flu -- unless we're talking serious complications, that might be all that is necessary.

 

Depending on your itinerary, they may decide to discharge you from the ship at the next port, into the care of a local doctor or hospital. If you are really sick, indeed they'll arrange to have you evacuated, either immediately upon reaching the next port, or if you're at sea, then by helicopter.

 

NOTE: ALL THIS COSTS A BUNCH OF MONEY, including that preliminary trip to the ship's infirmary. And the costs only escalate with the degree of illness. Generally your land-based medical insurance will not cover these costs. Nor will Medicare (although some Medicare supplements might). That's one major reason why people buy trip insurance.

 

But like the others said...you could always stay home, lock your doors, and not risk going anywhere. But then, people get seriously ill at home, too.

 

This is exactly right on, and we have first hand experience to verify that! Will try not to bore the many of you who probably get tired of seeing our story pop up every now & then, but when DH had a heart attack on board, the infirmary did a fantastic job of treating him & pretty much saved his life with a $3000 clot buster shot, then decided we were close enough to Grand Cayman (2 hours) to have an ambulance waiting for us at the pier, then to Cayman Island hospital for more treatment and determination to air ambulance to Miami for surgery (stent, 100 blockage of right coronary artery). DH recovered nicely and is fine! So the infirmary will assess your individual needs and determine the best course of action for the patient.

 

And now for my commercial. *chanting* Travel insurance, travel insurance, travel insurance. :) We absolutely would have been sunk without it. Pardon the pun. :p

[gtalum]

It can't be stated enough: purchase travel insurance. Check insuremytrip.com. You'll be shocked at how inexpensive it is. If you travel a lot, you can even purchase annual plans that cover all of your travel for a year. With apologies to Karl Malden, I never leave the country without it.

[eddiesgal]

My husband got a bad foot infection and we had to fly home from Grand Turk . Four officers escorted us off the ship in a very professional, almost military manor. I guess disembarking at a foreign port has many regulations to follow. In any case, he's doing fine now. Thank goodness for insurance!

[allenlw]

While on the Liberty, my husband started having chest pains and a nurse came to our cabin where he was immediately taken to the infirmary. His EKG was abnormal and they told us there was a problem and diagnosed it as angina (it happened twice, the first time we weren't charged the 2nd they charged us $900, because of the medicines, tests, etc that was administered). Being very thorough, the ship's doctor called our family doctor to send a recent EKG or family doctor had done in order to compare and once seeing it the ship's doctor strongly encouraged us to stay in Fort Lauderdale for further testing before going home, which we were balking at (we wanted to be at home in Ohio to have the tests done), but he was very persistent and it is that persistence that I attribute to saving my husband's life. We did stay and once we docked in Fort Lauderdale, Carnival had arranged an ambulance to pick him up and transport him to the hospital. To make a long story short, he had 100% blockage in his front main artery and they did emergency open heart surgery the next morning. Carnival's care was excellent, and we did not take out traveler's insurance out (our first time not to), so that was an expensive lesson also.

End of the story, my husband came out fine, our medical insurance, after many appeals paid for everything, including ship infimary, but we still had expense of hotels, taxis, etc., so do take insurance. We feel so confident in Carnival's ability to care for us, we have been on 2 cruises since, and are booked for one in December.

[cruisingsthebest]

A good friend of ours was stricken ill last Friday on a cruise and is still now in intensive care in a hospital in Italy. He has a severe case of pneumonia with heart complications. We spoke to his wife last night, and they predict it will take at least another week to stabilize him enough to withstand a flight back to the US.

He spent one night in the ship infirmary and then as soon as they docked in port the next morning, an ambulance was there to take him to the nearest hospital.

Thankfully, they had purchased insurance and she is not having to worry about the bills. The only bad part is they do have to pay up front and then get reimbursed back from the insurance company, but she has been assured that all bills will be reimbursed 100%.

We always purchase insurance and although I wonder sometimes if it is necessary, after hearing other peoples' stories, I will continue to do so. You never know what might happen and it's always better to be safe than sorry!

[Rockportgirl]

Stay at home, lock the doors, pull the blinds down, turn the lights off. And don't make a sound. Safe as houses. Don't risk going on the trip of your life - you might catch a cold!!

 

.

 

What is the point of this post? Seriously.

[NSBFloridaRetiree]

A good friend of ours was stricken ill last Friday on a cruise and is still now in intensive care in a hospital in Italy. He has a severe case of pneumonia with heart complications. We spoke to his wife last night, and they predict it will take at least another week to stabilize him enough to withstand a flight back to the US.

He spent one night in the ship infirmary and then as soon as they docked in port the next morning, an ambulance was there to take him to the nearest hospital.

Thankfully, they had purchased insurance and she is not having to worry about the bills. The only bad part is they do have to pay up front and then get reimbursed back from the insurance company, but she has been assured that all bills will be reimbursed 100%.

We always purchase insurance and although I wonder sometimes if it is necessary, after hearing other peoples' stories, I will continue to do so. You never know what might happen and it's always better to be safe than sorry!

 

I'm sorry about your friend and hope he makes a complete recovery.

 

Another good reason to buy travel insurance.

[mebecindi]

I am planning my first cruise and will buy insurance. My question is...What if someone did get sick and had to see the nurse on board. it was mentioned that you pay up front and inusrance will reimburse you. what if you don't have it to pay upfront. do they not treat you. what if it is a child. will they actually refuse to not treat you if you can't pay.

Now keep in mind, i am going with no worries, just asking a what if.

[NSBFloridaRetiree]

I am planning my first cruise and will buy insurance. My question is...What if someone did get sick and had to see the nurse on board. it was mentioned that you pay up front and inusrance will reimburse you. what if you don't have it to pay upfront. do they not treat you. what if it is a child. will they actually refuse to not treat you if you can't pay.

Now keep in mind, i am going with no worries, just asking a what if.

 

This sounds like a good question to ask the cruise line. I don't know if they even charge to see the nurse or doctor on board.