A man from Minnesota got sick with the flu while on a cruise in the Caribbean and ended up with a hospital bill of more than $47,000.
Mike Cameron and his girlfriend Tami Masterman, from Braham, Minnesota, won a week-long cruise with Norwegian Cruise Line that departed from Miami on January 5. The trip became even more special because Tami had successfully undergone surgery to remove a cancerous mass from her lungs in October 2024.
Cameron’s daughter, Krystal, started a GoFundMe page to share that things got worse when Cameron got sick and had to go to the medical center on the large Norwegian Encore cruise ship, which can hold 4,000 people.
Cameron’s health got worse, and his oxygen levels fell a lot, so he had to go to the ship’s ICU. The couple was informed that Cameron has Influenza A and maybe pneumonia.
The couple says that while Cameron was staying there, a tube was put in the wrong way and he also had x-rays done with IV medicine given.
Cameron stayed in the medical ward for four days, even though he said he felt fine enough to stay in his room after the first night. He asked to be let go every day, but the medical staff reportedly refused and didn’t take out his IV or tube.
The couple was told by a medical secretary from Norwegian Cruise Line that their trip insurance covers them for $20,000. Cameron got a medical bill for $47,638.79 on the last day of the trip.
“Norwegian Cruise Line decided to charge both of their credit cards, reaching a total of about $26,000,” the fundraiser post says.
Cameron’s daughter says that neither their trip insurance nor their health insurance will pay for the medical treatments. The couple’s trip insurance wants their personal insurance to pay first, but the personal insurance company says it doesn’t cover them because they are overseas.
A GoFundMe was started to help the pair with their unexpected bill and ongoing medical costs. As of Thursday afternoon, it has raised almost $3,000 of its $10,000 target.
FOX 9 news reports. Norwegian Cruise companies told Masterman that their prices are similar to other cruise companies and they think the prices are fair.
A spokesperson for Norwegian Cruise Lines said they can’t share information about Cameron’s care because of privacy laws. However, they mentioned that their internal team looked into his necessary medical treatments and costs.
The company stated, “We are dedicated to offering quality medical services. Each of our ships has a modern onboard medical center with skilled doctors and nurses to take care of guests and crew while at sea.” “We follow the rules for our medical facilities set by CLIA and the American College of Emergency Physicians.”
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