Medivac off Sea Princess- Skagway Alaska - Service Zero

[robh]

**Edited to delete commercial link***


To anyone on the Sea Princess, 22May-1st June 2010 , San Francisco to Alaska.
I was taken off the ship at Skagway and flown to Juneau with my wife and four suitcases and left in the A&E department of the hospital. No one told us who to contact, after two days we found, by chance, a cruise office, who fixed us a flight, Juneau to Vancouver Island $1300 plus $80 for suitcases. No one to meet us, 3 cell phone numbers all on answer phone. Got our own hotel, reboarded ship next day. No one asked if we were okay. Invoice from ships medical over $3000.
Make very sure that you have insurance!!

[robh]

Sorry, the person medivac off the ship per the UK Board was "
Jessejames, PAIGNTON


not myself.

Rob

[Manuel]

Right from my first cruise, I have never sailed without trip insurance and I strongly advise everyone to do the same.

I repeat, you do need trip insurance !

TM

[anniegb]

IMHO no Cruiseline or TA should accept a booking unless the client has travel insurance in place and can provide a policy no etc.

BTW I am not advocating that you purchase Travel Insurance from the Cruise Line/TA.

20 years ago a tour operator (in the UK) would not accept a booking from my father until a policy number was provided. My father suffered a heart attack on holiday, survived and did not have to worry about bills etc.

[robh]

All good advice especially if your trip is cancelled because of a medical need.

It is the medical costs in a foreign hospital and or the medivac by plane to your local hospital that will cause you the most costs.

Travel Insurance can be a combination of travel cancellation prior to trip or during the trip for medical reasons.

Always get quotes for package separately or combined and compare especially if you have preexisting medical conditions or are considered a senior. Never rely on your credit card coverage if it provided some type of coverage.

Even a day's cruise needs to be insured.
You could be cruising in your countries waters but be medivac to another country because of proximity to the first response to the ships request.

Cheers

[robh]

Originally Posted by robh

Sorry, the person medivac off the ship per the UK Board was "
Jessejames, PAIGNTON


not myself.

Rob

Here is an update from Jim about costs.
quote: " Hi Rob,
Thanks for reply, the $3000 was only for medication, antibiotics and tests during my time in Ship's medical ward.
Cost of flight to Juneau has been sent to insurance company direct, we had no way to contact them as we do not have a cell phone,
and the phone in the hospital was only local calls.
thanks for interest
Jim "