Aussie shocked by hidden cruise cost

An Aussie woman who fell ill on a cruise had her credit card maxed out after medical bills amounted to thousands of dollars.

Aussie shocked by hidden cruise cost.

An Aussie woman who fell ill on a cruise had her credit card maxed out after medical bills amounted to $11,000.

Shirley Goodreid and her husband Paul were on a five-day cruise from Australia to New Zealand in April when two days in, Shirley fainted twice and was rushed to the on-board medical centre.

She spent 16-hours at the centre where results revealed the 74-year-old had internal bleeding.

“On day three I passed out that night in the toilet, with my head out the doorway,” she told news.com.au.

“I stayed in bed until the following morning but still didn’t feel 100 per cent.”

Shirley and Paul, who were travelling with Shirley’s sister and brother-in-law, met the duo for lunch but moments later, she fainted again.

Shirley Goodreid had to fork out almost $11,000 in medical bills after falling ill on a five-day cruise from Australia to NZ in April.

She was wheelchaired to the on-board medical centre where paramedics stabilised her condition. They offered to give her a blood transfusion but Shirley refused.

The following morning when the ship reached port Tauranga, on the north island, an ambulance transported Shirley to a nearby hospital.

A gastroscopy confirmed she had a stomach bleed and needed to undergo surgery to have it repaired.

The pair had to fork out an upfront payment of $A10,830 for the 16 hours spent at the on-board medical centre including medical supplies and medication, a further $A700 for the ambulance and $A400 for two nights accommodation for Paul while Shirley was in hospital.

“We knew medical bills on-board cruises were expensive but we didn’t realise we’d be charged in US dollars,” she said.

Her trip was cut short and she was transferred to hospital where a gastroscopy confirmed she had a stomach bleed.

Paul said the expenses maxed out his credit card and he had to lean on his children to transfer funds to cover other expenses.

The pair were reimbursed by their travel insurer Southern Cross Travel Insurance (SCTI), but said had they not had cruise cover, they would have been in a financial mess.

“They were very good. They went over the top and even said ‘hang on, you missed out on a day cruising we will pay you for that day’,” Paul said, adding it was more than the accommodation.

“They didn’t fudge anything.”

Shirley, who is still seeking answers for her condition, warned of the importance of getting cruise insurance as an add-on, saying in general, they have never travelled without being fully covered.

“I would recommend everybody get travel insurance especially for cruising – we never go away without it,” she said.

She was reimbursed as she had travel insurance but said she would have been in a financial mess had she not had cover. She was also unaware all expenses were charged in USD. Picture: iStock

According to Jess Strange, SCTI’s chief customer officer, many Aussies aren’t aware of the prohibitive costs that can be associated with needing medical treatment while on a cruise.

“Often people don't realise they need to add cruise cover for some policies,” she told news.com.au.

“Cruises are private and not controlled or government regulated so they can charge whatever they.”

She said they get quite significant claims come through, adding some have been eye-watering.

“We recently had one claim come through for a $900 telehealth consult. It’s a huge financial burden if you’re not covered and can be a terrifying situation if you become unwell and you’re in a foreign country.”

Ms Strange explained a cruise add-on will cover you for the same things that an international or domestic policy will cover you for unexpected events that happen when you take a cruise as part of your journey.

“By adding this cover, the benefits and sub-limits of the policy are extended to cover you for cruises.”

She said examples of how cruise travel insurance costs can vary depending on factors including, number of travellers, destination, duration of cruise and existence of pre-existing conditions.

It can cost anywhere between $150 and just over $1000.

For an Aussie couple, both aged 65 years, travelling on a cruise for 7 days to New Zealand with no dependants, no pre-existing conditions and an excess of $100, and $2500 worth on cancellation cover – it can cost $154.93.

But a couple both aged 75 years, travelling on a cruise for 14 days to the US with no dependants, both who are on medication for high blood pressure and an excess of $100, and $2500 worth on cancellation cover – it’s about $1161.