[Rainger99]

There was a recent article in which a passenger on a cruise ship had $20,000 of medical insurance that he bought from the cruise company. However, he had a three day stay in the ship hospital and the bill was $47,000!!!!

Minnesota man wins free Norwegian cruise vacation -- then catches the flu onboard and gets hit with $47K medical bill

I usually get travel insurance when I go on vacation. However, can a cruise ship charge whatever it wants for the treatment?

For example, if you go to the doctor for a minor injury - a couple of stitches, etc. - and the cruise ship charges $75,000 for the bill, does your travel insurance pay the $75,000? Or do they pay a reasonable amount, and are you stuck with the rest? I would think that $20,000 would be enough insurance for almost any treatment that a cruise ship would provide - but after seeing this story, I am not sure.

I called a travel insurance company and the representative could only tell me that the insurance company would have to review the bill and the policy after the treatment.

Does anyone have any experience with this issue? Thanks.

[CarlR33]

Recent thread on topic
Medical emergency disembarkation from a cruise ship?

[BrianL99]

I had a fried of a friend who had a heart attack on a cruise and had to be air-lifted off the ship and brought to a legitimate hospital, about 10 years ago.

$38,000, cash up front. Probably $100,000 now.

[Topspinmo]

Originally Posted by Rainger99

There was a recent article in which a passenger on a cruise ship had $20,000 of medical insurance that he bought from the cruise company. However, he had a three day stay in the ship hospital and the bill was $47,000!!!!

Minnesota man wins free Norwegian cruise vacation -- then catches the flu onboard and gets hit with $47K medical bill

I usually get travel insurance when I go on vacation. However, can a cruise ship charge whatever it wants for the treatment?

For example, if you go to the doctor for a minor injury - a couple of stitches, etc. - and the cruise ship charges $75,000 for the bill, does your travel insurance pay the $75,000? Or do they pay a reasonable amount, and are you stuck with the rest? I would think that $20,000 would be enough insurance for almost any treatment that a cruise ship would provide - but after seeing this story, I am not sure.

I called a travel insurance company and the representative could only tell me that the insurance company would have to review the bill and the policy after the treatment.

Does anyone have any experience with this issue? Thanks.

Number 123 reasons why I will NEVER go on cruise.

[Kenswing]

I had to go to the ship’s medical center for a severe sinus infection during a 21 day cruise. Exam plus meds was a whopping $90.

We never purchase the insurance offered by the cruise line. The past few cruises we’ve purchased insurance through Zurich. Much better coverage for less money.

[retiredguy123]

Originally Posted by Topspinmo

Number 123 reasons why I will NEVER go on cruise.

I agree. Why can't cruise companies charge a reasonable fee for a cruise without trying to rip you off for everything? They even charge you for wifi, overcharge for drinks, and tell you how much you should tip. I can live without cruising.

[Bill14564]

Originally Posted by retiredguy123

I agree. Why can't cruise companies charge a reasonable fee for a cruise without trying to rip you off for everything? They even charge you for wifi, overcharge for drinks, and tell you how much you should tip. I can live without cruising.

Are the drinks that much more expensive than they would be at Bluefin, Red Sauce, or Prima?
Given that cruises are international, not every country has a custom of tipping, and American tourists are cheap, is it unreasonable to recommend a tipping level?
I have no idea how much it costs to provision wifi for several thousand people on a ship, much less contract with a satellite provider for that much internet bandwidth, do you?

Cruising is not inexpensive and I'm sure the company makes money but are the prices exorbitant or is that just what it costs to provide the service?

[manaboutown]

20 years ago I had sinus/ear infections on a cruise ship off Greece. Saw the ship's MD who gave me an antibiotic and antihistamine. $30.

On an earlier cruise through the Panama Canal on Cunard's old and rather small ship, Ariadne, a group of very sick passengers boarded in Acapulco. Of course the bug got passed around. Some were so ill they never left their cabins. The ship's MD was exhausted. The CDC boarded and changed dining room and other protocols, no handshakes and so on. At some point one or more were evacuated by helicopter. I had an antibiotic I had picked up at the airport in Mexico City which I started prophylactically and never became ill. Then on its way through the canal the ship got pulled into the side of a lock in the canal which jammed a loading door shut. What a trip! I haven't a clue what the ill passengers had to pay.

[Haggar]

Having been the president of a small cruise line I will tell you that the economics of a cruise - to include a room, food, entertainment, on board activities, ports of interest, private beaches - compare very well against - for instance - going to Disney. My wife just came back from Disney - stayed in the Animation hotel for $500 a night, breakfast was $32, and then had to pay for Disney and its high food costs. In case you forgot Cruise Lines are public companies in business to make money for its stockholders. If you go on a more expensive cruise line you get more items included - airfare, wifi, unlimited drinks, premier meals. Carnival has lower fares but charges for everything extra. Allows those to do not want these services to not have to pay for them/

[asianthree]

My spouse had a patient who fell on a cruise ship, fractured femur, tibia. Between the on ship care (paid immediately before the improper cast over 3” thick), the med flight paid before pickup, off the ship. Flight back to the states, was $110,000. No insurance. Then the poor lady had to endure 2.5 hours cutting off the cast (if casted properly 20 minutes tops).

Our friends have had two episodes on cruise ships, insurance was purchased through Costco, which both have said has better coverage than any insurance they have purchased.

All bills on ship, flight, had to be paid immediately, so they use AmEX because high limits is preferable. Then bills submitted to insurance. Their recoup was 81%, and 90%.

Travel insurance personal will only give a vague answer, since any questions will be hypothetical issues

[Caymus]

Is travel insurance in international waters regulated?

[asianthree]

Originally Posted by Haggar

Having been the president of a small cruise line I will tell you that the economics of a cruise - to include a room, food, entertainment, on board activities, ports of interest, private beaches - compare very well against - for instance - going to Disney. My wife just came back from Disney - stayed in the Animation hotel for $500 a night, breakfast was $32, and then had to pay for Disney and its high food costs. In case you forgot Cruise Lines are public companies in business to make money for its stockholders. If you go on a more expensive cruise line you get more items included - airfare, wifi, unlimited drinks, premier meals. Carnival has lower fares but charges for everything extra. Allows those to do not want these services to not have to pay for them/

Last week stayed at Polynesian new Island Tower, for less per night, than your Art of Animation experience. We did have lunch at 220 definitely more than $100

[Rainger99]

Originally Posted by asianthree

Last week stayed at Polynesian new Island Tower, for less per night, than your Art of Animation experience. We did have lunch at 220 definitely more than $100

In May, you can take a seven day MSC cruise roundtrip from Port Canaveral for $1340 for two people. Kids sale free. Food and entertainment is included and you can drive to the port.

How much is a seven day stay at Disney with meals?

[blueash]

Originally Posted by Rainger99

In May, you can take a seven day MSC cruise roundtrip from Port Canaveral for $1340 for two people. Kids sale free. Food and entertainment is included and you can drive to the port.

How much is a seven day stay at Disney with meals?

What is the usual charge to buy a child?

[Harleyman]

I am Canadian. We own a home in the villages. Two years ago I got sick and ended up in the hospital in Ocala for 36 hours. My bill was 71,000 for tests. Obviously we do not cross the border without coverage.