Emergency Contact

[Dancer Bob]

I've always assumed the cruise lines want an emergency contact so they have someone to chase if you managed to skip out without paying your bill. But will they also expect this person to make decisions, especially medical decisions- DNR, removal of life support, etc- for you? If so, needs some serious thought who I name. Would this be country-specific?

[gerryuk]

On Costa you cannot skip your bill, you are charged daily. The emergency contact is in case you fall ill and they have somebody to contact on your behalf. In extremes they have somebody to contact if the ship sinks and the like. If you are medically evac from the ship then they will contact the name you have given to give details of location of hospital and the like. As to removing life support and the like,  that is down to the next of kin, nothing to do with the cruise line and may not have anything to do with the emergency contact name you give.