The short answer
Original Medicare generally does not cover you in Europe or on most of your cruise. Care in the ship's medical center usually costs extra. The State Department and CDC both say to buy travel medical insurance that includes medical evacuation. Carry your medicines in their original packaging with copies of your prescriptions.
Medicare and insurance
- Medicare generally doesn't cover care outside the US.
- On a ship, Medicare Part B may pay only when the ship is in a US port or no more than 6 hours from one. On a European cruise that is almost never the case.
- Some Medigap policies cover emergency care abroad. Check yours.
- The State Department advises medical, emergency evacuation and other travel insurance.
- Check first what your health plan, cruise line insurance and credit card already cover.
The ship's medical center
- The CDC says ship medical centers are generally like urgent care clinics.
- Exams, tests and medicines on board are usually not included in your fare.
- About 95 percent of illnesses and injuries are treated on board. Evacuation to shore is hard and risky.
- Roughly half of passengers who seek care on board are over 65.
- Medicines sold on board cost more, so pack your own basics.
Prescriptions
- Carry medicines in their original packaging with your doctor's prescription. The State Department says this for the UK and Greece.
- Bring enough to last a week past your trip, plus a written copy of all prescriptions.
- UK: some US prescriptions are controlled there and need a license in advance. This includes medical marijuana and CBD or THC products.
- Turkey: some common US medicines may be illegal, even for passengers changing planes. High-risk types are opioid painkillers, benzodiazepines, ADHD stimulants, and cold medicines with pseudoephedrine (Sudafed) or codeine. Carry a doctor's letter and seek Turkish approval in advance.
- Greece: check that your medicine is legal there with the Greek embassy or Greece's National Organization of Medicines.
Seasickness
- The CDC says seasickness affects up to 25 percent of travelers, despite stabilizers.
- Options include the scopolamine patch (by prescription) or over-the-counter meclizine or dimenhydrinate. Take them before you feel sick.
- Scopolamine is not for people with glaucoma or prostate-related urinary problems. Never cut the patch.
- Drowsiness is the most common side effect. Try a dose at home before the trip.
- Without medicine: look at the horizon, choose a cabin midship and low, get fresh air, and avoid alcohol.
- Wristbands did no better than placebo in studies. Evidence for ginger is weak.
Your checklist
Sources & what we could not confirm · 7 sources · checked 2026-11
- Medicare.gov: Travel outside the U.S.
- CDC Yellow Book: Cruise ship travel
- CDC Yellow Book: Motion sickness
- State Dept: Cruise ship passengers
- State Dept: Turkey (medication)
- State Dept: United Kingdom (medication)
- State Dept: Greece (medication)
Still being confirmed
- Typical prices at ship medical centers: no official source states them, so none are given.
- Specific banned-medicine lists for Greece: the State Department page only says to check with Greek authorities.