Cruise Passenger’s Costly Medical Bill for Seasickness Goes Viral

A female Reddit user recently shared the cost of visiting Norwegian Bliss’ ship infirmary. After getting seasick, the passenger received an eyebrow-raising bill for services worth over $2,000. 

A woman who goes by Diana wrote, “Just returned from my Alaskan cruise (which was otherwise fabulous!) and the first night at sea was in very rough waters! I was wearing the scop patch and have never had a problem cruising with it before, but I’m not sure what happened because I was sick as a dog! Sick throughout the whole night. So sick, I was seriously contemplating flying home hahaha! Mustered up my last ounce of energy to make my way to the ship infirmary the next morning and was seen by the doctors. Cost a pretty penny, but the IV fluids and Zofran were a lifesaver!”

Upon leaving the clinic, she was advised to use oral anti-nausea medication.

She later shared photographs of her invoices online. They revealed a $96 charge for supplies, $116 for medications, and $2,085 for services, bringing her total to $2,297.

As netizens scrutinized how a simple case of seasickness could lead to over $2,000 in fees, they pointed out generous markups in the list.

“In case anyone is wondering, this is the O2 sensor they stick on your finger and they are charging $109 for placing it there to get an O2 reading which is insane,” commented one reader.

Another Reddit user said, “Yes but to charge for a nurse reading the oximeter WHILE also charging for the nurse’s time by the hour??”

In addition to the blood oxygen reading, other itemized charges included $131 for each IV bag, $219 for admission to the infirmary, $219 for the doctor’s consultation, and $228 for nursing fees.

A look at some of the charges from an Urgent Care clinic on land to on a ship.

Service	Land Clinic	Cruise Infirmary
IV Bag	$95 for first, then $25 each	$131 each
Office Visit/Doctor	$199	$418
Blood O2 Reading	Included in the office visit	$108

Cruise Radio was told, “Cruise ship medical centers have limited resources and often charge a premium for their services.”

Travel Insurance to the Rescue

Fortunately, Diana had the foresight to purchase travel insurance before her trip. 

“I bought travel insurance. I paid the bill before I got off the ship yesterday, and will file a claim for reimbursement. I know people don’t like to buy travel insurance but, you never know when you might need it! Peace of mind is enough for me!,” she assured worried readers.

Cruise lines don’t accept travel insurance onboard, but passengers can file claims and receive reimbursements after the trip.

Remember that medical bills must be fully paid before debarking the ship. If you cannot pay, you must sign a promissory note. 

Cruise Radio also has practical tips for avoiding seasickness during sailings.