Has anyone had a bad medical experience on a cruise.

[mimi217]

I'm wondering if anyone has  had a bad medical  experience on a cruise and  are now  leery of cruising again. Not exactly sure how I feel about it. We were recently on a cruise where my husband went to the medical ctr. After examining him and treating him, they said he needed to go to the hospital (we were in Aruba) to be cleared to stay on the ship since we would be at sea for 2 days.  Long story short he was cleared and returned to the ship after being at the hospital all day.  It was incredibly stressful!   Now I'm paranoid about booking a cruise.  

[GeezerCouple]

3 minutes ago, mimi217 said:

I'm wondering if anyone has  had a bad medical  experience on a cruise and  are now  leery of cruising again. Not exactly sure how I feel about it. We were recently on a cruise where my husband went to the medical ctr. After examining him and treating him, they said he needed to go to the hospital (we were in Aruba) to be cleared to stay on the ship since we would be at sea for 2 days.  Long story short he was cleared and returned to the ship after being at the hospital all day.  It was incredibly stressful!   Now I'm paranoid about booking a cruise.  

 

Isn't this exactly what you would *want* to be done?  Otherwise, the risk is that the patient isn't really medically "cleared", and continues to sail away and.... then what !??? 😱

 

We had something very much like this.

DH had a medical emergency while the ship was in port (it was an overnight port stop).

The ship medical staff tried to take care of him, but things were getting worse.  Just as I was about to tell the ship physician to please call an ambulance, he walked into the treatment room and announced that... he had called an ambulance!  Good!!

We spent most of the day at the local hospital, where they announced that what the ship's medical team had done was *exactly* what they would have done, and that was re-assuring.  They kept DH several hours for observation.

 

We returned to the ship and had to think long and hard about whether to continue or to fly home.  But we had a bunch of new meds with us, with instructions, etc., and we do have some limited medical background by profession.

The rest of the cruise was uneventful and very pleasant.

 

When we got home, we promptly contacted DH's specialist, and she said (this was VERY good to hear) that IF DH had shown up in that condition in their top teaching hospital ER, they would have treated him the exact same way!

 

We now travel with those meds at all times.

 

But we sure would NOT have wanted the ship physician to do anything other than what he did!

 

GC

[Essiesmom]

I have in the past read many threads about the horrible treatment, etc.  Usually they are from first time posters.  Occasionally there is a thread about how well someone was treated.  I’m sure there are many in both camps who do not belong to CC.  I think there is another cruise forum that specializes in such complaints.  EM

[d9704011]

When I read this, I thought the OP was talking about her husband's bad medical experience and how disconcerting it was to her thinking about the possibilities of having serious medical issues while on a cruise.  I didn't interpret the comments as a criticism of the onbaord medical service(s) and their insistence that her husband be attended to at a hospital.

[Mary229]

You can get sick anytime. Cruise lines medical personnel are capable but are always hesitant to do more than first aid and get you the medical attention you need.  Though they are trained physicians and “can” treat complex cases cruise ships are not fully equipped hospitals. Sending you ashore was the absolutely correct procedure.  
 

if you were in a small, remote community in your own country the same procedure would be followed. 

Edited November 17, 2022 by Mary229

[mimi217]

I'm wondering if anyone has  had a bad medical  experience on a cruise and  are now  leery of cruising again. Not exactly sure how I feel about it. We were recently on a cruise where my husband went to the medical ctr. After examining him and treating him, they said he needed to go to the hospital (we were in Aruba) to be cleared to stay on the ship since we would be at sea for 2 days.  Long story short he was cleared and returned to the ship after being at the hospital all day.  It was incredibly stressful!   Now I'm paranoid about booking a cruise.  

[mom says]

Perhaps the OP could clarify her post. Is she paranoid that her husband will again become seriously ill on a cruise? Or is she paranoid that the ship's  medical officer will (correctly) send him ashore for more advanced diagnostics and treatment should the need arise?

