Donald BucoloAfter cruising together 13 years and counting, we can reminiscence about our first trips and all the silly mistakes we made. From planning to packing blunders, perhaps the biggest thing we had neglected for some time was travel insurance. Now, whenever we go on any trip, we make sure that our coverage is up-to-date. Wait, you don’t purchase travel insurance? Then you need to read our top 6 reasons to get travel insurance for a cruise.
Top 6 Reasons to Get Travel Insurance for a Cruise
The Unexpected Happens Before Your Cruise
No one likes to cancel a cruise, especially for unforeseen circumstances. An illness, a loss of job, or other family emergencies could happen at any time. If these events do occur just prior to your cruise, you might be saying goodbye to most, if not all, of the funds you paid toward your cruise and possibly even your flights. With travel insurance, you can rest assured that you will be refunded if one of these unfortunate events do occur. You will be able to focus on the urgent matters at hand without worrying about having to deal with the travel companies. Then, you can use the returned funds to book another trip when the time is right.
Get to the Ship on Time
Those early morning flights on the day of the cruise. What were we thinking? Nowadays, we always fly the day before our cruise to ensure we are in the ship’s home port on time. Even if you follow this advice, travel insurance can help when there are unforeseen circumstances like weather delays, flight cancellations, or issues getting to the port. If you have travel insurance, these hiccups will not keep you from getting on the ship. Your insurer will do what they can to get you on the ship as soon as possible, even if that means flying you to a port of call. Don’t ruin your vacation because you didn’t plan ahead.
Make Sure Your Bags Arrive With You
No one likes lost baggage during a trip. Calling the airlines, coordinating with agents, and dealing with other potential issues does not sound like a good way to spend a week of rest and relaxation. If issues with luggage should arise, your travel insurance company will be there to handle it instead. Depending on your plan, they might also include a stipend for you to get additional clothes and necessary items while they sort out the situation. If your bags never turn up, the travel insurance company will provide compensation so you can restock your closet. Although, you will probably want to wait until you are home so your wardrobe isn’t filled with floral shirts!
You Get Sick (or Injured) While on Your Voyage
Accidents can happen, and other medical ailments can pop-up while you are traveling. Travel insurance will cover many of the medical expenses and costs associated with these emergencies. While you might not think about it, the cost for being seen in a foreign hospital can be quite hefty. If your condition is serious, the ship could leave you at the port. How will you get home? If something happens while at sea, you could be responsible for thousands of dollars in costs for medevac flights. Hopefully, you will never need medical attention while on a cruise, but if you do, having travel insurance for a cruise will ease your worries and medical costs.
Something Happens While in Port
You are having such a great time at Senor Frogs that you don’t realize the time. You turn to see your ship sailing away without you. Or, while at the local straw market, your wallet and passport are stolen. Travel insurance can help those who encounter such issues while they are off the ship. Most plans will cover costs to get you from the port to meet up with the ship at its next port of call. Many companies also offer 24 hour travel support services that can help you work with embassies and local agencies if you are missing vital documents and identification.
It is Cheaper Than You Think
Perhaps the number one reason to get travel insurance for a cruise is the cost. It is much cheaper than you think. You can shop around to compare prices from the numerous companies. The cruise lines offer their own coverage, as do many travel agents who work with insurance partners. If you are spending thousands of dollars for your family’s vacation, adding a few hundred dollars to ensure that your vacation is protected is well worth the cost. On average, insurance rates are around 5-10% of the total cost of the trip, but pricing does vary based on destination, age of the travelers, and coverage plans.
Comments
Do you purchase travel insurance for your trips? Have you ever had to use the insurance for any unforeseen circumstances? Drop us an anchor below to let us know your experiences with using travel insurance for a cruise.
5 comments
Julie
Yes I purchase travel insurance. Was glad I did husband hurt his back and had to cancel the cruise. Called and they were very helpful
Adrienne
I used to not purchase travel insurance. My first cruise I didn’t. And other land trips I didn’t. Until 2014 we booked with a group from a sister the trip was to Isearal it was for 9 days. They said that they had travel insurance for the group. This was not the case or it was not very good. Our flight was delayed because of weather so we missed a day of the tour and the airline lost our luggage. We didn’t get money back for missing a day or lost luggage I was happy I packed change of clothes in my carry on. This is when I learned to buy travel insurance my self not trust that some has brought for the group.
I started purchasing travel insurance.
This past December 2017 I end up in the ER 3 weeks before my 9 day cruise. The Doctor hospitalized me said I probably need surgery for instantal blockage. 2 days later I had surgery to remove blockage. The surgery was pretty major and doctor would not allow me to go. It was to be an extended family vacation. My mother, and myself, my bother, his wife, and son. My cousin, her husband and son. My cousin didnot buy the travel insurance. Had to go on the trip without the rest of us. The rest of the family had trip insurance. We were able to all of our money back. It was the cruiseline insurance. Also my mother and myself had purchased the cruise with an cruise valchure as our deposit. We even got that back and have until 2020 to use it. However, when I purchase travel insurance I must make sure it covers a pre-existing condition because it could come back at anytime. But shouldn’t if I watch my diet. I will always buy the travel insurance. I am already planning two cruises.
DB
Thanks for the comment. Glad to hear you are doing well and had travel insurance to cover your missed trip. Everyone’s circumstances are different, so making sure to read all the fine print when comparing policies is import. Happy cruising.
Linda B
We always buy trip insurance and have successfully used it twice. It is worth every penny. The first time we were on a riverboat cruise on the Danube in December for the Christmas Markets. When we got to Vienna to go to the airport to fly home, we discovered that a terrible snowstorm 2 days before had closed Heathrow Airport which is where we were to go to catch our connecting flight. We ended up staying in Vienna for 2 extra days (that certainly was no hardship) and our trip insurance paid for our hotel, our meals, our taxis to the hotel and back to the airport and all change fees on the flights. The only thing it didn’t cover was $50 for one dinner where we splurged and went over the meal allowance and a little bit of airport parking when we got back. The second time we used our trip insurance was in 2016 when we had a 15 day Viking Ocean cruise booked through the Viking homelands. I was diagnosed with pneumonia 4 days before we were to leave. The trip insurance reimbursed us every penny of the cost of the whole trip. And I am excited that just yesterday we rebooked the same cruise for 2019 so we will get to see the Viking Homelands after all.
DB
Thanks Linda for the comment. Sounds like some exciting trips and glad to hear the travel insurance protected you guys on both instances. The Viking Homelands cruise sounds amazing. Happy cruising.