At least on some cruise lines, travel often involves additional costs that passengers don't expect.
Some first-time cruisers literally go on board without realizing that their cruise fare is not all-inclusive. They may be surprised to learn that specialty restaurants, alcoholic beverages, and espresso-based drinks cost extra. In some cases, people are shocked to learn that soft drinks, bottled water, and other non-alcoholic beverages cost extra.
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If you don't do your homework before boarding, you may find that on many cruise lines, Wi-Fi access is an extra cost. And to make matters worse with all these extra charges, you typically pay more for packages if you wait until you board to purchase them.
Carnival Cruise Line, for example, charges a higher daily price for its Cheers beverage package, while Royal Caribbean has eliminated onboard discounts for its Deluxe beverage package.
In both cases, not being prepared will cost you more money. The same is often true for excursions and many other extras on board.
With all this, even frequent cruisers are often surprised to discover that there is an area on board that carries an additional charge. There are ways to avoid this charge, but you have to act before you board.
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Carnival explains an extra charge
All cruise ships have medical centers with a doctor and nurses on board. They are usually on a lower deck and in the post-Covid era, cruise lines are urging you to visit them if you are not feeling well or experiencing any symptoms.
This can lead to an unexpected problem, as one Carnival passenger explained in a message to brand ambassador John Heald.
“John Heald, we are on Carnival Horizon. DH has to have his blood pressure checked several times a week. We did not bring his machine with us. We went to the medical/nursing center to get our routine blood pressure checked and were charged. How can Carnival justify charging us for that? The fact that they are asking for little and little is out of control,” he wrote.
Heald responded to the complaint.
“Thanks, yes there is a charge for every medical service on board the ship. I'm pretty sure if you want to do that on land in North America there would probably be a charge if you went to see your doctor on land. I could be wrong. But yes there is a charge for all medical services on board and I don't know if insurance will cover it,” he wrote.
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Most traditional health insurance does not cover medical expenses on board or abroad, but travel insurance does. Passengers can purchase insurance for a single trip or for the entire year.
Policies vary, and some plans have minimum deductibles. But in the event of a medical emergency, the right travel insurance can save you tens of thousands of dollars, as many plans cover medical evacuations and foreign hospital stays.
Carnival rejects accusation of “money penetration”
Heald doesn't understand why passengers would expect free medical coverage, since they don't get it on the ground and hotels on land don't offer it.
“What I do know is that reading the words 'penetration' has definitely raised my blood pressure. I'd better get it under control,” she wrote.
He made it clear that health care is an added expense.
“Anyway, yes, there is a charge for all medical checks at the medical center, but the wonderful nurses and doctors will provide you with expert care if you need it. Alternatively, speak to the cruise director. He or she will hold you very tightly and then slowly release your grip and then tell you that your blood pressure is 120/80,” she added.
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The passengers, for the most part, agreed with him.
“If my husband has to monitor his blood pressure, why didn't they bring their own monitor? What do they do at home? It would be like me not bringing any of my diabetic supplies and just going to the doctor every time and assuming I can get free services when I have my own devices to do it,” Julie Porter wrote.
Toni Hutson also blamed the problem on passengers' poor planning.
“The lack of planning on the part of this person does not make the problem Carnival's. This is not a matter of petty cash, but of going to the doctor. Of course, there is a cost,” he shared.
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Some passengers saw both sides of the issue.
“I know people forget things all the time so it would be nice to offer this service for free or at least for a very small amount because it would only take a small amount of time, but I also understand that Carnival pays this staff so there should be some pay, plus if Carnival started doing this it would just lead that department down a slippery slope of people complaining saying 'they got this service so I should get this service for free,'” Barry Walker wrote.
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