How a passenger covered her $5K+ infirmary bill

On Jul 21, 2024

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Travel insurance is a must for cruises, as medical bills can be high.
Even a low level of travel insurance can cover medical bills from your ship.
If you opt for a comprehensive trip policy, you’ll be fully covered for trip cancellation plus medical expenses.

After taking a Caribbean cruise with her mother last year, Megan Ayscue didn’t think she’d end up with a medical bill that would cost more than the cruise itself.

The North Carolina-based traveler and her mother boarded the Norwegian Pearl in November to visit the Dominican Republic, Curaçao and other island destinations. The two were enjoying the trip until Ayscue went snorkeling in the Dominican Republic a few days in and got water stuck in her ear.

At first, she went to an infirmary in St. Thomas in the U.S. Virgin Islands, but the problem wasn’t resolved. Thankfully, her medical insurance covered the visit. Back on board, Ayscue went to the ship’s infirmary, where she was given oral antibiotics, Tylenol and ear drops. Her ear still hurt, so she went back to the infirmary the next day while the ship was at sea and was diagnosed with a bacterial infection that was spreading to her face.

What happens if you get sick or injured (or bitten by a monkey) on a cruise ship

“My ear had completely swelled shut. I could not hear out of my left ear. It was so painful, and I couldn’t feel the side of my face,” she said. The infection had spread into her lymph nodes, numbing the left side of her face.

Ayscue received an IV infusion of steroids, anti-inflammatory medicine, antibiotics and anti-nausea medicine. The doctors told her to return the next day for another infusion. Ayscue said her experience with the onboard infirmary was positive and healed her infection, but she left with a bill of $5,528.29. Since Ayscue didn’t have the money at the time, her mother put it on her credit card.

Back home, Ayscue waited six months to hear that her insurer denied covering her medical expenses from the cruise. Her parents had to shift money around to cover Ayscue’s medical bill, and because her mother had booked the cruise on the same credit card, struggled to make her monthly payments.

Norwegian Cruise Line told USA TODAY that “we strongly encourage guests to file a claim with their health insurance provider post-cruise.”

There was, however, one saving grace. Thankfully, the family had purchased travel insurance for the cruise because Ayscue’s mother had experienced a heart attack a few years ago. That insurance, which cost about $300, ended up covering every cent of the medical bill.

“It ended up basically saving me and my parents from a financial cliff,” she said.

Unfortunately, Ayscue’s experience is not unusual, and a hefty medical bill on cruise ships can be expected, even for typical medical problems that warrant a little medical attention, such as seasickness or infections.

“It’s unfortunately extremely uncommon,” said Jenna Hummer, public relations director at travel insurance platform Squaremouth. “Our highest recommendation for…