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.

Medical care on a cruise ship in 2026 is notoriously expensive because shipboard infirmaries operate as private, out-of-network urgent care centers. A basic consultation with a ship's doctor typically starts between $150 and $300, and this does not include any tests, medications, or treatments. If you require diagnostic services like an X-ray or blood work, the bill can easily climb to $500–$1,000. More serious incidents involving cardiac monitoring or stabilization for trauma can cost several thousand dollars per day. Most importantly, cruise ship medical centers generally do not accept land-based health insurance or Medicare; you are usually required to pay the full amount via your "SeaPass" or room account before disembarking. For this reason, comprehensive travel insurance with high medical coverage is mandatory in 2026. In the worst-case scenario, a medical evacuation by helicopter from a ship at sea can cost upwards of $50,000 to $100,000, a financial burden that can be devastating without the proper insurance policy.