Cruise / Travel Insurance

Planning to take a cruise? While booking you will be asked if you would like to purchase Travel Insurance. Your first instinct will probably be to say no. This is something you should really think about. There are usually two options on the Travel Insurance, those offered by the Cruise Line, and the other offered by the Cruise Agent. Not all insurance policies are the same, even though they may be written by the same company.

Usually the Travel Insurance offered by the Cruise/Travel Agency will cover more than the Travel Insurance offered by the Cruise Line, normally with higher limits. Some of the benefits of purchasing from the Cruise Agent are:

• Insure 3rd party travel arrangements at the same benefit limit and pricing schedule
• Coverage for Financial Default of an airline, cruise line, or tour operator
• Coverage for Missed Connection
• Trip Interruption
• Trip Delay
• Offers a waiver of the Pre-existing medical condition exclusion
• Provides higher medical benefit limits than the cruise line products
• May be purchased within 10 days after final trip payment
• Trip Cancellation
• Baggage & Personal Effects
• Baggage Delay
• Medical Expenses
• Emergency Evacuation
• Accidental Death & Dismemberment
• Is refundable.
• Provides all refunds in cash

Cruise lines advertise "cancel for any reason" coverage. Cash refunds are provided for "named peril" reasons. "Cruise credits" are provided for all other reasons.

On two different cruises I have been on I have seen a ambulance on the dock at a port of call. I watched as a stretcher took someone off the ship and head to a local hospital. Your Medical Insurance usually will not cover you when you are out of the United States. Travel Insurance will take care of you and even get you back home after you leave the hospital if the ship has left that port to continue the cruise and you have a passport so you can fly back home.

If you are flying to the Port, especially in the Winter months, there can be delays because of weather. Travel Insurance usually covers Missed Connections, Trip Interruption and Trip Delays. Some Travel Insurance Companies even have 24 hour support lines to help you get a new flight to your destination.

Most people think nothing will happen to affect their trip, but these are everyday possibilities. I always purchase the Travel Insurance, as I never know when something may come up that could ruin my cruise. So far I have not needed it but you never know when you will.