Has anyone used the medical facilities?

[BillHoo]

I don't expect a major surgical unit, but do they offer medical care for various emergencies or even minor ailments?

 

How would they treat someone who suddenly felt faint, or dizzy? Or had chest pains?

 

I'm looking for personal experiences.

[Clarea]

My wife hurt her back on a cruise. The doctor examined her thoroughly, give her meds, followed up a couple of times a day thereafter. Very professional service and total cost of around $120.

[knittinggirl]

I used the med on Serenade. I had a cold that turned into Bronchitis.

 

They were pretty good. But the nurse at the front desk didn't know the English word Pseudophed. I kept getting worse, and on disembarkation day I threw up. Reported it to guest relations and medical, but they didn't do anything since we were disembarking. On another ship, I got norovirus on day 1 of our second leg of our B2B. So, instead of muster drill I was in the infirmary getting shots, and meds.

 

I think it's better to get your meds from the infirmary rather than trying to buy OTC in a foreign country. One of our dining mates had a cold and got some meds in a foreign country, then ended up in medical on oxygen for two days.

[knittinggirl]

If you plan to use trip insurance, you have to get your paperwork from your primary insurance first. They kept rejecting mine because the ship had used the wrong codes. I asked for a copy of the medical paperwork from Medical Records at Royal Caribbean once I got back. I sent the fax just as they told me to, but never heard back from them.

[knittinggirl]

I don't expect a major surgical unit, but do they offer medical care for various emergencies or even minor ailments?

 

How would they treat someone who suddenly felt faint, or dizzy? Or had chest pains?

 

I'm looking for personal experiences.

I read somewhere that your chances of surviving a heart attack on a ship are very good, since they're so close. We've had to dodge medical personnel rushing to the elevator with their gurneys.

[reallyitsmema]

I used the med on Serenade. I had a cold that turned into Bronchitis.

 

They were pretty good. But the nurse at the front desk didn't know the English word Pseudophed. I kept getting worse, and on disembarkation day I threw up. Reported it to guest relations and medical, but they didn't do anything since we were disembarking. On another ship, I got norovirus on day 1 of our second leg of our B2B. So, instead of muster drill I was in the infirmary getting shots, and meds.

 

I think it's better to get your meds from the infirmary rather than trying to buy OTC in a foreign country. One of our dining mates had a cold and got some meds in a foreign country, then ended up in medical on oxygen for two days.

 

She probably knew the correct word, pseudoephedrine.

[happy_trees]

I used the med on Serenade. I had a cold that turned into Bronchitis.

 

They were pretty good. But the nurse at the front desk didn't know the English word Pseudophed. I kept getting worse, and on disembarkation day I threw up. Reported it to guest relations and medical, but they didn't do anything since we were disembarking. On another ship, I got norovirus on day 1 of our second leg of our B2B. So, instead of muster drill I was in the infirmary getting shots, and meds.

 

I think it's better to get your meds from the infirmary rather than trying to buy OTC in a foreign country. One of our dining mates had a cold and got some meds in a foreign country, then ended up in medical on oxygen for two days.

 

Some of it probably has to do with the country in which they have their training. Having lived in the US and U.K., when I needed OTC medicine for a bad cough, I had no trouble in St Maarten's Dutch side. They could easily translate U.K. meds to what they had, and had a number of U.K. Brands.

 

It is always wise to know not just drug brand names like Sudafed but also the actual medicine name and international equivalents when traveling outside your country, especially if you have any allergies. Just keep that info on hand in your wallet, in case you lose them or need to ask about interactions, etc.

[exchiefPFD]

My wife had a serious hand injury while ashore, broken fingers severe cuts etc. I chose to go back to the ship as local hospital was unknown . The medical facility did an excellent job.Cost was covered by our travel ins right down to the bandages used after we got home. Ships Doc saw here daily to change dressings, crew cut her meat at meal time. All in all, a bad experience was taken care of very well. The ship was the Indy and the date back in 2010 era.

[cruizers]

I don't expect a major surgical unit, but do they offer medical care for various emergencies or even minor ailments?

 

How would they treat someone who suddenly felt faint, or dizzy? Or had chest pains?

 

I'm looking for personal experiences.

