What if you need antibiotics on a cruise?
What if you need antibiotics on a cruise? Onboard Pharmacies Pharmacy stocks are available onboard, which means you will be able to get basic medicines. The size of the inventory varies by ship, but staff will be able to provide you with antibiotics, seasickness pills (often complimentary), aspirin and other common medicines.
Is there a doctor on board a cruise ship?
Medical staff varies by ship size, but typically ships have a doctor and at least two nurses. The world's largest cruise ships may have two doctors and five or six nurses. River ships and small ships that hover close to shore have less staff since they can easily access health facilities on land.
How do you treat diarrhea on a cruise ship?
If you get diarrhea, drink lots of fluids to stay hydrated. In serious cases of travelers' diarrhea, oral rehydration solution—available online or in pharmacies in developing countries—can be used for fluid replacements.
Do cruise ships have pharmacists on board?
Do Cruise Ships Have Pharmacies? Cruise ships do not have full pharmacies onboard but will usually have a section of an onboard shop dedicated to medicine. Here you can find treatments for common problems such as headaches or colds.
What is the rate of illness on cruise ships?
The overall event rate for communicable illnesses was 15.7 (95 % CI 14.4–17.1) per 100,000 passengers, and for crew was 24.0 (21.6–26.6) per 100, 000 crew. Gastroenteritis was the predominant illness experienced by passengers and crew followed by influenza.
Can a cruise ship sail without a doctor?
Ships from the main cruise lines all will have at least one doctor and two nurses onboard. Many larger ships sail with two doctors and three or four nurses. According to American College of Emergency Physician guidelines, ships must have medical staff on call 24 hours.
Can you cancel a cruise for medical reasons?
Can you cancel a cruise for medical reasons? Yes, only if you have travel insurance and can have the illness documented. Andi if it is a pre-existing condition you would have to have purchased insurance within 14 days of your first deposit on the trip.
Do cruise lines have hospitals?
Unfortunately, illness can strike even on a cruise ship - of course, it's a huge bummer when it does. Luckily, all cruise ships have a medical facility onboard to treat a variety of illnesses and conditions.
What happens if you need a doctor on a cruise?
In general cases, cruise medical centers can prescribe and administer medications, perform minor surgeries and stabilize patients with more serious medical conditions. If your medical condition is treatable on board the ship, you will be given the relevant treatment or condition.
Why do people get sick after a cruise?
Mal de debarquement syndrome (or Syndrome du mal de débarquement, MdDS, or common name disembarkment syndrome) is a neurological condition usually occurring after a cruise, aircraft flight, or other sustained motion event. The phrase mal de débarquement is French and translates to illness of disembarkment.
Can I bring my prescription pills on cruise?
We suggest that guests transport all their medications in their carry-on luggage to minimize the potential for diversion or loss of medications and advise that all medications remain in their original, labeled prescription containers.
What is cruise flu?
Norovirus is a very contagious virus that often causes diarrhea and vomiting. Some people call it the “cruise ship virus.” Miami Herald File. Summer travel has returned and people are flocking to cruises again, with more than 31.5 million passengers expected to sail in 2023. But sometimes people get sick while onboard.
What is the sickness on cruise ships in 2023?
In 2023, a decade-high number of cruise ships have reported an unwelcome passenger on board: norovirus. Outbreaks of the stomach bug have surged on cruise ships this year, reaching the highest levels seen in 10 years.
What is the most common infection on cruise ships?
Infectious Disease Outbreaks The most frequently reported cruise ship outbreaks involve GI infections (e.g., norovirus), respiratory infections (e.g., coronavirus disease 2019 [COVID-19], influenza), and other vaccine-preventable diseases (VPDs), such as varicella.
Can you get a prescription filled on a cruise ship?
If you've forgotten prescription medications and need a prescription filled, you'll have to visit the medical center to see a nurse or a physician. A cruise ship can't stock all possible medications, so you might need to accept an alternative.