Are you thinking about heading out on a cruise and wondering if you should invest in Travel Insurance for cruises? Are you wondering what the difference between your personal healthcare insurance is and what travel insurance is good for? This article is going to give you the run down about everything you need to know about Insurance for Cruises
Travel insurance is a safety net for when something goes wrong. It covers many different aspects of your trip, including airline tickets, medical expenses, and luggage loss or damage.
Before going on a cruise, it’s important to make sure you have the right travel insurance. This includes an emergency policy that can cover unexpected medical expenses or flight cancellations. It also covers the scheduled itinerary of your cruise and what will happen if something goes wrong during this voyage like illness, injury, theft, damage to property or even death in extreme cases.
Cruise lines do sell their own travel insurance. But oftentimes it is more common for customers to obtain travel insurance from a third-party provider.
WHAT DOES CRUISE LINE TRAVEL INSURANCE COVER?
The answer to this question is a little bit complicated. Cruise lines provide travel insurance in the event of any unforeseen or unexpected events that might come up while you are on your cruise, such as medical emergencies, flight delays or cancellations.
The cruise line will cover some medical expenses related to emergency care while you are on the ship and even send a medical team for some off-ship issues.
However, this does not include any other types of medical expenses. You will need to make sure you have a separate insurance policy for these situations.
CRUISE INSURANCE MEDICAL COVERAGE VS. YOUR REGULAR HEALTH INSURANCE PLAN
Many travelers have health insurance back home, so purchasing cruise insurance with medical benefits may appear to be a waste of money. However, many health insurance plans do not cover non-emergency treatments and may treat claims as “out of network.”
Even if your insurance will cover you internationally or aboard a cruise, the doctor or hospital treating you may not accept it. They could even demand payment upfront before beginning treatment.
In the case of an emergency or sickness on board, cruise ships must have a doctor and hospital on board to assist with treatment. These hospitals, are generally constructed to stabilize patients and make them as comfortable as possible until the ship reaches its ultimate destination or the nearest port of call.
You may require medical treatment at a local hospital or be medically evacuated back home based on your condition. Medical evacuations are quite expensive, and without insurance that covers them, a cruise-goer would have to pay for those expenses personally.
WHERE TO FIND A TRAVEL INSURANCE POLICY FOR CRUISES
Cruise lines now offer travel insurance plans, which are available to both passengers and crew members. These policies allow you to buy a policy directly from the cruise line when booking your trip or after purchasing your ticket.
DO YOU NEED SPECIAL INSURANCE FOR A CRUISE?
Some cruise lines do offer their own insurance and protection plans, but travel and cruise coverage are not legal requirements
Not all travel insurance policies are the same, and you need to know which type you’re buying, in addition to specific coverages. Just about every cruise line on the planet offers its own travel protection program, but it might not be the comprehensive policy you desire.
SHOULD I BUY TRAVEL PROTECTION FOR MY CRUISE?
One of the most common questions we hear is, ‘Should I buy travel protection?’ If you want to spend more time relaxing and less time worrying about the unexpected, the answer is ‘yes’.
Many of these Travel protection plans help protect you in the event of unforeseen illness, including COVID-19, trip delays, baggage issues and more. It’s a convenient way to help ease your worries before setting sail.
TYPES OF CRUISE TRAVEL INSURANCE
Before booking a cruise, it is important to understand all the different types of coverage that are available. Not all travel insurance policies are the same and each one has its own benefits and drawbacks.
Cruise line specific insurance tends to be less comprehensive than comparable coverage you can buy on your own, but this type of policy may come with certain perks.
There are many different types of coverage that fit into two main categories: primary (covers incidents during the voyage) and secondary (covers incidents after the voyage).
Additionally, it is important to consider what type of coverage you are looking for. For example, if you’re looking for primary coverage that covers incidents during the voyage but also want limited liability insurance in case something goes wrong with your cruise ship, then a traveler’s policy would be appropriate.
IS CRUISE TRAVEL INSURANCE WORTH IT?
Cruise insurance covers a variety of things, including lost or stolen items and emergency medical expenses. It also provides protection for injuries sustained while onboard the ship. However, the the payout limits of cruise travel insurance may not be enough in some cases.
If you’re traveling during the hurricane season, it’s important to make sure that your travel insurance covers cancellation due to weather or natural disasters. Most policies do not cover such cancellations but you can purchase a package that does.
Most of the major cruise lines have insurance policies that can protect you for the following issues:
Emergency Medical
Emergency Medical Transportation
Trip Cancellation
Trip Interruption
Trip Delay
Lost Baggage
Delayed Baggage
Pre-Existing Medical Condition Coverage
WHAT SHOULD YOU LOOK FOR IN A CRUISE INSURANCE PLAN?
Before comparing cruise insurance plans, let’s identify some of the features you should look for when shopping around:
What does the plan cover?
The more you know about what’s included, the better off you are. A broad range of covered reasons for trip cancellation/interruption. If you cancel for a reason that’s not covered, cruiselines’ protection plans may give you cruise credits that are worth less than the amount of your trip — or nothing at all.
How much coverage do I need?
Generous emergency medical and emergency medical transportation benefits. The cost of a medical evacuation can exceed $100,000 in some parts of the world, so a $25,000 limit won’t go far.
What about claims processing?
Find out how you’ll be reimbursed.
Trip delay coverage?
If your flight into San Diego is delayed and you miss your cruise ship’s sailing, it may cost you quite a lot to catch up with the ship at its next port of call.
Supplier default coverage?
If your cruise line or tour operator goes out of business, you need to make sure you’ll recoup your travel investment.
SHOULD I BUY CRUISE TRAVEL INSURANCE WHEN BOOKING A CRUISE?
