Carnival Cruises Ambassador Warns Against Buying Medicines Abroad

Carnival Cruises’ brand ambassador answers essentially the most continuously asked questions on purchasing medications at international ports.

Ambassador John Heald shared his thoughts on the pharmacies that passengers can access in foreign destinations. He specifically mentioned the frequent purchases of medicines that should not typically available over-the-counter within the U.S.

According to Heald Passengers were advised think twice about buying these products, despite their availability and comparatively low price. He warned users of his Facebook page concerning the lack of regulation, responding to a message concerning the drug Furosemide.

The questioner asked: “I purchased Furosemide (4ml) in Cozumel in 2019. I will be on a Liberty cruise that stops in Cozumel on August 30th (and) I just became a platinum cruiser with you and I want to buy more at the port pharmacy. I need to know the current prices. Do you have an idea of ​​what it should cost now? Do you have a list of pharmacy prices? Do we need to worry about contamination? Does Carnival still consider this location in their port a reputable pharmacy?”

The drug, commonly often known as “diuretic pills”, can treat swelling and edema attributable to heart failure, in addition to kidney and liver diseases, because confirmed by Mayo Clinic. Heald used the message to verify that Carnival doesn’t own or regulate pharmacies.

“Well, I have no idea why this lady thinks I know the prices of the drugs in this store,” he wrote. “However, it may be because she and perhaps others think that we, Carnival Corporation, ‘own’ the pier in Puerto Maya and therefore own all the stores. We do not. Therefore, we cannot make any recommendations as to what is sold in this pharmacy, and I do not have a price list.”

However, he noticed that he knew which pharmacy the messenger was talking about.

“I know the pharmacy he’s talking about, and it’s been there for years. I remember there used to be big signs saying you could buy almost anything over the counter.”

Heald then asked other Facebook users on his page to hitch the discussion. Andrea Hazelwood, a commenter who identified herself as a registered nurse, warned vacationers about taking certain medications that their doctors didn’t prescribe. But given the value of pharmaceuticals within the U.S., the lady couldn’t say the purchases were a nasty idea altogether.

“I would be less concerned about the quality of the medication at a foreign pharmacy and more concerned about the fact that the person may have kidney and/or heart problems from taking a medication that their doctor did not prescribe,” Hazelwood said. “Generally speaking, I am not opposed to buying medication from a foreign pharmacy to bypass the ridiculous U.S. prescription drug prices, as long as it is a medication that the person’s doctor has already prescribed for them.”

The cost of some pharmaceuticals stays a standard topic within the United States. However, those attempting to bypass the system on a Carnival cruise should consider whether the danger is well worth the reward.