Most cruise ships will have one or two doctors and up to four nurses onboard to treat sick passengers. Medical staff must meet certain training requirements, but they do not have to be certified in the United States. They work in the ship's medical center, usually found on one of the lower decks. The facility likely contains a pharmacy and several beds. Equipment might include wheelchairs, stretchers, back boards for spine immobilization, lab capabilities for tests, oxygen, EKG capability, defibrillators, cardiac monitors and other equipment to gauge vital signs.

Doctors and nurses can treat minor ailments and injuries, dole out medicine and assess and stabilize passengers with more serious medical conditions. They cannot care for patients who are severely injured or have life-threatening conditions. If onboard medical staff deem a passenger to be seriously ill, they will likely have the patient disembarked at the next port of call or medevaced by helicopter to the nearest hospital for more comprehensive treatment. If a doctor says you are too sick to remain onboard, you must abide by his or her orders. Typically, a member of the cruise line's Care Team will accompany the ill passenger and a companion or family member to the hospital.

Will an onboard doctor accept my health insurance?

No, the full amount of onboard medical care will be charged to your onboard account, regardless of whether you are fully insured at home. However, you aren't necessarily on the hook for the whole amount. Once you pay the cruise line, you should submit receipts and documentation to your health insurance provider to recoup whatever your insurance will pay for out-of-network emergency care. If you've purchased travel insurance, it will often cover the remaining amount. 

Choose To Cruise with #inCruises