Typically, a member of the cruise line's Care Team will accompany the ill passenger and a companion or family member to the hospital. You will not be reimbursed for any unused portion of your cruise. You will be charged for medical services onboard and in the port of call where you are disembarked.

If you fall ill on a cruise in 2026, the ship's medical center—typically located on a lower deck—is your first point of contact. These centers are staffed 24/7 by licensed doctors and nurses capable of handling everything from minor seasickness to cardiac emergencies and lab tests. However, medical care onboard is private and quite expensive, as it is not covered by standard land-based insurance or government plans like the EHIC; you will usually pay upfront and file an insurance claim later. If you have a contagious illness like Norovirus or COVID-19, you may be required to undergo cabin isolation to protect the rest of the ship, during which the crew will provide complimentary room service. In severe cases where the ship’s facilities are insufficient, the captain will coordinate an emergency medical evacuation (medevac) by helicopter or arrange for you to be disembarked at the next port for hospital transfer.