Cruise vacation takes frightening turn as passenger is airlifted from ship

A cruise vacation took a frightening turn when a passenger experiencing a medical emergency had to be airlifted recently from a ship sailing near Canada.

A Royal Canadian Air Force helicopter and rescue team were deployed to the ship, with search and rescue technicians lowered onto the vessel to assist with the evacuation.

"A guest experienced a medical emergency while sailing. Since they required additional care, we facilitated their medical disembarkation," a Royal Caribbean Group spokesperson told Fox News Digital. Royal Caribbean Group owns Celebrity Solstice through its ownership of its subsidiary brand, Celebrity Cruises.

Elmhirst noted that the coastline between Vancouver and Alaska includes long stretches without major cities and hospitals, which can complicate an emergency evacuation.

The incident also serves as a reminder for cruise passengers to understand their insurance coverage before setting sail, according to Elmhirst.

"I think from a guest's perspective, there are two really important takeaways from hearing about a medical evacuation at sea," she said. "One is making sure that you have sufficient medical travel insurance."

"Even if you have really good health insurance, it may not cover travel," she said.

Without sufficient coverage, travelers could potentially face large medical expenses following an emergency abroad, Elmhirst added.

She also encouraged travelers with pre-existing medical conditions to speak with their doctors before embarking on a cruise and make sure they are healthy enough to travel.

"Regardless [of] any health issues, please speak with your doctor," Elmhirst said. "Make sure that your doctor says that you're well enough to travel."

She said an unexpected medical evacuation could require a passenger to fly home internationally rather than return to the ship as planned.

"Take a passport with you," Elmhirst said - adding that travelers can then focus on "getting well and going home safely" if a medical emergency occurs.