Our experiences were excellent. On the first morning of a cruise, I woke up sick and headed to the medical facility as soon as it opened. The staff was extremely thorough and did a great job! They administered a breathing treatment, gave meds and had me return two more times during the cruise for additional check ups and breathing treatments. Our insurance covered everything including medications. I have no hesitation to go if I needed to again. One other time we had our young granddaughter with us. She caught her hand in the elevator door. They were fabulous with her! They were able to X-ray her hand and assure us nothing was broken! The facility seems to be up-to-date equipment wise based on our experiences.

[setsail]

Are you serious, has anyone used medical.

 

It's there for all on the ship including the crew and they do a wonderful job

[cb at sea]

The ships medical center can treat most minor injuries or illnesses just fine. If something requires MAJOR attention, you will be removed from the ship and sent to the closest hospital.

 

That's why the cruise contract you agree to when you buy your tickets says that you AGREE that you are in good health! They know things can happen, but some folks cruise when they absolutely should NOT be away from advanced medical treatment! It's always a good idea to have "evacuation insurance" in case you should need that. It's pricey to airlift you off the ship, if an emergency happens at sea!

[Kamloops50]

I don't expect a major surgical unit, but do they offer medical care for various emergencies or even minor ailments?

 

How would they treat someone who suddenly felt faint, or dizzy? Or had chest pains?

 

I'm looking for personal experiences.

 

The facilities are pretty good. They have a real time satellite connection to one of the major trauma center in the US.

 

They can handle most problems up to and including heart attacks . This was one Princess , i\I would assume that all cruise lines have similar facilities. A lot of this is the SOLAS ( Safety of life at sea) rules.

[Yorkvillain]

I had a kidney stone on the Oasis and the medical team took great care of me. I had trip insurance but it didn't even matter in this case. I was charged about $700 but my regular insurance company re-imbursed me 100%.

 

Oh yeah and the two big bags of morphine that they pumped in me felt amazing!

[dreamer976]

My personal experience w/using the medical facility onboard (2015 Radiance OTS) is waaaaaaay to complicated to get into detail here, but suffice it to say that it/they were great and even tho I didn't believe the Dr. at the time, in regard to how "seriously ill" I was at the time, he was actually spot on😳😳; once I got around to following up w/my PCP at home, was sent to a specialist and ultimately spent the next month in the hospital!

 

Had lots of testing done onboard (chest X-rays, blood draw, IV and oral drugs administered, etc all for less than $600!!! Here at home it would cost at least that much just to be seen in an emergency room, The cost was fully covered by my travel insurance.

[Trillian]

I don't expect a major surgical unit, but do they offer medical care for various emergencies or even minor ailments?

 

How would they treat someone who suddenly felt faint, or dizzy? Or had chest pains?

 

I'm looking for personal experiences.

 

My mother almost passed out one evening and we had to call for medical. They were wonderful. They had a portable x-ray machine and were able to tell that she had pneumonia. They had a nebulizer to give her meds, and an oxygen tank for other times.The nurses were in there at least hourly to check her status. They also arranged for an abulance to meet us the next day in St. Thomas, as well as a facilitator to get us to the hospital and to help arrange things if she was not cleared to travel (luckily, she was cleared). They even had the meds prescribed by the hospital so we didn't have to find a pharmacy in St. Thomas.

 

When we got our records from Royal Caribbean to show my mother's doctor what happened, she noticed that the ship's doctor was one who worked at the same hospital in Florida as she did.

 

All in all, I was very pleased with the quality of care on the ship.

[vickiw0318]

Great experience onboard the Majesty last fall when my wife-in-law (ex-husband's current wife) hurt her ankle.

 

For the record, she got as many strange looks from her friends as I did from mine while they were asking "You are cruising with whom?"

[bigque]

I had to use the facility on Enchantment back in 2015. I was at dinner and became very sick and dizzy, I had to excuse myself to go back to the room and after I got out of the MDR I had to go to the restroom right outside the door and I threw up everything and was feeling pretty bad. After I came out my wife walked me back to the room afterwards she went back to the MDR where our friends were still at. The Wait Staff was very concerned and when she came back they called the medical facility and told them about me and then they gave me a call in my room and had me come down to see them. The doctor was very nice and he did a standard exam which did not cost anything. He wanted to hook me up to an ekg and give me an IV but the cost of that was going to be very high so I declined the treatment and had to sign a waiver saying that I declined the treatment so that the ship couldn't be held responsible. He gave me some type of pills to calm my stomach and I left. It turned out that I had some type of stomach virus.

