What happens if someone needs emergency care while on a cruise?

Question

What are the steps that they follow?

Answer 1

There is a medical help available for a fee, all you need to do is call or ask the information desk

Answer 2

I was on a cruise a couple of years ago when a man had a heart attack... we had to turn the boat around and go to the safest docking place and a helicopter met us there to take him to the hospital.

For smaller emergencies, they have a doctor and nurse on call.

Answer 3

I have personally seen a helicopter come. The cruise (carnival paradise) made an announcement about what was going on and virtually everyone came to the top of the boat to watch. The sick man was in the buffet on the back of the ship and everyone was told to evacuate. The ship stopped in the ocean and a helicopter from the Coast Guard came and hovered over. A guy was dropped from the plane to the ship and helped the sick man and they were both airlifted into the plane. Rumor had it that the man had a heart attack of some sort and had to be taken to the Turks and Caicos Islands (the closest place) and eventually taken back to Miami. I guess thats a last resort.

Answer 4

There is a ship's doctor on board at all times.  The cruise ships are fitted with emergency rooms and have all of the same emergency room equipment as a hospital.  The doctors are not cruise line employees but are independent contractors so if something does go wrong, you cannot sue the cruise line.

If the emergency is too big for the ship doctor, you would be helicoptered to a land hospital.  Hope you have a lot of insurance for this!  

I would advise getting the trip cancellation insurance that also provides payment for medical emergencies.  If you have a pre-existing condition, read the policy good before you buy it.  Some will not pay off on claims if there is a pre-existing condition.

Answer 5

They have a minature ER on the bottom floor of the cruise boat were they can do minor procedures 24 hours a day. I heard that it was extremly expensive to have anything done. However, if you just get seasick they can give you some medicine free of charge. If you are at port, than you would have to go to the ER in whatever city you are in. There as well as on the cruise ship, your insurance will not cover so you will have to pay 100%. Most places like that will also make you pay upfront.

Answer 6

The Ships Surgeon is the one that confers with the Captain on what action to take. If it is the Surgeons call, lotta ships law in there, then he may be held to answer for his actions. Again a WHOLE lotta Articles of Law in there.

If it is The Captain that is injured//sick then the First Officer and so on.

Basic rule is The Oath that the Dr took. Care for them that needs it. I reckon it is like that on any Ship at Sea.  Maritime Law is what it would fall under.

Answer 7

We, too, were on a cruise ship (between Barbados and Martinique) when a man had a heart attack on our ship.

The coast guard helicopter came from San Juan, and he was hoisted up in the little basket into the helicopter, along with his wife, and their luggage, and they flew away over the ocean, while everybody watched, and clapped at the successful recovery.

I think that helicopter ride would have given me a worse heart attack..

But at least they have those emergency measures in place for those who need them.

Answer 8

I know carnival has a pharmacy, so if you need meds-most of them are kept on board just in case. (general meds) Also, just to let you know...as of last month-if you get stuck on an island bc you are in need of med care, you cannot get back to US unless you are on the same cruise ship or if you have a passport. You can be stuck there on the island or where ever for up to 8 weeks waiting for a passport ($100) or expedite it for like 2-3weeks for another $65...so be aware!

Answer 9

first of all they try if the problem is solved in the ship only by the help of doctor on board then they look in the passenger list to know that if there is any doctor travelling on the ship as pessanger  then if this also dosen't work and the situation is worse then there is always a helicopter available so by the help of that the paitent can be trasported to nearest hospital on land. there is always a aggrement with the goverment of different countries through which the cruise is going through.