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No one is exempt from getting sick during a cruise and that is why we have gathered vital information, which can help you to prevent any unwanted situation on board.
The possibility of getting sick on board is often a “taboo” issue for some cruise ship sellers. And it is reasonable, since no one wants to frighten the passenger by making them think of nurses and doctors during their vacations or having to travel with special care.
Ships carrying more than 100 crew members on an international trip of three or more days, according to international law, are required to have a medical service.
This medical service treats acute and not too serious problems, since in that case the disembarkation is generated in a terrestrial hospital.
Medical facilities on board
In general, cruise ships carry a doctor and two nurses, with a small office prepared to attend emergencies, stabilize a patient and, if necessary, prepare them for a medical evacuation (Medevac).
In the specific case of MSC Musica (on a cruise from Buenos Aires) there were 2 doctors and several nurses to assist the guests of the ship, with a complete “mini hospital” and its pharmacy attached.
But this is not the average on cruise ships. In cases like the Queen Mary 2 of Cunard Line, it has for the 4344 passengers: a surgeon, a clinical doctor and a staff of 8 nurses.
But here comes into play, besides the policy of each shipping company, the route that it makes and the support that it may have in an emergency.
Obviously, a cruise in the Caribbean is not the same, where an evacuation can be carried out quickly to an ocean liner where you can be more than two days of sailing until you reach a port.
In fact that is the reason why there are many differences between one service and another.
If you want to find out about the vaccines required in Antarctica, check out our article on this topic: Travel vaccines for Antarctica.
[Photo from Pixabay]
