A woman from Georgia in the US has undergone quite the ordeal after falling ill during her Carnival cruise to the Caribbean.
Loretta Cox, 54, from Georgia in the US, was on a cruise that departed on 19th May 2024, but she took ill while onboard and, by the time the ship arrived in the Dominican Republic on 22nd May, things were more serious.
Loretta was transferred to a local hospital with fluid in her lungs, where she had to be placed on life support. She was of course kept in the hospital, with the cruise ship carrying on its itinerary without her.
However, Loretta did not have proper travel insurance cover for her medical bills, meaning that she had racked up significant charges of $28,000 for the transfer to hospital, and an extra $4,000 each day she spent there.
The costs to evacuate Loretta back to the US, where she could continue treatment under her regular health insurance, were over $25,000 with upfront payment required.
The family were unable to afford this alone but quickly started a fundraising campaign, raising $18,000. The family paid the remaining amount and on Friday 24th May, Loretta was flown to a hospital in Florida, just two days after being admitted in the Dominican Republic.
The latest updates at the time of writing have Loretta in a stable condition, although she remains on life support.
This story shows the importance of getting appropriate travel insurance for any cruise you take – you never know when you might need medical help, and the financial support to pay for it.
NEW DEALS JUST RELEASED!
Don’t miss these hot cruise offers…
Related Posts
- 9 Horror Stories From Cruisers Who Had No Insurance (It All Went Horribly Wrong!)
- 17 Common Mistakes People Make When Booking a Cruise
- Cruise Insurance Buyer’s Guide
- 21 Mistakes That New Cruisers Make All The Time
Jenni Fielding is the founder of Cruise Mummy. She has worked in the cruise industry since 2015 and has taken over 30 cruises. Now, she helps over 1 million people per month to plan their perfect cruise holidays.
Sir Richard Branson Delights Passengers Across Virgin Voyages with Unforgettable Experiences
Sir Richard Branson recently embarked on a series of adventures with his Virgin Voyages cruise line, helping to delight guests onboard a range of Celebration Voyages. It all culminated on…
Lee Mason Promoted to Fleet Cruise Director for Carnival Cruise Line
Lee Mason, a well-known and beloved Carnival Cruise Director, has been promoted to Fleet Cruise Director for Carnival Cruise Line. This news comes following Chris Williams’ departure from the position…
Pier Runner’s Big Mistake Has Guests Howling With Laughter
A man was filmed chasing a cruise ship down the pier after it had already departed… Only to realise he was actually running towards the wrong ship. The video, shared…
Greece Implements €20 Fee for Cruise Passengers to Popular Islands
Greece is set to introduce a €20 fee for cruise ship passengers visiting its most popular islands, including Santorini and Mykonos. This move aims to manage the large number of…
