do cruise ships have doctors

Do cruise ships have doctors, nurses, medical centers or hospitals?

Do cruise ships have medical facilities with doctors and nurses on board? The short answer is yes.

When you board a cruise ship you become part of a community of people of all ages who will be together for several days, a week or more. On large cruise ships carrying thousands of passengers and crew, your community may be the size of a town or even a small city. To handle any health issues that come up in this floating metropolis, cruise lines employ doctors and nurses who work out of an onboard medical center.

To be clear, the onboard facility is not a hospital – it's more akin to a health center or ambulatory care unit. The professionals who work there have training in emergency medicine and the equipment to stabilize a patient even in dire circumstances. Mostly, though, what they deal with are things like sprained ankles, upset stomachs and people who have forgotten to pack medication.

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That said, in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic, many cruise lines have expanded their medical care facilities on ships and added new requirements for medical personnel. Royal Caribbean , for example, now requires all its doctors to have training in acute respiratory illness and has added an infection control officer who oversees the line's infection control plan on each ship.

If you have an emergency on any cruise ship, you can push a button on your stateroom phone for help – the equivalent of dialing 911 from your home phone. For minor ailments, you can visit the medical facility during set office hours.

Who are the medical personnel?

The American College of Emergency Physicians, in conjunction with the Cruise Lines International Association, sets strict standards for who treats patients, as well as guidelines for medical facilities, on ships operating from the U.S. Similar authorities are involved for international cruises. All medical staff are both certified and experienced.

Under the ACEP standards, physicians must have three years of post-graduate/post-registration experience in general and emergency medicine or be board-certified in emergency medicine, family medicine or internal medicine. Staff also must be certified in advanced life support or have certification or physician specialist training in areas such as emergency medicine, anesthesiology or critical care.

Ships that carry children under age 12 are required to have at least one physician with training in pediatrics or with an equivalent emergency training that involves kids.

Training requirements for nurses also are quite detailed. Typically, one of the nurses is a trained paramedic and all nurses are experienced registered nurses.

Medical staff varies by ship size, but typically ships have a doctor and at least two nurses. The world's largest cruise ships may have two doctors and five or six nurses. River ships and small ships that hover close to shore have less staff since they can easily access health facilities on land.

Cruise lines find shipboard nurses and doctors via worldwide recruitment companies. Medical personnel typically work on ships on two- to six-month contracts.

Doctors and nurses report to a chief medical officer at the cruise line's headquarters, who is available 24 hours a day to deal with emergencies.

What to expect at a cruise ship medical center

Cruise ship medical centers usually are located on a lower deck, set apart from crowded areas and close to the back-of-the-house crew facilities. The medical personnel treat both passengers and crew.

While medical personnel are on call 24 hours a day, most passengers visit during scheduled hours. Carnival Cruise Line 's facilities, for instance, are open on embarkation day from 8 to 9 a.m. and 3 to 5 p.m; on sea days from 9 a.m. to noon and 3 to 6 p.m.; and on port days from 8 to 10 a.m. and 4 to 6 p.m.

Inside the medical center you'll find a waiting room – where you will fill out medical history forms as you would in any doctor's office – and exam rooms. Only if your medical situation requires it will you see a separate area with hospital beds, a small surgical suite where wound suturing and other minor surgeries may be conducted, or the ICU or isolation rooms.

Equipment in shipboard medical centers includes defibrillators, cardiac monitors, external cardiac pacing capability, a ventilator, oxygen tanks, x-ray machines and lab equipment. Some lines add technology; for example, select Carnival ships have thrombolytic therapy (to break down blood clots) and pulse oximetry (to test oxygen levels). There will also be wheelchairs and stretchers.

Pharmacy supplies include seasickness pills, aspirin and other over-the-counter products, antibiotics and limited supplies of prescription medications, as well as emergency medications such as those needed for advanced cardiac life support.

Serious situations

While most medical complaints on ships are routine, the medical team is equipped to perform life support services and stabilize anyone seriously ill. Personnel trained in medivac procedures would then generally medically disembark the patient on a stretcher at the next port of call and have the person transferred to a hospital.

If an extreme case occurs at sea, the U.S. Coast Guard (or equivalent local authority overseas) will be called in to hoist the patient off the ship by boat or helicopter.

No one likes to think about it, but your ship may also have a morgue with refrigerated units.

Who pays for treatment

Cruise ship doctors work as independent contractors and may charge a basic hourly fee. There will be additional charges for medications and tests.

All must be paid for at the time of service and will be billed to your shipboard spending account. You'll receive a receipt to submit to your health insurance company for possible reimbursement. Be aware: Many personal insurance policies purchased at home do not cover you while traveling outside the U.S.

Related: A guide to travel insurance for cruises

If you purchased separate travel health insurance from your cruise line or a third-party provider you will still be required to pay for the services up front and may have to wait several months to be reimbursed.

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Medical Services

Should a guest require medical attention while aboard one of our vessels, the Medical Center staff is available to assist 24 hours a day. The on board medical centers are staffed and equipped to treat routine medical conditions as well as to initiate stabilization of more serious conditions. Physicians are available to render services at a customary fee. While at sea or in port, the availability of medical care may be limited.

Medical Center Hours The Medical Center has daily office hours which are listed in the HUB App. The medical staff is on call 24 hours a day for emergencies. Routine hours are subject to temporary change due to extenuating circumstances: 

• Embarkation day: 8:00am-9:00am and 3:00pm-5:00pm
• Sea days: 9:00am-12:00pm and 3:00pm-6:00pm
• Port days: 8:00am-10:00am and 4:00pm-6:00pm

A charge for medical services will be billed to the guest's Sail & Sign® Account and a receipt will be provided for the guest to submit to their medical insurance provider upon return for possible reimbursement.

The physicians on board are independent contractors and are entitled to render services at a customary fee which may vary from ship to ship based on the time of day. The basic fee does NOT include medication, tests or treatment. 

Note: Guests who purchased  Carnival Vacation Protection™  may be eligible for reimbursement of up to $10,000 for covered medical-related expenses and up to $30,000 for necessary Emergency Medical Evacuation expenses should they become ill or injured or require medical evacuation while on their cruise vacation. The medical benefits are secondary to coverage the guest may have through their regular health insurance provider(s). Refer to  https://www.carnival.com/about-carnival/vacation-protection.aspx for additional details.

Medication Over-the-Counter medications for cold, cough, upset stomach or other minor illnesses can be purchased at the Medical Center during business hours. In addition, the shops on board may carry some of these items. Prescription drugs and vitamins may not be readily available, either on board the ship or in the ports. 

Meclizine, motion sickness pills can be purchased at the Medical Center, Guest Services or through Room Service. The cost is $3.29 USD for four pills. We do not carry motion sickness patches or wristbands. A motion sickness injection is available for a fee at the Medical Center but will only be administered to those who are actively vomiting and not as a preventative measure.

Diabetes/Medicine Storage

Staterooms on a number of  ships are equipped with  non-stocked mini bar units which are designed to maintain the temperature of beverages. Please do not use them to store medications that have specific temperature requirements. Should you need to store medicine that needs proper refrigeration, medi-coolers are available on board in limited quantities, and on a first come, first serve basis - please visit our Guest Services Desk once on board; a $75 refundable deposit is required. If a medi-cooler is not available, our ship’s Medical Center will arrange storage - please contact them once on board. Note: A small, personal-sized cooler no larger than 12” x 12” x 12” for the purpose of housing medications is permitted as carry-on luggage. 

Medical Staffing and Equipment  In order to maintain a safe and comfortable environment for our guests, our medical centers meet or exceed the standards established by the Cruise Lines International Association (CLIA) and the American College of Emergency Physicians (ACEP).

Our medical centers are staffed by qualified physicians and nurses who are committed to providing the highest quality of shipboard medical care. Medical staffing is correlated to the size of the ship and varies from one physician and three nurses to as many as two physicians and five nurses.

Ship’s physicians meet or exceed the credentialing guidelines established by the cruise ship medicine section of the American College of Emergency Physicians (ACEP). In addition, doctors must demonstrate competent skill levels and hold current certification in basic and advanced cardiac life support and cardiac care, have experience in general medicine or general practice including emergency or critical care, and have one to three years clinical experience and minor surgical skills, and board or similar international certification is preferred. The doctors on board are independent contractors.

Shipboard medical facilities are set up to provide reasonable emergency medical care for guests and crew. In cases of extreme emergency where more comprehensive facilities are required, patients are referred to shoreside facilities.

In addition to standard lifesaving equipment such as defibrillators and external pacemakers, our medical centers carry some of the latest in medical technology including thrombolytic therapy, electrocardiograph machines, lab equipment, pulse oximetry and x-ray machines on many of our ships.

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Are there doctors, nurses, medical centers, or hospitals on cruise ships?

Stay safe and healthy at sea with comprehensive health services on cruise ships. Learn about the medical care options onboard.

Book A Cruise Now

The presence of medical facilities and healthcare professionals plays a critical role in guaranteeing the safety and well-being of everyone on board as cruise ships travel across enormous oceans, taking passengers to faraway places. Beyond the glitz and glamour of the onboard entertainment and luxurious rooms, cruise ships prioritize the health and safety of guests and crew members by offering medical facilities, physicians, and nurses. These essential components provide a safety net that extends far beyond the allure of open waters.

Do cruise ships have doctors, nurses, medical centers, or hospitals?

Cruise ships know the significance of attending to potential medical issues at sea. Consider the difficulties in providing medical treatment in a small area without access to the extensive infrastructure of the mainland. Cruise lines have grown to include complete medical facilities that mimic the services offered in a small community clinic to meet these problems. 

Medical Professionals Onboard

Qualified medical professionals are available on cruise ships to handle various potential health issues that may emerge while at sea. These experts frequently include doctors and nurses with expertise in managing various medical conditions. They are crucial in maintaining the safety of both crew members and passengers.

Medical Centers

Most contemporary cruise ships have specialized medical facilities that serve as onboard clinics. These hospitals frequently have all the necessary tools and supplies to deal with mild illnesses and more serious medical emergencies. They are created to offer immediate care and treatment, assisting in easing problems and ensuring that travelers can continue enjoying their trip.

Scope of Services

The onboard medical facilities on cruise ships provide a variety of medical services. These involve managing common health conditions, including seasickness, minor accidents, respiratory infections, etc. They can also, if necessary, stabilize more serious medical conditions until the ship can dock at a port with more sophisticated medical facilities. While cruise ship medical facilities can offer initial care, it's crucial to remember that they might have a different capacity than a full-service hospital on land.

