Cunards new Queen

#18 Johnny , think you are wrong concerning travel insurance, it is a UK Gov recommendation but not compulsory. It may be compulsory by some travel companies in their terms and conditions.
By the time travel insurance companies take into account existing medical conditions the insurance would be more expensive than the holiday. Only time I took cover out was when going to the USA, never bother when going to Europe.
I have a GHIC card so I can get emergency treatment while abroad.

A Ghic is a free medical card that gives you access to 'necessary healthcare' in EU countries at the same price as citizens of that country.

So if they get free treatment, you get free treatment.

Necessary healthcare includes healthcare that can't wait for you to return to the UK, such as emergency treatment, routine medical care for pre-existing conditions, routine maternity care (unless you're going to a country to give birth) and oxygen and kidney dialysis.

You can apply for a Ghic if you're resident in the UK.

True it does not cover the costs for repatriation.

#20 Maritime Law differs in many other statutes when it comes to personal claims. The crew on British registered ships had first claim to wages on the sale of the ship on the owner going broke. The only one who had no claim was the master , as his name on the Ships Register acting on behalf of the owner and he was it , especially if the owner scarpered. I was mate on the ex Irish Elm in 1969 , her sister ship with a yugoslav crew were being short changed in wages and she had a line of unpaid bills from Chandlers and ship repairs. The crew got a sympathetic lawyer in Montreal and ship was arrested and sold and crew paid first and repatriated , all other bills paid until the money ran out. Don’t know whether the master got paid or not in the end. But he would have been at the end of the queue. Cheers JS

#22 let me give one example which many might think is very much in contrast between 2 types of worker . Again one has to go on info. Via the media in this case google and I only do this from memory . Those lost at the Piper Alpha on the whole their dependents averaged about 750,000 pounds each one lost. 12 months after the disaster my friend of many years was lost off an Auxillary vessel in the oil industry he was an engineer and therefore classed as a seaman. His highest compensation to his family was 30,000 pounds and that was the going rate for that period in 1988 . So would have paid him just to be an offshore worker. JS

Nothing to do with UK law James, just the cruise companies, but compulsory just the same. If you wanna go on a cruise that is.
I know people that get the cheapest insurance possible, and just take a chance. Many insurance companies don't cover you for Europe generally, due to the GHIC.
The trouble starts if you get injured, or sick on the boat, then the big money starts mounting. So the GHIC is of no use then until you get put ashore in Europe.

I'll elaborate on my last comment.
You are insured, but they shove you into the NHS hospital wherever you get put ashore, they tend not to book you into a private place. Bit of a rip off really. They do give you a hefty bill for doing it though, and that's where your insurance comes in.

To be honest insurance companies in my opinion will do their best to pay out as little as possible in the event of a claim.
I have heard some horror stoiries about people who although they have travel/medical insurance have still ended up with a hefty bill.
How about this one happened to a friend of mine.
He took ill and was in hospital in Tenerife for three days. He got hit with a bill from his insurers for €1800.
Reason given he had not declared that he had treatment for prostate cancer (chemotherapy) 14 months before he took out insurance and the treatment had weakened his immune system. He argued that he was declared cancer free and had not recieved any further treatment in over 12 months.
His appeals fell on deaf ears.

Johnny,
Re your post#20
In Aus companies can be heavily fined if they delve into ones Medical file, it is sacrosanct.
Des

Des for the past 8 months I have been under the auspices of a heart specialist among other specialists for different suspects to good health . When I mentioned I had a suspected heart attack 20 years ago, he wanted to know what happened as received no surgery such as stints etc. he wanted to know all the whys and why nots. I said you would have to go into the hospital records . Much to my surprise the hospital asked him for my written permission to do so. So it appears even the medical profession have restrictions placed on them. Cheers JS

Hi John.
Talking things medical, I was supposed to see my Dr for my Prostate implant this morning, bloody freezing rain, then the phone went my Dr is ill, so it was canceled have to see another but not until next week, hope he is gentle with me, last time I saw him I shook his hand and he yelled, he had broken his thumb in a skiing accident.
Des

Des when I reached 60 the shipping doctor in Fremantle wouldn’t pass me fit for sea duties.
Because of high blood pressure, which have always had. Put me on B.P. Tablets to get down. The doctor was about the same age as me and was inclined to think he was passing people to be astronauts and their level of health. Have been and still am on same tablets plus a few more 27 years later. He however for all his well intended lectures on being fit , died about 20 years ago with a heart attack I believe. It should have been a case of “ Doctor heal thyself” , or in this case taken his own advice he distributed to others, he was so adamant in his views most seamen byepassed him and saw their own doctors to get their medical certificates signed as fit for sea duties. I try to keep clear of the medical profession but unfortuanetley as you get older it is impossible.The three score year and ten which we grew up with , is no longer applicable. Cheers JS
PS saw the Cardiac specialist last week as was reviewing my tablets , he commemtated on why there was no aspirin in the list I take , so 1 tablet of the many has now been substituted by the old favourite 1 aspirin a day , as a blood thinner I presume, and not a bad head from too much booze. JS