Getting away from it all is the best part of taking a vacation in my opinion.  The cooking, the cleaning, the traffic—all of it.

But for cruisers, that same ship that lets them get away from life’s responsibilities for a while, also takes them away from things like convenient and affordable medical care.

For one recent cruise passenger, the trip apparently turned into a big financial headache. A Reddit post quickly went viral, after revealing a picture of a medical bill that totaled $9,759.86.

The social media post racked up over 500 comments after just one hour of being posted.  But besides being a sounding board for some, it’s also helping to draw attention to a very important aspect of travel: getting cruise travel insurance.

Sticker Shock at Sea: What Was On the Bill?

The bill, originating from the “Norwegian Escape Medical Center,” detailed various services that quickly added up.

(See picture of the medical bill here)

While the image shared was a bit blurry for some, and the original poster didn’t specify the exact nature of their illness, the itemized charges on the give a glimpse of the medical procedures and tests performed.

Key charges on the bill shown:

• “Professional Service” Fee: $8,761.00 formed the base of the charges, before any additions of medications and supplies.
• Viral Respiratory Test – PCR (SARS-CoV-2, Influenza A/B, RSV): A single test for these common respiratory illnesses came in at $274.00.

• MISCELLANEOUS PROCEDURES Injection – IV (Push/Infusion): These charges appear multiple times at $131.00 each (shown at least 8 times on the first page)
• Oximetry 24HR: This monitoring service was billed at $109.00.
• Other costs included various lab tests (e.g., “COMP. METABOLIC PANEL,” “BLOOD COUNT”) and additional IV administrations.

These itemized expenses shown in the blurry photo illustrate how quickly even routine medical attention can lead to a bill like this when you’re miles from shore.

Why So Pricey?

So, why are these bills so high? Many Redditors chimed in with a viewpoint of their own, highlighting an important thing to remember: cruise ship medical centers operate outside your regular health insurance network.

Unlike visiting your local doctor or emergency room back home, where your insurance typically covers a good chunk of the cost, you might be expected to pay the entire bill upfront on a cruise.

Getting reimbursed by your primary insurance later can be a complicated, drawn-out process, and some policies simply don’t offer international coverage at all, as one user noted, “That’s if they cover internationally, some insurance don’t unfortunately (mine doesn’t).”

This reality led several commenters to suggest that the true lesson isn’t “Don’t get sick on a cruise,” but rather, “Don’t get sick without insurance!“

Is It Worse Than a US Emergency Room?

The conversation in the thread quickly moved to a comparison of healthcare costs on land.

Many users, clearly familiar with American medical bills, argued that the nearly $10,000 cruise bill was “not outrageous” or even “still cheaper than an ER visit in the US.”

One person commented, “My wife got 5 stitches and it was 8k. In and out in under an hour.” Another shared the dread of dealing with a typical U.S. bill, suggesting endless calls to insurance companies.

Others, though, did point out specific charges that felt odd, like the $109 for a pulse oximeter, leading to jokes about bringing your own $4 device from Walmart.

Why Insurance is Key and NOT Just a Good Idea

Beyond the cost, many comments focused on the risk of having health issues on a cruise ship.

As one commenter put it, “Why I never leave the country without travel insurance that covers healthcare.” Another user shared a positive experience: “My son actually fell and sliced open his forehead on the pool deck and had to get stitches. We were not billed a penny because we had the insurance. I’m sure that would’ve been outrageous.”

Travel insurance isn’t just for covering the onboard medical bills though; it’s also important for emergency evacuations (med evacs), which can cost tens of thousands, or even hundreds of thousands of dollars.

Bottom Line

While the idea of a cruise is to relax and escape, this cruiser’s almost $10,000 medical bill is a good reminder that it’s important to be prepared for the unexpected. A small investment in a good travel insurance policy can give you peace of mind, so you can focus on enjoying your getaway instead of worrying about any issues that come up.

Because when you’re far from home, getting sick without proper coverage really is the worst kind of souvenir.