Do all cruise ships have a doctor on board?

Luckily, all cruise ships have a medical facility onboard to treat a variety of illnesses and conditions. I've cruised a ton in my life and been really lucky with my health. I've heard horror stories of people getting sick, breaking arms or even needing to be evacuated to receive medical care.



Yes, virtually all commercial cruise ships carrying more than a few dozen passengers are required to have at least one licensed physician and several registered nurses on board. According to standards set by the American College of Emergency Physicians (ACEP) and the Cruise Lines International Association (CLIA), these medical professionals must be available 24/7 for emergencies. On large "mega-ships" in 2026, you will often find multiple doctors and a staff of three to five nurses. These onboard medical centers are equipped to handle everything from minor ailments like motion sickness and respiratory infections to life-threatening emergencies like heart attacks or strokes. While they function as advanced infirmaries rather than full hospitals, they contain digital X-ray machines, EKG equipment, lab testing capabilities, and a stocked pharmacy. It is important to remember that these services are not free; they are typically billed to your onboard account and can be quite expensive, so having travel insurance that covers "emergency medical" and "evacuation" is a must for any cruiser.

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Depending on the size of the ship and number of passengers and crew members, each RCG ship has two to three licensed doctors and three to five licensed nurses available to passengers and crew members 24/7.

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How Much Does it Cost to See a Doctor on a Cruise? A medical consultation on a cruise usually costs around $100 (£85) if during medical centre opening hours. This price rises to around $165 (£137) for appointments outside of opening hours and can rise as high as $205 (£170) if a doctor needs to visit a guest's cabin.

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A guest that is diagnosed as having an infectious disease by a member of our medical staff onboard will need to isolate onboard for a period of time — either until they can be safely disembarked at a port of call with private transport home, or when the sailing concludes back at the home port where it started.

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Cruise ship doctors work as independent contractors and may charge a basic hourly fee. There will be additional charges for medications and tests. All must be paid for at the time of service and will be billed to your shipboard spending account.

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Respiratory Illnesses. Respiratory illnesses are the most common medical complaint on cruise ships.

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Health issues may arise in these floating metropolises. Therefore, cruise lines employ doctors and nurses onboard to handle any emergencies. Generally, at least two nurses and one doctor will be on board. In many large ships, there are two doctors and three or four nurses.

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Being airlifted off a cruise usually costs at least $20,000 and this can rise into the hundreds of thousands depending on location and other factors. This is one reason why taking out travel insurance with good medical cover is essential when cruising. Do not EVER cruise without travel insurance.

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The morgue is usually found on the lowest ship deck, away from guests. It is a refrigerated room made of stainless steel with individual compartments. Generally, the bigger the ship, the more shelves are found in the morgue. Morgues tend to be small and can typically hold three to six bodies.

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The short answer: Drink water and go see a doctor. If you experience symptoms of a UTI at sea, respond first by drinking plenty of water. Increasing your urinary flow can slow the progression of a UTI, which is especially important if you do not have immediate access to professional medical care.

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Cruise lines don't have police onboard. Instead, they have security teams they employ. The captain has the ultimate authority in decision-making on the ship regarding what should happen to those suspected of criminal activity.

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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.

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The medical staff on cruise ships can diagnose and treat some illnesses on board and prescribe medications. While cruise ships typically stock a broad range of meds, including antibiotics, there's only sometimes a large supply. Doctors may give you a prescription you can fill at a pharmacy in the next port.

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U.S. citizens traveling by sea must now have either a U.S. passport, passport card, or other WHTI- compliant document. Be aware that the “enhanced driver's licenses” or “enhanced ID cards” offered by many states are not accepted by Dominican authorities for ferry travel from Puerto Rico.

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Both cruise ship and yacht nurses perform basic first aid skills, administer medications, and occasionally handle emergency medical care. They must be able to assess situations and triage, and also educate passengers on any medical issues or concerns.

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Yes, cruise ships have brigs, which is the nautical term for a jail on a vessel, including a cruise ship. The term comes from the word brigantine, which is a type of two-masted sailing ship formerly used to house criminals.

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If you get diarrhea, drink lots of fluids to stay hydrated. In serious cases of travelers' diarrhea, oral rehydration solution—available online or in pharmacies in developing countries—can be used for fluid replacements.

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One of the biggest misconceptions about cruise ships is that they're germ incubators—that you can't escape. But the likelihood of catching a stomach bug on a seven-day voyage is less than 1 percent—which is about a third the risk of getting infected in your day-to-day life back home, says Dr.

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Studies have shown that quick application of hand sanitizers does not kill the norovirus. It takes about 30 seconds of hard rubbing with hot water and soap to kill it. The cause of most cruise line norovirus outbreaks is contaminated food or water. The way it spreads is through physical contact.

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