Emergency Preparedness

Strict safety rules are followed by cruise ships, and this includes being ready for medical emergencies. The medical staff onboard has specialized training to manage emergency scenarios. The ship is equipped with a morgue, medical supplies, and drugs, guaranteeing it can manage various situations. Additionally, cruise lines stay in touch with local medical professionals who can advise on life-threatening conditions.

Passenger and Crew Care

Both passengers and staff can receive medical care on cruise ships. Crew members put a lot of effort behind the scenes to ensure a seamless and pleasurable voyage while safeguarding their health is equally necessary. Both passengers and the crew, who work around the clock to deliver great service, benefit from access to medical care onboard.

Traveler's Responsibility

Although cruise ships contain medical facilities and trained staff , guests must also be responsible for their health and safety. It is advised to carry necessary medications and medical records, practice good hygiene, and adhere to any health precautions specified by the cruise line.

Navigating Challenges and Emergencies

Cruise ships operate in a dynamic environment where they must contend with difficulties, including bad weather and the possibility of medical problems at sea. To tackle these difficulties, emergency preparedness is a top priority for cruise lines. The medical staff on board receives specialized training to handle various situations, and the medical facilities are loaded with supplies and tools to address diverse medical emergencies.

Also Read:  Should I Buy Cruise Insurance?

Cruise ships serve as floating havens of tranquility beyond the glitz and glamour. Travelers and crew members can set sail with an assurance that their health and safety are in capable hands because their medical facilities are the pinnacle of care and are staffed by devoted specialists. Cruise ships have doctors, nurses, and medical facilities on board to cater to various health concerns. The care of passengers' and crew members' safety and well-being depends on these amenities. Even though they may not be able to replace a hospital with all the necessary equipment entirely, cruise ships are well-equipped to provide the necessary care and assistance, making everyone's cruise experience safer and more enjoyable.

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Do cruise ships have doctors onboard?

Home » Do cruise ships have doctors onboard?

Last updated on September 17th, 2023 at 04:00 pm

Yes, most large cruise ships have doctors on board at all times, working 4 or 6 month contracts with the cruise line. In addition to doctors, the ship is also staffed with other medical personnel who can assist during an emergency.

Major cruise lines staff their ships with doctors trained in emergency room medicine, making them ideal candidates to work on cruise ships where emergency situations occur frequently.

The medical clinic on a cruise ship is open during specific daytime hours for visits from passengers. In addition to the regular office hours, staff are available 24 hours per day for emergencies.

The medical clinic looks quite similar to a walk-in clinic or urgent care clinic on land and is surprisingly well-equipped with modern medical equipment.

The ship also has a pharmacy that can provide access to common over-the-counter medications that may be needed during a cruise.

Pain killers, anti-inflammatory drugs, drugs for seasickness and many others are available, for a cost.

If you forget your regular prescription medications at home, don’t assume the ship will have what you need.

The ship is equipped for emergency situations and while they may have your forgotten medications in their inventory, don’t count on it.

Use of the medical clinic is NOT free.

There are fees to see the doctor and fees for any medications that may be prescribed. These fees are charged to your room/ship account and must be paid before you can leave the ship.

Cruise ship medical services can be reimbursed by most travel insurance providers. Check with your insurance provider before you leave.

In the event that you suffer a major medical issue during your cruise, like a heart attack for example, the medical staff will coordinate your evacuation from the ship.

Depending on the ship’s location, you may be evacuated by a helicopter by the Coast Guard, or transportation to a local hospital will be arranged if the ship is docked or close to land.

*NOTE – If you experience an unusual case of fever, symptoms of a cold, vomiting, diarrhea, stomach pain or nausea, it’s important that you visit the ship’s doctor immediately to determine if this could be a widespread issue like COVID-19 or Norovirus that could affect many others.

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Do Cruise Ships Have Doctors?

by The Cruise Web Team June 9, 2021, 11:19 am

Do cruise ships have doctors on board?

This is a question that no traveler hopes to ask while onboard a cruise vacation. However, it is important for cruisers to know about the health and safety resources available to them in the event of an emergency. So, do cruise ships have doctors? Yes, most cruise ships sail with at least one doctor and two nurses onboard, alongside a medical staff who is on call 24 hours per day.

It is important to keep in mind that if an injury or ailment is severe enough, the cruise ship’s medical staff will refer guests to a facility on land for care. In less severe cases, guests in need of care will be ushered to one of the cruise ships medical facilities, usually located on a lower deck.

A cruise ship’s infirmary must follow American College of Emergency Physicians (ACEP) guidelines, which dictate that all medical facilities must carry the proper equipment to perform a variety of treatments and diagnostics. This equipment includes but is not limited to wheelchairs, a stretcher, a back board for spine immobilization, lab capabilities for tests, oxygen, EKG capabilities, two defibrillators, cardiac monitors, and other tools to monitor vital signs.

Royal Caribbean issued this statement regarding doctors and medical practices on their ships:

“Every Royal Caribbean ship offers limited professional medical services through licensed physicians and nurses. All Royal Caribbean Cruises Ltd. ships have shipboard medical facilities that are built, staffed, stocked and equipped to meet or exceed guidelines established by the American College of Emergency Physicians Cruise Ship & Maritime Medicine Section.”

While nobody wants to imagine the possibility of becoming ill or injured on vacation, travelers and cruise lines alike must expect the best but prepare for anything. For more information on medical assistance at sea or to book your dream vacation today, call The Cruise Web at 1-800-377-9383 and speak with one of our expert travel consultants. Or, visit us 24 hours a day online at www.cruiseweb.com .

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What to do if you get sick on a cruise

What to know about medical facilities, doctors and emergencies on cruise ships.

Cruise ships are universes of their own, with restaurants, casinos, waterslides and race tracks . Packing thousands of passengers into confined spaces, sometimes for weeks or even months, can heighten the risk of spreading contagious diseases.

Although most major cruise lines have cleaning standards, catching something on a ship isn’t far-fetched, according to Joe Scott, senior director of fleet medical operations for Carnival Corp. A ship is usually most concerned about the diseases that can spread in these close-contact environments, such as gastroenteritis , influenza and the coronavirus . Norovirus outbreaks have risen as people have returned to cruise ships after a pandemic hiatus; the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has reported 13 outbreaks on cruise ships this year .

“On cruise ships, probably the biggest thing we worry about is communicable disease,” Scott said. “How do we keep our crew members, our guests and the residents of the countries that we visit, how do we keep them all healthy and safe?”

We asked: Should I cancel a cruise if my ship had norovirus?

Major cruise lines follow health and sanitation standards to keep passengers safe on board, including regular cleaning throughout cabins, restaurants, snack areas, pools and elevators. Ships are also subject to at least two unannounced annual inspections in partnership with the CDC and three or more formal public health reviews, according to the Cruise Lines International Association .

Passengers should prepare for the possibility that they may get sick on their voyage, such as by purchasing travel insurance that covers medical costs, visiting a doctor beforehand to assess medical risks or packing extra medication.

As major cruise lines prepare for peak booking season, here’s what to expect if you find yourself sick on a ship.

More cruise news

Living at sea: Travelers on a 9-month world cruise are going viral on social media. For some travelers, not even nine months was enough time on a ship; they sold cars, moved out of their homes and prepared to set sail for three years . That plan fell apart, but a 3.5-year version is waiting in the wings.

Passengers beware: It’s not all buffets and dance contests. Crime data reported by cruise lines show that the number of sex crimes has increased compared to previous years. And though man-overboard cases are rare, they are usually deadly .

The more you know: If you’re cruise-curious, here are six tips from a newcomer. Remember that in most cases, extra fees and add-ons will increase the seemingly cheap price of a sailing. And if you happen to get sick , know what to expect on board.

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What licensed medical staff/doctor and services are available onboard a Royal Caribbean cruise ship?

We have a minimum of one fully licensed doctor, and a minimum of two licensed nurses onboard every ship.

Every Royal Caribbean ship offers limited professional medical services through licensed (international or domestic) physicians and nurses. All Royal Caribbean Cruises Ltd. ships have shipboard medical facilities that are built, staffed, stocked and equipped to meet or exceed guidelines established by the American College of Emergency Physicians Cruise Ship & Maritime Medicine Section.

Depending on the size of the ship and number of passengers and Crew members, each RCL ship has one to three doctors and three-to-five Nurses, available to passengers and Crew members 24 hours a day, seven days a week.

Our medical facilities are stocked with a variety of equipment, including cardiac monitors, automated external defibrillators, ventilators, x-ray machines and processors, laboratory equipment, a formulary of acute care medications and a variety of minor surgical and orthopedic supplies. Our doctors also have access to online informational sources and 24-hour support from shore side medical professionals for additional assistance. Royal Caribbean Cruises Ltd. also requires all doctors and nurses to maintain Advanced Cardiac Life Support (ACLS) training. In responding to medical emergencies, our goal is to first stabilize emergency patients and, where indicated, evacuate the patient to an appropriately equipped and staffed shore side medical facility as soon as practical.

Guests treated on board may request copies of their medical records by faxing a completed request form to 786-264-9682.

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Do Cruise Ships Have Doctors and Medical Facilities? Explained

Boarding a cruise ship brings with it the excitement of the sea, but have you ever wondered what happens if someone falls ill onboard? The recent COVID-19 pandemic has starkly highlighted the need for robust healthcare systems in these floating cities.

Take P&O Cruises, for example. They’ve ramped up their health protocols, ensuring their medical centers are equipped and ready 24/7, with qualified staff to handle everything from seasickness to more serious concerns.

In this article, I will guide you through the healthcare services aboard a cruise ship. We’ll dive into the facilities available, the expertise of the medical staff, and how cruising giants have adapted to keep us safe in turbulent times.

Do Cruise Ships Have Doctors?

One of the most common questions I get asked about cruise life is, “Do ships have doctors?” The answer is a resounding yes, and the level of care they provide is more comprehensive than you might expect. The medical standards on cruise ships, particularly those operating from the U.S., are rigorous.

The American College of Emergency Physicians , alongside the Cruise Lines International Association, lays down stringent guidelines for both the medical personnel and the facilities onboard. This ensures a high level of care, similar to what you’d find in many land-based medical facilities.

Doctor Qualifications

The qualifications of cruise ship doctors are particularly impressive. Under the ACEP standards, they must have at least three years of post-graduate experience in fields like general and emergency medicine, or be board-certified in specialties such as advanced life support practices, medical emergencies, family, minor surgical procedures, or internal medicine. They’re also required to be certified in advanced cardiac life support.

Pediatric Care

For ships carrying children under 12, there’s an additional layer of care required. At least one physician is required to have pediatric training or equivalent emergency training involving kids, ensuring that our youngest cruisers are in safe hands in the ship’s medical center.

