Doctors charges will make you sick
For all of you who are just about to set off on your cruise make sure your feeling as fit as a fiddle because you do not want to end up making an unexpected trip to the doctors on-board. A survey that has been organised by which? has shown some shocking results. Visiting the ships doctors can cost an average of £233 but one person reported paying £500 and another with a medical bill of £6,500. The survey questioned 1,368 people who had been on a cruise and reported that three in ten of those who saw a doctor had to foot the entire bill as there insurance did not cover them. Which? Travel says that one passenger who forgot to take their blood pressure tablets on-board with her was charged £154 by P&O for the privilege of replacing them. I strongly advise that if you are taking medication on-board make sure you have everything you need and allow for every eventuality so if there are delays or you misplace some you take enough to cover this. Also if you suffer from sea sickness and go to the doctor on-board you could pay up to £50 to have an anti-sea sickness injection but by simply popping into boots before you travel and stocking up on sea sickness tablets will only set you back a couple of pounds.
I went on the Balmoral in December a few years back and being only a small ship the motion was pretty bad to the point at dinner when I got up to pop to the ladies I had to grip onto the side of the wall to stand up straight (and no I hadn’t even started on the wine at that point). My colleague came to my rescue as she had packed her sea sickness bands which worked a treat. Almost like a think elastic band with a bobble on that presses against your pressure point it stops the sickness feeling. I think they set her back about a fiver but mine was a fashion assesory for the rest of the trip and it saved me a costly visit to the docs.
I went on the Balmoral in December a few years back and being only a small ship the motion was pretty bad to the point at dinner when I got up to pop to the ladies I had to grip onto the side of the wall to stand up straight (and no I hadn’t even started on the wine at that point). My colleague came to my rescue as she had packed her sea sickness bands which worked a treat. Almost like a think elastic band with a bobble on that presses against your pressure point it stops the sickness feeling. I think they set her back about a fiver but mine was a fashion assesory for the rest of the trip and it saved me a costly visit to the docs.
Researchers asked five of the biggest cruise lines in the British Market – Cunard, Fred Olsen’s, P&O, Princess and Royal Caribbean for their medical charges and each said its costs were in line with private medical care in the UK. Royal Caribbean was the only line that provided a list of its charges and for an average 15 minute consultation the charge was £46.
Are the Doctors taking advantage of people who are in a vulnerable situation stuck at sea with nowhere else to go??? Have you been to the Doctors on-board and had a shock when you received the bill??
About Me
I have been working in the Travel Industry for 16 years and originally started out in Business travel. After doing this for a while I was given an opportunity to move into the cruising industry and haven't looked back since. I thoroughly enjoy my job and can't think of anything…
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