Lately in the news

[Charlene]

Lately in the new I have heard of cruise ships who are putting people off of their ships for being sick and leaving them without a way back home. What can be done to stop such a thing from happening? Do you believe that it is right for the cruise line to make a decision like this? One man was not critically ill, he had gas! He and his son were stranded! Have you read about things like this happening? Seeing that I am a cruising virgin, I'd like to feel that if I get an upset stomach that I'm not going to find myself in Tutti frutti with a dingi and no paddle! LOL

[Steve Parady]

I heard about this too. Unfortunately, I don't have all the facts in this case. I believe the ships doctor thought that the patient's symptoms could be heart related and that he needed hospital care, beyond what the ship could provide. When the patient was examined in the port's hospital, it was found not to be so serious. Unfortunately, by then the ship had sailed.

This particular case is a very rare and unusual circumstance. Chances of it happening to you are very slim. All major cruise ships have a medical office and trained medical personnel. However, they can't fully treat every major medical emergency. In severe cases, like heart attacks, the ship's medical staff will try to stabilize the patient until he or she can be brought to a port with a good hospital. Once I was on a cruise where the Carnival Paradise diverted to Cozumel, Mexico to transfer a heart attack patient. I watched as he was transferred on a gurney to a small boat just outside the harbor. Some family members accompanied him. We arrived in Belize about an hour late the next morning. I don't know how that patient made it back, assuming he survived his ordeal!

It's because of these rare events that I recommend purchasing optional vacation medical insurance, especially for those people who have a known medical condition. Be sure to consult with your travel agent to get enough coverage to pay for possible hospitalization and costs of getting back home.

Steve