Beyond the cruise ship doctor, the medical team includes highly trained nurses, often with paramedic experience. All nurses are experienced registered nurses, forming a robust team ready to tackle a range of medical needs.

On-Board Facilities

Many larger cruise ships, like those operated by Princess Cruises, have hospital-like treatment rooms within their onboard medical centers. The size of the medical team varies with the ship’s size – the largest vessels may have two doctors and up to six nurses. Smaller river ships, staying close to shore, may have fewer staff, relying on easy access to land-based facilities in emergencies.

All medical practitioners, including doctors and nurses, are accountable to a chief medical officer stationed at the cruise line’s central office, who is available round the clock to assist in case of emergencies.

On my very first cruise, I remember being pleasantly surprised to discover the extent of medical facilities onboard. The infirmary, usually tucked away on a lower deck, is a hub of medical expertise. While it typically operates during regular hours, as listed in the ship’s daily program, the medical staff is always on call for emergencies, ensuring round-the-clock care.

Walking into the infirmary is much like entering any doctor’s office. There’s a waiting room where you fill out medical history forms before heading to one of the exam rooms . In my experience, the staff is as professional and thorough as any land-based clinic.

It’s only in more serious medical situations that you’re taken to the separate area housing hospital beds , a small surgical suite for minor surgeries, or the ICU and isolation rooms . Thankfully, I’ve never needed these services, but it’s reassuring to know they’re there.

The equipment in these shipboard medical centers is impressive. Onboard, you will typically find cardiac monitors, defibrillators, ventilators, x-ray machines, oxygen tanks, and even laboratory equipment. On some Carnival Cruise Line ships, for instance, there’s advanced technology like thrombolytic therapy for blood clots and pulse oximetry for oxygen level testing.

Carnival Cruise Line ‘s medical facilities have specific hours:

On the day the ship embarks, they’re open from 8 to 9 a.m. and 3 to 5 p.m. On sea days, the facilities are open from 9 a.m. to noon and 3 to 6 p.m., while on port days, their hours are from 8 to 10 a.m. and 4 to 6 p.m. This ensures medical care is accessible to all passengers, regardless of the day’s activities.

Pharmacies On Cruise

When seasickness hit me unexpectedly, I was relieved to find that the ship had its own well-stocked medical facility, equipped to provide immediate relief.

Onboard pharmacies carry a surprising variety of medicines, ensuring passengers have access to essential medications for common health issues. The inventory, which varies by ship, includes everything from antibiotics and seasickness pills (often complimentary) to aspirin and other over-the-counter drugs.

These pharmacies are well-equipped to cater to a diverse array of medical requirements, maintaining a supply of medications for cardiovascular and gastrointestinal ailments, infectious diseases, respiratory conditions, and even vaccines. Whether you’re dealing with a minor ailment or something more significant, there’s a high chance the pharmacy can help.

While the convenience is unmatched, it’s worth noting that the cost of medications on board can be higher than your home pharmacy, but generally comparable to prices you’d find if you purchased them in a port. This includes seasickness medications, which are readily available and can be a lifesaver for those who are unsure if they’ll be affected by motion sickness . This is a small price to pay for the convenience and peace of mind provided by these pharmacies.

Having this resource at hand on a cruise ship reassures passengers that their health and comfort are taken seriously, making for a safer and more enjoyable journey.

Common Medical Issues Handled on Cruise Ships

I’ve seen firsthand how the medical team on cruise ships expertly handles common health concerns. According to the World Health Organization , the most common issues are respiratory and gastrointestinal illnesses , like influenza and norovirus. They also skillfully manage cases of motion sickness and various injuries.

It’s important to understand that a ship’s medical facility is more of an infirmary than a full-fledged hospital. This means while they’re equipped for a range of medical situations, they’re not designed for highly complex medical procedures. The staff’s expertise in quickly addressing these common issues is truly commendable, ensuring that passengers get the care they need to continue enjoying their journey.

Procedures for Handling Emergencies and Serious Medical Conditions.

Cruising is generally a smooth experience, but it’s comforting to know that if a medical emergency arises, the cruise ship doctors and the team on board are well-prepared. This is particularly reassuring for seniors who are on a cruise  and may have concerns about health care while traveling. Most medical issues on ships are routine, yet the team is adept at providing life support services and stabilizing anyone seriously ill.

In cases where a patient needs more intensive care than the ship can provide, medivac procedures come into play. The patient would typically be medically disembarked at the next port and transferred to a hospital on a stretcher.

But, if a critical emergency occurs at sea, the U.S. Coast Guard, or the local equivalent overseas, is ready to assist, even airlifting patients if necessary. It’s a bit sobering, but ships are equipped with morgue facilities too, just in case. This level of preparedness is part of adhering to the American College of Emergency Physicians’ standards.

Cruise lines have clear policies on when passengers should be medically disembarked. The medical team aboard the ship possesses the authority to determine whether a passenger is not fit to continue their journey at sea. For instance, as MSC Cruises outlines, passengers are disembarked if their condition could endanger their health or safety.

These decisions are always made with the passenger’s well-being in mind. It’s important to emphasize that air evacuation is exclusively reserved for the most critical cases. This procedure introduces additional physical and emotional strain, and the medevac units are manned by highly trained medics specializing in emergency treatment.

Case Studies or Examples of Medical Incidents Handled at Sea

Let me share a story from one of my cruises that stuck with me. Everyone was soaking up the sun, some by the pool, others with a book in hand. That’s when something unexpected happened.

Out of nowhere, a fellow passenger, an older gentleman enjoying his time by the pool, suddenly slumped over. It was one of those moments that made your heart skip a beat. But what happened next was truly remarkable.

The medical team, they were like superheroes in disguise. They appeared almost instantly, maneuvering through the crowd with a stretcher and a medical bag. Their efficiency and calmness amidst the sudden rush of worried onlookers were incredible.

They quickly got to work, checking the gentleman’s vital signs, and administering first aid. It was like watching a well-choreographed dance, each move precise and confident. The way they handled the situation, with such professionalism and care, it was reassuring to know that we were in safe hands.

In less than an hour, the gentleman was stabilized and taken to the infirmary for further observation. The whole incident was a powerful reminder of the unexpected turns life can take, even in the middle of the ocean, and the importance of having a competent medical team on board. It’s these behind-the-scenes heroes that make cruising not just enjoyable, but safe for everyone.

How Passengers Can Access Medical Care on Board

Ever wondered how you can get medical help while cruising? It’s simpler than you might think. On a cruise, if you ever need medical attention, here’s how it works.

To begin, it’s common to find the medical center situated on a lower deck of the cruise ship. This is a strategic choice – away from the hustle and bustle of crowded areas and conveniently close to crew facilities. This arrangement is especially reassuring for solo travelers over their 50s , who can feel confident about accessing medical services easily, regardless of the time of day.

It ensures privacy and easy access, both for passengers and crew. What’s great about these medical centers is that they cater to everyone on board – passengers and crew alike. So, whether it’s a minor ailment or something more serious, the medical team is there to help.

Now, while the medical team is on call 24/7 for emergencies, for regular visits, you’ll want to go during their scheduled hours. These hours are usually listed in the ship’s daily program, so it’s easy to plan your visit. Just drop in during these times, and you’ll get the care you need.

Costs and Insurance Considerations for Medical Care at Sea

When it comes to medical care at sea, it’s essential to be prepared for potential costs. Treatment and medications provided by ship physicians are usually charged to your cabin account, often requiring immediate out-of-pocket payment. Cruise ship doctors, who typically operate as independent contractors, may charge an hourly fee, with additional costs for any medications or tests.

This is where travel insurance becomes invaluable. Generally costing between 5 and 8 percent of your trip’s total price, it can cover most cruise ship medical expenses incurred onboard. Opting for travel insurance and preferably health insurance offers peace of mind, ensuring you’re financially protected against unexpected medical costs during your cruise.

The COVID-19 pandemic brought unprecedented challenges to the cruising world, leading to significant enhancements in onboard medical services. This included regular health screenings, isolation wards for suspected cases, and enhanced sanitation measures. Witnessing this swift adaptation and commitment to passenger health was both reassuring and impressive

These changes underline the importance and availability of comprehensive medical care on cruise ships. From routine ailments to emergency responses, the medical teams are equipped to handle a spectrum of health issues, ensuring the safety and well-being of every passenger and crew member.

As we look forward to more adventures at sea, it’s comforting to know that the industry’s response to health crises like COVID-19 has made cruising safer than ever. With well-stocked pharmacies, capable medical staff, and enhanced health protocols, cruise lines have demonstrated a steadfast commitment to ensuring a safe and healthy experience for all.

So, as you set sail on your next cruise, rest assured that your health and safety are in capable hands, letting you fully enjoy the wonders of the sea with peace of mind.

Do cruise ships have real doctors?

Cruise ships are equipped with fully qualified doctors who provide medical services to passengers and crew. These medical professionals are licensed physicians capable of addressing various health concerns while at sea. Additionally, in the rare event of a fatality, cruise ships are prepared with onboard morgues to respectfully and appropriately handle such situations until the ship reaches port.

Can cruise ship doctors prescribe antibiotics?

Cruise ship doctors can prescribe antibiotics when appropriate. They can diagnose and treat illnesses, including bacterial infections, to ensure passengers’ well-being during their voyage.

How much do cruise ship PAs make?

Cruise Ship Physician Assistants in St. Petersburg earn an average annual salary of $105,360. These healthcare professionals play a vital role in providing medical care to passengers and crew, contributing to the safety and health of those on board.

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I’m Bobby Pham, but you can call me “Bobby on Cruise.” I’ve been cruising the high seas and exploring the world for years, and I’m thrilled to share my passion and expertise with you. When not cruising, I spend my time on growing my marketing agency.

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June 1, 2020

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Qualified Cruise Ship Doctors

When planning a cruise trip we tend to not plan on having any medical issues, but sometimes life has other plans in store. Luckily, cruise ships are equipped with medical offices and an infirmary with medical staff available around the clock.

These cruise ship doctors and medical facilities are usually only equipped to treat minor illnesses and injuries. If the condition is serious and critical and you find yourself in need of urgent medical care, you’ll be referred to professionals on land and disembarked immediately to receive treatment.  

This article will cover what cruise ship doctors do, medical facilities on board, and procedures and regulations regarding medical needs onboard. 

Table of Contents

Do cruise ships have doctors, nurses, or medical centers on board?

The short answer is yes. Ships from major cruise lines are required at the bare minimum to have one doctor and two assisting nurses onboard at all times. Larger cruise ships require two cruise ship doctors and up to four nurses on standby.

