The future of medical care on cruise ships

Abstract

Up to date, medical care standards onboard cruise ships leave a lot to be desired. There is a backlog with respect to qualified personnel and the organisation of medical treatment on board. Due to the growth of the cruise industry and the corresponding increase in product differentiation, there is a need to also progress at the medical level. In addition, the health care market contains an enormous potential that could be taken advantage of by cruise operators. This paper analyses the current situation and challenges related to the medical and health-related supply on board. It explores the staffing conditions and requirements and it examines demand development in this context. Furthermore, this paper proposes solution opportunities in order to improve the quality of medical services on board.