Day 28: Star Code "RED": A Day in the Hospital

"Star Code RED on Deck 11, Section B. I repeat: Star Code RED on Deck 11, Section B."

The ship's PA system jolts me from my daydream on the sun deck. Nearly every other day, announcements like this ripple through the air, interrupting the quiet hum of cruising life. "Another heart attack. The second one today," mutters the seasoned cruiser reclining in the deck chair beside me.

Star Code "RED" signals a medical emergency somewhere on the ship. It could be anything from a heart attack to an occupational mishap in the engine room. Since Deck 11 is part of the hotel area, odds are it’s a heart attack this time.

Well prepared for emergencies             Source: MeinSchiff.com

***

Last night, I began feeling the early symptoms of the flu. By morning, the discomfort had intensified enough for me to decide to visit the ship's clinic, located on Deck 3. Clinic visits usually require appointments, but luckily, there’s an immediate opening for me—even without the drama of a Star Code emergency.

As I step into the clinic, officially referred to as the ship's hospital, I’m taken aback by the spacious layout. The long walk to the reception desk hints at the scale of the facility. My first task: filling out several forms, an activity that feels both mundane and oddly familiar. But this isn’t home; this is Malta, at least legally speaking. Since the ship is registered in Malta, its laws apply while at sea. The receptionist informs me that I’ll need to pay out of pocket, starting at 130 EUR. Thankfully, my travel insurance should cover the cost.

After just two minutes of waiting, I’m directed toward the doctor’s office. Along the way, I pass a well-equipped lab, an X-ray room, and several storage areas brimming with pharmaceuticals and medical supplies. The doctor, a slim man in his sixties, greets me with an unexpected opening line:

"Only six months left until retirement!"

What an introduction. Whether he’s naturally chatty or finds me particularly approachable, or he quickly notes my hometown on my forms.

"You’re from Herrsching? After finishing med school in Munich, my friend and I made a pilgrimage to Andechs. My father had to pick us up that evening to drive us home."

"That’s funny," I reply. "I do the same pilgrimage twice a month, but I’m lucky enough to walk home."

(For those unfamiliar, Andechs is an old monastery atop a hill near my hometown. For centuries, pilgrims have visited to pray, though these days many come for the beer brewed by the monks.)

The conversation flows easily as he conducts a thorough examination. It turns out he has an impressive medical background. He practiced at the hospital in Pasing before joining a helicopter rescue team near Munich. Over time, the toll of blood, injuries, and high-stakes emergencies led him to seek a change of pace. For the past decade, he’s been working aboard cruise ships. While there are fewer accidents, the cases he handles now lean heavily toward heart attacks and other age-related emergencies. Hearing about his extensive experience reassures me, even in the unlikely event of something serious like appendicitis.

So why retire? He explains that legal cases against shipboard doctors are on the rise. Increasingly, patients sue for minor grievances, such as claiming 500 EUR for "lost holiday enjoyment." Each case requires him to appear in court in Hamburg, a tedious and frustrating ordeal. With more seniors now internet-savvy and law firms specializing in cruise-related claims, these cases have become alarmingly frequent.

After prescribing aspirin and medication for my flu symptoms, the doctor smiles as I promise not to sue him. "I’ll hold you to that," he jokes as I step out of his office, medication in hand.

This brief visit to the ship’s hospital not only relieved my symptoms but also gave me a fascinating glimpse into the life of a cruise ship doctor—a mix of professionalism, camaraderie, and challenges unique to the open seas.

Logbook

Position: 02°5.60' S, 84°36,58' E
Middle of the Indian Ocean
Timezone: GMT+7

Speed: 35 km/h. Wind: 86 km/h. Heading: 49°
Time to next port: 2 days

Risk of sea sickness: LOW
Risk of hallucinations: LOW



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