[grania]

do you think anyone ordinary would've been afforded the same privilege?

On a cruise ship, yes. Read the fine print. If the cruise ship's medical staff determines that you have to be evacuated in a medical emergency, that's what happens. If you haven't signed up for the insurance with them, they can charge (I've heard the number $50,000) for helicopter evacuation, and they put it on your credit card.

Cruise lines are very heavy-handed about medical situations.

[lbryce]

Thanks very much for your timely input.