The Surprising Reason You Might Get Kicked Off A Cruise
By Nicole Cord-Cruz
VACATIONS
Cruise lines generally avoid kicking passengers off until the scheduled port of call, but there's one unexpected reason you can be booted off a ship: getting seriously sick.
You will not get the boot for common illnesses like seasickness. You'd need a severe condition that the onboard medical staff can't handle, requiring immediate medical attention.
While cruise ships have onboard medical facilities and staff, they can only do so much. If your illness is severe, you'll be evacuated at the next port of call or via an airlift.
Surprisingly, this isn't as rare as you'd think. In May 2024, the U.S. Air Force had to airlift a 12-year-old boy from a Carnival ship after he ruptured his bowel.
If you need treatment or a medical evacuation while on a cruise, you could face a big bill, as many cruises don't accept normal health insurance. Be sure to get travel insurance.