Here’s why you should purchase travel insurance for your next cruise

One of the most important — but often overlooked — things to check off your ‘to do’ list before you set sail on a cruise is to make sure your travels are covered in case of the unexpected. What if your flight is canceled and you miss the ship? What if your luggage is lost or damaged? What if you have a medical emergency while at sea or in a foreign port? These types of scenarios and more can be covered with travel insurance so you can be worry-free during your vacation. Here’s our guide to travel insurance for a cruise, including six reasons we highly recommend purchasing it.

What is travel insurance?

Travel insurance is exactly as the name suggests — insurance for unexpected delays, cancellations, luggage issues, medical issues, and more during a vacation. You can purchase it whether you’re taking a trip within your own country, or whether you’re traveling to foreign destinations. Though, it’s a more popular option for foreign travel specifically for the health coverage. While your usual health insurance should cover most domestic medical situations, most health insurance policies don’t cover medical expenses internationally. Travelers are also more likely to purchase travel insurance the more expensive and lengthy their trip is because there’s more to lose if something goes awry.

How much does travel insurance cost?

There is no one-size-fits-all cost when it comes to pretty much any insurance plan, and that goes for travel insurance as well. Factors like where you live, your age(s), and the length and cost of the trip all go into determining how much coverage will cost for your vacation. It also varies depending on the level of coverage you want to purchase and the specific insurance company you end up going with. However, for a rough estimate, you should plan to spend about five to 10 percent of your total trip cost on travel insurance.

Where can I purchase travel insurance for a cruise?

There are several avenues for where you can purchase travel insurance. Firstly, you may notice when you book your cruise that it offers you the option of adding on a travel insurance policy right through the cruise line. Airlines also offer flight-related coverage when you purchase your airfare. While these can be decent options, you’ll pretty much always get better coverage and a better price if you look elsewhere.

We recommend using an aggregate website like tripinsurance.com or insuremytrip.com, which allow you to compare plans from different companies to find one that suits your needs the best. Your travel agent might also offer you insurance through its insurance partner, which is another good option. Lastly, check to see what coverage your credit card offers. Many credit cards offer some travel coverages, and/or have the option to add on a travel insurance package through them for additional coverage.

When should I purchase travel insurance?

A good rule of thumb for determining when to purchase travel insurance is this: as soon as possible. Once you’ve made your initial deposit for your cruise and/or have made your other major arrangements for the trip, start looking into travel insurance options.

Some benefits of your coverage, such as cancel-for-any-reason coverage, can only be used later on if you purchase travel insurance within a certain timeframe after booking your trip (often within two to three weeks). There also may be a similar deadline for submitting a preexisting medical condition waiver for the health coverages in your insurance plan.

The only thing to keep in mind before purchasing insurance is to make sure you have a good idea of how much your trip will cost as far as major expenses like flights, hotels, and the cruise itself. This is because the cost of your insurance is, in part, determined by the cost of the trip. It also protects the full amount you paid for the trip. If you underestimate the cost of your vacation when purchasing insurance but then have to cancel unexpectedly, you won’t get the full amount back that you’re expecting from your travel insurance policy.

Top 6 Reasons to Purchase Travel Insurance for a Cruise

1. 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 the right travel insurance policy, 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.

2. You don’t get to the ship on time.

Those early morning flights on the day of the cruise are a drag, to say the least. What were we thinking? Nowadays, we always fly the day before our cruise to ensure we are in the ship’s homeport 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.

3. Your bags are lost or damaged.

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 might want to wait until you are home so your wardrobe isn’t filled with Hawaiian shirts!

4. 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 the burden of any potential medical bills.

5. Something happens while in port.

You are having such a great time at Señor 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.

6. Travel insurance 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 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.

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