Do People Get Sick on River Cruises?
What happens, step by step, if you fall ill on a river ship.
Ask Us About Your TripDo people get sick on river cruises? Occasionally, just as they do on any vacation. What matters is knowing exactly what happens next, so a bad day stays a bad day and not a crisis.
What Actually Happens, Step by Step
- Tell the front desk early. Reception, or the hotel manager, is your first stop day or night. Do not wait until you feel worse.
- A local doctor is arranged. On many European river ships the crew is trained in first aid but there is no ship’s doctor. The desk calls a local doctor to the ship or arranges a visit to a practice or clinic in town.
- You usually pay on the spot. Keep every receipt and report; your travel insurer will ask for them.
- If it is serious, an ambulance comes to the quay. Because ships tie up in or near towns, hospitals are often close by road.
- The ship’s schedule continues. If you are admitted, the line helps you plan to rejoin the cruise further along or to travel home.
- Call your insurer’s assistance line. They can guarantee payment, find an English-speaking doctor and arrange travel when you are fit.
The Most Common Problems Ashore and Aboard
Falls and sprains
Cobblestones, steep lanes and wet gangways cause more trouble than anything at sea. Good shoes and a slower walking group help.
Heat
Summer walking tours in southern Europe can be hot, with little shade. Carry water and a hat, and rest in the heat of the day.
Stomach bugs
Close quarters make them easier to spread. See our norovirus page for the facts and the habits that help.
Colds and coughs
Shared coaches and dining rooms pass them around. Pack basic remedies from home, since brands abroad differ.
Running out of medication
A delay or lost bag can leave you short. Carry extra in hand luggage.
Pharmacies along Europe’s rivers are a helpful first stop for minor problems. In France look for the green cross; in Germany and Austria the red Apotheke sign. Pharmacists are trained to advise and will tell you when you need a doctor.
Leaving the Cruise Early
If illness ends your cruise, three things decide how smoothly it goes: whether your insurance covers trip interruption and medical transport, whether someone can stay with you, and how quickly the line and insurer talk to each other. Choose a policy with a 24-hour assistance line and medical evacuation cover before you travel, and leave copies of your passport, policy number and medication list with someone at home. Our sister site River Cruising Safety has a good section on choosing insurance, and Cruise & Travel Insurance explains the main types of cover.
Getting Sick on a River Cruise: FAQs
Do people get sick on river cruises?
Sometimes, as they do on any trip: colds, stomach upsets, heat exhaustion, falls on cobblestones. Serious illness is uncommon, and the main difference from home is that care comes from local doctors and hospitals along the river.
Will the ship wait for me if I go to hospital?
Usually not for long. River ships keep to schedules that depend on locks and berths. If you are admitted, the ship normally sails on and you rejoin later or go home, with help from the line and your insurer.
Can I get motion sickness on a river cruise?
It is rare. Rivers have no ocean swell. A few people notice the vibration of the engines or the bump of entering a lock, but most never feel unwell from motion.
Ask Before You Book
Want to know whether a particular ship has medical staff, or how a line handles guests who fall ill? Our cruise advisors at Mister Cruise will find out and send free quotes.
Ask a Cruise Advisor