The guide explains the difference between annual and single-trip policies while also reminding travellers to read the terms and conditions and consider supplemental insurance for the gear carried throughout the trip. However, if your next trip involves a cruise, it helps to look into specialised travel insurance that covers the unexpected costs and additional protection unique to this type of holiday.
Before delving into the specifics of buying cruise travel insurance, let’s take a closer look at why you need to get one in the first place.
Why do you need a cruise travel insurance?
As previously mentioned, there are unique circumstances in cruise travel that would require a different level of protection and coverage compared to other types of holidays. For instance, travelling on an open sea means unfavourable weather conditions may delay your trip and thus change the rest of the itinerary. Meanwhile, missing a cruise ship’s departure time incurs additional costs for accommodation and transport to catch up to the next port of call.
Although there are medical professionals on board, getting ill during the cruise can be a massive inconvenience since you have to stay in your cabin to recover and avoid infecting other passengers and crew members on the ship. Aside from the medical costs, this means missing out on destinations or excursions you otherwise booked and paid for ahead of time. Lastly, if you need to disembark at a port to get medical attention on shore, you would also need travel insurance to cover the expenses of re-joining the cruise trip later on.
With so many factors to consider when embarking on a cruise ship, getting cruise travel insurance is evidently worth it. Read on to learn about the key considerations when purchasing one for yourself and/or your travel companions.
What do you consider when buying cruise travel insurance?
Check with the cruise line first
Before anything else, it helps to check the policies of your chosen cruise line regarding travel insurance. Some cruise operators like Celebrity Cruises allow you to buy travel insurance directly by adding the fee to your total travel costs. However, their coverage may not be as comprehensive as individual policies. Thus, Explora Journeys recommends passengers purchase travel insurance independently.
Based on the luxury cruise line’s Terms and Conditions, the insurance policy must sufficiently cover journey cancellation, medical assistance and expenses, and loss or damage of luggage starting from the time of booking to the end of the cruise, regardless of the passenger’s chosen travel package or destination.
Review your existing insurance plans
It’s also advisable to review your existing insurance plans first, as you wouldn’t want to over-buy your coverage. This step involves checking if your current health insurance provider covers travel-related incidents and whether or not it’s possible to expand your package for your trips in exchange for an additional premium.
It’s also worth noting that credit card providers like British Airways can offer free travel accident insurance up to £75,000. However, much like the travel insurance from cruise lines, the policies and claims may only be limited to cancellations by the travel provider and include additional stipulations like paying for the trip using a credit card and not via a third party.
Determine the type of coverage you need
Once you’ve decided that your current insurance policy isn’t applicable to the specifics of cruise travel, it’s time to determine the type of coverage you need. According to an article from The Telegraph, cruise travel insurance providers typically cover missed port departure, itinerary changes, and medical emergencies that lead to cabin confinement, unused excursions, and cruise interruption.
On top of cruise travel insurance costing more than standard policies, you may also pay a higher premium if you have a pre-existing medical condition or will do water activities like snorkelling or kayaking that require specific coverage.
Regardless of the provider you end up with, remember that travel insurance isn’t something to skimp out on and must be carefully calculated in your overall budget. For more guides and resources on insurance policies, check out the rest of the articles here at Quote Radar.