Ships are legally required to have medical staff available 24 hours a day with no exceptions. If you are worried about the safety of a cruise , you can feel better knowing that every cruise ship has medical personnel and facilities on the ship.

Medical Personnel 

Medical staff (physicians and nurses) are required to have at least 3 years of postgraduate experience in general and emergency medicine before being hired. Alternatively, they must be board certified in emergency medicine, internal medicine, and/or family medicine. They are required to graduate from a recognized school of medicine.

The infirmary staff must be capable of performing technically difficult life support practices, emergency care, as well as minor surgical procedures.

They are expected to be capable of stabilizing patients that are critically ill, performing diagnostics and interventions that are therapeutic, and helping to evacuate very ill and injured patients to receive more advanced medical services. The staff is also required to be fluent in the language most dominant onboard the vessel. 

Medical Facilities

If you fall ill or injure yourself you’ll be directed to the onboard medical facilities. The infirmary tends to be on the lower deck. It will be open for a specified time, as shown on your daily programs, but a cruise ship doctor is on call 24 hours a day in case of medical emergencies that require immediate attention.

Inside the medical center, you will be requested to fill out medical history forms, just as you would at a physician’s office in the United States.

If your medical situation requires the use of more advanced facilities, you may be admitted to the area of the infirmary containing hospital beds. There is a small surgical suite where wound suturing and other minor surgeries are conducted.

The main medical center is set up to treat minor illnesses and injuries. The beds are also used to stabilize patients who are in critical condition. The most common illnesses and injuries the staff treats include respiratory and gastrointestinal illnesses as well as motion sickness. 

The infirmary must contain equipment capable of handling a range of diagnostics and treatments for a variety of passengers and staff.

This equipment includes wheelchairs, a stretcher, a backboard for spine mobilization, oxygen, lab equipment specifically for diagnostics, EKG capabilities, cardiac monitors, defibrillators, oxygen tanks, x-ray machines, and vital equipment to gauge vitals.

Onboard there will also be a pharmacy, which means you’ll be able to buy whatever basic medications you might require, as well as some more advanced medications. The size of the pharmacy’s inventory is dependent on the size of the ship and amount of medical personnel as well as the perceived needs of the ship.

The medication you can acquire includes seasickness pills, aspirin, antibiotics as well as any other over-the-counter medications. The pharmacy stocks generally medications for gastrointestinal, cardiovascular, and respiratory medications issues, infectious diseases, eyes, ears, and throat infections as well as vaccines. 

Are Cruise Ship Doctors Real Doctors?

All major cruise lines and fleets have onboard medical facilities (not to be mistaken for a hospital) that are staffed by experienced, reputable, and professional medical personnel.

This means that cruise ship doctors and nurses have the same exact credentials as any other “real doctors” would on land. They have tons of medical experience from minor illnesses to emergency critical medical situations. 

Are Medical Services Available On A Cruise Ship?

Yes, medical services to treat minor injuries and illnesses are available onboard. For emergencies, the staff is available 24 hours a day, and if necessary the staff will disembark you to the nearest facility on land for severe cases that cannot be treated onboard. 

Do You Have To Pay For Medical Care On A Cruise Ship?

Cruise ship doctors work independently of their employers, meaning they will charge a basic hourly charge and consultation fee. Additional charges will be added for any tests and medications that are required. All must be paid at the time of service or will be added to your shipboard spending account. 

Will Your Personal Medical Insurance Cover The Medical Expenses? 

No, most insurance companies, including Medicare do not cover medical costs on a cruise ship. That is one of the reasons it is important to get travel insurance whenever you travel out of the United States.

Assuming you do have travel insurance, you will probably have to pay for your medical services and then request reimbursement from your travel insurance policy, if you have one, by filing a claim to recoup what’s covered by your health package.

For senior travelers, it is important to have travel insurance. It typically costs about 5-8% of your total trip cost, which would cover the balance of your medical costs. Without insurance. you would be expected to pay for all the costs out of pocket with no hope for reimbursement.

A great travel insurance company is Allianz Travel Insurance , which is reputable and cost-effective. Not only can your policy cover medical costs, but also if you have a medical emergency, the cost to move you to a qualified medical facility.

Conclusion 

Medical personnel, facilities, and cruise ship doctors are available on-board cruise ships at an additional cost. It is important to get travel insurance before going on your cruise adventure just in case of emergencies.

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Cruise Ship Doctors Will Have a Tougher Job Than Ever Once Sailings Resume

By Cassie Shortsleeve

Cruise lines have always staffed medical crews who are held to high standards: American College of Emergency Physician guidelines require onboard staff to be on-call 24/7; physicians must have a minimum of three years of post-graduate experience in general and emergency medicine, or be board-certified in emergency, family, or internal medicine; all staff must be certified in advanced life support.

But today, amid the COVID-19 pandemic , the job of being a doctor or nurse at sea calls for more.

“The difference between then and now is not necessarily in the foundational level of medical training, expertise, credentials, or capabilities that our providers have, but rather in an increased focus around recognizing and initiating treatment for potential SARS CoV-2 infections,” says Calvin Johnson, M.D., chief medical officer for Royal Caribbean Group .

A full return to cruising has yet to happen . But there are already big changes in the ways that doctors and nurses on cruise ships do their jobs. There are also big changes in the ways you’ll seek out care if you need it when you're back onboard. Here, a glimpse of what to expect:

Medical staff will be more involved in pre-screening protocols

Pre-COVID, medical teams often collected health information via a verbal or written questionnaire from passengers and crew, mainly in an effort to identify possible sick passengers (those with gastrointestinal complaints or those with chronic illnesses who may need more assistance on-board). Now, that pre-screening process is more rigorous, including temperature checks , assessments about potential COVID-19 symptoms, and a negative test in the days before boarding. “Sometimes, this requires further participation of the physicians in terms of determining whether somebody should enter the vessel fully free to engage in all activities, if they should go into a quarantine period, or if in fact, boarding should be denied,” explains Edward Dees, M.D., fleet doctor for VIKAND . On the medical staff's part, this'll take more effort up front, but it's an important addition to the job. “The more effort we can put forward to be as effective as we can at preventing the virus from ever getting on the ship, the better,” says Dr. Johnson.

Call-aheads, appointments, and in-your-cabin care will replace drop-in visits

If your allergies kicked up or if you felt a bit flu-ish, it used to be that you’d simply drop into a ship’s medical facility. Today? In general, you’d give the medical facility a call first. (Of course, if there’s an emergency or an accident, ships have teams in place to respond ASAP.) For minor issues or standard care, lines like Royal Caribbean are also instituting new formal appointment processes where you can book a time to be seen via phone or app. It’s an effort to mitigate risk, sure, but one that’ll also (hopefully) help people enjoy their vacations more, Dr. Johnson says. (Read: You don't have to take time away from your trip to sit in a waiting room.)

If you ever noticed symptoms that were in-line with COVID-19 on-board? “The recommendation is going to be that people contact us remotely from their cabins,” says Dr. Dees. From there, a physician or nurse can conduct a telemedicine session and—if you needed it—even provide care in your cabin. “We have to think that if somebody has respiratory complaints, then it could be COVID—and there are precautions that have to be taken,” Dees says. 

In short: In a pre-pandemic world, medical professionals tended to focus on you (the one sick person). In the present environment, they'll take into account who you’ve been exposed to—or who you could be exposed to. And that’s a bit more complex.

On-ship medical centers have a new face

One of the biggest changes to the physical space of a ship’s medical facility is that there's no more common waiting room. Instead, you'll likely find two separate spaces: a control care area (for those with potentially infectious diseases) and another area for non-infectious patients. “It's all designed to limit contact between people who may be infectious or non-infectious,” explains Dr. Johnson. Some vessels have redesigned their medical centers to ensure specific isolation rooms, too, he says. Others have turned guest rooms into isolation rooms, stripping out the carpet in lieu of more easily cleanable flooring and negative pressure ventilation (so that air won’t leave the room and potentially spread to other areas).

There’s a potential need for more equipment

A cruise line’s medical department is like a small community hospital emergency department, and ships have always generally had essentials such as heart monitors, defibrillators, ventilators, X-ray machines, lab equipment, and minor surgical and orthopedic supplies. Typically, ships stock what’s known as “par” levels of equipment, Dr. Johnson says. The pandemic has forced medical staff to re-evaluate what equipment there might be an extra need for, such as personal protective equipment (PPE).

There’s likely more medical staff on-board

The size of a ship’s medical staff depends on the size of the ship itself, but it’s standard to have at least one physician and a nurse or two onboard, says Dr. Dees. On larger ships, you might have multiple medical centers on board, both of which are staffed by a doctor and a nurse or nurses. Since the pandemic, Dr. Dees says that extra nurses have been added to staff lists. “A cruise ship is not a hospital ship and we're not trying to turn it into a hospital ship,” says Johnson. “But we certainly are making sure that we have the on-board capabilities to take care of patients.”

The job is harder now

Being an essential worker during the coronavirus pandemic has brought with it all kinds of stressors, not the least of which is this: “The COVID environment heightens the threat to our own personal selves,” says Dr. Dees. It’s an added layer of stress for medical staff that comes with new job requirements such as the ability to manage a potential COVID-19 outbreak, an increased involvement with ship management and personnel, and working in an ever-changing environment. As scientific knowledge grows and experts continue to piece together what works (and what doesn’t) in the fight against COVID-19, ship policies and procedures change rapidly, too. “Sometimes that can bring with it a sense of being overwhelmed, but we're keeping up with it,” Dees says. “I just think, across the industry, working in a post-COVID world is not going to be as leisurely.”

We're reporting on how COVID-19 impacts travel on a daily basis. Find all of our coronavirus coverage and travel resources here.

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Health and Safety – Frequently Asked Questions

If someone in my party gets sick, is there an onboard doctor or nurse?

The Health Center, located on Deck 1, Forward, is open during daily clinic hours to provide non-emergency medical care throughout your cruise. In the event of a medical emergency, a doctor and nurse are on call 24/7. Please note that medical personnel are employed by a company independent of Disney Cruise Line and standard prevailing fees are charged for all services.

Fees incurred at the Health Center will be charged to your stateroom account. Because onboard medical services are considered "care outside the United States," you will be responsible for paying any such charges prior to debarkation. The Health Center will provide you with the paperwork you’ll need to process any claim through your health insurance provider.

Learn more about services for Guests with medical conditions .

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• Viking Ocean

Do Viking Ocean ships have a doctor on board?

By The Other Tom , August 16, 2020 in Viking Ocean

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The Other Tom

My wife got sick once on a mass market cruise line, and there was a doctor on board for treatment.  He prescribed some medicine which they had on board and everything turned out ok.  What would happen on a Viking ship?

