When you’re on a cruise, the last thing you want is to run out of your regular medication-or worse, need it and find out the ship can’t help. Cruise ship medical centers aren’t hospitals. They’re infirmaries. That means they can handle seasickness, minor infections, or a sudden spike in blood pressure, but they can’t refill your entire prescription list. If you rely on daily meds for diabetes, high blood pressure, or anxiety, you need a plan. Relying on the ship’s pharmacy is risky. Most don’t carry specialty drugs, and when they do, the price can be three times what you pay at home.

Don’t Count on the Ship’s Pharmacy

Cruise ship medical centers stock meds for common issues: nausea, diarrhea, pain, allergies, basic antibiotics, and heart meds like aspirin or nitroglycerin. But if you take a biologic for rheumatoid arthritis, insulin pens, or a controlled substance like oxycodone, you’re out of luck. Even large ships like those from Royal Caribbean or Carnival carry only 50 to 100 different medications. Storylines, a residential cruise line, is an exception-they stock more and even compound custom doses-but they require you to submit prescriptions six to twelve months in advance. For everyone else? Assume the ship won’t have your drug.

Cost is another shock. A single antibiotic dose might cost $35 on board. At a U.S. pharmacy? $12. That’s a 200% markup. And if you’re in the middle of the ocean with no port for three days? You’re stuck paying it. Some lines offer complimentary seasickness pills or antacids, but those are exceptions. Don’t expect the same generosity for your chronic meds.

Bring More Than You Think You Need

The rule is simple: bring enough for the entire trip plus at least three to five extra days. Why? Delays happen. Storms. Mechanical issues. Ports canceling. One Reddit user missed their refill because the ship docked in a port where the pharmacy was closed due to weather. They had no backup. Their blood pressure spiked. They ended up in a local ER-paying hundreds out of pocket.

For a 7-day cruise? Bring 10 days’ worth. For a 14-day cruise? Bring 20. If you’re on a month-long voyage? Pack a 90-day supply. Cruise lines like Royal Caribbean explicitly recommend this in their FAQs. It’s not a suggestion-it’s a safety requirement.

Keep Meds in Original Containers

Never transfer pills into pill organizers or Ziploc bags for the whole trip. Security and medical staff may refuse unlabeled meds. You could be turned away from the medical center or even questioned by customs if you’re docking in a foreign country. Your passport name must match the name on the prescription bottle. If your bottle says “John Smith” but your passport says “Jonathan Smith,” you risk delays or confiscation.

For insulin, CPAP machines, or injectables, bring a doctor’s note. It’s not always required, but it’s your best defense if a nurse questions why you’re carrying syringes or a portable oxygen device. Diabetes patients on cruises report being asked for proof more than once. A printed note from your doctor-on letterhead, signed and dated-saves time and stress.

Pack Medications in Your Carry-On

Never check your meds. Bags get lost. Bags get delayed. Bags get left on the dock. One traveler on a Mediterranean cruise had her entire suitcase-meds included-go missing for 48 hours. She had no insulin. She had to rely on the ship’s limited stock and pay $40 for a single vial. She was lucky. Others aren’t.

Keep your daily meds, extra doses, and any emergency drugs (like EpiPens or nitroglycerin) in your carry-on. That includes your pill organizer for the first few days. If you’re flying to the port, make sure your meds are in your personal item, not your checked bag. Even if you’re driving, keep them with you in the car, not the trunk.

Make a Medication List

Write down every drug you take: name, dose, frequency, and why. Include your doctor’s name and phone number. Print it. Put it in your wallet. Email it to a family member. This isn’t just for the ship’s medical team-it’s for you. If you forget your dose or get confused by time zones, this list is your anchor.

Pro tip: Add the generic names too. Sometimes the ship has the generic version but not the brand. If you take “Lipitor,” write “atorvastatin.” If you take “Lantus,” write “insulin glargine.” This helps the ship’s pharmacist match your meds if they need to.

Special Cases: Insulin, CPAP, Narcotics

Insulin: Always bring extra pens or vials. Keep them cool. Some ships have refrigerators in the medical center, but don’t count on it. Bring a small cooler with ice packs. Carry a doctor’s note. Test strips and glucometers? Pack extras.

CPAP machines: These are allowed, but you’ll need distilled water for the humidifier. Most ships don’t sell it. Bring your own. Also, bring an extension cord. Power outlets near the bed are rare. One traveler on a 10-day cruise had to unplug their CPAP at night because the outlet was behind the dresser. They woke up gasping. Don’t be that person.

Narcotics: Painkillers like oxycodone, hydrocodone, or fentanyl? Forget it. Even Storylines, the most advanced cruise pharmacy, says these are only available in “minimal quantities” and only for true emergencies. If you need them for chronic pain, you’re on your own. Talk to your doctor before you go. Can you switch to a non-narcotic alternative for the trip? If not, bring your full supply. And don’t forget the original prescription bottle with your name on it.

What the Ship Can Do

The medical center is great for: seasickness (they often give you free Dramamine), minor cuts, sunburn, ear infections, UTIs, and stomach bugs. If you get sick with the norovirus-common on cruises-they’ll treat you. They’ll give you IV fluids if you’re dehydrated. They’ll give you antibiotics for a sinus infection. But they won’t refill your antidepressant or your thyroid pill.

Hours matter too. Most medical centers are open 8 a.m. to 10 p.m. Emergency coverage is available 24/7, but if you need a non-urgent refill after 10 p.m., you’re out of luck. Plan ahead. Don’t wait until your last pill is gone to ask.

What to Do If You Run Out

If you somehow run out and the ship doesn’t have your drug:

• Ask the medical staff if they can contact a shore pharmacy in the next port.
• Check if your cruise line offers telemedicine. Royal Caribbean now lets you video-call a U.S.-based doctor for consultation. They can’t send you meds, but they can write a prescription to be filled in port.
• Call your pharmacy back home. Many can fax or email a new prescription to a local pharmacy in the next port. Bring the pharmacy’s contact info with you.
• Always carry a list of U.S. pharmacies near major cruise ports. Websites like GoodRx have lists for popular destinations like Cozumel, Nassau, or Barcelona.

But here’s the hard truth: if you’re in the middle of the Atlantic and your meds are gone? You’re stuck. That’s why preparation isn’t optional. It’s survival.

Bottom Line: Prepare Like a Pro

Cruise ship medical centers are helpful, but they’re not your pharmacy. Treat them like an ER you hope you won’t need. Your job is to make sure you never do.

• Bring 3-5 extra days’ worth of every medication.
• Keep everything in original bottles with your name on them.
• Carry a printed medication list and doctor’s notes.
• Never check your meds-keep them in your carry-on.
• For insulin, CPAP, or narcotics: plan ahead, bring extra, and know the limits.

Follow this, and you’ll sail through your trip without a single medication scare. Skip it? You’re gambling with your health-and your vacation.