Doctor Odyssey: Is The New Cruise Ship TV Show Realistic?

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Premiering last October, Doctor Odyssey is a new medical drama series that follows the adventures of Dr. Max Bankman, who heads up the medical team on a luxury cruise ship.

In each roughly 40-minute episode, Dr. Bankman and his team manage three or four medical crises, blending the serious practice of medicine with lighthearted fun, playful camaraderie, and lusty romantic relationships.

After watching the first few episodes of the ABC series, I spoke to a real-life cruise ship doctor to learn more about the role of medical staff on cruise ships compared to it depiction on TV.

The physician I spoke to was trained and licensed in Emergency Medicine, and has practiced on luxury cruise ships for over six years. 

He considers himself fortunate to have found a career niche that couples his twin loves of medicine and travel.

The Broad Guidelines of Medical Care at Sea

The guidelines guiding medical care at sea are interesting and should be somewhat reassuring to skittish virgin cruisers. 

Cruise Line International Association (CLIA), the trade association for the cruise industry, and the American College of Emergency Physicians have developed mandatory medical guidelines for CLIA cruise line members to protect the health of passengers and crew. 

The guidelines specify that ships must have at least one medical professional available 24/7 for medical bay visits or cabin “house calls.” They also require that cruise ships have an examination room, intensive care room, and equipment for processing lab work, monitoring vital signs, and administering medications.

The precise size, staffing, and “decor” of medical facilities vary depending on the ship and its size, but none probably look as lavish as the set on Doctor Odyssey.

The Worklife of A Real Cruise Ship Doctor

A cruise ship doctor typically has office hours twice daily, from 9 to 11 AM and 4 to 8 PM. This doctor’s offices are located in a medical suite on a lower deck, far more modestly furnished than the one on the TV show. If someone appears to be contagious, the doctor visits passengers’ staterooms. 

Like Doctor Odyssey, two licensed professional nurses complete the doctor’s medical team. When necessary, the doctor consults with and receives support via telemedicine from other physicians in the fleet and the corporate office’s medical staff.

The work is far from glamorous, he says. His contract calls for him to work four months at a time with two months off, but because of the shortage of qualified cruise doctors, he is often called back to sea sooner. 

On duty, he is obliged to be on call around the clock: Any medical issue a passenger faces outside of regular work hours demands his immediate attention and response.

“I recently had a couple of hours off and took a taxi to get a meal at a port,” he told me. “Within 15 minutes, I had to tell the driver to turn around and head back so I could take care of a guest on the ship.”

Although he’s traveled the world, he admits that opportunities to visit exotic ports are limited. He even has little time to watch TV (So, no, he hasn’t watched the new series but was intrigued to hear about it).

“When I have a few hours off, I only want to eat, sleep, and go to the gym,” he says. He even craves restorative sleep when he’s home for breaks.

Is his stateroom as large and luxurious as the suite enjoyed by Dr. Bankman?

Hardly. He says his cabin has a couch and the space feels more than adequate. But he does appreciate some of the same luxury shipboard perks enjoyed by passengers: room service, housekeeping, laundry, and gym access (if he only had the time to get there).

Medicine at Sea: Separating Fact from Fiction

I recounted a few of the interesting medical crises that took place on the first episodes of Odyssey:

• hematidrosis (sweating blood), 

• losing a leg in a cave on a shore excursion, 

• iodine poisoning from eating too much seafood and

• a penile fracture. 

The real doctor said, “Yes, these are real disorders, but they are rare.”

Cruise ship doctors more commonly treat cuts, fractures, seasickness, peanut allergies, and coughs. He also sees passengers with urinary tract infections, gastrointestinal problems, pneumonia, and other respiratory diseases (This doctor was onboard when COVID-19 surfaced). 

Older passengers (70 and up) often board with chronic illnesses (such as cancer, heart problems, etc.) or have heart attacks or other medical problems that require attention at sea. 

He elaborated on some of the duties and responsibilities of ship doctors. They are so consuming that they leave little or no time for capers or cavorting like that done by Doctor Odyssey and his nurses. 

In addition to his responsibilities for delivering primary care and vaccinations for crew—the cruise ship doctor oversees:

• Stabilizing any medical crisis and determining whether it can be addressed on board. (Shipboard doctors rarely perform surgery unless it is a true medical emergency. Instead, they triage the person for land-based care.)

• Overseeing the onboard pharmacy with common prescription medications and first-aid supplies

• Monitoring medical equipment (like an X-ray machine or defibrillator)

• Providing counseling and support for emotional problems experienced by guests or crew

• Documenting and coding visits for insurance reimbursement

• Doing paperwork such as preparing discharge summaries for follow-up care

• Arranging care at land-based health facilities for serious medical or dental conditions that can’t be treated onboard

• Participating in fleetwide medical meetings with the home office

• Assisting in medical evacuation in the event of a ship emergency 

Q & As about the Doctor Odyssey TV Series

Is Odyssey an actual cruise ship? 

No, the entire series was filmed on a set. But if the name sounds familiar, it’s because a residential cruise ship named Odyssey (which has no relation to the show or its ship) made headlines recently when its residents were stranded in Belfast for more than four months. 

The Love Boat, a cruise series that first aired in 1977, was the progenitor of Doctor Odyssey. While some of the earlier show’s scenes were set on the Pacific Princess (and its sister ship, Island Princess), most of the series’ filming was also shot in a studio.

Many posters on CruiseCritic boards mention that the old and wildly popular series was so engaging that it hooked them on cruising.

What actors and actresses appear in the Doctor Odyssey series?

The ensemble cast, led by Joshua Jackson (Dr. Max Bankman), includes the ship’s Captain, Robert Massey (played by Don Johnson), and Dr. Bankman’s two nurses, Tristan Silva (played by Sean Teale) and Avery Morgan (played by Phillipa Soo).

The show offers a big dose star power with celebrity guest appearances in various episodes, including Margaret Cho, John Stamos, Kelsea Ballerini, Shania Twain, Amy Sedaris, Gina Gershon, and Rachel Dratch.

The Risk/Benefit Profile of Watching Doctor Odyssey

The show isn’t a reality show but the onboard medical cases and treatments of Doctor Odyssey are not as authentic as those portrayed in medical dramas like Ben Casey, Scrubs, House, or Nurse Jackie.

If you’re watching the show to get a glimpse of medical drama at sea, be forewarned that much of the medicine on Doctor Odyssey leans toward fiction. 

Ryan Murphy, the successful creator behind American Horror Story and Glee, is said to have characterized the series as a nostalgic homage to the ABC shows of his younger years. This sentiment will resonate with viewers who appreciate the show’s ensemble cast and guest stars, the glitz and glamour of the luxury cruise setting, and the playful antics that unfold during the voyage.

But beyond captivating shipboard TV shows, it’s important to recognize that cruise ships are home to dedicated medical professionals who work tirelessly to safeguard the well-being of passengers and crew.

These real-life heroes go above and beyond fictional narratives to provide exceptional medical care while navigating the unique challenges of a maritime environment.

Note: Because cruise medicine is such a serious business, the cruise line preferred anonymity in this post.

Where to Watch Doctor Odyssey

The show premiered on October 17, 2025.

New episodes air on ABC Thursday nights at 9 PM EST and are available on HULU the next day.

The series also streams on Fubo, DIRECTTV Stream, Hulu, and Disney Bundle. (Many of these streaming services offer free trials.)

Official Trailer of Doctor Odyssey on YouTube 

Do you watch the show? What do you think?

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