[jsn55]

I can see why you're leery (you're not paranoid!) about cruising in case you need the Medical Center.  It's a question that each of us may face at one time or the other.  A very personal choice.  If I knew that I had certain issues or challenges, I'd bring whatever I might need to treat myself on the ship if possible.  I'm afraid that going to see the ship's doctor would be my absolute last choice.  

Edited November 17, 2022 by jsn55

[mimi217]

1 hour ago, d9704011 said:

When I read this, I thought the OP was talking about her husband's bad medical experience and how disconcerting it was to her thinking about the possibilities of having serious medical issues while on a cruise.  I didn't interpret the comments as a criticism of the onbaord medical service(s) and their insistence that her husband be attended to at a hospital.

That's correct. I wasn't criticizing the onboard medical staff, they were excellent.  All I was saying is now I'm worried about booking another cruise.

[Elaine5715]

1 hour ago, mimi217 said:

That's correct. I wasn't criticizing the onboard medical staff, they were excellent.  All I was saying is now I'm worried about booking another cruise.

That is when you talk to your physician.  I cruised after being diagnosed with a brain aneurysm and before surgery with the surgeon's approval.  He said it was more of a risk driving to my appointment than cruising.   Both he and the nurse did volunteer to come with me to provide  medical observation, though. 

[Mary229]

7 hours ago, Elaine5715 said:

That is when you talk to your physician

That is always the correct answer.  Remember, @mimi217  if you had been home it likely would have been no less stressful.  

[sparks1093]

It is something that people need to think about and I'm not sure that many actually do. The medical staff onboard can handle routine things but if it is something serious they need to evacuate the passenger to a hospital with full equipment, etc. Depending on the itinerary this might be delayed for several days (think in the middle of the Atlantic on a trans-Atlantic crossing). I was just reading a thread on the Princess board where the poster's husband had a heart attack and passed away before they could reach port. Fortunately your husband was cleared and you were able to stay with the ship. 

[shipgeeks]

Wouldn't this concern also apply to any foreign or distant travel?  If we were in Aruba/South America/Asia on our own, and had a serious medical concern, we would be on our own to find a doctor or hospital, work around a language barrier, pay up front, not know the credentials of people treating us, etc.

[sparks1093]

29 minutes ago, shipgeeks said:

Wouldn't this concern also apply to any foreign or distant travel?  If we were in Aruba/South America/Asia on our own, and had a serious medical concern, we would be on our own to find a doctor or hospital, work around a language barrier, pay up front, not know the credentials of people treating us, etc.

There is something to this but in many cases the traveler would have access to medical treatment relatively quickly unless they are really out in the boondocks (which is more within the control of the traveler on a land vacation since they can determine how far they are willing to stray from a city center). On a ship treatment can be many hours away, if not days in some cases. I suspect that the gentleman on the Princess cruise would have survived his heart attack had he been closer to a hospital, or at least had a much better chance at survival. 

 

I don't think that this should prevent someone from cruising, but it is something to consider and if someone does have a known health risk then they would want to choose an itinerary with minimal sea days. 

[Lois R]

Good question........I have an experience from June (of this year). I was on a cruise that sailed out of Barcelona.  I won't go into the entire story because it would take a page or 2 but to give you a recap, I hurt my leg (while in my cabin)......I pulled a muscle in my calf just stepping wrong☹️from the bathroom down....anyway, I realized when I tried to walk, I could not put any weight on my right leg......

Oh, I sail solo..........anyway, got back to my bed (hopped) and called Guest Relations and they sent the Dr to my cabin..........I was in ALOT of pain......gave me a shot and also told me I would need to go to the hospital for an Ultrasound.  We were in Valencia at the time. After all the results, thankfully there was no clotting and I was taken back to the ship........I used crutches (the ship staff and crew were incredibly helpful)......they supplied me the crutches.  Anyway, the cruise turned out to be NOTHING like it was supposed to  but I have taken 2 cruises since that time and going again in January.

