A former cruise ship doctor has revealed a common misconception about medical facilities onboard vessels, warning that it could cause problems for passengers who take regular medication. Dr Ellen Welch, a GP who spent over 10 years working as a doctor on cruises, said packing extra medication could help holidaymakers avoid a potentially hefty bill.
Pack enough regular medications
Dr Welch explained: "If you have a cruise coming up, I would recommend you always ensure you travel with enough of your regular medications. Many guests assume they could come to the medical facility to stock up, but they carry the medications needed for emergencies. They often helped guests source their medications on land, but again this service comes with an expensive bill."
She also stressed the importance of having the right travel insurance, as many passengers mistakenly assume this is included in the cost of a cruise, when it is not. Dr Welch, who is working with Total Travel Protection, added: "During my 10 years at sea, we frequently treated guests travelling without travel insurance, who then had the stress of a medical bill to pay. Every consultation with a doctor costs a minimum fee, and then the costs of investigations, treatments, and medications are added on to this."
Costs of onboard medical care
"For the severely unwell patients requiring admissions and specialist treatments, the bills can be thousands of pounds. I often found guests from the US were less ruffled about this, but UK-based guests used to the NHS were often very shocked."
She added that although some cruise lines provide complimentary treatment for passengers suffering from seasickness, beyond that there is often an extra charge. If someone has to be disembarked from the ship for care on land, those bills can quickly add up - especially if evacuation by helicopter is needed.
Specialist cruise cover needed
Travel insurance policies do not include cruise cover, so specialist cover is needed for a cruise holiday. Options include a one-off policy for the trip, or adding cruise cover to an annual policy for those planning multiple sailings.
When booking a cruise, not everything is all-inclusive. Michelle Kirkham, a TUI travel agent with over 30 years of experience, said: "Your accommodation, main meals and entertainment are covered, but things like drinks packages, excursions and WiFi can cost extra. Planning for that upfront makes everything stress-free."
