Members of the U.S. Coast Guard (USCG) were called to help rescue a sick passenger on the Carnival Jubilee cruise ship on Friday, March 20.
"[Helicopter medical evacuations are]... a very complicated safety procedure that can only be executed under [a] certain set of conditions. Weather, wind, waves, distance from shore, and stability of the patient, there [are] a lot of conditions that need to align," explained Kyndall Fire, Cruise Director aboard Carnival Jubilee.
"But with the help of our Captain, Chief Engineer, Sr Physician, Hotel Director, and USCG, as well as countless other key personnel, we were able to complete this rescue and get the person ashore to get the medical attention needed."
Carnival Jubilee was on a 7-night Western Caribbean cruise from Galveston, Texas, when the rescue unfolded.
The medical evacuation happened on the final day of the weeklong voyage as the ship sailed back toward the Lone Star State.
Ports of call on the voyage included Cozumel, Mexico; Costa Maya, Mexico; and Roatán, Honduras. Fire says that the evacuation should not have any impact on the ship's disembarkation on Saturday, March 21:
"As of now we see NO IMPACT on our arrival time in Galveston, Texas. Guest[s] onboard should debark as originally scheduled. The safety of our guest[s] and crew are always our #1 priority and we ask you [to] keep this person in your thoughts and prayers."
As Fire explained, cruise ship medical evacuations are complex procedures. Rough seas and high winds can make urgent rescue missions impossible.
As such, it's not unheard of for cruise ships to adjust their course or speed. Sometimes, they may even make an unscheduled stop to safely evacuate passengers in another port.
Last September, for example, Carnival Pride arrived more than 15 hours early in Bermuda to disembark a guest experiencing a medical emergency on board. Consequently, the Spirit Class ship's shops and casinos were closed early to comply with Bermuda's local laws.
A few months later, Star of the Seas diverted to Nassau, Bahamas, after departing from Perfect Day at CocoCay to disembark a passenger who needed urgent medical attention.
Launching in 2023, Carnival Jubilee is Carnival Cruise Line's newest Excel Class ship. She measures 183,521 gross tons and is 1,130 feet long. At double occupancy, Jubilee can accommodate 5,362 passengers and 1,735 international crew members, according to the company. Carnival Jubilee sails year-round from Galveston to The Bahamas and Western Caribbean.
Read more: Is Carnival Jubilee worth the hype?
Should you buy travel insurance for cruise vacations?
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), medical evacuations — like the unfortunate situation that happened aboard Carnival Jubilee — can cost upward of $250,000.
More often than not, the story doesn't end after the actual evacuation. Once a patient reaches a hospital on land, the financial burden can continue to grow rapidly, especially if you're at an international hospital where your standard health insurance policies are not accepted.
On a less dramatic note, travel insurance is also useful for delayed flights, lost luggage, and more.
Elizabeth Wright
Elizabeth graduated from New York University's Arthur L. Carter Journalism Institute with her M.A. in Journalism in May 2023. Having sailed on over 30 cruises across different lines, including Royal Caribbean, Carnival, MSC, Margaritaville at Sea, and Princess, she loves sharing her insight and expertise on all things cruising!
In addition to writing for Cruise.Blog, Elizabeth has bylines in Business Insider, Royal Caribbean Blog, and Cruiseshipfood.com.
