While purchasing travel insurance for a cruise is not required, you may not want to skip this step when securing and planning your trip. Travel insurance offers many coverage options that you can fit together so that you get the coverage that meets your needs.
It can be somewhat confusing and a bit risky to put together an insurance package if you are unfamiliar with all the choices and how to piece them together. If this is the case, working with a reputable travel insurance provider may be the answer. They offer all types of coverage in addition to packaged policies and many have a 24/7 call center available to you should you need assistance. Below are travel insurance choices available for most cruises.
Cruise Line Coverage
Most cruise lines offer travel insurance and will probably try to get you to buy it when you book your cruise. Be aware that not all travel insurance is the same and the best move is to explore other options so you can make an educated decision. Cruise line insurance can be overpriced, may not provide appropriate coverage and make getting a claim processed incredibly difficult. The alternative is to go through an actual insurance company specializing in travel insurance policies.
Trip Cancellation Coverage
Just imagine you have paid in full for your cruise; you’re looking forward to your vacation and can’t wait to set sail. But what if the unanticipated happens and you can’t take the trip? You or a family member or a travel companion become ill or have an accident. Then what? You could lose the hundreds or thousands of dollars you paid for a trip you can no longer take. With trip cancellation coverage, if your trip is canceled for a reason covered by the policy, then you will get a full refund of the money you paid. That refund can include any part of your trip cost that is prepaid, including flights to the port of call, hotels along the way and the cruise itself.
Medical and Evacuation Coverage
Once on your cruise, if you, your spouse or children should have an accident or become so ill that you need to seek onshore medical attention, medical evacuation could cost tens of thousands of dollars. Would you be prepared to pay out of pocket for the cost of medical care plus the cost of being airlifted to get the help you need? If you make sure to add this important coverage to your travel medical insurance policy, then you would not have to add financial trouble to your lists of woes and concentrate on getting well.
Package Plan vs. Single Plan
Many travel insurance companies will let you buy a separate travel insurance policy for each coverage, but getting a package plan can cover you across the board. A good package plan will cover trip cancellation, missed connections, lost or stolen baggage, trip interruption, travel delay and medical emergencies and evacuations.
While circumstances causing you to need travel insurance aren’t pleasant to think about, planning ahead and considering the possibilities are very important when you are leaving home and traveling overseas. Purchasing a travel insurance policy for your cruise will give you peace of mind and assurance that in case something does come up, you are covered and will not have to go through the incident without financial protection.
