Just wondering - - - has anybody ever had to use the sick bay and for what (if you can tell us). I had a one-time shellfish attack here at home where I couldn't breathe and turned bright red. I was in emergency for 4 hrs trying to go back to my natural color and stop the intense itching. I have vision of being lifted by helicopter like Lucy!!
We have never used the sick bay. This is why I HIGHLY recommend buying travel insurance to cover these things. We use Travel Guard. It was recommended by our travel agent. There are many reasons to get some kind of ins. Your regular ins. will not cover you in a foreign country, which to my understanding, a foreign regestered ship is once it is in international waters. Also many doctors and hospitals won't treat you in a foreign country if you do not have cash. Being flown off a ship to home is very expensive. There are many questions which any reputible company will answer for you. I understand most ships have the medical personnel to take care of most immediate needs or can get you to where you can get such care. Check your own ins. to see what it covers, or does not. I am not an expert and much of what I have told you is what I have read in various articles. I would rely on expert advice and use my comments for general information or to allert you to problems which may occurr.
I was on the VOS last August and woke up one morning with a blood shot eye. My wife insisted I go to see the doctor. He looked at it, gave me some eye drops and it cost me $105 for the visit and $30 for the eye drops. My insurance, of course, did not cover it. But my travel insurance does. I had to get a rejection notice from my insurance first and then send in the claim to the travel insurance. This took time. I am waiting for the response from the travel insurance.
I used the sick bay when we went on our last cruise...ROS..and was quite suprised with all the equipment they have down there...clumsy me fell in cozumel...bruised up my knee...they took an xray..it did cost $140 ...they put it on our sea account...once we got home turned it into the insurance company..and talked to our travel insurance people..they said if my insurance company doesnt pick it up they will...suprise suprise...my insurance company covered it..of course they wont cover my sons procedures done in our own home town...but covered something done at sea...but that is another soap box that i will get on lol...but i was quite suprised with both the treatment and facilities they had on the ship...of course on our next trip...i hope not to return down there...lol...once was enough for me ......good luck and have an awesome trip.....
Weve had to use it twice now. The first time my then almost 1 yr old burned his hand on an iron that had been put up (he somehow managed to find it). I now carry burn cream and bandages, along with other first aid supplies! The next cruise I was prepared, but didnt need anything. This last trip (3 weeks ago, almost 3 yrs old), my son woke up after midnight in obvious pain and on fire. He wouldnt let me touch him and was crying (very unusual for him). I ended up taking him to the dr after hours (an extra $30 charge) where he screamed the entire time. He had a 103.5 fever, and as I suspected, ear infections (only his second time with those). They loaded him with Motrin (I only had Tylenol which wasnt good enough I guess-Motrin works faster), gave me some to take, along with an antibiotic (which cost $45). That trip cost us almost $200. Thankfully we have great insurance and it was all taken care of except for a small copay.
SandyS,
While I have never seen the medical faciities on SOS, as an emergency nurse I can tell you that any emergency team should be able to treat an allergic reaction like you experienced. I know it was probably very scary for you, but the treatment for it is very straightforward. Just make sure you avoid ALL shellfish on the cruise!
I know that in general most cruise ships are able to handle quite adequately a wide variety of emergencies,
And I think the suggestion others have made of having travel health insurance is probably very good advice.
While I've never had to use these facilities, I remember on a western Carribbean Cruise on Enchantment, a passanger had a heart attack, around midnight after we had left Key West and were heading to Cozemel, they turned the ship around and steamed 3 hrs. back toward Key West to get within helicopter range, and medevaced the passenger back to a hospital in the United States. It was quite impressive watching the helicopter hover over the pool deck while they loaded the passenger into a basket to hoist him into the helicopter. It was also comforting to know that should you have a similar medical emergency that the captain and the crew would go to such lengthes to save your life. They had to rearrange the entire itinerary as a result and they pulled it off seamlessly.
I needed to use the Medical Facilities once, it was fine. I work in a hospital myself and i have a eye for good equipment and cleanliness. Blue Cross picked up most of the bill but you have to pay the cruise line and then submit the receipt to your insurence. If your insurence won't cover you when you are away from home, better think about a new plan. Jimbo
Connect with Facebook
Sick Bay
Linear Mode
