Has anyone used the medical facilities?

[Daghis]

If you plan to use trip insurance, you have to get your paperwork from your primary insurance first.

This isn't always true. I pay a bit extra for my travel insurance so that they consider themselves primary for medical coverage. This has the advantage that in the event of a medical claim, I can submit it directly to them and they'll reimburse me. I like this so that I won't have to endure a back-and-forth between my primary medical insurance and the travel insurance.

 

During our family cruise last year, my older son got seriously ill around muster drill. During the drill, we had him carted away in a wheelchair to the medical center. They did lots of tests, X-rays, gave him IV fluids and antibiotics, and ultimately kept him overnight for more fluids and general observation.

 

The bill was almost $5,000.

 

I submitted all the required paperwork to the travel insurance company and received a check for the full amount within a week or so.

[SandraDJ]

I came down with a chest infection last month on Legend . I had to wait an hour to see the doctor, but everyone who came in after me was seen first. The antibiotics didn't cure it, so I had to see my own GP when I got home. I took a copy of the invoice with me, my doctor said that I had been under medicated. I was prescribed more antibiotics and feel a lot better now

 

 

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[emory2001]

Neither do you. It is Sudafed.

 

If we're really going to pick apart the drug's identification, Sudafed is a brand name of the generic drug pseudoephedrine.

[kwahl1]

Once had a very bad sore throat, got the antibiotics, very professional folks. Another time there was an emergency call for O-Pos blood donation for an injured passenger, so I answered the call. All went well for me.

[DrD]

Based on these replies it seems economical if one has a medical problem to book a cruise and go to the sickbay. The price of the cruise and the treatment is still probably less than your out of pocket costs here in the states!

[grapau27]

The ships doctor on Norwegian Gem in 2007 fitted a catheter bag to my late father in law and told us it was serious and get him to hospital when we get home as he suspected righ

tly that his prostate cancer had come out of remission.

The facilities were first class.

 

We cruise with RCCL,Princess,NCL and P&O.

[Ocean Boy]

If we're really going to pick apart the drug's identification, Sudafed is a brand name of the generic drug pseudoephedrine.

I am well aware of that. Phonetically, Sudafed is the closest match to what she wrote.

Edited April 9, 2017 by Ocean Boy

[Lady Hudson]

I had to use the medical facility after a fall on Explorer. Excellent treatment. Turned out to be just a sprain. I was well-taken care of by the staff. Katherine

[Johngee]

I had a fall on Serenade last year. I went to the medical facilities the next day will an extremely sore wrist. Seen right away, x rays taken. No break wrist strapped and pain medication given. No charge as considered first aid. Great service.

 

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[lennydebbie]

If you plan to use trip insurance, you have to get your paperwork from your primary insurance first. They kept rejecting mine because the ship had used the wrong codes. I asked for a copy of the medical paperwork from Medical Records at Royal Caribbean once I got back. I sent the fax just as they told me to, but never heard back from them.

 

 

What paperwork should we get from our primary? What all should it include?

 

 

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[lennydebbie]

This isn't always true. I pay a bit extra for my travel insurance so that they consider themselves primary for medical coverage. This has the advantage that in the event of a medical claim, I can submit it directly to them and they'll reimburse me. I like this so that I won't have to endure a back-and-forth between my primary medical insurance and the travel insurance.

 

 

 

During our family cruise last year, my older son got seriously ill around muster drill. During the drill, we had him carted away in a wheelchair to the medical center. They did lots of tests, X-rays, gave him IV fluids and antibiotics, and ultimately kept him overnight for more fluids and general observation.

 

 

 

The bill was almost $5,000.

 

 

 

I submitted all the required paperwork to the travel insurance company and received a check for the full amount within a week or so.

 

 

I've already paid for my travel insurance. Can I add to it? Do you know approximately how much extra it might be?

 

 

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[Clarea]

I've already paid for my travel insurance. Can I add to it? Do you know approximately how much extra it might be?

No idea of the cost, but we have been able to add to our travel insurance in the past.

[setsail]

I've already paid for my travel insurance. Can I add to it? Do you know approximately how much extra it might be?

 

 

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Why, no matter the bill it goes on your credit card on the ship, so if you are worried about a big bill then you need a cc with a large credit line or more than 1 card

[EmeraldCoastCruisers]

I don't expect a major surgical unit, but do they offer medical care for various emergencies or even minor ailments?

 

 

 

How would they treat someone who suddenly felt faint, or dizzy? Or had chest pains?

 

 

 

I'm looking for personal experiences.

 

 

I had to be taken to the medical facility on the Carnival Paradise one time due to a life threatening peanut allergy. This was a quick 5 day cruise with my sisters and daughters and I failed to tell them about my allergy (my fault). At dinner the second night I ordered a salad and no where did it say peanuts (their fault). The small sesame seed looking things were really crushed peanuts. I have to say, I have had this allergy my entire life and rushed to the hospital near death 3 times and once with a stay of 7 days. I can whole heartedly say, the Carnival staff to include the medical staff was top notch!!!!!!! I obviously survived (as alarms go off when I even have a small peanut near my lips/tongue so I knew what it was). From that point, the chef was to approve my choices of meals and desserts the day prior to that meal. The chef, waiter, medical staff and maitre d' were amazing!!!!!

