Do Cruise Ships Have Doctors On Board?

Cruise ships typically have a medical staff consisting of a doctor and at least two nurses, with the world’s largest cruise ships having two doctors and five or six nurses. Medical personnel are found through worldwide recruitment companies and work on ships on two- to six-month contracts. Doctors and nurses report to a licensed medical staff and onboard medical services that can be treated on any Royal Caribbean cruise ship.

All major cruise lines have onboard medical facilities staffed by experienced, credentialed doctors and nurses. The size of the medical center and the number of doctors on board vary, but most cruise ships have at least one doctor and two nurses who live onboard and are on call 24 hours per day. Larger ships might have a second doctor and additional nursing staff.

Requirements for becoming a cruise doctor include three years of emergency-room experience, some general-practitioner experience, and specific training. Doctors do not have NPI numbers, as they use tax IDs instead. Medical facilities are stocked with a variety of equipment and are equipped to handle emergencies.

Working at sea is more than just a job; it’s a way of life for cruise ship employees. Most ships have at least one doctor and two nurses onboard, with a senior doctor primarily responsible for emergency care. The doctors on board are independent contractors, and shipboard medical facilities are set up to provide reasonable emergency medical care for guests and crew.

Who takes care of you on a cruise?

What does a cabin steward do?. Your room steward serves as your cabin attendant for the length of your cruise. He or she will visit your room at least once a day (often twice on mainstream and luxury ships) to make your bed, take out the trash, replenish your towels, take away used glasses or room service trays and do other basic cleaning chores. On many ships, they are also responsible for creating those cute towel animals you see on your bed at night.

How do I know who my room steward is?. You will usually find a small card in your cabin that tells you the name of your room steward. It’s also customary for your cabin steward to introduce himself or herself to you at the beginning of your trip. It’s considered polite to say hello to your cabin attendant when you pass him or her in the hallway.

Will my cabin steward speak English?. Almost all cruise lines require their employees, especially those who deal with passengers, to speak English. That being said, English will probably not be your room steward’s first language, and you might have to be patient when communicating.

What happens if you need a doctor on a cruise?

Should a guest require medical attention while aboard one of our vessels, the Medical Center staff is available to assist 24 hours a day. The on board medical centers are staffed and equipped to treat routine medical conditions as well as to initiate stabilization of more serious conditions. Physicians are available to render services at a customary fee. While at sea or in port, the availability of medical care may be limited.

Medical Center HoursThe Medical Center has daily office hours which are listed in the HUB App. The medical staff is on call 24 hours a day for emergencies. Routine hours are subject to temporary change due to extenuating circumstances:

• Embarkation day: 8:00am-9:00am and 3:00pm-5:00pm
• Sea days: 9:00am-12:00pm and 3:00pm-6:00pm
• Port days: 8:00am-10:00am and 4:00pm-6:00pm

Can you get medicine on a cruise ship?

Cruise ships have a licensed pharmacy … but they do not generally dispense drugs for passengers other than OTC stuff.

Do cruise ships have medical equipment?

Cruise ships have an infirmary. It is equipped with a medical procedure bed, full medical with EKG, X ray machine, equipment and supplies to treat most minor emergency procedures. It may include supplies for suturing, or other procedures.

Do cruise ships have jail cells?

…and a jail. There are no police officers on cruise ships, but most vessels have small jails known as the brig, and unruly passengers could find themselves locked up if the ship’s security team determines that they have violated the cruise line’s code of conduct.

The brig, usually a bare-bones room with a bed and bathroom facilities, does not have iron bars like a traditional jail cell. It is used to detain guests who commit serious crimes like assault or possession of illegal substances. Drunk and disorderly passengers may be put under “cabin arrest,” meaning they cannot leave their cabin without a security escort.

Depending on the circumstances, most passengers put in the brig will stay there until they can be handed over to law enforcement officials.

What happens if you get seriously ill on a cruise ship?

Usually, the decision is made to disembark the patient at a location where the relevant medical facilities are available. If the necessary facilities are not available at this location or if the patient wants to get back home, an air ambulance is usually needed for medical evacuation or for medical repatriation.