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Every ship with a compliment of over 100 is required to have a medical doctor on board.

Viking has a very modern medical centre with a couple of ICU rooms, the usual equipment included in most modern trauma centres and an extensive pharmacy. While mega ships will have 2 or 3 doctors, Viking had 1 on the Sun with 2 nurses.

The doctor on Viking Sun, was a retired trauma specialist with extensive experience in UK, US. Italy & France.

Our friend received excellent care for a "gallbladder" infection during a cruise.  He spent the day in the hospital in Copenhagen ruling out heart etc issues and fortunately was allowed to return to ship and received daily IV antibiotics.  The ship provided very good almost seamless transition to hospital evaluation and return to the ship.  He was told upon discharge that since they had socialized medicine they had NO billing department and would not be billing him.  Travel Insurance covered the Ship's fees.

On our WC all medical clinic visits were FREE.  That and free laundry were eliminated on subsequent cruises....our group must have taxed each!!!

Our experience was also excellent, with the ships doctor and medical staff consulting with our stateside physician, before prescribing meds from the onboard pharmacy.  TripMate insurance reimbursed all costs.     

Thanks for the replies.  Very comforting.

Our Viking Sky cruise featured a doctor who had been an instructor at a Ukrainian medical school. Very interesting, and well traveled gentleman

We had a great experience on the Star when my daughter sprained her ankle on one of the more rigorous excursions.  They took xrays, provided a shot for pain and some medication to go ... they wrapped her ankle and arranged to have a bag of crushed ice delivered to our cabin.  It was all free as the injury occurred on a Viking excursion.  The staff was friendly, helpful and professional.

Sunflower & The Scientist

I appreciate those who have posted about their experiences with the medical services on Viking.  I'd like to hear more responses from those who have used the services as we have always wondered how they are.  Also molymoo 

3 hours ago, molymoo said: We had a great experience on the Star when my daughter sprained her ankle on one of the more rigorous excursions.  They took xrays, provided a shot for pain and some medication to go ... they wrapped her ankle and arranged to have a bag of crushed ice delivered to our cabin.  It was all free as the injury occurred on a Viking excursion.  The staff was friendly, helpful and professional.

is interesting .....is this typically the case that if you are injured on a Viking excursion you can receive free treatment onboard, if the injury is consistent with the care given there? 

Ragnar Danneskjold

Be aware that no ships carry TPA, the very effective anti-clot drug used to treat strokes.  TPA requires a brain CAT scan to confirm the stroke is not caused by a hemorrhage Before it can be administered.  TPA must be administered no longer than four hours from the stroke event to prevent brain damage.  

So, if you are at risk of stroke, never be more than three hours from a hospital that has TPA (can include a helicopter ride).  And just being, ehhhem, a well-experienced person, in the prime cruising demographic, puts one at risk of stroke.

Though I’m not a doctor, I’d like to remind everyone that if you or a loved one suddenly experiences any odd symptoms, from numbness to slurred speech to confusion, etc., do not hesitate to call 911 (or your emergency services) or get to a hospital immediately.  TPA is almost a miracle drug, but it has to be administered within 3-4 hours to prevent permanent brain damage and disability.  Don’t “wait to see if it gets better”!  A false alarm is no big deal, the medical professionals much prefer that than having to try to save someone that waits too long.

2 hours ago, Sunflower & The Scientist said: I appreciate those who have posted about their experiences with the medical services on Viking.  I'd like to hear more responses from those who have used the services as we have always wondered how they are.  Also molymoo  is interesting .....is this typically the case that if you are injured on a Viking excursion you can receive free treatment onboard, if the injury is consistent with the care given there? 

That was my understanding ... there were a number of sprains, strains, bumps and bruises coming from the same excursion and while I waited I heard then tell everyone that the services were free of charge if the injury occurred on a Viking excursion.  I am guessing that the excursion operators insurance received a rather large bill but we were well taken care of at no charge to us.

2 hours ago, Ragnar Danneskjold said: Be aware that no ships carry TPA, the very effective anti-clot drug used to treat strokes.  TPA requires a brain CAT scan to confirm the stroke is not caused by a hemorrhage Before it can be administered.  TPA must be administered no longer than four hours from the stroke event to prevent brain damage.   So, if you are at risk of stroke, never be more than three hours from a hospital that has TPA (can include a helicopter ride).  And just being, ehhhem, a well-experienced person, in the prime cruising demographic, puts one at risk of stroke.   Though I’m not a doctor, I’d like to remind everyone that if you or a loved one suddenly experiences any odd symptoms, from numbness to slurred speech to confusion, etc., do not hesitate to call 911 (or your emergency services) or get to a hospital immediately.  TPA is almost a miracle drug, but it has to be administered within 3-4 hours to prevent permanent brain damage and disability.  Don’t “wait to see if it gets better”!  A false alarm is no big deal, the medical professionals much prefer that than having to try to save someone that waits too long.

So very true.  We had personal experience when my husband took me to the emergency room for a kidney stone and had a stroke while they were treating me.   Needless to say they were able to administer the TPA almost immediately and he walked out in great shape.  Sadly he had another stroke two weeks later and TPA couldn't be used again so soon ... he's okay but it took a lot of time and rehab.  

We were on a tour that includes Eze, with many steps up and down. A fellow Viking tourist fell and hurt her ankle and could not walk. The Viking guides (there were two Viking tours at Eze at the time) helped her to a chair and called the ship which sent a taxi for her. Our groups stayed with her till the taxi arrived and no one complained that we had to wait around. Later on the ship we saw the lady again and she said she had broken her ankle and the ships doctor set it for her. Later in the cruise, in Rome on a tour, Viking provided a wheel chair and staff to push her around so she could still enjoy her cruise. There are pictures online of the medical area on Viking ships.

Also on that cruise a person passed away at night (in the cabin down the hall) and the medical team was very quick to respond and try to help but it was too late. 

Just one last note on Viking mecical, on our Rhine river cruise a lady became unresponsive during dinner, Viking staff immediately started cpr as needed and within about 5 mins the ship had pulled to the river bank to a waiting ambulance. The lady was fine the next day, she happened to be a Dr herself, and returned to the ship.

My husband took a rather spectacular tumble down the forward stairs on the Star in June, 2018. It was the first day of the cruise and he jumped right up thinking he had only hurt his pride but the staff that watched him do the triple flip insisted he be seen and sent the nurse to our cabin to “escort” him to the clinic. He did have quite a large hematoma on his leg (he is on an anticoagulant). The doctor was from Bulgaria and was quite nice. He told him to stop taking his anticoagulant so the hematoma wouldn’t get bigger. But his nurse practitioner wife and his pharmacist daughter quickly vetoed that suggestion (I didn’t care if his leg boo boo got bigger but I did care if his heart stents clotted off from stopping his anticoagulant cold turkey). The nurse was also from Bulgaria and she rubbed his leg down with some type of a herbal gel that she swore would make it better over night (don’t think it did much and massaging that calf made me a little nervous, but no harm was done). There was no charge for the visit and they apparently asked the cabin steward to bring ice packs because they had one in the room when we got back from the clinic and kept showing up with them for several days until we told them they weren’t needed anymore. The nurse called the cabin for several days to follow up and make sure he was ok.  so we felt like they were very kind and appreciated their concern. But we’re a bit dubious about the quality of the care provided. 

I was not impressed with my experience on Jupiter in Dec 2019.  I fell as I stepped off the gangway w/ a cane onto the dock (it was wet out and a puddle was hiding a hole that I fell into) and fell hard on my shoulder.  Though the security staff wanted me to go to the sick bay.  I opted to change my wet pants and went out on our walking excursion.  On the way back, I was feeling pretty sore so we stopped at the medical office and it was closed - not opening until 4 PM.  So I went back down later to see the doctor.  She checked me over and just said that I bruised myself pretty hard and gave me some topical muscle cream to ease the soreness & suggested ice.  No x-ray which I was pretty surprised that they didn't do (On a Crystal cruise in 2017, I fell in the hallway on my hand, it was rocky that day & the doctor immediately x-rayed my hand).  At least this was towards the end of the cruise so I took it easy, applying ice & the muscle cream, taking Tylenol for the pain(I cannot take aspirin or Nasids for other reasons).  I went to see her again a couple of days later and she just said it would take a long time to get over the issue.   She didn't suggest anything else.   Granted I never did anything further once I got home, it took over six weeks for me to be able raise my arm straight up w/o hurting.  Of course I wasn't charged for anything.  At least on our return to the ship, staff put a caution sign on the spot where I fell.  Given that I was in a lot of discomfort, I would have thought that she would have x-rayed my shoulder.  

SM77 -  I agree that an X-ray was in order, but I can’t understand why you immediately didn’t see an orthopedist when you came home given the level of pain you describe. In my wife’s case, the ship’s doctor strongly advised seeing an orthopedist ASAP. She made the appointment for the day after we arrived from the ship. Injury was much less serious than it could have been, but the Viking doctor wantEd to be 100% sure.

SM77--I am so glad you are healed and feeling better. I can only imagine how frightening it was to fall and need care....and the unknown.

It seems the doctor made the right decision after-all. had you returned home and learned that there was a break, the doctor's judgement would have been incorrect. on the positive side, you were spared unneeded radiation.

May I suggest that when discussing medical care, we need to consider that medical care expectations and experiences vary significantly throughout the world and this includes being aboard a cruise ship. When we travel, we should be aware that medical care may be different from what we receive at home, but the expectation should be that we get cured. 

When on mega ships operating out of US ports you are probably going to experience more of a US type medical care system, but when we met with the doctor on the Sun for a tour of the Medical Centre, I definitely got the impression it was operated on more of a European & Canadian model. Not receiving a bill after service would tend to confirm the model. Note - this may even vary based on where the doctor was trained and worked prior to going to sea.

Personally, with the system I have experienced in both UK & Canada, our family doctors and Emerg Physicians don't have the same risks of being sued, so focus on and trust their diagnostic skills, most often not requiring additional tests. If the doctor thinks they are required, we get them. Although I have experienced numerous injuries, in over 60 yrs, I have only received 1 x-ray. With a soft tissue issue, my expectation for referral would be to a physiotherapist to expedite re-gaining full range of motion. We would only be referred to an Orthopedist for a complex fracture that required pins. plates, etc. Both systems will no doubt have the same outcome, we just have different expectations from our experiences at home.

At least back in my days on the ships, the docs were aware of the expectations of different nationalities and did take those into account. Normally, if a specific test or treatment was requested by the patient they would comply, even if they knew it wasn't required.

