Royal Caribbean passenger reveals the huge bill he received after suffering a seizure on board cruise ship

What was meant to be a relaxing first cruise trip for a Michigan couple quickly turned into a nightmare after they were hit with a huge medical bill.

Vincent Wasney and his fiancée, Sarah Eberlein, were enjoying their gifted Royal Caribbean cruise in December 2022 and had just reached CocoCay when Wasney was feeling unwell.

The next day he had a seizure and screamed in pain as blood flowed from his mouth from biting his tongue.

Wasney, who had previously been diagnosed with epilepsy, was quickly taken to the ship’s medical facility in a wheelchair and given anticonvulsants and fluids and monitored before being released.

But hours after returning to his cabin, he suffered a second seizure and stopped breathing.

The couple was forced to empty their bank accounts and max out his credit card to pay the bill

Eberlein said his lips had turned so purple they appeared black. By the time she was able to find help and contact the medical team, her fiancé had begun breathing again, but the blood vessels along his chest and neck had broken.

Wasney then suffered a third grand mal seizure while in the medical bay, causing him to lose consciousness and experience severe muscle contractions.

The ship soon reached port and he was evacuated by a lifeboat.

But minutes before he could be taken off the cruise, he was hit with an expensive bill.

Wasney must pay $2,500 for medical treatment he underwent, including blood tests and medication.

The couple was told they could not get out until they coughed up the money. Eberlein told CBS he remembers asking, “Are we being held hostage right now?” Because if he has had three attacks within ten hours, that is of course a problem.’

To help cover their medical costs, the duo launched a GoFundMe page that has managed to raise $7,391 of its $10,000 goal

As he lay down, Wasney informed the crew that he couldn’t pay that much, and a cruise employee asked him, “How much can you pay?”

The couple was forced to empty their bank accounts and max out his credit card to pay the bill.

Despite this, they had to pay another $1000, which was charged to the credit card immediately upon exit.

According to the Royal Caribbean Guest Termscruise passengers agree to pay in full all costs incurred on board at the end of the cruise, including costs associated with medical care.

Up FAQ page, Royal Caribbean states that it does not accept ‘land-based’ health insurance.

The couple had no health or travel insurance before boarding their Caribbean cruise.

Wasney was taken by ambulance to the emergency room at Broward Health Medical Center in Fort Lauderdale, where he was charged an additional $4,100 in charges.

To cover their medical expenses, the duo launched a GoFundMe page that was able to raise $7,391 out of its $10,000 goal.

Ultimately, he had to pay $2,500 for the medical care he received on board, including a blood test and medications

Under Royal Caribbean’s Guest Terms, cruise passengers agree to pay in full all costs incurred on board at the end of the cruise, including those associated with medical care.

After they were able to pay some of the bills, the couple wrote a thank you note on the crowdfunding page.

“The donations so far will help us pay the other doctor’s bill, the ambulance bill, and the little bit left over from the medical cruise bill on our credit cards,” they wrote.

“All we have left now is the hospital bill, and even some of that will be covered by the recent donations.

“We really appreciate it, and this has been a great blessing to me and Sarah. Praise the higher power you believe in, and if you don’t believe, know that me and Sarah appreciate it more than anything.

‘We didn’t expect this, even with the article. Thanks again everyone!’