An air ambulance for medical evacuation / medical repatriation after an emergency on a cruise. The air ambulances of Medical Air Service are often required for the transport of patients who have had a medical emergency on a cruise. In most cases, the ship disembarked the passenger at a location where quality care is not available or is too expensive. In other cases, the traveler requires medical repatriation back home to rest and recuperate.

In these situations, ourair ambulances offer travelers with a medical emergency on a cruise ship a safe and quick way of getting back home. Our planes are fitted with the latest medical equipment and have doctors and paramedics on board to offer treatment and care to the patient during the transfer. Our planes are ICU-equipped and are able to transport even those requiring intensive care after their medical emergency on the cruise.

Do cruise ship doctors have antibiotics?

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. The pharmacy stocks typically will include medications for gastrointestinal and cardiovascular issues; respiratory problems; infectious diseases; eyes; ears, noses and throats; and urinary tract, as well as vaccines.

The cost of these meds will be more than if you shopped at your home pharmacy but about the same as getting off the ship and buying them in port.

Quarantine Procedures. Cruise ship policies dictate that if you feel like you might be getting sick or have signs of a serious ailment, such as vomiting or diarrhea, you must tell the ship’s medical staff immediately. Passengers can be restricted to their staterooms if the ship’s physician decides their illness poses a risk of outbreak. Cruise lines are especially wary of influenza or the highly contagious norovirus, which can quickly spread.

Does human trafficking happen on cruise ships?

While hotels and motels can be especially attractive locations for all forms of human trafficking, it is also important to note that human trafficking occurs at sporting events, theme parks, on cruise ships, and in many other areas of the tourism industry.

Do cruise ships have nurses?

What Is Cruise Ship Nursing?. Cruise ship nurses work with the medical team to provide care to the passengers and crew. They’re also responsible for managing any staff under their supervision. They address minor ailments, answer health-related questions, and respond to medical emergencies. In other words, you can liken their work to a floating first aid clinic.

What Does a Cruise Ship Nurse Do?. Despite the unique environment, many of the tasks for which these nurses are responsible overlap with those of nurses in ambulatory care settings. Their responsibilities include:

• Addressing minor injuries and illnesses.
• Responding to medical emergencies.
• Administering vaccinations when necessary.
• Providing health education unique to each destination.
• Assessing and triaging medical situations.
• Administering medications.
• Ensuring equipment and medicine are functioning and up to date.
• Assisting with transferring patients to medical centers.

Will they let you on a cruise ship if you’re sick?

If you indicate that you have been feeling sick, you will be pulled aside for a quick checkup. If the ship’s medical personnel determine that you’re feverish, contagious or otherwise ill, they have the authority to prevent you from boarding.

If I get sick, do cruise ships have doctors onboard?. 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.

Do cruises have good medical care?

Should a guest require medical attention while aboard one of our vessels, the Medical Center staff is available to assist 24 hours a day. The on board medical centers are staffed and equipped to treat routine medical conditions as well as to initiate stabilization of more serious conditions. Physicians are available to render services at a customary fee. While at sea or in port, the availability of medical care may be limited.

Medical Center HoursThe Medical Center has daily office hours which are listed in the HUB App. The medical staff is on call 24 hours a day for emergencies. Routine hours are subject to temporary change due to extenuating circumstances:

• Embarkation day: 8:00am-9:00am and 3:00pm-5:00pm
• Sea days: 9:00am-12:00pm and 3:00pm-6:00pm
• Port days: 8:00am-10:00am and 4:00pm-6:00pm

What is the most common crime on cruise ships?

Sexual assault Since 2015, sexual assault has been the most reported crime on cruise ships, with more than 450 cases reported between 2015 and 2022, Insider wrote.

Cruises can be enjoyable vacation experiences, what with all that unending food and entertainment. But spending days or longer in an isolated vessel in the middle of the ocean is not diverting for all passengers. Sexual assault is the highest reported cruise ship crime, and the numbers are worsening. Many have also accused cruise companies of covering up incidents of sexual assault rather than protecting the crimes’ victims.

Subscribe to The Week. Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.

Sign up for The Week’s Free Newsletters. From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.