On my cargo ships I got to play a Doctor.  At crew change I was required to inventory the medical stores with the off going  Captain (morphine, etc.).  At sea I had a large medical volume for info and a radio telephone number for a real Doctor if I needed to be talked through some procedures.  Thankfully it never got past antiseptic and butterfly bandages as I can't watch surgeries on TV. 😱   I don't think it is reasonable to expect ship's doctors to be like your GP at home.  If you are like me, you got the chance to work through a number of them and settled on the ones you liked best.  I am just happy they are onboard.  Not that I want to discover the joys of hospitals ashore in strange places.  Accurate self evaluation will go a long way to avoiding the Medical Center.   🍸

9 hours ago, Squawkman said: SM77 -  I agree that an X-ray was in order, but I can’t understand why you immediately didn’t see an orthopedist when you came home given the level of pain you describe. In my wife’s case, the ship’s doctor strongly advised seeing an orthopedist ASAP. She made the appointment for the day after we arrived from the ship. Injury was much less serious than it could have been, but the Viking doctor wantEd to be 100% sure.

You are correct that I should have seen an orthopedist when I came home but I was definitely given the impression that I was just really bruised and the ship's doctor gave no indication that I should follow up w/ anyone.   I understand that different doctors from countries other than the US may not feel the need to order unnecessary tests - I didn't think I broke anything but felt that maybe I might have torn something.  I did not insist on getting an x-ray.  In hindsight, perhaps I should have been more assertive.  I am just relaying my experience on this last Viking cruise w/ this particular medical doctor.  When I fell in the hallway on a Crystal cruise, the doctor was very thorough, x-rayed both hands to compare the injured one to the non-injured - came to the conclusion that nothing was broken & I was badly bruised & suggested ice, muscle cream, & Tylenol.  Not that I would pick Crystal over Viking based on the medical staff but both experiences were very different.  Also, thinking that I would need to make a claim for the medical visit, I was surprised to find out that Crystal covered the expense.  I realized then that if you are injured on a ship or while on a ship sponsored excursion, at least Crystal & Viking will pay for any medical expenses.  I am very careful when I walk to avoid situations like this but stuff happens.  

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I'm a cruise-ship doctor. My schedule is intense but it's worth it to see the world — and I get to bring my wife and son along.

• Dr. Gergely Tóth wanted to pursue a career in medicine and work on cruises.
• During his shifts, which can last 24 hours, he has to be prepared for any crisis.
• Tóth said he loves the job because he can travel the world with his family while earning a living.

This as-told-to essay is based on a transcribed conversation with Dr. Gergely Tóth, a cruise-ship doctor. The following has been edited for length and clarity.

As a medical student in Hungary in the early 2000s, I heard plenty of stories from young people who'd worked on cruises.

The adventures, experiences, and financial opportunities this lifestyle offered piqued my interest. But I knew I wanted to work there as a doctor.

I've always wanted to work on cruises

In August 2009, after working in a county hospital in Hungary for seven years, I became serious about working on cruises.

I'd just started as a resident medical officer at Nuffield Health Cheltenham Hospital in England, and every day I'd see pages of cruise-ship job ads in the paper.

Having more medical experience under my belt, I emailed three cruise companies enquiring about how to become a cruise doctor.

Two companies responded. One didn't have any opportunities at the time. Royal Caribbean International offered to have a 15-minute call where they assessed my language skills and work experience.

They also asked about the Hungarian healthcare system, as they were more familiar with the UK one. For this reason, having a UK medical license at the time helped my journey immensely. I'd paid a fee to swap my Hungarian license for a British one when I arrived in the UK.

Cruise-ship doctors need specific qualifications to practice

Requirements to become a cruise doctor include three years of emergency-room experience, some general-practitioner experience, and specific training, such as advanced cardiac life support, pediatric advanced life support, and advanced trauma life support, that need to be refreshed every two years.

Five weeks after my interview in London, I got accepted in February 2010. Seven months later, at 32, I was on my way to Miami for a one-week training before joining one of the Celebrity Cruises for six months, departing from San Francisco. The 1,800-passenger ship seemed huge when I first saw it. Since then I've worked on cruises three times that size.

Cruises have full medical teams and facilities

Depending on the size of the cruise, the medical team consists of five to nine people. On smaller ships, with up to 3,500 passengers and 1,500 staff, there are two doctors, three nurses, and sometimes a medical secretary. On larger cruises, with 6,500 passengers and 2,200 staff, there are three doctors, five nurses, and a secretary.

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The medical center is an onboard hospital, because we have to be prepared for everything.

We try to get people with serious conditions to land safely and on time, but sometimes it's not possible. On board, there are consultation rooms, a reception area, a waiting room, an ER, an ICU room, ward rooms, X-ray machines, laboratory equipment, and a pharmacy.

A cruise doctor's schedule is intense

Doctors usually work for four months and have two months off. Since my first contract, I've only been taking short contracts to fill any gaps in cruise schedules.

When another doctor can't board for any reason, I will replace them for between a week and three months. Sometimes they let me know about the opportunity months in advance; other times I'll get a call two days before I'm needed.

Six-month contracts were too long for me. My family can join me on the cruise for these short periods, and I don't miss out on big family celebrations in Hungary. I spend four to five months a year on cruises and the rest of my time in Hungary.

When I'm not sailing I work at Hungarian hospitals, but the good pay on the cruises means I can spend more time with my family in Hungary.

We work 24-hour shifts on the cruise ship

We do 24-hour shifts. Consultation hours are from 8 to 11 a.m. and 4 to 7 p.m. For the remaining time of the day, I'm on call.

There's a dedicated medical-emergency phone number for passengers and staff. The nurse will then decide whether it requires urgent attention or give them an appointment to come within office hours.

On large cruises, it means a daily 15 hours of work and nine hours of being on-call, then getting 24 hours off.

Since I've been a senior doctor for more than a decade now, I have a lot more responsibilities, which take up an additional six to eight hours of my days off. Submitting medical reports to countries and port authorities, checking medicine orders with the chief nurse, and ensuring medical devices work properly or determining if they need to be fixed or replaced are just some of the duties I undertake.

I try to get off the cruise and experience the ports

I'm not an anxious person, but I always try and get off the ship when I can, because it's very busy from the second I board the ship to the flight home.

I love to go on trips and explore new places with my family. It's important for us to see where and how the locals live in each destination. I love food and good coffee, and we have our favorite cafés and restaurants in different countries where the staff greet us like friends.

However, sometimes these outings are cut short due to emergency calls or constant emails. On my last six-week contract, I only managed to leave the ship three times.

People die on cruises, like everywhere else, and sometimes you know them

People do die on cruise ships, like anywhere — not just passengers but staff as well. And it isn't easy, especially when it's someone I know, because most people will need to see a doctor at some point on the ship.

Each cruise has a designated medical-operations manager available 24/7 based in the health center in Miami. While they can advise on how to handle a specific case, the small team on the boat has to deliver. We're a tight-knit group.

There's no place for arguments, rivalry, or hostilities when we're responsible for so many people's lives.

As a cruise-ship doctor, I have a good lifestyle

While my role is equally demanding and rewarding, what I love most about being a cruise doctor is the freedom it gives and that I get to travel the world with my family . If it wasn't for cruising, I wouldn't have this lifestyle both financially and timewise.

It also allows me to spend more time with my family in between contracts in Hungary, because I don't have to work two or three jobs anymore.

Watch: The rise and fall of the cruise industry

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That's Viral Now

Cruise Ship Facts That Are Rarely Talked About

Posted: December 14, 2023 | Last updated: December 14, 2023

A Morgue Lurks Within Every Cruise Ship

Cruises are supposed to be about letting loose and having fun but there is often a dark side to cruises that passengers don't really see. Because a large portion of cruise goers usually tend to be older it's actually not uncommon for people to pass away while on ship.

One former crew estimated that around three people pass away every month on a cruise. Due to this, all cruise ships are required to have a morgue on board and usually has room for around three to six bodies.

It Might Sound Creepy but Crew Members Keep Record of Everything That Guests Do

The requirement that crew members be as hospitable and nice as possible to passengers, they don't usually get a chance to say everything they'd like to say. For this reason, cruise ships keep a log where they write down everything that happens while on a trip. These logs keep everything from something as big as a fire or injury to something as minimal as a comment a guest made.

It sounds weird but all of that information helps an incoming crew best prepare and spot potential hazards and how to manage them best. This log can also be used as a venting outlet for crew.

The Eerie Hidden Pools of Cruise Ships

If you have ever seen pictures from a cruise you will have noted that the pools are often the most crowded areas on the ship. Even though the ship is floating on water, people just gravitate toward the pools anyway. It turns out that most cruise ships have "secret" pools reserved for their staff only. Because these pools are dedicated to staff they are often much less crowded.

Guests can however be invited and of course, a guest would have to make quite the impression on the crew in order to be invited to the secret pool. The invite is actually harder to secure than you would think, considering some of the rules on board.

The Crew Speaks in Code to Keep Guests in the Dark

Passenger safety on board is paramount and maintaining that safety is not an easy task. Crew are sometimes forced to speak in code, so they don't incite panic while still being able to act quickly during an emergency. Some of these codes are used for dealing with medical emergencies, reacting to a fire, or responding if someone falls overboard. If you ever wondered about what code word is usually used for someone falling overboard, then it's "oscar."

This really makes a lot of sense since the last thing you really want is to terrify your passengers or cause a panic making it harder to do your job.

Gambling Rules on Board Aren't as Legal as You Think

Many cruise ships have casinos on board, and since most of the time you are traveling through international waters, it's completely legal. This also means that the cruise ship isn't necessarily subject to a single area's laws concerning gambling. The rules onboard will occasionally change depending on whatever country is closest.

Cruise ships might switch up the number of decks they use for blackjack, etc. and your odds of winning can change dramatically depending on where you are. Just be aware that the rules governing their games aren't set in stone, and can change.

Even Cruise Ships Are Vulnerable to Mysterious Accidents

The buck stops with the Captain at all times while on board which is a fantastic system when it works, and it typically does. It makes sense that one person with experience should calling the shots during an emergency. The last thing you would want is two or more people wasting time arguing over a decision in a crisis. That being said, even captains make mistakes, and sometimes those mistakes can be disastrous for a ship or its passengers.

It's not often that it happens which is why when it does it usually makes headlines. A few cruise ships have even been sunk due to a captain's decisions.

Sometimes Passengers Go Missing at Sea

Strange things happen while at sea, and one of those things is when people go missing. It sounds weird but people really do go missing on ships. Approximately 165 people reportedly went missing while on a cruise from 1995 to 2011.

There is speculation that the number is possibly higher. This is separate from passengers that fall overboard. We're talking about people who have just disappeared without a trace and were never seen again.

