A nonprofit is turning old cruise ships into floating hospitals — complete with operating rooms, pools, and family cabins

Nonprofit Mercy Ships repurposes cruise ships as floating hospitals equipped with operating rooms, ICU beds, and, of course, pools and cafes.

Apr 9, 2025 - 18:07

A nonprofit is turning old cruise ships into floating hospitals — complete with operating rooms, pools, and family cabins

Africa Mercy ship on water — Mercy Ships operates a fleet of floating hospitals that offer free medical care, such as surgeries.
Lara Arkinstall

Nonprofit Mercy Ships converts cruise ships into floating hospitals.
Its first ship was an Italian cruiseliner, while another was previously a train ferry.
Its newest ship, Global Mercy, was built for the nonprofit — a $200 million project.

Not all cruise ships are created equal.

Instead of vacationers, some accommodate Olympic surfers, refugees, or, as is the case of Mercy Ships' two vessels, folks in need of surgery.

Since 1978, Christian nonprofit Mercy Ships has operated a fleet of cruise ships turned floating hospitals, providing complimentary medical services to the countries they visit.

Onboard, reminders of the vessels' past life, like pools and hair salons, remain in place. Instead of waterslides and theater shows, the ships now have schools, operating rooms, CT scanners, and ICU beds.

https://www.businessinsider.com/amenities-dining-activities-new-carnival-firenze-cruise-ship-2024-7

Mercy Ships has operated 5 vessels in its 47 years. The first was a converted Italian cruise liner.

Mercy Ships' two vessels, Global Mercy and Africa Mercy, docked in Dakar, Senegal.
Caleb Brumley

The decision to use floating resorts was based on a simple fact: 40% of the world's population lives on a coastline. "Coastal, rural cities have high medical deserts because they face extreme isolation and lack of infrastructure," Kerry Peterson, the senior vice president of Mercy Ship's US office, told Business Insider in an email.

The nonprofit provides its patients with dental care and seven surgery specialties, such as pediatric and women's health — all for free.

people doing surgery on a patient — Mercy Ships' seven surgery specialties include maxillofacial, reconstructive plastic, and ophthalmic surgeries.
Inge Wiersma

Food, lodging, anesthesia, post-operation rehabilitation, and transportation are also complimentary, even if more than one operation is required.

In addition, the ships also offer specialized postgraduate training to locals through partnered residencies, fellowships, and rotations.

Mercy Ships currently has 2 vessels, Africa Mercy and Global Mercy.

students playing basketball on Mercy Ships — Mercy Ships has onboard schools for the children of its crew.
Tirsa Tapia Zamora

According to Peterson, the nonprofit provided 4,746 surgeries and 13,312 dental procedures and trained more than 900 healthcare workers in 2024. Both ships exclusively operate in African nations.

Like any typical cruise liner, Africa and Global Mercy have an auditorium, pool, library, café, and store.

But instead of operating as vacations at sea, the two ships are more "akin to floating cities," Peterson said, noting there are onboard mechanical and carpentry shops, post office, bank, gym, salon, and laundromat.

The nonprofit received a donation in early 2024 to fund the construction of a new vessel.

Its first ship, Africa Mercy, was previously a train ferry before finding a second life.

Africa Mercy arrives in the Port of Toamasina in Tamatave, Madagascar on February 1, 2024 — The 16,572-gross-ton Africa Mercy has undergone several modernization and sustainability upgrades, most recently in 2023.
Caleb Brumley

Mercy Ships acquired the Danish vessel, then known as Dronning Ingrid, in 1999. Following a $62 million refurbishment, it was re-deployed as Africa Mercy in 2007.

According to the nonprofit, as of June 2024, the floating hospital had performed more than 70,910 surgeries in countries such as Liberia, South Africa, Sierra Leone, Madagascar, and Cameroon.

The 12,917-square-foot deck that once accommodated trains now serves as the hospital.

empty family cabin on Mercy Ships — Africa Mercy has cabins for couples and families.
Tirsa Tapia Zamora

The space includes a pharmacy, a radiology lab, five operating rooms, 75 acute care beds, and five ICU beds.

In addition to patient beds, Africa Mercy also has 159 cabins for 470 crew, although it sees about 1,000 volunteers — from surgeons to plumbers to housekeepers — throughout the year.

Accommodation options include dorm-style cabins and rooms for couples and families.

The second ship, Global Mercy, was built for the nonprofit.

Dr. Sandra Lako, Country Director, with a patient — Global Mercy is 37,856-gross-ton and has administered more than 4,490 surgeries since June 2024.
Maria Anne van der Spijk

Mercy Ships began construction on its newest addition, Global Mercy, in 2015 — a $200 million investment, including the cost of equipment and the first patients.

The nonprofit touts the 571-foot-long vessel, launched in 2022, as the largest civilian hospital vessel in the world.

Larger than its predecessor, Global Mercy has 75,347 square feet of hospital space, including 102 acute care and seven ICU beds — in addition to a simulation lab for its training program.

It provides surgical care to about 1,500 patients annually, having so far served patients in Senegal, The Gambia, and Sierra Leone.

Global Mercy has 277 staterooms that can accommodate 640 crew.

A two-berth cabin on the Global Mercy — Volunteers work with Mercy ships for as short as a few weeks to as long as several years.
Tirsa Tapia Zamora

Its solo, double, couple, family, guest, and VIP cabins see about 1,500 volunteers annually.

Peterson said Mercy Ships encourages its volunteers to explore the countries during their free time, whether grabbing dinner in town or staying overnight onshore — harkening back to the perks of a traditional cruise line.

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