 

 

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[lennydebbie]

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[lennydebbie]

No idea of the cost, but we have been able to add to our travel insurance in the past.

 

 

Thank you! I will look into it!

 

 

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[keyarra]

Just used the medical on the navigator. $200 later my kiddo got antibiotic cream for both eyes as she got pink eye. I will submit to our insurance and get reimbursed.

 

 

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[gaylemh]

This isn't always true. I pay a bit extra for my travel insurance so that they consider themselves primary for medical coverage. This has the advantage that in the event of a medical claim, I can submit it directly to them and they'll reimburse me. I like this so that I won't have to endure a back-and-forth between my primary medical insurance and the travel insurance.

 

During our family cruise last year, my older son got seriously ill around muster drill. During the drill, we had him carted away in a wheelchair to the medical center. They did lots of tests, X-rays, gave him IV fluids and antibiotics, and ultimately kept him overnight for more fluids and general observation.

 

The bill was almost $5,000.

 

I submitted all the required paperwork to the travel insurance company and received a check for the full amount within a week or so.

I'm surprised if it happened during muster, that they let you stay on the ship, if he was so sick. I hope you still got to enjoy your cruise.

[Gloworm2]

Roommate used medical on Harmony for a rash and some type of allergic reaction. She was pleased with the service.

 

 

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[luckyinpa]

Why, no matter the bill it goes on your credit card on the ship, so if you are worried about a big bill then you need a cc with a large credit line or more than 1 card

 

is there any insurance that has a contract with the ships themselves? does the ships own insurance?

 

what if you have thousands in medical and your CC is already nearly maxed out and you have no others. will they make you stay on the ship in jail or something?

[crusie rookie]

Years ago on our first cruise my daughter who was very young came down with a fever during the night. First thing in the morning I took her down to see the doctor, they gave her a shot to bring the fever down and sent us on our way. By the time I got back to our room the medical staff had called our room and talked to my husband and said that myself, my daughter, my husband and another daughter were all under quarantine for the next 24 hours. We were told not to leave our room and if we did they would remove us from the ship!!! After the shot and a nap the fever was gone and never came back. But nothing like being quarantined on Christmas Day in Puerto Vallarta!! with a 3 year old and 8 year old watching the same movie all day and night in our tiny room. Ten cruises later, I always bring every kind of over the counter medicine that I can think of to avoid having to see the ships doctor.

[Daghis]

I'm surprised if it happened during muster, that they let you stay on the ship, if he was so sick. I hope you still got to enjoy your cruise.

I was quite shocked about that as well.

 

I just realized that I need to make a big caveat that I had forgotten about. This particular experience wasn't on a Royal Caribbean ship. It was on Norwegian Escape.

 

Anyway, after muster drill was over, we went down to the waiting area/lobby of the medical center. They had a TV showing the bridge cam. I was very surprised to see that we were pulling away from the pier. I was sure they were going to escort us off the ship because of our son's illness.

 

After we pulled out of the port, I was then sure they were going to turn around and go back into port.

 

But we didn't. We kept on sailing to our first port of call.

 

The good news is that after a night of resting and IV fluids, my son recovered well and we were able to enjoy the rest of the cruise (except for the period after we received the $5,000 bill that we had to pay right then to get our onboard account unlocked). All in all, we did have a good family cruise.

[brillohead]

Royal requires RNs to have three years of critical care experience in order to work on board. The staff is well-versed in treating everything from minor scrapes and sprains to major illnesses and injuries.

[BillHoo]

Years ago on our first cruise my daughter who was very young came down with a fever during the night. First thing in the morning I took her down to see the doctor, they gave her a shot to bring the fever down and sent us on our way. By the time I got back to our room the medical staff had called our room and talked to my husband and said that myself, my daughter, my husband and another daughter were all under quarantine for the next 24 hours. We were told not to leave our room and if we did they would remove us from the ship!!! After the shot and a nap the fever was gone and never came back. But nothing like being quarantined on Christmas Day in Puerto Vallarta!! with a 3 year old and 8 year old watching the same movie all day and night in our tiny room. Ten cruises later, I always bring every kind of over the counter medicine that I can think of to avoid having to see the ships doctor.

 

If you are sick, please do not try to cover up the symptoms with over-the counter medications. The doctors make the quarantine decisions to reduce the risk of a disease outbreak on the ship and spreading it to other countries. At the very least, get travel insurance to cover cancellation of your trip so you don't ruin everyone's vacation, or put the lives of elderly and young children at risk.

[ATLgirl15]

I used the medical facility on Anthem last summer and was impressed with the service. We were at the beach and it was a very windy day. Sand blew into my eye and I couldn't blink it out. We had gone for a walk so we were far from the lifeguard stand when it happened. It became more and more irritated but I did flush it with water once I did each the lifeguard. It didn't improve so when we got back to the ship I went straight to the medical facility. They tested to make sure the sand didn't scratch my cornea (luckily it didn't). They gave me medicated drops and an eye patch and made sure to have me follow up the next day.

The only issue I had was with the paperwork. They were very clear about charges the first day and I did get a copy of the bill sent to my stateroom. But not on the follow up and when I went to get a copy I had to wait in line with all the patients just to get my invoice because it's handled by the check in nurse.

 

 

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