"I'm the Captain Now" - There's a Risk of Pirates Coming Onboard

On occasion you will hear about pirates taking over cargo ships or something like that but you don't often hear about cruise ships being boarded. Still, it does happen, and because of that the crew is trained for it.

In 2005 a cruise ship was targeted, and the crew used some kind of acoustic weapon to assault the pirates' eardrums. The attack was thwarted, and everyone on board went about enjoying their vacations.

No Fraternization With Guests

Where there are often hookups between crew members, they are strictly forbidden to fraternize with passengers while on board. This rule is mainly in place to protect the crew from being accused of anything inappropriate but it is also to protect the cruise company from being sued by a passenger.

The cruise company will have a much easier time cleaning up in-house than it would feilding a public lawsuit with a passenger.

You're Under Arrest

You have surely heard of the brig before but did you know there is one on a cruise ship and you don't have to be military to be thrown in it. It's a sort of jail cell on a ship, and it's reserved for passengers that break the law' get a bit too rowdy or in any way threaten the safety of other passengers or crew.

There is no judge or jury on a ship so if you're thrown in the brig, you'll most likely spend the rest of your vacation there or until the ship makes port and can offload you to the authorities. Sometimes this leaves you in a different country than the one you sailed from.

Rescuing Passengers Who Went Overboard Is Complicated

It's never good when someone goes overboard but on a cruise ship it can be especially complicated to initiate a rescue. If a passenger goes overboard during a cruise, you may see crew members throwing stuff over the side in order to mark where they are in the water.

There aren't any landmarks in the ocean, meaning your brain doesn't have anything to refer to when trying to locate an overboard passenger from the top of a very high cruise ship.

Crew Members Are Drinking All Day on Cruises

If you have ever noticed your crew is especially happy or chatty it may be because they have had a couple of drinks themselves. Crew members get great discounts on alcohol and although most cruise lines say they randomly test their employees to ensure that they're not drinking while on the job, they still manage to sneak a few drinks here and there.

According to former crew members, it happens more than from time to time. Some former crew members have also come out and said that drinking among crew members is much more common than some cruise companies would have their passengers believe.

Disease Outbreaks Are More Common Than You Think

We all heard about outbreaks onboard cruise ships curing the 2020 pandemic. They got big news coverage as essentially floating petri dishes. Due to thousands of people situated together in a tight space the outbreaks seem to spread faster.

Even before the pandemic there were plenty of outbreaks. For example in 2014, around eight cruise ships and many of their passengers were hit with the norovirus. As a result there have been strict procedures and rules to limit the spread of sickness during an outbreak but the risk is always going to be there.

Crew Members Are Mostly From Outside of the USA

There are a lot of reasons that cruise lines don't tend to hire American workers and one of the reasons is that Americans wouldn't put up with the long hours required on a cruise ship. The typical work week in America is around 40 hours, compared to the sometimes 100-hour long work week on a cruise ship.

Together with different and less generous overtime rules as well as lower pay, it's not hard to see why there aren't as many Americans in the cruise industry.

Medical Care Can Be Spotty

Cruise ships aren't really required to operate to the same standards as other companies located on land in the U.S. and because of that the medical care available to passengers can sometimes be hit or miss.

It's common for cruise ships to hire doctors from countries with lower medical standards than in the U.S. and also have the facilities on board a cruise ship to be not quite as great as you'd find on land. Together with the fact that doctors on cruise ships basically can't be sued for malpractice, it leaves something lacking in the care like on a lot of cruise ships.

Where Does All The Waste Go?

Where does all the human waste go when you're on a ship and out at the ocean? It goes exactly where you might expect it to go, in the ocean. Cruise ships simply dump waste when they are around 12 miles from shore. They are required to treat it first but it still isn't great for the environment and it's quite gross.

Not all countries have the same laws either and this means that sometimes cruise ships will discharge waste when they're closer to shore in a country with more lax laws like recently when Canadians complained about U.S. cruise ships dumping near British Columbia.

Tight Quarters for the Crew

It goes without saying that rooms for crew members are much different than the rooms for guests on cruise ships. Crew quarters are very cramped in comparison and for the most part rooms are shared by multiple crew members.

That being said, crew members do have their own break areas and even have crew-only events, classes, and a pool for staff only. On the downside they don't really get to enjoy all of that stuff very often because they work such long hours.

Cruise Ships Wait For No One

You would think there would be some kind of system making sure every guest is accounted for when they cruise pulls away from port but there isn't. The cruise is not going to wait at port for a couple of passengers who failed to get back in time. If you're late getting back to the ship there is a good chance you will be watching from shore as your ship sails away.

That's why it's important that you always remember to get back to the ship well before it's scheduled departure. It's also a good idea to carry your documents and passport with you just in case you're left behind in a foreign country.

Preparing the Kitchen Is Done With Military Precision

To keep things running smoothly while feeding thousands of guests, it's no surprise that most cruise ship kitchens run their operations with military-like precision. With that many mouths to feed they have to ensure that they have enough food on board for everyone and stay within a budget working hard to eliminate waste.

Some kitchens are so precise that they can predict consumption down to a margin of two meals for a week. Sometimes crews even change up how much they order based on the nationality of their guests. For example, a ship with many Americans might order more ketchup than one with a majority of other nationalities.

Hiding Drinks Isn't Easy

Alcohol is always the most expensive part of any trip for good reason. There are really good margins for alcohol sales so it makes sense that there would be strict rules regarding their biggest money maker. Cruise lines force you to use the bars on the ship and for this reason, people have figured out how to smuggle their own booze onto cruises.

For these reasons guests get really inventive with the way they smuggle on alcohol. One way of sneaking alcohol on board a cruise ship involves filling a plastic bladder with booze in an effort to evade x-ray detection. People have also resorted to filling mouthwash bottles with alcohol and adding food coloring to dye them a specific color.

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Nearly 30 Cruise Ship Passengers In US Mysteriously Fall Ill With Diarrhoea

The "easter-themed" cruise began in peru on march 31 and ended in fort lauderdale, florida, on tuesday..

The cruise ship quarantined its impacted passengers.

Nearly 30 passengers on a luxury cruise ship got sick in a gastrointestinal illness outbreak despite Silversea Cruises being known for its phenomenal cuisine, as per a report in the New York Post . The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention announced on Monday that during the 16-day journey from Peru, at least 28 of the Silver Nova's 633 passengers and one member of the crew reported feeling ill.

The CDC added that the main symptom was diarrhoea. Although the exact source of the outbreak, which has affected about 5 per cent of the passengers on board, is still unknown, the CDC stated that contaminated food or water is the main cause of norovirus outbreaks.

The cruise ship made announcements informing both staff and guests about the outbreak and urged them to report instances and adopt "good hand hygiene." In addition, Silversea reportedly quarantined its impacted passengers and increased cleaning and disinfection procedures. 

"The health and safety of our guests, crew, and the communities we visit are our top priority. To maintain an environment that supports the highest levels of health and safety onboard our ships, we implement rigorous cleaning procedures, many of which far exceed public health guidelines," a spokesperson for Silversea Cruises told The Post in a statement. The "Easter-themed" cruise began in Peru on March 31 and ended in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, on Tuesday.

According to CruiseMapper, the starting price for a double occupancy room on the 16-day adventure was $11,700.

In February, several passengers on board Cunard Cruise Line in the US were struck down with vomiting and diarrhoea, CDC said. According to the press note, at least 123 passengers and 16 crew members travelling on the Queen Victoria reported falling ill since the voyage set off on January 22 from Florida. 

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The cause of the gastrointestinal illness was not known, health officials said, but they added that the main symptoms among those on board the vessel included diarrhoea and vomiting. 

This came weeks after passengers on board a Florida-based cruise ship came down with an unknown illness. Passengers on the cruise ship reported symptoms of gastroenteritis, or the stomach flu, after setting off from Jacksonville. One passenger, Miranda Hill said her bout of illness was so bad that she started hurling blue vomit. "My throw up was bright blue and I have never eaten anything blue and every time I look up blue throw up, it has to deal with a poisoning," she said.  

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Short vs. long cruises: Which one is right for you? Here's how they compare.

Whether you want a weekend getaway or to max out your vacation days, there’s a cruise for that.

Cruise lines offer itineraries ranging from a few days to monthslong . But there are more differences between short and long sailings than just the amount of time guests spend on board. The length of a cruise can help dictate the types of ports passengers visit, the kind of ship they’re sailing on and even the general vibe on board.

“It's important to walk our guests through and for cruisers to think about, what's the experience that they're trying to have,” said Jamie Margolis, owner of Moms at Sea Travel, a Dream Vacations franchise. “So, we try to tease out that information, like, ‘What's your vacation style?’ ”

What can guests expect from short cruises?

Cruises can be divided into those shorter or longer than a week, according to Jared Feldman, owner of travel agency Jafeldma Travel. “So, anything less than that is really considered a short cruise,” he said.

Those around three nights long are often aimed at new-to-cruise guests “who aren’t really ready to commit to seven days but really want to quote-unquote test the waters, let's say – to see if cruising is right for them,” he added.

Those sailings typically feature just one port and a sea day and often visit tried-and-true cruise destinations. Travelers sailing from South Florida ports like Miami and Fort Lauderdale will likely visit Nassau in the Bahamas or one of many cruise line private islands , for example. While those sailing from Galveston, Texas, can expect to stop in Cozumel.

Margolis called three-and-four-night voyages a “great intro to cruising,” albeit with more limited itinerary choices. “Is their dream to go to Saint Kitts? They're probably not going to find that on a short sailing,” she said.

Shorter cruises may also lend themselves more to a party atmosphere and be less kid-friendly. But Margolis noted that’s not unique to cruising. “I mean, it's the nature of travel that short weekends can be celebratory,” she said.

And with diverse onboard offerings – from ship-within-a-ship concepts to kids clubs – passengers can often carve out their own experience.

Cruise lines have new offerings in that shorter category. Celebrity Cruises is launching its first regular weekend itineraries in the Caribbean this month, and Royal Caribbean International’s Utopia of the Seas will offer three-and-four-night sailings when it debuts in July.

What can guests expect from long cruises?

Feldman said any sailing over seven days could be considered a “longer cruise.” Those can range from around 10 days to more than six months. Royal Caribbean is operating a nine-month world cruise to more than 60 countries.

While short cruises “can feel like a bit of a whirlwind,” according to Margolis, longer itineraries offer more time to explore a greater variety of ports. They may feature less-visited destinations such as Aruba and Curaçao and often take place on smaller, older vessels (though ships are refurbished regularly).

