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Many cruise ports in the Caribbean follow a simple layout.
Whether you are in Nassau, Cozumel, Costa Maya, Falmouth or elsewhere, when you disembark from the ship you will find a selection of shops and restaurants. You will find duty-free shops selling alcohol, cigarettes, perfumes and various cosmetics.
You can also expect restaurants and bars, and you may find local establishments, and there are always chains like Senor Frogs and Margaritaville. There will also be shops selling local specialties.
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This may mean vanilla extract and dark chocolate at Mexican ports. You’ll often find local rum or other liquor and sometimes local coffee beans wherever you visit.
Some ports have spas offering massages, while others have ponds of fish that eat the dead skin off your feet. In the nicer ports, you have access to swimming pools, and perhaps a beach, and in Costa Maya, you can enjoy a lazy river, all for no extra charge.
In some cases, port stores include a pharmacy where you can purchase many medications that are not available without a prescription in the United States. This is an attractive proposition for many travelers looking to save money and get medications that their doctors have not prescribed.
This comes with its own set of risks, of course, but buying from these pharmacies is very popular.
Carnival brand ambassador John Heald was asked about one such pharmacy on his Facebook page, and shared more than the expected warning about being careful when purchasing medications outside the United States.
Photo Credit: Dan Klein/Come on a Cruise
Carnival clears up misunderstandings about port
Heald, who is recovering from Covid according to his own post, took some time out from not feeling well on his couch to share a recent message he received.
I purchased Furosemide (4ml) in Cozumel in 2019. I will be on the Liberty cruise ship that stops in Cozumel on August 30th. I just became a platinum passenger with you and would like to purchase more from the port pharmacy. I need to know the current prices. Do you have any idea what the current cost is? Do you have a list of pharmacy prices? Should we be concerned about contamination? Does Carnival still consider this location in their port a reputable pharmacy?
Furosemide, as far as we know, is a diuretic used to treat high blood pressure and some kidney-related problems,
Heald was quick to correct a misconception not only about the pharmacy, but about all the stores in the various ports where the cruise lines stop.
“Well, I have no idea why this lady would think I know the prices of drugs in this store,” he wrote. “But it could be because she and others think we, Carnival Corporation, ‘own’ the pier in Puerto Maya and therefore own all the stores. But we don’t. So we can’t make any kind of recommendation about what’s sold in this pharmacy, and I don’t have a price list.”
Heald did not issue a warning to the person who sent him the message.
“I know the pharmacy you’re referring to, it’s been there for many years. I remember there were huge signs saying you could buy almost anything without a prescription,” he added.
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Carnival passengers share their pharmaceutical ideas
Hiald asked his followers to give their opinions on the issue of pharmacy.
“Anyway, to help this lady and possibly others, please let them know if you have purchased anything from there and your thoughts on doing so,” he shared.
Many passengers ignored this request and only wished Held well.
“Good morning, John. I’m so sorry you’re sick today. Get plenty of rest this weekend. I hope you feel better soon. As for buying medicine at the port, I’ve never been there before, so I can’t say anything. My prayers are with you,” Judy Bernard Hitchcock shared.
However, other commentators have shared their experiences purchasing prescription drugs without a prescription at various ports.
“I bought the medications from the pharmacy you mentioned. I had no problems. The reason is that these medications do not require a prescription. They seem to be very expensive these days,” Steph shared.
It is not uncommon for Americans to go to Mexico or Canada to buy prescription drugs in an attempt to save money.
Read also: Top Travel Agents Share How to Get the Best Price for Your Cruise
Andrea Hazelwood, who identified herself as a registered nurse, shared a simple warning. She noted that furosemide is an old and already cheap drug in the United States.
“I was less concerned about the quality of the drugs in foreign pharmacies and more concerned that this person might cause themselves kidney and/or heart problems by taking a medication that their doctor did not prescribe. In general, I am not against purchasing medications from a foreign pharmacy to bypass the exorbitant prescription prices in the United States as long as the medication was actually prescribed by the person’s doctor,” she wrote.
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