Most articles tell you to 'pack a first aid kit.' That's it. No one tells you what to actually DO when your kid spikes a fever in the middle of the Caribbean with no Google, no pharmacy nearby, and a ship doctor who charges $200 per visit.
Here's my real experience — and a step-by-step plan you can screenshot and save offline.
BEFORE YOUR CRUISE — The 3 Things That Saved Us
1. International Travel
Insurance (with medical evacuation)
•
Not all insurance covers cruises — check for 'medical
evacuation from ship'
•
Look for coverage that includes emergency transport to
the nearest port hospital
•
Buy it BEFORE departure (pre-existing conditions
window)
•
Keep the policy number and 24/7 hotline saved in your
phone — OFFLINE
2. Pediatrician Visit Before
Departure
•
Tell your doctor exactly where you're going and for how
long
•
Ask them to build your travel kit by symptom, not just
'grab Tylenol'
•
Get written dosage notes — in a panic, you forget
weight-based math
•
If your child has allergies or chronic conditions: get
a summary card in English
3. Offline Hospital Map
•
Go to Google Maps → search hospitals at EACH port of
call
•
Star them and download offline maps for those cities
•
In most cruises, you dock at a port every 1-2 days —
that's your access point
• Bonus: save the address of a pharmacy too ("farmacia" / "pharmacy" in local language)
ON THE SHIP — What to Do First
The ship has a medical center —
but it's expensive
•
Expect ~$200 USD per consultation (not always covered
by insurance upfront)
•
Use it for: high fever over 39.5°C that won't break,
breathing issues, severe vomiting
•
For mild symptoms: use YOUR kit first
Room Service is underrated
•
When I was sick alongside my daughter, I called room
service and asked them to bring simple foods for her
•
Staff are generally very helpful — don't be afraid to
explain the situation
•
Rice, bread, bananas, clear broth — ask for these
specifically
Port Day = Your Pharmacy Run
•
Feel a cold coming on? Wait for the next port (usually
1-2 days)
•
Take a taxi to the nearest pharmacy — it's fast and
cheap
•
I did this in Jamaica — local pharmacies carry most
basics
• Have your symptom written on paper in the local language (see checklist below)
3 Things Nobody Tells You
• The ship doctor is trained for emergencies, not common colds — save them for serious situations
•
Most
Caribbean / Mediterranean ports have pharmacies within 10 min of the dock
•
Room
service staff can be lifesavers — literally. Ask for help, they want to assist
