Trip to the dentist - not exactly the excursion I had planned.

[PlanoTim]

I have always wondered how a dental issue would be handled on a cruise ship. Well, I got a first-hand lesson recently and thought I’d pass on my experience. We were on Liberty of the Seas last week when I had a dental issue while on board. On the morning of our stop in Belize (a tender port) I went to the medical facility to see if they would be able to help me out. They apparently have the ability to deal with a lost filling, but couldn’t help with my issue. I decided that I wanted to have it dealt with, if possible, rather than waiting till I returned home.

 

The Royal Caribbean medical folks contacted the port agent to see what could be done. We sat in the waiting room a while (less than an hour) till the port agent arrived. He said they had arranged for a dentist and he quickly escorted us to an awaiting tender and asked us to sit by the captain who could point out the guy at the port (John) who would be assisting us. The captain described John and said he would be at the bottom of the gangway.

 

As we were walking off, one of John’s people introduced himself to use and asked that we follow him out of the port. He led us through the crowds to an awaiting driver who knew where to take us. I tipped him for his assistance. The driver drove maybe a mile to a dental office and walked us into the waiting room. I paid and tipped him since we weren’t sure how long we’d be and if we would end up just walking back to the port once I was done at the dentist. He gave us his name and number and said we could ask the dentist office to call if we wanted a ride.

 

The dentist’s office knew my name and was expecting me. A few other people (who seemed to be mostly ex-pats) were in the waiting room. After waiting maybe another 45minutes I was taken in to the dentist who took great care of me. I paid the ‎BZ$100 ($50 USD) bill and asked them to call the driver. He arrived about 10 minutes later and drove us to the port – giving a little tour of Belize City along the way. :)

 

Although the medical folks said there may be a service charge from the port agent, we never received any bill. This isn’t exactly the excursion we had planned for Belize, but it turned out okay. I was pleased with the work the dentist did and with arrangements the port agent made on my behalf.

 

Just thought I’d report on the experience in case anyone else was curious how something like this might be handled.

Tim

[Ashland]

Great story..that ended well. I too wondered how a dental problem might get resolved...now thanks to you we all do.

[alexkrn46]

Great story and thanks for sharing.

[Sunkissed Mommy]

Very good to know.

Im glad Royal keeps some contacts with dentists in the local stops.

[jeditden]

Yeah, I probably should have done the same thing when I was on my honeymoon a few years back. That was a rough toothache for most of the cruise. Learned the hard way that the ship doesn't carry Orajel on board. Those first 2 days at sea/Labadee were rough. I was eating Aleve like breath mints...Walking thru Grand Cayman looking for a pharmacy is a fun story though.

[mrpayroll]

Very interesting. Glad it worked out.

[Clarea]

Nice story. I know of another cruiser with a similar story who just had a very good experience with a dentist in Cozumel.

[PlanoTim]

Nice story. I know of another cruiser with a similar story who just had a very good experience with a dentist in Cozumel.

 

The ship's personnel were confident that a good dentist could be found in Cozumel (maybe they had experience with a similar situation in that port before) and thought I might want to wait rather than trying in Belize City. But we had Nachi-Cocum booked for that day and didn't want to miss it. :) I went back to them once we were back on board and told them things worked out well.

[SPacificbound]

I have wondered about this also, thanks for posting and sharing your experience.

[Lady Hudson]

Nice story. I know of another cruiser with a similar story who just had a very good experience with a dentist in Cozumel.

 

My sister also had a good experience in Cozumel. Cracked front tooth and only a $60 bill. Tooth repair was great and lasted for a year until she had her own dentist look at it.

[Summerknight]

Excellent story.

[Big_G]

Good to hear. I would've been a little nervous but sometimes circumstances dictate action.

[birdylady]

Having had dental issues most of my life, this is something I always have in the back of my mind when I travel. I even carry an emergency dental repair kit (didn't even know they existed years ago), just in case. Thankfully I never needed it, but I have had to give to someone else. Thank you for sharing this experience. I have to admit, I wish the US dentists could be so affordable as what you (and others that replied) paid.

 

Erika

[RM]

Thank you for posting this good information. Glad it worked out.

[retiredgram]

Thanks for sharing.

[gjc1111]

As I read, I was waiting for the other shoe to drop (tooth to fall? :D), but I'm glad that it was as positive as a dental-experience-while-on-vacation could be!

[impatientlywaiting]

I read a blog by a couple that cruise all winter long on another cruise line. Last winter she had an emergency tooth problem. When they got to port, the ship's doctor sent her to the dentist she sends the ship's personnel to. She said there were several staff from the ship there that day as well!

[PlanoTim]

As I read, I was waiting for the other shoe to drop (tooth to fall? :D), but I'm glad that it was as positive as a dental-experience-while-on-vacation could be!

 

Thanks. Me too. :D

[Pipo]

Good to know. Thanks for sharing your experience.

[cincicruisers]

Good information, thanks for sharing. Of course I am curious what your problem.

[time4u2go]

I understand if you don't want to say, but can you tell us what the dental issue was? Just for future reference it would be nice to know what dental services the onboard doctor can or can't do.

[ramanda]

$50? I can't even look at my dentist for $50! I won't tell you how much I have had to spend for a root canal and then a crown. I need another root canal and another crown too. It's a crazy amount of money but I have no choice. Glad your situation worked out well

[rdsxgrl28]

Nice to know. I am always scared of things like this popping up. Thank you for the reassuring post.

 

Glad you are tooth okay

[PlanoTim]

I read a blog by a couple that cruise all winter long on another cruise line. Last winter she had an emergency tooth problem. When they got to port, the ship's doctor sent her to the dentist she sends the ship's personnel to. She said there were several staff from the ship there that day as well!

 

I sort of got the impression that there was a dentist in Cozumel (our next stop) that the ship's medical staff was acquainted with. Perhaps they send the crew there when needed. I just didn't want to wait another day and also miss what we had planned in Cozumel.

[phoenix1181]

I worry about this every cruise so it's nice to hear of a good experience. Did the work done pass muster with your regular dentist?