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Do cruise ships have doctors onboard?

Last updated on June 18th, 2024 at 08:27 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.

Depending on the size of the ship, a cruise ship could have two to three licensed doctors and three to five licensed nurses. These professionals are available to both passengers and crew members.

The American College of Emergency Physicians (ACEP), together with the Cruise Lines International Association, have set strict standards and guidelines for the onboard medical facilities.

All of the medical staff have to be both certified and experienced. It should give you confidence that onboard physicians must have three years of post-graduate/post-registration experience in general and emergency medicine.

If they do not have those qualifications, they need to be board-certified in emergency medicine, family medicine or internal medicine. The assisting staff must be certified in advanced life support and training in areas like emergency medicine, anesthesiology or critical care.

Out of the nurses onboard, one is a trained paramedic and all of the nurses are experienced registered nurses.

Cruise lines that carry children under 12 years of age have to have at least one physician that is trained in pediatrics with emergency training that includes children.

On Board Medical Facilities

The medical facilities on board are not to be compared with a hospital.

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 facilities are usually located on a lower deck, and apart from crowded areas. There will be a waiting room, and you will have to fill out the dreaded medical history forms, just as you would in a doctor’s office.

Most of the facilities are equipped with defibrillators, cardiac monitors, ventilators, x-ray machines, oxygen tanks and lab equipment.

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.

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.

Pharmacies On Board

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. The cruise ship doctors work as independent contractors and usually charge a basic hourly fee.

Cruise ship medical services can be reimbursed by most travel insurance providers. Check with your insurance provider before you leave because many personal insurance policies don’t cover you when you are traveling outside of the United States.

*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.