Cruise passenger doctor in San Juan: ship clinic, video visit or ER?
If you need a cruise passenger doctor in San Juan, you have three options: the ship's medical center, a video visit with a Puerto Rico-licensed doctor while your ship is in port, or the emergency room. In an emergency, call 911: the San Juan Cruise Port lists Ashford Presbyterian hospital for emergencies. We can't see you once the ship sails.
Can we help by telehealth? Sometimes: it depends on the evaluation.
Is this an emergency?
This is not an emergency service. Call 911 or go to the nearest emergency room if you have:
- Chest pain, trouble breathing or fainting
- Stroke signs: a drooping face, weakness on one side or trouble speaking
- Vomiting or diarrhea so bad you can't keep fluids down, with dizziness on standing or very little urine
- Bloody diarrhea or a high fever
- A bad fall or injury on board or ashore
Help lines:
- 911 — Emergencies
- 1-800-981-0023 — Línea PAS (mental-health crisis line)
- 988 — Suicide & Crisis Lifeline
- 1-800-222-1222 — Poison Help
Ship doctor, video visit or ER: how to choose
According to the CDC, ship medical facilities vary, but the large majority of passengers' health problems (about 95%) are treated on board. Respiratory infections are the most common reason for visits to the ship's doctor.
In practice:
- The ship's medical center: your first stop if you are on board or the problem started on the ship. It knows the cruise line's rules about re-boarding.
- An [online doctor visit](route:service-online-visit) with us: for a common problem while the ship is docked in San Juan, such as a forgotten medicine, a UTI or a rash. You must be physically in Puerto Rico during the visit.
- The ER: for any warning sign. Call 911.
The port's hospital: Ashford Presbyterian
The San Juan Cruise Port's contact page lists 911 and Ashford Presbyterian hospital ((787) 721-2160) for emergency services. Ashford, at 1451 Ashford Avenue in Condado, describes itself as the official emergency provider for San Juan's cruise terminals, and it has separate adult and pediatric emergency rooms.
Cruise passenger doctor in San Juan: what we can do in port
While your ship is in San Juan, Dr. Diana Nieves Castro, MD can see you by video. On a phone you need the free "Telehealth by SimplePractice" app, so download it first. Request a visit online 24/7 — we confirm your time by email or text. Because the time is confirmed afterwards, request early and keep your all-aboard time in mind.
If appropriate, the doctor can prescribe medication. We do not prescribe controlled substances. If you left a medicine at home, see lost or forgotten prescription for what to bring to the pharmacy. Ask when the pharmacy counter closes, because it doesn't always match the store's hours.
Seasickness: take medicine before you sail
The CDC advises taking motion-sickness medicine before travel. Some details from the CDC:
- A scopolamine patch takes 6 to 8 hours to start working and lasts up to 72 hours. It should not be used with glaucoma and is avoided in children.
- Meclizine starts working in about 2 hours and lasts 8 to 24 hours.
- Dimenhydrinate starts in about 2 hours and lasts about 8 hours.
The CDC notes that getting used to the motion is the most effective countermeasure. If you want a prescription for seasickness before you re-board, the doctor will assess whether it suits you.
Stomach bugs on cruises
Norovirus causes more than 90% of diarrhea and vomiting outbreaks on cruise ships, according to the CDC. Wash your hands with soap and water, especially before eating and after using the bathroom, and tell the ship's medical center if you get sick.
Drink fluids often. Get care if you can't keep fluids down, see blood in your stool or have a high fever. See stomach bug.
Traveling with anyone under 21
We see patients from 6 months old. If the patient is under 21, a parent with patria potestad (parental authority) or a legal guardian signs the consent, stays on camera for the whole visit and shows photo ID. Another adult in your travel group cannot stand in. The doctor is not a pediatrician. Seasickness patches are avoided in children; ask before giving any motion-sickness medicine to a child.
After your ship leaves Puerto Rico
We can't see you once the ship sails or at your next port, because the doctor's license is a Puerto Rico license. Carry a list of your medicines and your medical history on board, as the CDC recommends. Staying on the island instead? See sick on vacation in Puerto Rico. Insurance questions: does Medicare work in Puerto Rico?.
Video visit: US$79 · Pay by card · See the price and what is included
Before you book
- You must be physically in Puerto Rico during the visit (visitors and tourists are welcome).
- We see patients from 6 months old. Patients under 21: a parent or legal guardian must be on camera for the whole visit.
- Real-time video only; we do not do phone-call visits.
- We do not prescribe controlled substances.
Frequently asked questions
- Can a cruise passenger use a video visit in San Juan?
- Yes, while you are physically in Puerto Rico, for example with your ship docked in San Juan. Once the ship sails, we can't see you.
- Which hospital does the San Juan cruise port use?
- The San Juan Cruise Port's contact page lists Ashford Presbyterian hospital in Condado, along with 911.
- Can I get something for seasickness before I re-board?
- The doctor will assess whether a medicine is appropriate for you. Some take hours to start working, so it helps to take them before sailing.
- Can you replace a blood pressure medicine I forgot?
- If it is non-controlled, the doctor can see you by video and prescribe it if appropriate. You will need a pharmacy that is open before all-aboard.
Sources
- Contact, San Juan Cruise Port (accessed 2026-09-30)
- Emergency services, Ashford Presbyterian Community Hospital (accessed 2026-09-30)
- Cruise ship travel, CDC Yellow Book (CDC) (accessed 2026-09-30)
- Motion sickness, CDC Yellow Book (CDC) (accessed 2026-09-30)