So, yes it was definitely something I did not expect and I am thankful for the wonderful crew and staff who went above and beyond for me.  To be totally honest, someone I had met on the ship asked me if I would cruise again........I had never thought about NOT cruising again. Yes, this one was a VERY funky trip but I LOVE to cruise and will continue to go on more of them🙂

 

Oh........the part where I hurt my leg, it was the middle of the night when I got up to use the bathroom on night 2 of a 12 night cruise........it was definitely unlike any cruise I have ever taken.......and I have been cruising for 20 years.

[Hlitner]

We have had a couple of medical emergencies, while on cruises, and I am curious about the OP's situation.  The "norm" is that the onboard medical staff will refer anything other than routine situations to a shore-based facility.  The medical capabilities onboard are limited, and the ship's physician cannot be a specialist in everything!  

 

Is it stressful to have a medical emergency or urgency when on a cruise?  Absolutely.  But it would be no different if you were traveling on land.  In fact, while on a ship you can get almost immediate medical care and consultations, but on land you might be at a complete loss of what to do, where to go, etc.  This is all part of the "travel game" and those of us who do a lot of cruising and international travel must learn how to deal with these situations.

 

Hank

[MBP&O2/O]

Not on a cruise, but on a merchant ship with no doctor or, in fact anyone with any formal training,...our only radio officer died when we were in the miles away from anywhere zone.

That caused major problems.

[LHT28]

Maybe  depends on the situation

 DH had a Gallbladder attack on a cruise  doctor recommend getting off  before  the ship did the crossing to Europe   which we did

Not sure if  he would have sent him to a hospital for  an all clear   if we decided to continue  the cruise or not

 

We had insurance that covered  the  unused portion of the cruise & new flights home

[jsn55]

1 hour ago, LHT28 said:

Maybe  depends on the situation

 DH had a Gallbladder attack on a cruise  doctor recommend getting off  before  the ship did the crossing to Europe   which we did

Not sure if  he would have sent him to a hospital for  an all clear   if we decided to continue  the cruise or not

 

We had insurance that covered  the  unused portion of the cruise & new flights home

So smart to insure trips for this kind of stuff.  I always think that I'd just gut it out if I 'didn't feel good' but a real health crisis dictates that you act on it immediately.  So you lose your fun and enjoyment, but at least you don't lose all your money.  I'll never travel without my annual MedJet coverage.  

[shipgeeks]

On a HAL cruise several years ago, Fort Lauderdale to Montreal, we were seated at dinner with a lovely mother and daughter, Canadians from the west coast. The next day we ran into the daughter, who said Mom had broken her hip at bedtime. She was held and treated in the ship infirmary until we reached Boston, a number of days later; she was then transferred to a hospital there, and after a number of days there, was flown home.  All arrangements were made by HAL; reportedly all were well done.

When I visited the mother in the infirmary, it struck me as being like a miniature hospital. Private room, a number of medical personnel in attendance.  Just not the hustle and bustle, nor police presence, of a big city hospital.

[pris993]

On 11/16/2022 at 4:29 PM, mimi217 said:

I'm wondering if anyone has  had a bad medical  experience on a cruise and  are now  leery of cruising again. Not exactly sure how I feel about it. We were recently on a cruise where my husband went to the medical ctr. After examining him and treating him, they said he needed to go to the hospital (we were in Aruba) to be cleared to stay on the ship since we would be at sea for 2 days.  Long story short he was cleared and returned to the ship after being at the hospital all day.  It was incredibly stressful!   Now I'm paranoid about booking a cruise.  

If I was you, I would talk to your husband's doctor on whether you should be concerned about traveling by ship, with days a sea.   Sometimes problems can be resolved.  

 

A few years ago, my eye doctor advised me that I was a risk for a condition and if I noticed any changes in my vision to see him immediately.  I thought about it and asked is there something that I can do to prevent or reduce the risk proactively, since I like to do TAs and cruises.  Turned out yes, there was a very simple procedure which I did, and I no longer needed to be concerned. 

