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A cruise vacation took a frightening turn when a passenger experiencing a medical emergency had to be airlifted recently from a ship sailing near Canada.
The passenger was aboard the Celebrity Solstice when additional medical care was needed, prompting a response from the Royal Canadian Air Force (RCAF), according to a news release from Esquimalt Public Affairs shared with Fox News Digital.
A Royal Canadian Air Force helicopter and rescue team were deployed to the ship, with search and rescue technicians lowered onto the vessel to assist with the evacuation.
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The passenger was then airlifted from the cruise ship and transported to shore for hospital care, the same source noted.
“A guest experienced a medical emergency while sailing. Since they required additional care, we facilitated their medical disembarkation,” a Royal Caribbean Group spokesperson told Fox News Digital. Royal Caribbean Group owns Celebrity Solstice through its ownership of its subsidiary brand, Celebrity Cruises.
A passenger aboard a cruise ship required a medical evacuation, which is pictured above. (Joint Rescue Coordination Centre)
Lynn Elmhirst, producer and host of the travel series “World’s Greatest Cruises,” told Fox News Digital that medical emergencies can become more complicated when travelers are at sea and far from major cities.
Elmhirst noted that the coastline between Vancouver and Alaska includes long stretches without major cities and hospitals, which can complicate an emergency evacuation.
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“The more remote you are, the more difficult it is to get that medical evacuation,” she said.
The incident also serves as a reminder for cruise passengers to understand their insurance coverage before setting sail, according to Elmhirst.
The passenger was aboard the Celebrity Solstice when additional medical care was needed, prompting a response from the Royal Canadian Air Force. (Sylvain Lefevre/Getty Images)
“I think from a guest’s perspective, there are two really important takeaways from hearing about a medical evacuation at sea,” she said. “One is making sure that you have sufficient medical travel insurance.”
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Elmhirst said travelers should check whether their coverage includes medical evacuation, hospital stays and repatriation if they need assistance returning home.
“Even if you have really good health insurance, it may not cover travel,” she said.
The passenger was airlifted from the cruise ship, pictured here — then transported to shore for hospital care. (Joint Rescue Coordination Centre)
Without sufficient coverage, travelers could potentially face large medical expenses following an emergency abroad, Elmhirst added.
She also encouraged travelers with pre-existing medical conditions to speak with their doctors before embarking on a cruise and make sure they are healthy enough to travel.
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“Regardless [of] any health issues, please speak with your doctor,” Elmhirst said. “Make sure that your doctor says that you’re well enough to travel.”
Carrying a passport is also extremely important, even on cruises where it may not be required, according to Elmhirst.
She said an unexpected medical evacuation could require a passenger to fly home internationally rather than return to the ship as planned.
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“Take a passport with you,” Elmhirst said — adding that travelers can then focus on “getting well and going home safely” if a medical emergency occurs.
