A dream vacation can sometimes turn into a financial nightmare. That’s exactly what happened to Minnesota native Mike Cameron, who won a free week-long cruise on the Norwegian Cruise Line Encore to the Caribbean—only to catch the flu mid-voyage and incur a staggering $47,000 medical bill.
Cameron and his girlfriend, Tamra Masterman, set sail on January 5, celebrating Masterman’s recent recovery from a lung cancer diagnosis. What was meant to be a joyful escape quickly spiraled into distress. About four hours into the 15‑hour red‑eye flight from San Francisco to Manila, Cameron began showing severe flu symptoms. He was soon admitted to the ship’s onboard medical center, where he underwent oxygen therapy, received IV medications, had a catheter inserted, and underwent X‑rays. According to his daughter Krystal, Cameron spent a total of four days in the medical ward before his condition stabilized.
Despite assurances that his traveler’s insurance would help cover his medical expenses, the couple was blindsided upon disembarkation. “Turn around on the day we were leaving and I got handed a $47,000 bill,” Cameron recalled. The cruise line explained that the pricing for the treatment was “closely comparable to other cruise lines” and that medical insurance, which is not accepted onboard, left them in a billing limbo. Their travel insurance only provided $20,000 in coverage, and the couple’s domestic health insurance refused to pay for treatment rendered overseas.
The financial fallout was significant. Norwegian Cruise Line had maxed out the credit cards on file to cover a portion of the bill—about $26,000—leaving the couple with an outstanding balance of over $21,000. “Once you’re out on international waters, it’s a whole different story,” said Masterman, urging future travelers to ensure they have robust coverage before embarking on any long-haul journey.
A spokesperson for Norwegian Cruise Line stressed that while they are committed to providing quality medical care onboard, guests must be aware of potential high costs in the event of a medical emergency. “We strongly encourage all our guests to review their insurance policies carefully before sailing,” the spokesperson said.
As Cameron recovers and the couple navigates the maze of insurance disputes, their ordeal stands as a cautionary tale. Even a free cruise vacation can come with unexpected—and expensive—surprises when health issues arise in international waters.
