? About Having to Leave Ship Due to Illness

[casamariposa]

Has anyone been asked by or advised by the Medical Department to leave the ship? I've always wondered how one would manage in that situation. It can be rather scary, I would think, especially if the passenger is traveling solo. Does the Port Agent look into getting the passenger to the medical facility in port, look after luggage, contact family or friends stateside, help make arrangements for flights home, etc.?

[boone2]

Port agent looks after all the practical details such as luggage and hotels for family. The ship usually contacts your family Your insurance company looks after your hospital stay and flights home There is a care team in Seattle that liases with all parties. You are not left alone

Terrymh

Edited July 20, 2016 by boone2

[RuthC]

The ship has people pack your things up.

[binkey36]

Has anyone been asked by or advised by the Medical Department to leave the ship? I've always wondered how one would manage in that situation. It can be rather scary, I would think, especially if the passenger is traveling solo. Does the Port Agent look into getting the passenger to the medical facility in port, look after luggage, contact family or friends stateside, help make arrangements for flights home, etc.?

 

My 91 year old father and his 81 companion were transferred off a ship last year. Both were hospitalized. Both had HAL insurance. The Port Agent NEVER contacted them. A social worker was kind enough to make their travel arrangements and take them to the airport. It was the most disappointing example of customer service I have ever seen. HAL did compensate them at a later time. But the whole situation was frightening and horrible.

[CruiserBruce]

Where was this?

[Yaya&Papu]

We had to be disembarked in a foreign country. The front desk, nursing staff, and doctors (both the ship and crew physicians) were superb. Nurses made arrangements with hospital and ships agent. We were able to call home from the ship and let our family know what was happening. Front desk changed money for us and sent someone to help us pack. Ambulance and ship agent met us on the dock. We had daily phone calls from HAL and insurance for the time we were in the hospital until we were discharged to a hotel. There were a few things that we needed and when we told the person at HAL, they were able to let the ship's agent know and obtain those items. The insurance made arrangements for our flight home.

A very frightening experience made a lot better by the people of HAL both on the ship and at Family Services of headquarters. Everyone was so kind and helpful.:)

[ger_77]

We were medically disembarked at Panama due to hubby's illness. The folks onboard could not have been more wonderful. Everyone from the Hotel Manager to our cabin steward and dining room wait staff came to our room to see if I was okay and how hubby was. There were staff hugs and tears as we left the ship.

 

The port agent, on the other hand, was as useless as grease on a doorknob. When we got off the ship the ambulance was waiting for us, and about a half block away stood a man watching the proceedings. I walked over to him and asked if he was the port agent to which he replied "Yep". Great, I was going to have some help through this, or so I thought. I asked whether I should bring our luggage over to him and his vehicle, and was told "See if they can take it in there", meaning the ambulance. I went over and asked if they had room, which fortunately they did, and the attendants packed up my husband, our luggage, and me in the front seat and that was it. The port agent never even came close to the ambulance, nor did he see my husband. Totally useless.

 

We received excellent care in the hospital, were given an English speaking doctor, and thanks to Google translate, were able to communicate with the other medical staff. HAL's social worker contacted us and assisted us with travel arrangements back to Ft Lauderdale where we met up with the friends with whom we were cruising for our flights home.

 

Smooth Sailing ! :) :) :)

[kakalina]

I was medically disembarked in Hilo and taken by ambulance to the ER after breaking my shoulder and collar bone after a slight mishap onboard.

They told the ship I needed surgery and had to be flown home. Flights to the mainland weren't available in Hilo so I had to return to the ship and disembark in Honolulu.

 

The staff and GRM could not have been nicer. The GRM arranged for a plane and my escort to the airport and for a wheelchair to be provided. The ship paid for my flight home.

Everyone onboard was wonderful.

The port agent never showed up at the airport. I was left outside completely unable to even wheel myself inside the doors. I was all alone, crying and feeling abandoned when a very nice local person went inside and found me assistance. The flight home was a nightmare.

HAL was very good and allowed my DH to call me every day for free from the front office. DH had a debilitating fear of flying and could not accompany me home. Never want to repeat that experience.

At that time we didn't know about cruise insurance and did not have any. HAL took care of all the bills etc. It was this experience that really made us choose HAL for our future cruising as they did not quibble about paying up.

[Riversedge]

A heads up to any who might be traveling with a companion who is not a spouse. On a cruise about 5 years ago we had an assigned table with a couple in their eighties. Their spouses had both died years ago and they had been together for about 15 years but never married. While onboard she suffered a stroke. Because there was no legal medical power of attorney the ship's medical center would not give him information on her condition. They both got off the ship in Tahiti but he still could not get information. The doctor's would call her daughter in the states and then he would have to call her to get medical updates and diagnosis. It made a horrible situation even worse. She ended up being airlifted home. Might be worth checking into what is needed if you have a traveling companion.

[Fouremco]

A heads up to any who might be traveling with a companion who is not a spouse. On a cruise about 5 years ago we had an assigned table with a couple in their eighties. Their spouses had both died years ago and they had been together for about 15 years but never married. While onboard she suffered a stroke. Because there was no legal medical power of attorney the ship's medical center would not give him information on her condition. They both got off the ship in Tahiti but he still could not get information. The doctor's would call her daughter in the states and then he would have to call her to get medical updates and diagnosis. It made a horrible situation even worse. She ended up being airlifted home. Might be worth checking into what is needed if you have a traveling companion.

Excellent point, and one that should be heeded whether travelling or not.

[casamariposa]

Thank you for your responses. I've cruised a lot, but I never focused on what would happen if I were to be disembarked due to a health emergency. Very interesting.

[binkey36]

Where was this?

 

Pago Pago

[Tampa Girl]

A heads up to any who might be traveling with a companion who is not a spouse. On a cruise about 5 years ago we had an assigned table with a couple in their eighties. Their spouses had both died years ago and they had been together for about 15 years but never married. While onboard she suffered a stroke. Because there was no legal medical power of attorney the ship's medical center would not give him information on her condition. They both got off the ship in Tahiti but he still could not get information. The doctor's would call her daughter in the states and then he would have to call her to get medical updates and diagnosis. It made a horrible situation even worse. She ended up being airlifted home. Might be worth checking into what is needed if you have a traveling companion.

 

Such is the joy of HIPPA.

[scm1848]

We always travel with a certified copy of our marriage license, which I understand might be needed if one of us died in a foreign country, in order to get the remains home. FYI

[RuthC]

We always travel with a certified copy of our marriage license, which I understand might be needed if one of us died in a foreign country, in order to get the remains home. FYI

That wasn't my experience. The US Consulate took my word for everything.

[dfish]

Such is the joy of HIPPA.

 

HIPPA wouldn't apply in Tahiti.

 

When I took my sister down to the medical center on the Westerdam last September, they had no problem communicating with me. She was in no shape to answer questions, so I took over that role.

[goleta]

It is HIPAA not HIPPA. Just remember it isn't a hippo. :eek:

[catl331]

and if we didn't have this HIPAA law anyone would have access to what prescriptions you are taking, what condition you have and your prognosis. I bet the real agent in Pago Pago was off the islands and they sent a sub. Definitely get medical travel insurance when you are leaving this country. Yes, it costs more but you would have to see your house to pay for a medical airlift!