It depends, it is important to make sure you understand the limits of the medical coverage provided by your cruise. If they do not provide enough coverage or have gaps in coverage then it is a good idea to consider purchasing supplemental insurance.
Cruise specific insurance is not necessary – you can purchase travel medical coverage through your preferred company or, if the limits are too low for a certain amount of time on a cruise, you may want to buy supplemental insurance.
A cruise can be an amazing experience that you will remember for the rest of your life. However, without adequate travel insurance it may cost you much more than you think.
CAN YOU BUY CRUISE TRAVEL INSURANCE AFTER BOOKING?
You sure can, but insurance purchased after you’ve booked, but before your trip may cost more. Cruise insurance directly through your cruise line can be purchased at the time of booking for an additional fee.
However, it is important to ensure that the coverage offered by your provider matches what you need.
TIPS FOR BUYING THE BEST CRUISE INSURANCE
Cruises are great vacations. But,If you’re not careful, they can turn into expensive disasters. Here are some things to consider before signing up for a cruise:
1) Does your cruise ship provide travel insurance?
2) What if you fall and break your leg on the way to the departure airport?
3) What happens if a passenger gets sick or dies during the cruise?
What is the difference between travel insurance plans for cruises?
A) Travel insurance plans for cruises are very similar to travel insurance plans that cover other types of vacations.
B) Cruise ships will usually provide travel insurance, but it’s not enough by itself.
C) Like any other type of travel, cruise ships require some supplemental insurance to cover the cost of injuries or accidents that can happen on your journey.
DO I HAVE TO PURCHASE CRUISE SPECIFIC INSURANCE OR CAN I PURCHASE TRAVEL INSURANCE THROUGH MY PREFERRED PROVIDER?
Cruise specific insurance is not necessary – you can purchase travel insurance coverage through your preferred provider. We have always used World Nomads for our insurance needs and they’ve never let us down. You can check them out here.
Most cruise lines offer their own policies, which may be cheaper than those offered by third parties.
It is important to make sure you know what medical insurance your cruise provides and the limitations. If your cruise does not provide enough coverage or has gaps in coverage, then it’s a good idea to consider purchasing supplemental insurance.
Learn more about World Nomads here and determine for yourself if you think they are the best!
SHOULD I DELAY GOING ON A CRUISE DURING THE COVID-19 PANDEMIC?
A COVID-19 pandemic is ongoing and many traditional travel insurance companies have expanded or adapted their existing coverage for travelers.
There are a few things to consider before going on a cruise during this time: Reimbursement for covered medical treatment due to COVID-19 illness.
Get sick with COVID-19 and must cancel your trip by physician’s order, lost your job during the coronavirus pandemic by no fault of your own, which may offer more flexibility in cancellation options.
WHERE TO FIND A TRAVEL INSURANCE POLICY FOR CRUISES
You can buy a travel insurance policy directly from your cruise line when booking your trip, or through your travel agent (if you’re using one, which often is a good idea when booking a cruise). You also can go directly to a third-party travel insurance provider or a travel-insurance aggregator site, such as InsureMyTrip.com or TravelInsurance.com.
“Many plans now offer benefits that will specifically appeal to cruise travelers, such as missed connection, missed port-of-call and cruise disablement coverage,”
DO YOU NEED INSURANCE TO GO ON A CRUISE?
You don’t need insurance to go on a cruise, but it can be wise to buy some. You might want travel insurance if this is your first time going on an ocean voyage or if you’re traveling with a large group and not everyone in the group has purchased insurance.
If you travel to other countries, it also might be wise to purchase an international health-insurance plan through a company like World Nomads.
Cruises can be a lot of fun and you want to do everything possible to protect your investment. There are some things you’ll need to consider before going on this type of vacation, such as the insurance you need.
SEE WHAT YOUR CREDIT CARD COVERS FOR CRUISE VACATIONS
Premium credit cards may provide the same benefits as standard travel insurance policies, including reimbursement for expenses if your luggage is damaged, you are stranded overnight due to a flight delay or cancellation, or you must return home to care for a family medical emergency.
For example, if your flight is delayed, canceled, or interrupted due to weather conditions or other causes beyond the airline’s control, you can get reimbursed for expenses incurred. Trip delay reimbursement and trip cancellation/interruption insurance are also available with the Chase Sapphire Reserve. Emergency medical coverage and even medical evacuation coverage are included in this package. Cruise operators ere considered common carriers just like airlines.
If you’re thinking about relying on a credit card like the Chase Sapphire Reserve for trip insurance, double-check its perks and restrictions against regular travel.
WHAT IS NOT COVERED BY TRAVEL INSURANCE?
Before purchasing cruise insurance it’s important to know what the policy covers and what it doesn’t.
Cruise insurance may not cover pre-existing medical conditions, pregnancy or injury from a car accident before your trip starts. In these cases you might need to look into a separate policy.
BEST CRUISE INSURANCE FAQ
Cruises are a great way to get away from it all, but travel insurance can help you feel more confident. Here is a list of the most common questions and concerns for people going on cruises.
Things to consider before going:
– What type of medical coverage does my cruise come with?
– What happens if I am delayed or have an accident while traveling?
– How much will the trip cost me in total?
– What are the benefits of travel insurance?
– How do I get started with cruise insurance?
What type of medical coverage does my cruise come with? It’s good to know that the cruise company will cover most medical emergencies with your on board expenses. However, it may not be enough if you need to get back to the US for a specialist or follow up treatment.
What happens if I am delayed or have an accident while traveling? The cruise company will cover medical expenses, but not the cost of changing flights. You need to make sure you are covered for these eventualities.