What happens if you are taking ill on a cruise

[Ray B]

Interesting article I received this morning that may be of interest to members.
Now I do not have facecloth so had to get Sarah to bring it up on her phone for me to read
Let's see if I can send it.

https://www.facebook.com/share/p/16DX8cootP/

[Portsmouth]

Don't think that worked as the link you sent it is about an Ambassador Cruise group and couldn't see anything about being ill on a cruise....however I an not on Facebook so maybe that's why.

Anyway whats this about you not having a facecloth/Flannel ?

[david63]

That link is to a private Facebook group that you will need to join in order to read the article

[Stephen]

Easier just to Google it.

[Ray B]

That link is to a private Facebook group that you will need to join in order to read the article

You maybe correct there David.
The article is in today's Daily Mail .

[Ray B]

Just checked the Mail, it looks like there is a pay wall to read it.

[Onelife]

I think I can help you out Ray…should this circumstance arise; you should do what every red-blooded man would do and instruct your wife to wait on you hand and foot until you feel better…I haven’t had cause to do this myself but have you noticed how Foxy now walks with a limp?

[CaroleF]

I have had some experience of what can happen if you are taken ill on a cruise. The first thing, and most important, is that you must, must must have comprehensive travel insurance. Make sure when you take out the insurance that it covers repatriation and I think usually it will cover costs up to £10million. My husband had a problem on our cruise to Canada/USA and when we got to St. John's in Newfoundland the Ship's Medical Officer decided he needed to be seen by a hospital doctor. This means that you have to pack up your cabin, we were told we could leave our luggage on board to be collected by us from Southampton when the ship finally returned. We needed to take hand luggage plus a case with our overnight things in case my husband was admitted to hospital and needed to stay. In our case the Ship's Medical Officer assured us that if the hospital said my husband was fit to return and continue the cruise he would be happy to have us back. We did discover that it is important to have an efficient Port Agent and I believe some are incredibly good and helpful, ours wasn't. He found us a taxi which would take us to the hospital and that was all he did. When I asked if I could contact him if my husband had to stay or even return home could I contact him for assistance. He said that wasn't his job and I had to contact my insurance company. We were very lucky and although the hospital was quite old and looked run down it was very efficient and we met some really kind people. My husband had a CT Scan, was seen by a Consultant and a report issued all in a few hours.The Consultant said that he thought there was no reason John shouldn't continue the cruise and maybe an MRI scan in a few week's time but that it wasn't urgent. I then saw the letter that the Ship's Medical Officer had written for the hospital and in it he'd said that he thought my husband should be repatriated to the UK immediately. This was contrary to what he'd told us. I managed to get in touch with the Ship and John was able to speak to the Medical Officer who, even though he'd said he would happily welcome him back was saying he didn't think it a good idea. It so happened that the young Registrar who had sorted out the CT scan came by and I asked if he would speak to the Ship's Doctor. He agreed and it was only because of that young man that we were allowed to return and continue the cruise. When we returned to the ship we had to wait before being given permission to board Aurora, we'd had to relinquish our cruise cards before leaving the ship. We were taken to the Medical Centre where the Doctor made it clear that he didn't think it a good idea that we returned but after speaking to the Registrar he would agree if we signed disclaimer forms saying we wouldn't sue P&O if any problem arose due to John's returning to the ship. We were so lucky that we had fast attention and care at the hospital and that the young Registrar was able to speak to the Ship's Doctor and that we were able to get back to Aurora before she sailed. It was an horrendous day. We finished the cruise without incident. We did discover that when passengers leave the ship as we did all their booked excursions, restaurant tables, etc are cancelled so we had to rebook as well as we could but at least we were able to continue the cruise. On other cruises I have had cause to go to the Medical Centre for a minor problem and they have always been both kind and efficient. While I was at the hospital waiting to see what was going to see what was going to happen I did have a call from P&O Southampton offering help, particularly if we had to return home. I am sure that, if that had been the case, they would have been very helpful.

[Ray B]

Carole, it was good that you and John were able to enjoy the rest of the cruise.
You will be familiar with parts of my next post.

[Ray B]

I've taken a few points from the interesting article by Mark Palmer travel editor on the Daily Mail. He was travelling at the time with Ambassador Cruises.
So, if you are taking ill whilst on a cruise ship, the good news is you will possibly be seen by the doctor almost immediately depending on the severity of your illness. This is far better than falling ill at home where a call to your doctors ,if you can get through,could mean a long wait to be seen. Even going to A&E will more than likely entail a wait.
Ships by law have to have a doctor always on call and one trained in emergency medicine.
On this ship, and probably most ships, if you are taking seriously ill or have a fall, etc, you will be taken to the ships 'Hospital' and admitted to a ward or the 'ICU'.
The unit is equipped with ECG Machines, Ventilators, Xray Machine and Defibrillators.
The ship carries more than £50,000 worth of medicine, it has a laboratory set up to test blood samples including taking full blood count, helping to diagnose liver and kidney problems, cardiac issues and disorders like diabetes and gout.
Minor surgery, including stitches, draining abscesses, removing cysts and benign growths, anything that does not require a general anaesthetic .
It's comforting to know if you are taken ill far away from land, help and treatment is there immediately to look after you until you arrive in port, or in more seriously ill cases you can be air lifted of the ship.
Of cause if the worst does happen, there is a morgue onboard.
Enjoy your cruise and hope you do not require the use of the medical facilities, but should you do so, the medical team will be there for you, you will not be waiting hours, days to be seen.

[Stephen]

Just make sure you have good travel insurance or very deep pockets.