Picture this: You’re three days into a Caribbean cruise, feeling awful. Your sinus infection flared up, and your antibiotics ran out. The ship’s medical center is open, but can they help? And if they can, how much will it cost? Most people assume cruise ships are like floating hospitals - they’re not. They’re infirmaries. That means they can treat a cold, a sprained ankle, or seasickness - but they can’t refill your blood pressure pill if it’s not on their list.
What Cruise Ship Medical Centers Actually Carry
Cruise ship pharmacies don’t stock everything. They carry what’s needed for common problems: nausea, diarrhea, mild infections, headaches, and basic pain relief. Think antacids, antibiotics like amoxicillin or azithromycin, motion sickness pills, and maybe a few heart or diabetes meds. But if you’re on insulin, antidepressants, or opioids, don’t count on them having it. According to the American College of Emergency Physicians, ships must carry enough medication to handle two serious cases at once - like a heart attack or severe allergic reaction. That’s it. No extras. No backups. No specialty drugs unless the cruise line specifically plans for them. Big ships like those from Royal Caribbean or Norwegian Cruise Line might have 50 to 100 different medications on hand. Smaller ships? Maybe 20 to 30. Storylines, a residential cruise line designed for long-term living, is the exception. They stock way more - including compounded medications and supplements - but they require you to submit prescriptions six to twelve months in advance. For everyone else? Assume nothing.Costs Are High - And They’re Not Always Clear
You won’t find prices listed on cruise websites. That’s intentional. When you buy a pill from the ship’s pharmacy, you’re paying a markup. A lot of it. A single dose of an antibiotic that costs $8 at your local pharmacy might run you $35 to $40 on board. Insulin? You could pay triple. Some passengers report paying $50 for a simple pain reliever that’s $3 at Walmart. The cruise line doesn’t mark it up because they’re greedy - they’re marking it up because they’re running a tiny pharmacy in a moving building with limited storage, staffing, and supply chains. And if you need something they don’t have? You’re out of luck until the next port. But what if the port pharmacy is closed? Or the ship is delayed? That’s happened. A Reddit user on r/cruisecritic shared how they ran out of blood pressure meds after seven days on a 14-day cruise. The next port’s pharmacy was shut down because of bad weather. They ended up going without for two days.What You Must Bring - And How to Pack It Right
The single most important thing you can do? Bring your own meds - and bring enough. Bring at least a 10-day extra supply beyond your cruise length. Why? Delays happen. Weather. Mechanical issues. Port cancellations. You might be stuck on the ship for an extra day or two. Don’t risk running out. Pack everything in its original container. Not a pill organizer. Not a Ziploc bag. The bottle with the pharmacy label, your name, the doctor’s name, the dosage. If you don’t, security might confiscate it. Cruise lines follow strict rules - and they’re not playing around. One passenger told Cruise Critic they were questioned for 20 minutes because their migraine pills were in a plastic bag. Make sure the name on the bottle matches your passport. If your name is Maria Rodriguez but your bottle says M. Rodriguez, you might get flagged. Same with international travel - if you’re sailing from Europe or Asia, double-check your labels. Put your meds in your carry-on. Not your suitcase. If your bag gets lost, you still have your pills. Same goes for insulin pens, EpiPens, inhalers, or CPAP machines. Bring extra batteries and distilled water if you use a CPAP - Storylines even recommends bringing an extension cord for medical devices.
Special Cases: Diabetes, Mental Health, and Narcotics
If you have diabetes, bring a doctor’s note. Some countries require it for insulin. The note should say you need insulin for medical reasons - and list the dosage. Don’t rely on the ship’s pharmacy to refill it. They might not carry it at all. Antidepressants and anxiety meds? Bring your full supply. Most cruise lines don’t stock them. Even if they do, they won’t refill a prescription unless you’ve pre-arranged it - which isn’t possible on a standard cruise. Narcotics? Forget it. Even if you have a valid prescription for oxycodone or hydrocodone, the ship will not carry them. Storylines says they’ll only provide them in extreme emergencies. Other cruise lines won’t touch them. No exceptions. No loopholes.When to Use the Medical Center
Use the medical center for things you can’t handle yourself: fever over 101°F, chest pain, trouble breathing, severe vomiting, or an allergic reaction. These are emergencies. The staff can stabilize you and arrange a transfer if needed. For minor stuff - a headache, mild nausea, a rash - you’re better off using your own meds. Why? Because the medical center charges. Even if they give you seasickness pills for free (and many do), they’ll charge you for anything else. Most ships have medical hours from 8 a.m. to 10 p.m. Emergency care is available 24/7, but if you show up at 9 p.m. with a cold, you might wait an hour. The doctor is likely treating someone with a heart issue. Priorities matter.What Cruise Lines Actually Say
Disney Cruise Line requires all prescriptions to be in labeled bottles. No exceptions. Royal Caribbean says you should bring “an adequate supply of medicine to last several extra days past your voyage end date.” That’s their official advice. No mention of refills. Storylines is the outlier. They have a full pharmacy team. They can compound medications. They can order specialty drugs - if you give them six months’ notice. But they’re not a typical cruise. They’re a floating apartment complex with a medical staff. For everyone else? The rules are simple: Bring it. Pack it right. Don’t assume they have it. And never rely on the ship to be your pharmacy.
Real Stories: What Went Right and What Went Wrong
One passenger on TripAdvisor wrote: “The seasickness pills were free and available 24/7. Saved our first day.” That’s the norm. Common meds? Usually available. Another shared: “I needed my thyroid med. Ship didn’t have it. Next port was 48 hours away. I went without. I was exhausted for the rest of the trip.” A survey of 500 passengers by Cruise Critic found that 78% who brought enough meds in original containers had zero issues. Only 32% of those who brought unlabeled or insufficient meds made it through without problems. The lesson? Preparation beats panic.What’s Changing in 2026
Cruise lines are slowly improving. Royal Caribbean now offers telemedicine - you can video-call a doctor on land for complex medication questions. Some ships are adding more chronic disease support. But the core reality hasn’t changed: They’re not hospitals. They’re emergency clinics with a few shelves of pills. The industry is moving toward better care for long-term travelers, but for the average 7-day cruise? You’re still on your own.Final Checklist Before You Sail
- Bring 10+ extra days of all prescriptions
- Keep everything in original bottles
- Match bottle names to your passport
- Put meds in your carry-on
- Bring a printed list with drug names, doses, and doctor’s contact info
- Call your cruise line and ask: “Do you carry [your medication]?” - and get their answer in writing
- Never assume they’ll refill anything
- For insulin, CPAP, or narcotics - bring extra, bring documentation, and plan for no backup
If you do this, you’ll avoid the stress, the cost, and the panic. Cruise ship medical centers are there for emergencies - not for your daily meds. Treat them like a first aid station, not a pharmacy. And you’ll have a much smoother trip.
Comments (1)
Kristen Russell
Bring extra meds. Always. I once ran out of my anxiety pills mid-cruise and it was a nightmare. No one on the ship had them. I had to wait three days until the next port. Don't be that person.