Man slapped with $76,000 bill on free cruise

A couple from the US have been slapped with a five-figure bill after embarking on a cruise that they won. 

Mark and Tami were onboard the Norwegian Cruise Line ship Encore, after winning their trip for free, to celebrate Tami given a clean bill of health after the successful removal of a “mass from her lungs” in October 2024 following a cancer diagnosis.

Just four days after setting off on their five-week journey, Mark fell ill and was taken to the ship's dedicated ICU with flu symptoms and reduced oxygen levels. 

He received oxygen, a catheter, IV medications, and X-rays, and when he felt better the next morning, asked to quarantine in his cabin room for the remainder of the trip. 

However, he was not allowed to leave the medical ward, and so the costs of his stay there continued to climb.

“Mike spent a total of four days in the medical ward and asked to be released each day,” his daughter Krystal Cameron wrote in a GoFundMe to help pay the $75,800 ($47,638 USD) medical bill.

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During that time, she said staff would not remove his IV line, or the catheter which Tamra claims had been incorrectly fitted and was “leaking”.

“Not on your life would I put my life in these people’s hands,” Tamra added in a social media post.

“Should have demanded to get off at (the) port (on the) British Virgin Islands, where I was lied to that they had no good hospital.”

Norwegian Cruise Line confirmed to 7News that Mike’s medical procedures and resulting expenses have been reviewed internally by the company, writing in a statement, “Mr Cameron was admitted to the onboard medical centre and received appropriate treatment for his condition, followed by 62 hours of critical care."

“We are committed to providing quality medical services and each of our ships is equipped with a state-of-the-art onboard medical centre, staffed with highly qualified physicians and nurses, to provide care for both guests and crew while at sea."

The couple had purchased travel insurance and said the Norwegian Cruise Line medical secretary reassured them they were covered for $20,000 USD ($31,987 AUD) and told “not to worry” when they raised concerns.

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However, Norwegian Cruise Line maxed out both credit cards they had on file for the couple when charging them with the final bill, adding, “Medical insurance is not accepted onboard.”

“We strongly encouraged the guest to file a claim with their health insurance provider post-cruise," Norwegian Cruise Line told 7News. 

“As the guest did purchase travel insurance for their vacation, we have recommended they follow up on their claim with the insurance provider, after they have filed the claim with their health insurance provider.”

But Krystal said “neither their travel insurance nor their personal health insurance will cover the medical treatments received”.

The travel insurance company requires the couple’s health insurance company to initially pay the bill, but their health insurance company states because the incident happened abroad it is not covered by the policy, Krystal said.

“Between Tami’s recent cancer diagnosis and surgery ... and my father’s illness ... their medical debt is quickly adding up,” Krystal said.

Image credits: GoFundMe / Facebook