[ace1zoe2]

On Navigator a couple of years ago I sliced open the bottom of my heel on the balcony door jam as I walked back in barefooted from the balcony. My husband called our stateroom attendant so that they could look at the door jam which was sharp metal and do something about it so no one else would be hurt in the future. Maintenance came later and brought a grinder to buff down the rough edge.

 

Hubby was an EMT earlier in life and took care of cleaning and bandaging the wound before our stateroom attendant arrived. Once he was there he requested that I to go to the medical facility to be seen.

 

I was seen very quickly, the doctor said hubby did a great job cleaning it and said I wouldn't have to have stitches as the flap had already started adhering to my skin. I did request and received a tetanus shot, oral antibiotics and topical meds to put on the wound.

 

They had me return the next two days to clean and bandage the wound so that they could keep an eye on it. I never received a bill of any kind which I am sure had something to do with the ship causing the injury in the first place. I'm sure there are those out there that would be ready to sue or ask for compensation of some sort. I was pleased with receiving quality medical care and the medications to make sure I didn't get an infection.

[knittinggirl]

Wanted to add that I had the doctor cut out an infected ingrown toenail on HAL's Rotterdam.

[Justmekaren918]

I have had to actually use the medical twice.

 

Once way back on Nordic Prince and they were able to help my cut foot just fine. Thankfully no stitches from a reef/rock cut.

 

A year ago on Liberty for bronchial issue. They were great.

 

They also had a dispenser that I think was 25cents for a bunch of basic otc stuff.

 

Sent from my SAMSUNG-SGH-I337 using Tapatalk

[Pipo]

Very professional staff. Rates are so-so, but nothing to worry about if you come with travel insurance. My mom received attention on Allure after falling in the ice rink and hitting her arm, and then on Harmony to check her feet after feeling intense pain due to extended walking in Europe. They also provide medication and control with additional appointments with the doctor if necessary.

All charges will be discounted to your SeaPass account, and you'll receive an independent invoice with medical expenses and details of the consult so you can file your claim before your insurance provider with that document.

 

Here are some pictures of Harmony's medical facility:

 

 

 

 

[gjcocruiser]

I fell on a tour in Dominica and by the time I got back to the ship I was limping pretty badly. Once I finally found the medical center there was a nurse and an EMT on duty and they took prompt and good care of me. Had I wanted to I could have waited for the doctor but he wasn't going to be back until about the time the ship sailed. I was perfectly content with the nurse and EMT they also gave me a baggie of supplies... gauze, bandages. antiseptic & scissors to treat my wound and gave advice for my twisted ankle. I got an itemized statement which I could send in to the trip insurance company. Still waiting to be reimbursed.

 

Sent from my SM-T350 using Forums mobile app

[polymedia]

I just wrote about a medial situation that I had aboard Rhapsody a couple of weeks ago.

 

http://boards.cruisecritic.com/showthread.php?t=2476425&highlight=polymedia

[Ocean Boy]

I used the med on Serenade. I had a cold that turned into Bronchitis.

 

They were pretty good. But the nurse at the front desk didn't know the English word Pseudophed. I kept getting worse, and on disembarkation day I threw up. Reported it to guest relations and medical, but they didn't do anything since we were disembarking. On another ship, I got norovirus on day 1 of our second leg of our B2B. So, instead of muster drill I was in the infirmary getting shots, and meds.

 

I think it's better to get your meds from the infirmary rather than trying to buy OTC in a foreign country. One of our dining mates had a cold and got some meds in a foreign country, then ended up in medical on oxygen for two days.

Neither do you. It is Sudafed.

[Pancake16]

 

When the cruise director is throwing "bound up" t-shirts in the crowd - Don't reach out to catch it! Straight to the medical office (doctor and nurse waiting at the door because they had been notified by another crew member and it was after-hours), numbing shot (didn't really help with the next action), finger "re-located" and set in a brace, OTC meds for pain (seriously?), x-rays and doctors notes along with contact information for the ship and the cruise line ...absolutely NO CHARGE! I guess they felt responsible since a crew member threw the shirt?

 

I also had a follow-up the next day (last full day of cruise) with the doctor to ensure that finger was doing ok. I had to follow up with an orthopedic doctor once I got home but the care on the ship was very good.