If the ship is nearing a stop, they may wait until they get to a port. If not, they consider what is close by, or if the U.S. Coast Guard (or equivalent officials in other countries) are available to them, who can provide an evacuation by helicopter, or by boat if they are closer to shore.

Yes, you can be airlifted off a cruise ship, but it is an extreme "medical evacuation of last resort" reserved for life-threatening emergencies that the ship's medical center cannot handle. The process is a highly coordinated operation involving the ship’s captain, the onboard medical team, and a national Coast Guard or private search-and-rescue (SAR) helicopter. Because landing a helicopter on a moving, swaying cruise ship is incredibly dangerous, the evacuation often involves "hoisting" the patient in a specialized litter (stretcher) while the helicopter hovers above the deck. In 2026, these airlifts can cost between $50,000 and $150,000, depending on the ship's distance from the shore. This is the primary reason why "Cruise-Specific Travel Insurance" is a non-negotiable peer-to-peer recommendation; without it, the guest is personally responsible for the astronomical cost of the flight. If the ship is too far out at sea for a helicopter's range (which is typically about 150–200 miles), the captain may have to "break speed" to race toward land or coordinate a "mid-sea transfer" to a closer naval vessel.