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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. The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention says ship infirmary capabilities vary depending on size, length of sailing and passenger demographics. Before you dismiss a career as a cruise ship doctor because of this potential gap in earnings, you should crunch the numbers a little further. When you consider that your living expenses will be minimal while working for a cruise ship, the earnings gap may look a little different. While most cruise ships are aimed at rest and relaxation, AIDA Cruises stands apart by targeting younger, more active vacationers.
Pediatric Care
Fourteen ships sail under the AIDA Cruises name, and the line is consistently named one of Germany’s best employers, most recently recognized by the Top Employers Institute in 2022. Disney Cruise Line was bought by Carnival Corporation in 1991 for $372 million. This is the fourth cruise line bought by Carnival (the others are Holland America Lines and Windstar Sale Cruises). Doctors working on this cruise line are offered a permanent contract with 12 weeks on/6 weeks off rotation pattern.
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Do cruise ships have doctors, nurses, medical centers, or hospitals?
These staff members need to meet the guidelines set out by the American College of Emergency Physicians (ACEP). I’ve also heard stories about the medical facility onboard costing an exorbitant amount of money, as they do not accept insurance. All costs for medical services and medication is out of pocket and charged to your onboard account. Especially in a post-pandemic world where we are more aware of potential diseases and illnesses, you might wonder what it’s like using a medical facility on a cruise ship.
Costs and Insurance Considerations for Medical Care at Sea
Working as a cruise ship doctor isn’t easy work – the days can be long, you’ll work without a day off for long periods of time, and you have to be ready to deal with anything. Scott said how cruise ships get sick or injured passengers to shore depends in large part on "the weather, the location and the assets available." Cruise line members of Cruise Lines International Association, the industry's leading trade group, worked with the ACEP "to develop and implement guidelines on cruise ship medical facilities," according to its website.
A cruise ship physician must be able to handle all kinds of situations at sea – one day could have you diagnosing a dental infection, while the next may see you removing glass from a wound. And on rare, stressful days you may need to stabilise a patient suffering a cardiac arrest and prepare them to be airlifted to the hospital. And a sick patient left untreated can also make more people on board sick if they aren’t properly evaluated and quarantined. So, employing doctors is definitely worthwhile for cruise lines for the improved experience of all guests and the removal of liability too.
When she arrived, she called the on-call paramedic, who was woken up and arrived with a wheelchair. But larger ships will have a team of doctors to keep everyone on board safe. This only applies if the ship has more than 100 passengers, though – otherwise, it is not a requirement. In most cases, even small ships will have someone medically trained on board, particularly as they often sail to more remote destinations. Inside the medical center you'll find a waiting room – where you will fill out medical history forms as you would in any doctor's office – and exam rooms. Only if your medical situation requires it will you see a separate area with hospital beds, a small surgical suite where wound suturing and other minor surgeries may be conducted, or the ICU or isolation rooms.
Cruise Ship Doctors Are on Call 24/7
If you are medically disembarked and sent to a shoreside hospital, you will likely need to pay in cash. Doctors on cruise ships may work hour days and be on-call 7 days a week, with no days off during the entire duration of their contracts. This means that there is little time for leisure activities or even rest, as doctors must remain available in case of an emergency or sudden illness.
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Who pays for treatment
This is a small price to pay for the convenience and peace of mind provided by these pharmacies. In this article, I will guide you through the healthcare services aboard a cruise ship. We’ll dive into the facilities available, the expertise of the medical staff, and how cruising giants have adapted to keep us safe in turbulent times.
Are there doctors, nurses, medical centers, or hospitals on cruise ships?
It's also where a passenger might be taken temporarily prior to disembarking for additional care if the ship is unable to provide it. All oceangoing cruise vessels have at least one doctor and two nurses who live onboard and are on call 24/7. What’s great about these medical centers is that they cater to everyone on board – passengers and crew alike. So, whether it’s a minor ailment or something more serious, the medical team is there to help. It’s important to understand that a ship’s medical facility is more of an infirmary than a full-fledged hospital.
The $155 total from the medical visit was billed to my onboard account, which was charged to my credit card on the last day. The medication you can acquire includes seasickness pills, aspirin, antibiotics as well as any other over-the-counter medications. The pharmacy stocks generally medications for gastrointestinal, cardiovascular, and respiratory medications issues, infectious diseases, eyes, ears, and throat infections as well as vaccines. Onboard there will also be a pharmacy, which means you’ll be able to buy whatever basic medications you might require, as well as some more advanced medications. The size of the pharmacy’s inventory is dependent on the size of the ship and amount of medical personnel as well as the perceived needs of the ship. The staff is also required to be fluent in the language most dominant onboard the vessel.
Cruise Ship Physician Assistants in St. Petersburg earn an average annual salary of $105,360. These healthcare professionals play a vital role in providing medical care to passengers and crew, contributing to the safety and health of those on board. As we look forward to more adventures at sea, it’s comforting to know that the industry’s response to health crises like COVID-19 has made cruising safer than ever.
If you have an emergency on any cruise ship, you can push a button on your stateroom phone for help – the equivalent of dialing 911 from your home phone. For minor ailments, you can visit the medical facility during set office hours. Overall, life as a doctor on a cruise ship can be both demanding and rewarding. Doctors get to travel to different countries while providing quality medical care, get to work in an environment with plenty of amenities and benefits, and are compensated generously for their hard work. Non-tangible benefits of working as a cruise ship doctor include exploring the ports and taking shore excursions during downtime.
No cruise ship would allow someone to die or be seriously ill without treating them, but if you can’t pay immediately then they will start to ask you for payment information as soon as you are recovered/stable. Costs to see a doctor vary by cruise line, but expect to pay around $100 for a consultation during office hours. You may pay more for a visit outside of opening times and more again for a visit to your stateroom.
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