Showing posts with label how to have a safe cruise. Show all posts
Showing posts with label how to have a safe cruise. Show all posts

Saturday, April 15, 2023

Sick on a Cruise Ship? What You Need to Know Before You Go


A few years ago, a couple we know were on their dream cruise to Peru. Unfortunately, when they neared Panama, the husband had a massive heart attack and he and his wife were put ashore in Panama, where they had to stay for nearly a month until he was well enough to travel back to California.  He survived his heart attack, but they never made it to Peru.

Recently, I read an article by a woman who was fully vaccinated and boosted, but still got Covid on a cruise to Alaska in August, 2022, when most people were talking about Covid in the past tense.  She spent most of her cruise in a lonely room, away from her family, in the quarantine section of the ship, and then had to spend another five days in a hotel in Seattle before she was well enough to travel back to her home in the United States.

In both of these situations, the people learned important lessons which everyone needs to know before taking a cruise, so they can avoid having a cruise turn into a medical and financial disaster.  Here are some of the tips they passed along:

Buy Travel Insurance

Dealing with a travel insurance claim can be time-consuming and irritating, from what friends have told me.  However, it certainly is better than having to take a big financial hit without it.  Our friend who had the heart attack and ended up in Panama instead of Peru was certainly glad that they had the foresight to purchase insurance which covered many, but not all, of their expenses.  

Make sure your travel insurance also has a CFAR (which means "cancel for any reason") provision.  Things happen, often at the last minute, and you want to have the flexibility to cancel or postpone a trip if you or someone in your family is not feeling well.

Ask Your Credit Card Company About Their Travel Protections

One of your current credit cards may offer some type of travel insurance, at least to cover things like travel delays and cancellations.  Make sure you have their written policy information with you on your trip. 

Check Your Airline's Travel Cancellation Policy

Whenever possible, book your flights on an airline which will allow you to cancel or reschedule your flights without a flight change fee.  It may not solve all your problems if you get stuck in a foreign country where that airline does not fly, but in some cases it could save you money if you just need to change your return flight.

Check Your Cruise Line's Onboard Medical Resources

Most cruise ships will have some medical facilities and personnel onboard.  It would be wise to check out what they offer before you leave, especially if you have a chronic illness which may need to be treated in an emergency.  Of course, you will be charged for their services.

The types of equipment you should expect to have onboard your ship include defibrillators, ventilators, cardiac monitors, oxygen tanks, x-ray machines and lab equipment. (Most cruise ships also have a small morgue onboard.)

You can get a general idea about what onboard medical care will cost on this website:

https://profcruise.com/how-much-do-medical-services-cost-on-a-cruise-ship/

Some of the typical expenses are listed below:

Doctor consultation            $125.00

Nurse consultation                  75.00

Doctor medical evacuation escort   $1200.00

Defibrillation                        $500.00

You will find a much more in-depth and detailed list of costs at the website mentioned above.  

I have known of people who continued their dialysis on cruise ships, but have heard it is extremely expensive and NOT reimbursed by insurance.

In addition, call your cruise line to find out what they charge for common procedures, the number of medical personnel who will be on your cruise, and the facilities they have.  

They will probably NOT accept your insurance, including travel insurance.  You will have to file a claim with your medical or travel insurance company when you return home.  Meanwhile, you will be expected to pay your bill for any care you received onboard before you leave the cruise ship.  Make sure you travel with a credit card that gives you a large line of credit, just in case you need it. 

Check Your Cruise Line's Covid Compensation Policy

Some of the cruise lines still cover the cost of certain expenses if you are diagnosed with Covid on their ship.  For example, they may provide your quarantine stateroom with free Wi-Fi. They may also pay for a hotel stay for a few days at the end of the cruise.  However, with most countries declaring that the Covid pandemic is behind us, fewer and fewer cruise lines are likely to offer these services. 

If you develop other medical problems on a cruise, they may cover some extra expenses, and help you make the necessary arrangements to leave the ship if you have a heart attack or another serious health scare while traveling with them.  Make sure you inform them of any serious illness you develop during your cruise, and find out what they can do to help you.  

Try to Avoid Getting Sick

Of course, all of these financial considerations will be unnecessary if you are able to avoid getting sick in the first place.  While you cannot avoid every situation, taking a vacation does not mean that all normal health concerns are taking a vacation, too. You are still subject to the laws of nature.  Watch what you eat and drink, and don't overdo it.  Get enough sleep.  Avoid sunburns.  Make sure your vaccinations, including flu and Covid vaccines, are up-to-date before you travel.  Wear a face mask in crowded, indoor situations. Wash and/or sanitize your hands frequently. Continue to take your prescription medications at the proper times.  In other words, use good hygiene and common sense!

Prepare for an Extended Stay

Although we all like to travel as light as possible, if you are going to be gone on an extended cruise it could be wise to bring along extra clothing in different weights, in case you are stuck in a hotel far from home for an extended period of time.  You want to make sure you have comfortable clothing whether it is hot or chilly.  You can't prepare for everything, but bringing along an extra jacket, extra underwear, and a few practical items of additional clothing could make any delays easier to bear.

Prepare to Self-Treat Some Illnesses

Cruise lines may charge for a visit to their infirmary, which are often poorly stocked, so you want to bring along a few medical supplies of your own, and they shouldn't take up much space in your luggage.  Fill a zip-lock back with some Covid tests, a thermometer, a pulse oximeter (Ad) to measure your blood oxygen levels, cough medicine, cough drops, ibuprofen and/or acetaminophen, and a few basic First Aid supplies like band-aides and antibiotic cream for minor injuries.  The onboard medical facility is likely to charge you for these supplies and it will be far cheaper to bring them from home.

If you do test positive for Covid, or develop another serious illness, make sure you notify the cruise ship's infirmary, because they may be able to help you get to land or find you safer accommodations onboard the ship, so you do not expose other people.  They may also provide you with room service meals at no extra expense.

Also make sure you travel with an extra large supply of your prescription medications, in case you are delayed on your trip longer than expected.  A cruise ship will not have a fully stocked pharmacy if you forget your blood pressure medication, for example.  Bring along any medications you might need during an extended stay.

Prepare to be Bored

Whether it is because you are stuck in the quarantine section of a ship, alone in a hotel room far from home, or simply forced to deal with bad weather during your trip, you want to bring along a few, non-tech ways to entertain yourself.  Depending on what activities you enjoy, you might want to pack a deck of cards for playing solitaire, a paperback novel or two, and even a small puzzle.  Basically, you want to bring along anything that will keep you from going crazy if you are stuck in a hospital or quarantine room and cannot easily or affordably access the internet. 

Buy this at: etsy.com/shop/DeborahDianGifts
****
Photography is a popular hobby for travelers, and sometimes you can turn your photos into items you can sell or give as gifts, as I have done in my Etsy Store with photos I have taken over the years.

Here's a framed copy of one of my favorite vacation photos, a picture I took on a trip to see the Giant Redwood trees in Humboldt County, California.

This photo is an example of just one of the many gift items available on my Etsy store at: 

etsy.com/shop/DeborahDianGifts

Enjoyed this post? Never miss out on future posts by following us.  You will receive one weekly email containing the most current post. 

If you are interested in learning more about financial planning, Social Security, Medicare, where to retire, common medical issues as you age, travel and more, use the tabs or pull down menu at the top of the page to find links to hundreds of additional helpful articles.

Disclosure: This blog may contain affiliate links. If you decide to make a purchase from an Amazon ad, I'll make a small commission at no extra cost to you.

You are reading from the blog:  http://www.baby-boomer-retirement.com

Photo credits: Pixabay and the author's Etsy store.