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As a passenger, you might wonder if cruise travel insurance will be worth the extra cost. Some people spend several years saving before they board their first cruise liner. What is that time spent saving worth to you? You want to ensure that the cruise gives you your money’s worth. Most cruises offer you the perfection of life that you dream they will, but bad things can and do happen on the ship. This can amount to expensive bills because you weren’t close to home. Cruise insurance can cover a variety of potential issues like:
- Medical evacuation
- Non-refundables
- Medical treatment
- Repatriation
- Missed boat
- 24-hour emergency assistance
Certain items count as “non-refundables” with cruise insurance. These typically include:
- Food
- Staff
- Entertainment
- Fuel
- Maintenance
You won’t get refunded for these items on a canceled cruise because they make up a large expense the cruise line can’t get back. Even if someone were to cancel weeks in advance, often the items have already been purchased. Those items would get thrown away unused and still cost the cruise line money.
Backed into a Corner
You may simply be confident you won’t cancel. But what if a family member takes ill at the time of your cruise. A cruise can be a refreshing family getaway, but now you’re left with a dire decision to make. Do you stay close to the relative and cancel your cruise (losing all the money), or do you go on the cruise despite your family emergency? Depending on your line, that could be a significant amount of money. Canceling your trip could mean that you never have the opportunity again. With cruise insurance, this never becomes a risk. You can cancel without worry that you will lose all your hard-earned money in the process. This doesn’t mean travel insurance is right in every person’s situation. But make sure you think through the benefits and risks before deciding.
What if You Get Injured?
Going on a cruise gives you a one-of-a-kind experience that you won’t get anywhere else. Cruise ships, if nothing else, are FUN. But even the on-land stops are chosen for their attractions and exotic nature. While all of this is a good thing, you should stay alert to the problem of traveling medical insurance. Most plans don’t cover you worldwide. Depending on where you are, you may not have coverage. In fact, most medical insurance doesn’t provide coverage when out of the country. Slips and falls account for 12 to 18 percent of the accidents on a cruise, according to the CDC. That’s less than twenty percent. Depending on the severity of injuries, you could see a bill that ranges anywhere from a couple hundred dollars up to several thousand dollars. While the cruise ship will provide medical assistance, they will rarely include this in the travel fee. If your plan doesn’t cover travel, or if you are traveling with someone relatively frail, you may want to consider insurance for peace of mind.
When you evaluate cruise insurance, pay attention to the differences. Medical evacuations are one thing that varies by insurance provider includes. Depending on location, a helicopter medical evacuation can cost as much as $100,000. That doesn’t even include the bill from the hospital.
Having cruise travel insurance covers you for many of the most essential events. However, we should emphasize that you need to choose your provider wisely because some providers won’t give as good of coverage as others. The costs can vary widely, and you have to prepare for these things in general. The unexpected can pop up and completely ruin your perfectly planned trip. Coverage does matter, for some more than others. Acquaint yourself fully with a policy before you decide.
Always remember: while insurance is important, the MOST important thing is to have fun! Enjoy yourself, and take care of yourself on your travels!