That’s partly due to the limitations in places they stop. “Some of the ports … cannot really accommodate this large ship hardware,” Feldman said. “So, you need a smaller-size ship to navigate in and out of these ports.”

The onboard demographic also tends to skew older on those cruises since retired passengers typically have more free time, and travelers with kids are often beholden to school schedules.

If you want a middle ground, though, Margolis said a seven-night cruise “really takes you through what I think is, like, the whole cruise cycle.”

"You get on, you get acclimated, you find all the different amenities, and then you're able to … truly relax, disconnect, unwind,” she said. ‘And then you know, midweek, you start getting your luggage tags, and you go through that mental process of accepting that you're going to have to get off in a couple of days and go back to work.”

At that length, it's also easier to tack on a bit of extra time on the front or back end of the sailing to explore on their own, Feldman added.

Are short or long sailings cheaper?

Because short sailings frequently take place on larger ships, they are “very attractively priced” to help fill the cabins. But that doesn’t mean they’ll always be cheaper than a longer cruise.

A cruise with more stops will have higher port fees, but passengers may book longer itineraries further out and get better fares.

Looking for cheap cruises?: Here's what to know know about finding deals.

“Most times, you're not going to book a three-to-four-night sailing 12 to 18 months in advance,” said Feldman. “You're going to book that much closer in.”

The ship’s age also plays a role in how it’s priced, with shiny new vessels commanding higher rates . “So, there's a lot of different variables in play that kind of dictate where you're going to come out ahead or how much your cruise is ultimately going to cost based on those factors,” said Feldman.

Nathan Diller is a consumer travel reporter for USA TODAY based in Nashville. You can reach him at [email protected].

Middle East latest: Striking Iran's nuclear facilities 'on the table', says ex-Mossad intelligence chief

A former official at the Israeli spy agency says targeting nuclear facilities in Iran is among the options on the table as Israel decides how to respond to Saturday's attack. Meanwhile, Iran's president has warned the "tiniest move" against the country would bring a "fierce" response.

Wednesday 17 April 2024 18:07, UK

• Israel-Hamas war

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• Striking Iran's nuclear facilities on the table, says ex-Mossad official
• 'Tiniest move' against Iran will spark 'fierce and painful' response, president warns
• Clear Israel will act in response to Iran attack, Cameron says
• Israel denied 'more than 40%' of UN aid delivery requests to northern Gaza last week
• Single Israeli shell destroyed more than 4,000 embryos after strike on fertility clinic
• Dominic Waghorn analysis: The coming hours could decide whether the Middle East is plunged into a widening war
• Michael Clarke analysis: All Israel's options for retaliation come with complications
• Live reporting by Ollie Cooper

It's 6pm here in London - 7pm in Gaza and Israel and 8pm in Tehran, so let's re-cap the day's events. 

Much of the day's focus has been on how Israel could respond to Iran's missile and drone barrage at the weekend:

• The former director of intelligence at the Israeli spy agency, Mossad, said targeting nuclear facilities in Iran was among the options on the table as Israel decides how to respond to Saturday's attack;
• Lord Cameron said during a visit to Israel it was "clear" that Benjamin Netanyahu's government will respond. 
• Meanwhile, Iran's president warned the "tiniest move" against the country would bring a "fierce" response, according to state media;
• On aid for Gaza, the UN said Israel denied "more than 40%" of its aid delivery requests to northern parts of the enclave last week;
• It emerged that a single Israeli shell destroyed more than 4,000 embryos when it struck Gaza's largest fertility clinic in December.

The cabinet has approved a five-year plan that would see $5bn spent on rebuilding and strengthening communities near Israel's border with Gaza. 

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said Israel would invest the funds in housing, infrastructure, education, employment, health and other areas.

The funding came after the Hamas attacks on 7 October targeted communities near the border. 

"Hamas terrorists wanted to uproot us - but we will uproot them and deepen our roots," Mr Netanyahu said in a statement. 

"We will build the land of Israel and protect our country."

The prime minister's office said local communities would work with government ministries, and along with the business sector and philanthropy, to bring the region to be a "vital, flourishing and attractive area".

A massive US aid bill for countries including Israel and Ukraine held up for months will be filed in the House of Representatives today, the House speaker's has said. 

Mike Johnson said the text of four bills providing assistance to Ukraine, Israel and the Indo-Pacific would be filed "soon today", with a fourth including "other measures to confront Russia, China and Iran" posted later.

The bill, worth some $95bn (£76bn), was approved by the Democrat-led Senate on 13 February, but is likely to face stiff opposition in the Republican-controlled House of Representatives when it eventually makes the floor.

Both houses of Congress must approve the bill before President Joe Biden can sign it into law. 

However, former president Donald Trump and his Republican allies in Congress want funding directed toward domestic issues such as border control, rather than on foreign wars. 

Critics of Mr Trump have suggested he is deliberately blocking legislation that would ensure funding for both Ukraine and border control because he intends to focus his election campaign on immigration and it is therefore not in his interests to improve the perceived problems.

The United Nations' Security Council will vote on Friday on whether to allow Palestine to fully join the organisation, anonymous sources have told the Reuters news agency.

Israel's ally the US is expected to block the move, as it would effectively recognise a Palestinian state. 

The 15-member council is due to vote at 3pm local time 8pm UK time on Friday on a draft resolution that recommends to the 193-member UN General Assembly that "the state of Palestine be admitted to membership of the United Nations," said diplomats. 

The council needs nine votes to pass it - and crucially no vetoes from any of the permanent members (US, UK, France, Russia or China).

Foreign ministers from the Group of Seven (G7) major democracies are gathering on the Italian island of Capri for three days of talks.

The meeting is being overshadowed by expectations of an Israeli retaliation against Iran for its missile and drone attacks over the weekend. 

Italy, which holds the G7's rotating presidency, has been pushing for a ceasefire in Gaza and a de-escalation in the wider Middle East. 

"Against a background of strong international tensions, the Italian-led G7 is tasked with working for peace," foreign minister Antonio Tajani said in a statement.

The G7 pledged support for Israel following the attack. 

A single Israeli shell destroyed more than 4,000 embryos when it struck Gaza's largest fertility clinic in December, it has emerged,

The explosion blasted the lids off five liquid nitrogen tanks at Gaza City's Al Basma IVF centre, causing to evaporate the -180C liquid holding the embryos and 1,000 more specimens of sperm and unfertilized eggs.

"We know deeply what these 5,000 lives, or potential lives, meant for the parents, either for the future or for the past," said Bahaeldeen Ghalayini, 73, the Cambridge-trained obstetrician and gynaecologist who established the clinic in 1997.

At least half of the couples can no longer produce sperm or eggs to make viable embryos, he said.

"My heart is divided into a million pieces."

In April, the embryology lab was still strewn with broken masonry, blown-up lab supplies and, amid the rubble, the liquid nitrogen tanks, according to a Reuters-commissioned journalist who visited the site.

The former director of intelligence at the Israeli spy agency, Mossad, says targeting nuclear facilities in Iran is among the options on the table as Israel decides how to respond to Saturday's attack.

Zohar Palti spoke to  The World with Yalda Hakim  in Jerusalem about possible responses after Iran launched more than 300 missiles and drones at Israel.

Asked if everything was on the table, including targeting nuclear facilities, Mr Palti said: "No doubt. Everything is on the table right now." 

Pressed on whether this included nuclear facilities, he said: "Including everything."

Iran temporarily closed its nuclear facilities on Sunday over "security considerations" and the International Atomic Energy Agency kept its inspectors away for two days.

The attack on Israel came after a deadly suspected Israeli strike on the Iranian consulate in Syria. The IDF said 99% of the weapons fired at Israel failed to break through its air defences.

Watch the rest of his interview from 9pm in The World With Yalda Hakim live from Jerusalem.

By Alistair Bunkall , Middle East correspondent

There is little doubt in diplomatic and political circles here that Israel will carry out a reprisal attack on Iran.

David Cameron, on a short visit to Jerusalem, said as much in TV interviews.

The questions remain when and where. Israeli leaders are keeping that very close, not even telling visiting foreign ministers from allied countries, but it might be that no final decision has been made.

Cameron is canny enough to know that if he came here pushing a message of "don't do it" then he might be shown up as ineffective in the coming days.

And so the language has changed to "okay, if you have to do it, then make sure it's reasonable and doesn't escalate matters further". 

With the US and European capitals saying the same (the German foreign minister was here today too), it might have some sway.

Israel says it needs to send Iran a clear message but doesn't want an escalation - that's all very well but Iran might not see it like that.

Assuming the do-nothing, "take-the-win" option is off the table, the next best outcome is for a series of increasingly smaller events that ultimately see this crisis fizzle out.

I've also picked up frustration among diplomats over political attempts back in the UK to designate the Iranian Revolutionary Guard Corps as a terror organisation. 

It would have no impact on the current crisis and could put the future of the British Embassy in doubt. 

That would then remove a vital back-channel of communication, not just for the UK, but for allies like the US and Israel to lean on London for that. 

It's moments like these when those channels come into their own and the Foreign Office can be influential.

Ultimately though, Israel's main message to Iran won't be via diplomatic back-channels but a military strike which, in their words, will be "in a manner and time of their choosing".

The Lebanese foreign minister is speaking with special correspondent Alex Crawford following exchanges of fire between Hezbollah and Israel across the Israeli border.

Asked about Israel's determination to retaliate against Iran, Abdallah Bou Habib says Lebanon is worried.

"Any kind of revenge is going to end up with a bigger war, probably," he says.

"And therefore Lebanon, Syria and Jordan may be in trouble."

Mr Habib hopes for a ceasefire between Hezbollah and Israel, he says.

If the UN were to move in that direction, the Lebanese government would "most probably" support it.

"We are left not able to do anything of the sort. It is not a matter of the Hezbollah stronger than the Lebanese army, because they not going to collide or fight each other."

Up until 7 October, there was "nothing on the border", he says, saying he hoped to return to a stable border.

More than 5,000 houses have been destroyed in Lebanon by Israeli attacks, says Mr Habib.

Asked about Hezbollah's backing of the Iranian attack, Mr Habib says: "We do not welcome it and we don't denounce the attack, because Israel started it."

"We do not have influence over Hezbollah as long as there is fighting between them and Israelis, and if we have a choice then we support Hezbollah."

A two-state solution is "the solution for most of the problems in the Middle East", he says.

Foreign Secretary Lord Cameron has said he repeated his view that any response to Iran should be designed to limit and de-escalate the conflict when visiting Israel today.

"Nobody wants to see this conflict grow and spread," said Lord Cameron.

He turned to Hamas, which he blamed for holding up a truce deal in Gaza.

"Everyone should recognise that it is Hamas that is causing this conflict to continue."

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