[cruisemom42]

On 11/17/2022 at 6:32 AM, sparks1093 said:

It is something that people need to think about and I'm not sure that many actually do. The medical staff onboard can handle routine things but if it is something serious they need to evacuate the passenger to a hospital with full equipment, etc.

 

I have thought about this quite a bit since the early days of Covid -- the start of which coincided with the period when many lines offer world cruises.

 

I was very surprised (I could almost say shocked) at the number of apparently quite elderly and infirm people who were on these cruises and ended up getting dumped off in far foreign ports with minimal assistance on making plans to get themselves home. In some cases family members actually had to fly out to assist them. 

 

It seems to me that far too often these long cruises -- most of which eventually return to their point of origin -- are regarded as an "easy" way to travel by elderly people. They can avoid the hassles of flying. But IMO it's a mistake not to think about the hazards of travel at an advanced age; e.g., without understanding that any kind of serious health event is likely to mean they will be left in a port, possibly under medical care, and with limited "help" from the ship on dealing with the situation.

 

To be clear, I'm not blaming the cruise lines -- I don't think it is their job to do more than assist ill passengers to appropriate medical care on land and then follow up procedurally with refunds and such. I would never travel halfway around the world without appropriate plans in place on how I would get home, if it were necessary due to illness or emergency.

 

 

 

[ldubs]

5 minutes ago, cruisemom42 said:

 

I have thought about this quite a bit since the early days of Covid -- the start of which coincided with the period when many lines offer world cruises.

 

I was very surprised (I could almost say shocked) at the number of apparently quite elderly and infirm people who were on these cruises and ended up getting dumped off in far foreign ports with minimal assistance on making plans to get themselves home. In some cases family members actually had to fly out to assist them. 

 

It seems to me that far too often these long cruises -- most of which eventually return to their point of origin -- are regarded as an "easy" way to travel by elderly people. They can avoid the hassles of flying. But IMO it's a mistake not to think about the hazards of travel at an advanced age; e.g., without understanding that any kind of serious health event is likely to mean they will be left in a port, possibly under medical care, and with limited "help" from the ship on dealing with the situation.

 

To be clear, I'm not blaming the cruise lines -- I don't think it is their job to do more than assist ill passengers to appropriate medical care on land and then follow up procedurally with refunds and such. I would never travel halfway around the world without appropriate plans in place on how I would get home, if it were necessary due to illness or emergency.

 

 

 

Well said and you caught my attention.  As I think about it we don't really have any emergency plans in place when we travel.   What would those appropriate plans contain?  Of course travel med insurance pops right up.  What else can we do to be prepared?  Kind of a list of best practices I guess.  

[d9704011]

Just now, ldubs said:

 

Well said and you caught my attention.  As I think about it we don't really have any emergency plans in place when we travel.   What would those appropriate plans contain?  Of course travel med insurance pops right up.  What else can we do to be prepared?  Kind of a list of best practices I guess.  

Travel insurance is pretty much all I can think of; trying to anticipate all the potential issues and what I might do about them is a mug's game.  I'm not elderly, infirm or have health issues that I may, reasonably, have to deal with.  People in those situations have to carefully co sider their travel plans prior to starting... an ounce of prevention.  Joining a medical evacuation plan is one thing that comes to mind.

[ldubs]

2 minutes ago, d9704011 said:

Travel insurance is pretty much all I can think of; trying to anticipate all the potential issues and what I might do about them is a mug's game.  I'm not elderly, infirm or have health issues that I may, reasonably, have to deal with.  People in those situations have to carefully co sider their travel plans prior to starting... an ounce of prevention.  Joining a medical evacuation plan is one thing that comes to mind.

 

Another best practice would be to have a list of meds, though I can't imagine anyone not having that handy.    

 

I'm kind of reaching here: 

 

Passwords for whatever medical portal(s) contains one's medical chart type info.  

 

Name, email, phone info for primary Doc and specialists (like cardiologists, etc).  

 

App for doing e-Med visit with one's physician while on the road.  I had to do that once.  Because it was my first time using the app, there was a lot of fumbling around.